Wednesday 21 November 2018

T. Richardson & Sons. Gun-making in Cork. 1858.




Gun-Making in Cork.

Cork Examiner 1858.

Some three or four years since, we drew public attention to the fact that a regular gun factory had been established in this city by the firm of T.Richardson & Sons. We then described, in detail, the information of the factory, and the manner in which the division-of-labour principle was carried out in its various workshops; and we then anticipated the success which, we felt convinced, was certain to follow from enterprise in the right direction. Since then we have not lost sight of this interesting branch of local industry; and have very lately renewed our enquiries as to its progress, we are happy to state that the anticipations which we formed, upon a first inspection of the establishment of the Messrs. Richardson,
 have been far outstripped by the reality. In fact, the Cork-made gun has already acquired a far more European reputation; and at this moment, as we shall prove, it is as well known in India as the guns of the first houses in London.
Messrs Richardson began on the wisest and soundest principle,- they resolved to make none but the best article, and to this determination they have steadfastly adhered. And, in order to secure the best guns, they employ none but first-class workmen- each workman being perfect in the execution of his special task. It is interesting to follow the rude tube of metal, and the shapeless piece of timber, through their progress and completion, until, after having been submitted to a variety of processes more or less ingenious, the rude tube of metal and the shapeless piece of timber are moulded into a beautiful and highly-finished instrument, precious in the estimation of the sportsman.
The gun goes through eight or nine hands before it is finished. In the first place, it is given to the “break-off fitter”; then it passes to the “rough stocker”; next to the “screwer –together” ; then to the “percussioner” ; then to the “polisher” ; after him the “engraver” who sends it back to the polisher, to “case harden” and “blue”; the polisher passes it to the “finisher”, who finally puts the gun together. Nor do its travels stop with the finisher; for it has to pass through the hands of the foreman, who inspects it with critical eye, and has lastly to be submitted to the head of the establishment, Mr Richardson, himself. One would suppose that the vigilance of the foreman and the master was sufficient to ensure the best work in each department and in every process; but the system adopted is far more stringent and comprehensive, inasmuch as each workman through whose hands the guns passes has a direct and personal interest in scrutinising the work of the man who has gone before him. The explanation is simple enough. The man that passes bad work without notice, although that bad work has been done by another, is liable for that bad work, and loses the amount paid for the labour expended upon it. For instance, if the percussioner take the gun from the screwer, and there is a defect in it owing to the fault of the screwer, and that the percussioner passes it without notice, and the finisher afterwards finds out the defect,- in that case the percussioner is held liable, and not the screwer- the man who overlooked the bad work of his predecessor, and not the man whose bad work it was. It is plain, therefore, that each man is cautious in scrutinising the work of his fellow-workman, as he is in the perfection of his own. Of course, it is not to be supposed that the practical testing of the gun is delayed until it reaches its last stage. It is tried in its rough state, after being percussioned; before much labour has been employed upon it, and therefore before much expense has been incurred. There are, for instance, three classes of double-barrelled guns—the “keeper” gun, the second class gun, and the best gun. The first when finished always in a plain style, is valued at 9 guineas; the second is valued at 16 guineas; the best reaches as high as 25 guineas. Tried in their rough state, if the “keeper” gun do not shoot to 50 pages, in a book used as a target it is rejected. The second must shoot 60, and the best 65.  
The “keeper” may go, and usually does go, to the 60 pages, and the second may go 70; but if either do not penetrate the required number of pages, the barrel is at once laid aside, and another selected and tried. Submitted to so severe an ordeal as that which we have described, two useful results follow, - that the work is well executed in all its details, and that the gun shoots well.
Indeed the Cork-made gun of Messrs Richardson was severely tested in the course of last year, when it came off with distinction. A gallant officer of the 36th Regiment challenged Mr Richardson, the working head of the firm, to try one of his best guns against a first-class Manton, possessed by the officer. Mr Richardson accepted the challenge, and the result was in favour of the Cork-made gun, for penetration and close shooting. The Cork-gun went through seven pages more than the London gun.
The same Manton was tested on a subsequent occasion with the Richardson, and some eight or nine other guns, which their owners – officers of the garrison – looked upon as first-class; and , although the Manton beat all the other guns, save the Richardson, the Richardson thrashed the entire of its competitors, the Manton, included!
Now, lest any doubt whatever may attach to this seemingly boastful statement, we quote a document of very great value, as conclusive testimony of the superiority of guns of Messrs Richardson:-

“Cork Barracks, May 8th 1857.

“We  the undersigned Officers of the 36th Regiment, beg to recommend Messrs T.Richardson & Sons, Gun Manufacturers, they having made several guns for us, each of which has given us much satisfaction, as to finish, price and particularly the shooting qualities; in which latter we find them superior to guns by other makers of the highest repute, after carefully testing both:-
“W.R Rainsford, Captain, 36th Regt,
“C.Woodright, Captain, 36th Regt.
“F .H.Orange Lieut., 36th Regt.
“J.O.W. Scott, Ensign, 36th Regt.
“Lyndhurst B. Towne, 36th Regt.
“R.L.Hawkes, Lieut, 36th Regt.
“Edwin Philips, Captain, 36th Regt.
“Thos.M.LeMesurier, 36th Regt”

We cannot pretend to say how far this important trial has been the means of spreading the fame of the Cork-made gun; but we can state that which we know to be the fact- that Messrs Richardson have at this moment orders from India alone, which cannot, by any possibility, and with utmost effort, be executed in less than six months from this date. And if not a single additional gun were ordered for the next twelve months, there would be ample employment for that time in executing the orders now on their books. Every year since its commencement in 1854, the establishment has been doubling its business!
We do not say anything of its trade for this year, which is not yet expired; but during last year it turned out more than 600 guns, 150 of which were high class guns, ranging from 16 to 25 guineas each. The remainder included rifles and single barrels.
Curiously enough, the best timber for the stocks is to be had in Ireland. English walnut is a fine and showy timber, but it has not the close grain of the Irish, which is also very often as handsome as the softer timber, of the sister country. A splendid tree of this timber purchased some time since by Mr Richardson, from a gentleman residing on the borders of the county of Cork; and its cost, when cut up, was as much as £100.
The cases, whether made of leather, or of timber of various kinds, are also made up in Cork, the firm keeping men constantly at work in their construction.
We may say a word as to the employment afforded by this flourishing concern. It commenced in 1854 with some 11 or 12 hands, while now has constant work for 25- of whom 8 are ordinarily paid an average of more than £2 a week, while some of them have frequently earned and received as much as £3 and 10 shilling’s per week. The work is paid for by the piece, and it depends upon the workman what he earns, and therefore what he has to receive. Fully two-thirds of the hands are Irishmen; the others are first-rate workmen from England. The staff is a large and efficient one at the present moment; but it will be increased in a short time, as additional ground has been taken to the rear, and is about being added to the workshops, which will render the Cork Gun Factory equal in efficiency to any in the trade. But taking it as it already is, it reflects the highest honour on the enterprise and industry of its founders, and no small credit upon the city in which it prospers and progresses.

Information courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.
Cork Examiner 20th September 1858.

NB: The text has been re-written and highlighted in part but the integrity of the piece maintained.

Please refer to our older post with respect to this company of gunmakers dated: 5/10/2018, 7/9/2018 & 27/8/2015.

Dave Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk

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