[email protected] said
Here’s another. I’m trying to find a description of the production lines at the Winchester factory in the 1880s and 1890s. 

How many milling machines did Winchester operate? Shapers? Lathes? Rifling stations? Did they have a hand filing operation to clean up the machined parts? (Some research suggests final touch ups with files to remove burrs, etc, continued at many factories into the 20th century.)  I’ve not found such detail in the Williamson book. But like I said, I could well have missed something. Any suggestions appreciated.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Nathan   

Out of everything I’ve come across, I haven’t found anything that early, and nothing as specific and detailed as your wanting. I’m not saying it doesn’t exist and assuredly such information did exist at one time. But I do believe you have your work cut out for you.

Only thing close to the info your looking for is that there is a nice description of the factory goings-on in a 1916 Factory Brochure.

Also there is this nice 1914 factory interior photo of workers milling receivers. I count 12 heads standing next to the main line of equipment. And close to the frame in that wood tray is what I believe are 95 receivers, but they could be 94s. I enjoy the gas powered lanterns overhead, but it being day time the light from the window is enough to do work. There was recently a photo of the factory floor of barrel rifling equipment that was on the cover of the Collector Magazine a while back. 

I think one obvious problem you will run into is how to catalog such information. As stating you want the 1880s & 1890s, that is 20 years of constant change throughout the factory you’ll have to deal with. That is a lot of information.

In 1895 the factory had 102 different numbered buildings, some of which were long tracts or had multiple parts, A,B,C, D, etc. and are multi-story. In 1900 the factory changed the numbering system somehow, as the highest building # is 251, but there aren’t that many buildings. Between 1900 and 1909 there are approx. 30 newly constructed buildings on the factory site. Now not each building didn’t have its own department, but depending on the year I know there are a lot of different departments. By 1915 there are practically over 100 various departments. The plant had its own fire department, police, hospital, power plant, cafeteria, chem lab, machine shop, blacksmith shop, bluing dept, browning dept, barrel proving, etc. This list goes on, HELL they had a building for “Cleaning Spittoons”. 

Sincerely,

Maverick 

P.S. And with all sincerity, best of luck in this endeavor. As I would be interested in like information.

Nathan, Would you be kind enough to post those pics of the factory that you’ve found?

Just a thought but I’ve seen a few images of a company publication from later times, I wonder if there was a similar publication in this time period? I know quite a bit of the machinery changed over the years but the layout may not have. It’s hard to imagine a plant where raw materials went in and finished firearms came out. Virtually every part, down to the tiniest screw and pin, was built at the plant. Power was supplied by steam and delivered by leather belts. Parts were built one at a time by skilled craftsmen and women. Hard to imagine in our world of global parts sourcing, technology and labor outsourcing.

Mike