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Hi,
I’m hoping to find someone who may know if Edwin Pugsley, who joined Winchester in the Browning era and ended years later as CEO, ever donated his professional papers to any archive or organization.
He gave his collection of firearms to the Cody museum, but I’m interested in any papers or letters about his work that may have been preserved after his death in 1989.
I’m doing research for a prospective book about his era.
Thanks!
Nathan Gorenstein
November 7, 2015
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Did the folks at CFM have anything for you? I think his collection was donated before the Winchester collection was moved to Cody but quite a bit of the archives went West as well.
Mike
April 15, 2005
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Nathan,
As somewhat of a Winchester history buff myself, I am confounded by some of the information in your statements. Specifically, if Edwin Pugsley joined Winchester during the Browning era (1883 – 1901), he would have been extremely old man if he had lived to the year 1989.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Hi Bert,
Certainly you know more about the subject than I! Good catch, as I did indeed get the date of his death wrong. Thats what I get for rushing.
I was using an all encompassing definition for the “Browning era” as Browning returned to Winchester during World War I to help with production of the BAR, which is when Pugsley met him. Though your point is well taken. Any idea who might know about Pugsley’s papers?
Nathan
November 1, 2013
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Have you asked that question to the curator of the Winchester collection at Cody? It’s the obvious place to begin an inquiry.
June 5, 2015
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There is an Edwin Pugsley memoir but it is closely held by the family, for some unknown reason. Sure wish they would allow publication.
Vince
Southern Oregon
NRA member
Fraternal Order of Eagles
“There is but one answer to be made to the dynamite bomb and that can best be made by the Winchester rifle.”
Teddy Roosevelt
April 15, 2005
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[email protected] said
Hi Bert,Certainly you know more about the subject than I! Good catch, as I did indeed get the date of his death wrong. Thats what I get for rushing.
I was using an all encompassing definition for the “Browning era” as Browning returned to Winchester during World War I to help with production of the BAR, which is when Pugsley met him. Though your point is well taken. Any idea who might know about Pugsley’s papers?
Nathan
From my perspective (and I suspect many others), the “Browning era” at Winchester took place from December 1883 through mid year 1901. His brief interaction with Winchester during WW I was just that… brief, and of sole purpose.
In regards to any papers that Pugsley may have kept or donated, I would be inclined to ask Herbert Houze that question. If any anyone might know, it will be Herb.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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Good luck on your book project. I’ve always been a bit intrigued by Pugsley, he was apparently a very intelligent man and a bit eccentric.
Mike
November 1, 2013
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Bert H. said
In regards to any papers that Pugsley may have kept or donated, I would be inclined to ask Herbert Houze that question. If any anyone might know, it will be Herb.
Bert
Houze’s 52 book mentions Pugsley countless times, but in his bibliography, the only unpublished source listed is the TC Johnson collection, as well as other records held in the Winchester collection.
Campbell’s 2nd vol. includes the only Pugsley biography I’ve seen, the only source of which seems to be the Winchester Herald.
December 30, 2011
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There’s a good chance that an article about Edwin Pugsley will be in The Winchester Collector very soon, probably the Winter 2019 issue.
November 7, 2015
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Nathan-
Danny Michael, assistant curator of the Cody Firearms Museum, will be a good contact.
[email protected] 307-578-4099
Mike
March 31, 2009
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Brad Dunbar said
There’s a good chance that an article about Edwin Pugsley will be in The Winchester Collector very soon, probably the Winter 2019 issue.
Brad have you ever seen this advertiser before?
December 30, 2011
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Hi Chuck
Yes, there’s also one at the McCracken Research Library in one of the files related to the Model 1895. It’s also pictured in our book.
Thanks
May 23, 2009
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I think there is one on Ebay right now as well.
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
August 22, 2005
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As I understand, Bruce Canfield owns most of the Pugsley papers. He used them rather extensively in his latest book on the M1 Garand. Regards CC
November 1, 2013
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CPC said
As I understand, Bruce Canfield owns most of the Pugsley papers. He used them rather extensively in his latest book on the M1 Garand. Regards CC
Rather a shame, I think, when historical records become a private individual’s personal property. Yes, I know…can’t fight the greed of descendant’s who inherit such records.
Aside from the limits such a restriction places on further research, there’s always the possibility that after the current owner’s death, such records may be lost, “misplaced,” or tied up forever if a will is contested.
I’m personally acquainted with two cases in which this happened: all Unertl’s shop records, serial no. info, etc, became the property of the last owner of the company, who moved operations first to Texas, then somewhere else, before going out of business & disappearing, apparently, off the edge of the world; all this was yrs ago.
Lyman sold all their scope records to Gill Parsons when he bought rights to mfg. the STS, but when he died they became a bone of contention between Gill’s widow & his son, according to a friend of mine who tried to buy them from the family; whatever the truth of that situation, these records haven’t been available since Gill’s death about 8 yrs ago.
May 24, 2012
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There seems to be quite a lot of references to him on the ‘net’ and in census information. I would certainly contact Yale University Archives in New Haven to see if they might have some information that might help you in your research.
James
November 7, 2015
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clarence said
Rather a shame, I think, when historical records become a private individual’s personal property. Yes, I know…can’t fight the greed of descendant’s who inherit such records…..
I agree to a point, but I’m willing to bet Canfield has these documents because someone saved them when Winchester was ready to destroy them as they did so many records. Eighty or a hundred years ago they had no way of knowing how interesting we’d find these records today.
Mike
November 27, 2022
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Hi Nathan,
I realize this thread is 4 years old, but I thought I’d mention that I have some Edwin Pugsley correspondence in regards to potentially providing barrels for the Hyde Model 35 Submachine gun in the mid-1930’s. I also have his business card.
The correspondence is summarized in an article I wrote 16 years ago for Small Arms Review Magazine, to which a link is provided below.
https://smallarmsreview.com/the-hyde-model-35-submachine-gun/
If any of the information might prove useful to you, please let me know.
Thanks,
David Albert
[email protected]
