Winchester must have had some type of store in New York City. I have an 1876 early four digit number gun that was returned in 1878 to New Haven along with 15 or 20 other guns. Letter says returned from “NYD”. John Hawk told me, he has seen this several times and believes it to be “New York Department “. Allguns returned in this batch .45-75, 28” Oct, set trigger. This one has the thumbprint dust cover and heavy toe butt plate.
I researched from 1875 to 1895. WRA ran ads in the ARMY NAVY JOURNAL beginning 6/22/1878. The ad said send for illustrated pamphlet at New Haven Connecticut or 245 Broadway New York.
These ads ran until 10/9/1880
I found a reference to 245 Broadway being known as THE AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL BUILDING dated 5/4/1880
WRA began running ads at 312 Broadway for a stenographer, apply at 312 Broadway New York. Many of the ads indicated stenographer for New Haven Connecticut location. These ads ran until 12/28/1884, however WRA ran ad for Yachtsman wanting yacht gun dated 2/24/1889. 312 Broadway, New York.
Article citing purchase of 200 1873 44 WCF by Grace & Co. to be shipped to Chile, dated 9/28/1891. Article cites WRA at 312 Broadway, NEW York.
As I posted previously WRA suffered slight water damage to their office on the 4th or 5th floor of 312 Broadway. The 1st 3 floors being occupied by Baum Brothers business where the fire originated.
My thought is that WRA maintained offices on each coast to facilitate overseas buyers convenience instead of traveling to New Haven and to facilitate shipping overseas.
This is all I know, Don
86Win said
The ad said send for illustrated pamphlet at New Haven Connecticut or 245 Broadway New York.I found a reference to 245 Broadway being known as THE AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL BUILDING dated 5/4/1880
One of the buildings on the left side of this photo would be the building at 245 Broadway.
Which got me to thinking, How much space would they actually needed to have for a “Depot”?
Eyeballing those buildings, I’m guessing the footprint of one floor would be approx. 5,000 sq.ft.
If the New York location was treated like a Warehouse, How much space would be needed?
The picture dates around 1880. So in the year 1880 the total Model 73 production was 22,015 guns. If you averaged that evenly over 12 months, it would be less than 2,000 rifles a month produced (1,834.5). Say it was actually 2,000 rifles. Rifles were shipped 10 Rifles to a Case.
I don’t know what the size of a Model 73 crate is, but a Model 94 Crate is 42″x11″x11″ for 10 Rifles. So 2,000 Rifles / 10 per case = 200 cases in a month. One case if we round up slightly is 3.5’x1’x1′ = 3.5 sq.ft. of space. 200 cases x 3.5 sq.ft. = 700 sq.ft. That would be the total square footage needed to store 200 case only 1 crate high end to end. If you stacked them 4 crates high or 4′ high you’d only need 175 sq.ft. of floor space for 2,000 Rifles. So one month’s supply of 73s could fit in a room 10’x17.5′ at a height of four feet. Most buildings had at least a 8′ ceiling if not 10′. So if you stacked them up to the ceiling at 8′ high you’d only need a 9’x10′ room. But that would be if you were stacking everything like a cord of wood and I don’t think they did things like that.
But in more broader terms I could imagine if they owned / rented one floor that was 5,000 sq.ft. Maybe 1/8 or 1/4 of it could be devoted just to “Depot” firearms. Of course this brings up a lot of questions as to how much of firearms “Shelf Stock” would be kept on hand? Would it be reasonable for them to keep a month’s supply on hand at the New York Depot. Especially only at one location and not sell or move any part of the monthly production to all the other gun dealers/retailors throughout the country and the rest of the world.
Would stockpiling crates of rifles be different than keeping a large quantity on display? Our gun safe is a 10’x12′ Room and we keep approx. 300 guns on display in it with plenty of room for viewing and walking around. Some kept in racks, but most hung on the wall for display.
Here is example of what Winchester would need / used for a display.
This is a picture of Winchester’s booth at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. It is described in period literature that, “The exhibit had nearly 200 guns w/ 50 different styles and the Cases Cost $3,000.00”. Which the display had more than just firearms in it. I’m not sure how big the booth actually is, but It can’t be relatively that large of a space.
Sincerely,
Maverick
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