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December 1, 2012
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Looks like Robert Van Iderstine was involved in the Maritime Ship Insurance industry. This would make a logical connection to Morse Drydock.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
April 15, 2005
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In regards to, the Factory letter listing the “sold” to location and person, that is actually very common for the late production Model 1873 and 1886 serial numbers. More specifically, beginning in the year 1907, Winchester began transitioning from the old style “ledger books” to individual record cards for each serial number, and it was very common to record the shipping destination or the buyer’s information. While conducting research for various models, I have viewed the microfilmed records cards for several hundred Model 1873 and 1886 serial numbers. For some models the transition from ledger books to record cards did not occur until 1910/1911. In the early 1920s, the ledger books were moved to a different location for storage, and because of that act, they were spared being destroyed in the company furnaces. For the vast majority of models and serial numbers, the individual records cards were intentionally burned (destroyed) to provide furnace fuel during WW II and into the 1950s.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
September 30, 2016
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Thank you all for your information. I thought the Cody Letter particularly interesting, and while it didn’t specifically support that this gun having a factory mounted scope it certainly did not rule it out. Thanks again!
April 23, 2012
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Just saw Berts post , and I have only 1 letter showing destination ,for a 1886 33 Win FMCB ,, that fits in your ‘destination commonly shown category’. It was shipped to a Hamilton, Canada area, Hardware store.
Phil
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