E. Remington and Sons facts for kids
 |
|
Remington factory circa 1840
|
|
| Private then Partnership. Corporation |
|
| Industry | Firearms, mechanical consumer products (typewriters) |
| Fate | Purchased |
| Successor | Remington Arms Co. Standard Typewriter Manufacturing Company later Remington Typewriter Company and Remington Rand |
| Founded | Ilion, NY, United States (1816) |
| Founder | Eliphalet Remington |
|
Area served
|
Worldwide |
| Products | Firearms-pistols, rifles, shotguns typewriters |
E. Remington and Sons was a famous American company that made firearms and typewriters. It was started in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington in Ilion, New York. The company became well-known for making the first commercial typewriter in 1873.
Contents
How E. Remington and Sons Started
The First Rifle Barrel
There are two stories about how the first Remington rifle barrel was made. One story says that young Eliphalet Remington wanted a rifle but couldn't afford one, so he decided to make his own. The other story says he forged a barrel from iron to see if he could build a better rifle than he could buy. In both stories, he took the barrel to a gunsmith to have it rifled.
In 1816, Eliphalet Remington II, a young blacksmith, forged his first rifle barrel. He used it in a local shooting contest and came in second place. Even though he didn't win, people noticed his skill.
Soon, many people in the Mohawk Valley wanted rifle barrels. The Erie Canal was built, connecting cities like Buffalo and Albany. This made trade much easier and increased the demand for Remington's rifle barrels.
Moving the Business to Ilion
To keep up with the demand, the Remington family moved their workshop in 1828. They bought land next to the Erie Canal and the Mohawk River. This new location was near a town called Morgan's Landing, which later became Ilion.
When they moved, Eliphalet Remington I passed away. His son, Eliphalet II, took over the business.
Becoming "E. Remington & Sons"
In 1839, Eliphalet II's oldest son, Philo Remington, joined the company. The business was then called "E. Remington & Son." In 1845, his second son, Samuel, also joined, and the company became "E. Remington & Sons." Later, Eliphalet III, the third son, joined too.
During this time, the Remingtons mainly made rifle barrels. These barrels were known for their good quality and fair price. Many independent gunsmiths bought unfinished barrels from Remington. They would then add other parts to create custom firearms for their customers.
The Remingtons started adding more parts to their inventory. They bought percussion locks from England and marked them with their own stamp. They also sold brass parts like trigger guards and butt plates. After 1846, the company focused more on making military longarms and revolvers.
Supplying the U.S. Military
In 1848, Remington bought gun-making machines from another company. They took over a contract to make breech-loading carbines for the U.S. Navy. Remington provided the U.S. Navy with its first breech-loading rifle.
The company also supplied rifles to the U.S. Army during the Mexican–American War (1846-1848). Because they successfully completed these orders, they received more contracts in the 1850s.
When Eliphalet II died in 1861, his son Philo took over. This was during the American Civil War. Philo expanded the company's products to include sewing machines (made from 1870 to 1894) and typewriters (starting in 1873). Both of these new products were shown at a big exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876.
Remington's Typewriter
On June 23, 1868, a patent was given for a "Type-Writer" to Christopher Sholes, Carlos Glidden, and Samuel W. Soule. This invention later became the Sholes and Glidden typewriter. It was the first machine that allowed someone to type much faster than they could write by hand.
The patent was sold to Densmore and Yost. They then made a deal with E. Remington and Sons, who were already famous for making sewing machines. Remington began making their first typewriter on March 1, 1873, in Ilion, New York.
This "Type-Writer" introduced the QWERTY keyboard layout, designed by Sholes. The later Remington No. 2 typewriter, released in 1878, was the first to have both upper and lower case letters using a shift key. Its success made the QWERTY layout very popular.
What Happened to Remington?
Remington Arms Company
.jpg)
E. Remington & Sons provided many of the small arms used by the United States government during the American Civil War (1861-1865).
On March 7, 1888, the Remington family sold E. Remington & Sons to new owners, Hartley and Graham, and the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. At this time, the company's name officially changed to the Remington Arms Company.
Remington was also one of the most successful gun makers in the world between 1867 and 1900. They exported millions of their Remington Rolling Block action rifles. These single-shot rifles were sent to many countries, including France, Egypt, and Argentina. Remington was an important supplier of small arms for the United States government in World War I and World War II.
Remington Typewriter Company
In 1886, E. Remington and Sons sold its typewriter business. The buyers were William O. Wyckoff, Harry H. Benedict, and Clarence Seamans, who all worked for Remington. They also bought the right to use the Remington name.
In 1902, the Standard Typewriter Manufacturing Company changed its name to Remington Typewriter Company. This company later merged in 1927 with another company to form Remington Rand. Remington Rand continued to make office equipment and later became a big computer company. They also made electric razors.
See also
In Spanish: E. Remington and Sons para niños
