IP Stock

[Hooks]

Did IP make their own stocks?
Attachment 9585

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[painter777]

Billy,

The Robert Irwin Seating Co (Grand Rapids, MI ) made the majority of the IP stocks. Most.... found marked IR-IP in the slingwell.
The boxed IP with CC stocks are very rare.

Just to add,
Brothers Robert and Earle Irwin were already filling orders for furniture needed by Ordnance when they stepped into a 'Arranged agreement' at the Ordnance Departments urging with John Pedersen.
The Irwin family was able to keep a government contract to continue making stocks for the carbine effort after the cancelled IP contract. In fact when Saginaw Steering Gear took over the operations, the Irwin employess became employees of Saginaw Gear.
John Pedersen held no shares in the Irwin-Pedersen Arms Company and functioned as the arms consultant, with a monthly salary of $2000. Quoting Robert Irwin " Pedersen was a capable gun designer, he was not a practical production man"

I'm just getting back to some research I've been doing about the problems the Irwins were having with both John Pedersen, Ordnance Sub Contractors, Inspectors and the Army Ordnance Department in Detroit.
In Robert Irwin's log he tells of securing parts CLEARED by inspectors at other carbine manufacturers, only to have inspectors reject them at his plant.
Robert Irwin knew their overhead and cost per unit was to high.
In May of 42 the Irwins learned, without conferring with them that John Pedersen had hired George Oliver of the E.W. Bliss Company in Brooklyn, New York as a production manager at a annual salary of $18,000 and was sending him to Grand Rapids to supervise and oversee the set up of machinery along with manufacturing.
A pricely sum in it's day.
Much of this info comes from a daily log kept by MR. Robert Irwin during the War Time Production.
The Irwin Seating Company is still in business today. They've been kind enough to pass along excerpts from Robert's log during WWII.

I hope to have this completed soon.

HTH
Charlie

[BrianQ]

... the Irwins were having with both John Pedersen, Ordnance Sub Contractors, Inspectors and the Army Ordnance Department in Detroit.
In Robert Irwin's log he tells of securing parts CLEARED by inspectors at other carbine manufacturers, only to have inspectors reject them at his plant.

From the Ordnance Dept stand point there is a very good reason for this happening. They had it in for IP long before their first carbine was due for delivery. If you look at the problems every carbine manufacturer had starting up and compare them to the problems at IP you'll see IP wasn't so bad, they just got the shaft. Of course IP was lacking in leadership/knowledge as far as production goes but this could have been overcome with a little outside help. But there was one thing that set the IP contract apart from all the others and led to the demise of the partnership.

[painter777]

Brian,
I understand the 'Main reason'.......the contract was cancelled.
If anyone was paying attention, you've explained that point before.
This is something I've been researching to contribute to the CC.
It's interesting how the Irwins along with roughly 15 other local businesses got together and formed a holding company called Grand Rapids War Industries. Thus securing a rather large variety of contracts. Producing everything from parachutes, glide wings, shipping crates, furniture (including field desks)... etc
Washington officials were familiar with the Irwins from service on the NRA'S furniture board.
Appreciate your input.


Thx,
Charlie

[Tired Retired]

Dammit guys, you are just determined to get me to join the carbine club to get the "rest of the story".... Well, I ain't falling for it, nope, not me, I ain't joining... at least not until the divorce is final and I got money to pay the dues!!!!

Seriously, its kinda weird how the "greatest generation" bad their fair share of back-door political dealings, too....

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

$18 a year, $1.50 a month average. One less cup of coffee a month. You don't need the caffeine anyway. Drink beer instead.

Join up, just got my newsletter today, great article this issue on serial numbers.

[kikokat]

I can understand TiredRetired not wanting his ex to get joint custody of the newsletters. Particularly when he opts for all the back issues as well.

I'd hate to give up half of that!

[painter777]

Hooks,
What's the story on that IP stock?

Charlie

[Hooks]

Occasionally I troll the Riverbank Armory web site just for fun. He has it listed there. Listed as sold for 7K.

[painter777]

You had me worried........
Didn't want to give you the bad news about that stamp.

Charlie