Rock-Ola update

[lbelflowers]

CC newsletter 372. The hammer in question is a Bruner-Ritter T-3 hammer,replacement hammer made under a Springfield Armory contract. For so many years people have thought that a part with a prime contractor letter was made or made for said prime contractors. That is not true,White SewingMachine Co(W), Rudy Furnace(R) and Union Hardware(U,just seen that this week for an Underwood magazine) just off the top of my head. Most of your sub contractors have been identified however, not a single person can name who the subcontractor would be for the B/R hammers(if it were made for Rockola).

[lbelflowers]

I recently read somewhere that the B/R hammer (in square and circle) was a replacement hammer made by B( ) & R( ) Co., and had no connection with Rock-Ola. I believe a CC newsletter may have been cited but I don't know. Maybe a more knowledable forum member can confirm or refute this.

Also, Riesch (5th Ed.) says KR and KR2 marked Type III hammers are Rock-Ola. Has this now been disproven (he also said B/R was Rock-Ola)? My Rock currently wears a (replaced) KR2, but I have at least one original KR in the box. Any good info appreciated.

Those are Kal Machine Work hammers and that was Rockola`s original hammer supplier. Here comes the part that I might get tripped up on. When the Carbine Committee handed down the termination contracts for the carbine manufacturers(with exception for Inland and Winchester) Kal Machine Works dropped Rockola like a hot potato(trip part). The Carbine Committee had to locate a new hammer supplier. In comes Ludlow Typograph(who already had a contract for hammers going to Quality Hardware), I think this around the latter part of the 4,000,000 range of Rockola carbines. Thats where you see some of the LT-Q stamped with a R hammers(these were lateral transfer hammers or get these to Rockola quick,fast in a hurry) then when the contract was awarded you see LT-Q hammers. I think Rockola did a good job on stamping transfer parts, I believe that was a directive from the Ordnance Dept.

Those contracts were terminated by April 1944 but, Rockola was allowed to sweep the floor and assemble just over 9000 carbines in May.

[lbelflowers]

Meant to say LT-R hammers(contract awarded) instead of LT-Q hammers. Just read over what I posted last night. I am sure that BQ97 or Newscotlander are better versed in the Rockola hammer area.

[ChipS]

In comes Ludlow Typograph(who already had a contract for hammers going to Quality Hardware), I think this around the latter part of the 4,000,000 range of Rockola carbines.

If this info is accurate then I am comfortable with the KR2 hammer on my 4.62M Rock-Ola. It is a whole lot easier to find than a real LT-R.

BTW: Rick's carbine can't be more than a week or so from the end of the 4M Rock-Ola range. Would it not be quite feasible, if not probable, that Rock-Ola was still installing KR hammers at that time? If so, I think he can find a KR/KR2 hammer a lot easier and much less costly than a LT-R hammer. JMHO. Any thoughts?

[lbelflowers]

ChipS, PM me please.