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Thompson Drum Magazine Project - Doug Richardson


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Posted by Bob for Doug:


I thought some of you would be interested in seeing this photo.

It is of the crate of stamping dies and other tooling we made to

manufacture drum magazines. It is topped off with as many of

the drum parts we made with the tooling that I could get into the

crate. Sadly, the tooling is the only tooling made since WW2

that was made in accordance with the original drawings but no

complete drum was ever made. To my knowledge, I am the only person

who has all the original drawings to make the drums. I do not

know what will happen to the crate. Right now I have it in

storage. If any one wants to make real Thompson drums, call me,

Doug Richardson, at 310-457-6400.



IMG_4673.JPG

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Very impressive! I remember many years ago Doug put an ad somewhere looking for Thompson drums/parts "for destructive engineering purposes". Anybody else here recall that?

Doug has always been one of our Thompson treasures.

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  • 3 months later...

Posted by Bob for Doug:

 

I thought some of you would be interested in seeing this photo.

It is of the crate of stamping dies and other tooling we made to

manufacture drum magazines. It is topped off with as many of

the drum parts we made with the tooling that I could get into the

crate. Sadly, the tooling is the only tooling made since WW2

that was made in accordance with the original drawings but no

complete drum was ever made. To my knowledge, I am the only person

who has all the original drawings to make the drums. I do not

know what will happen to the crate. Right now I have it in

storage. If any one wants to make real Thompson drums, call me,

Doug Richardson, at 310-457-6400.

 

 

I know this is an old thread but how would we make these!?
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Kahr Arms and/or Saeilo Enterprises, Inc. currently own the active trademarks for the names "THOMPSON" and "Auto-Ordnance." I doubt you could use those names on a product that is related to the Thompson submachine gun without some type of legal challenge from Kahr Arms. For example, note how the L drums from Taiwan no longer are stamped with the word "THOMPSON." Same with the new GPC C drums - no reference to the word "THOMPSON" is stamped on the product. Also note the "THOMPSON" name disclaimer in the GPC internet for sale listings for the C drums.

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The so called "Crosby" drums from Taiwan were an exact copy including the data plate that

said "Thompson". After they got out there Kahr caught up with them and that is why the word

Thompson was removed from the plate.

 

Bob

Edited by reconbob
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reconbob is spot on. The initial shipment of the Taiwan L drums with both the CROSBY and THOMPSON name stamped on the drums were a huge success. After Thompson enthusiasts realized these drums worked (and worked well thanks much to this Forum) it appears another shipment was placed. By then Kahr was ready. I don't know the details of what transpired, legal or threats of legal action, but I do know the result. The possessors of these new drums had to physically remove the Thompson name from the faceplate of the drum before it could be sold. Numrich Arms or Gun Parts Corporation (GPC) apparently had a lot of these L drums in stock because they were offering great prices on these drums (second variation?) while the inventory lasted. A search on the Board for Taiwan L drums will probably tell the story at the time and have pictures.

 

A trademark owner does not have to license their mark. Period. It is their option whether to issue a license. Obviously, Kahr Arms did not issue permission or a license to use their trademark name, "THOMPSON," on these competing L drums. I don't believe the CROSBY Company gave permission to use their name but apparently they are so far removed from L drum production that they never protested.

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Thompsonteenager Im glad that you are very interested in the Thompson. You can learn a lot on this board however at your age I would suggest learning all you can about the Thompson by reading the suggested books. The making of parts requires a big budget as well as finding companies that can produce that particular piece. I wish you luck in pursuing this hobby. Welcome to the board. Frank
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TT,

 

Heres an example of production stamping.

 

 

About 2:40 into this youll see some pans similar to a drum body. These start as sheet steel drawn into a cup in a progressive or deep draw press and die.

 

I dont know what plans Doug had, but I assume lower volumes. Most of the drum components would be produced by stamping with a few staking and riveting operations.

 

If the price of a transferable gun seems too much, forget about starting manufacturing on your own. Id suggest looking into careers in manufacturing (machining, tooling, engineering). Many of us gun nuts are also in likeminded careers due to the mechanical nature and interest in this kind of stuff. I learned a ton in college as I was in a cooperative program and spent a lot of time in the tool room with experienced machinists. Degrees are useless without practical knowledge.

 

Ron

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TT,

 

Heres an example of production stamping.

 

 

About 2:40 into this youll see some pans similar to a drum body. These start as sheet steel drawn into a cup in a progressive or deep draw press and die.

 

I dont know what plans Doug had, but I assume lower volumes. Most of the drum components would be produced by stamping with a few staking and riveting operations.

 

If the price of a transferable gun seems too much, forget about starting manufacturing on your own. Id suggest looking into careers in manufacturing (machining, tooling, engineering). Many of us gun nuts are also in likeminded careers due to the mechanical nature and interest in this kind of stuff. I learned a ton in college as I was in a cooperative program and spent a lot of time in the tool room with experienced machinists. Degrees are useless without practical knowledge.

 

Ron

 

Indeed, I started my working life with an apprenticeship as a mechanical engineer and qualified as a tool fitter in a factory building locomotives. Unfortunately, in the UK heavy industry has about died a death, with all the old major industrial cities suffering from the loss, so those opportunities are not as freely available for our current school leavers, as they were back in the 1970's.

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TT,

 

Heres an example of production stamping.

 

 

About 2:40 into this youll see some pans similar to a drum body. These start as sheet steel drawn into a cup in a progressive or deep draw press and die.

 

I dont know what plans Doug had, but I assume lower volumes. Most of the drum components would be produced by stamping with a few staking and riveting operations.

 

If the price of a transferable gun seems too much, forget about starting manufacturing on your own. Id suggest looking into careers in manufacturing (machining, tooling, engineering). Many of us gun nuts are also in likeminded careers due to the mechanical nature and interest in this kind of stuff. I learned a ton in college as I was in a cooperative program and spent a lot of time in the tool room with experienced machinists. Degrees are useless without practical knowledge.

 

Ron

Yah those machines look a wee bit spendy just for minor drum production is do it but maybe there's a hand made way??
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TT,

 

Heres an example of production stamping.

 

 

About 2:40 into this youll see some pans similar to a drum body. These start as sheet steel drawn into a cup in a progressive or deep draw press and die.

 

I dont know what plans Doug had, but I assume lower volumes. Most of the drum components would be produced by stamping with a few staking and riveting operations.

 

If the price of a transferable gun seems too much, forget about starting manufacturing on your own. Id suggest looking into careers in manufacturing (machining, tooling, engineering). Many of us gun nuts are also in likeminded careers due to the mechanical nature and interest in this kind of stuff. I learned a ton in college as I was in a cooperative program and spent a lot of time in the tool room with experienced machinists. Degrees are useless without practical knowledge.

 

Ron

Yah those machines look a wee bit spendy just for minor drum production is do it but maybe there's a hand made way??

 

Indeed supply and demand, basics of the market economy. A mistake John T Thompson himself made in 1921, if you read the history, when AOC began their production of 15,000 Model of 1921's, many of which sat on the shelf for many years, some right up to WW2.

 

Stay safe

Richard

Edited by rpbcps
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