Ernest Hemingway Thompson

[rpbcps]

30 minutes ago, Sig said:

thanks Richard

Impressive that’s a very low serial number, does the book say anywhere or suggest it was his?

For Ernest to acquire that early of a serial NO for the period he owned one, as I understand mid 30’s, interesting if true. 

Hi Michael,

I hope you are keeping well.

Don't quote me on this one, but I am sure that Colt Thompson #66 was owned by Babty & Co of London, Specialists in weapon hire for movies, TV and theatre in the UK. One of the examples in my collection used to be a Babty firearm during its long journey to my house. I think th e publisher, Penguin, just wanted a photo of a TSMG for the cover of the book in the UK, and used a stock photo. I believe serial # 66 had no connection with Ernest Hemingway.

At least they used a real TSMG for the shot unlike the photo on the cover of 'To take arms: A year in the Provisional IRA', which used a Model Gun Corporaton of Japan produced Thompson on the cover.

[BillyDixon]

from what i understand hemminway did own a 1928a1 thompson  in his cuba days, its said he got it from a cuban military officer in a card game,,there are photos of hemmingway shooting at sharks off his fishing boat with a thompson with a drum on it, just sayn

[rpbcps]

25 minutes ago, BillyDixon said:

from what i understand hemminway did own a 1928a1 thompson  in his cuba days, its said he got it from a cuban military officer in a card game,,there are photos of hemmingway shooting at sharks off his fishing boat with a thompson with a drum on it, just sayn

Yep, you are correct, but in the pictures I saw, with him on his boat, Pilar, he has a Model of 1921. It is the serial number of that particular weapon which is the mystery.

[BRMCII]

No attribution. From a magazine account of Hemingway as I recall.
 

[john]

Been a fan of Hemingway all my "reading age" life and am curious to know what Gordon's info says about #66? 

And as an fyi, I've always posted here (since maybe 1999?) as "john" and am in no way  related to "John Jr".

[colt21a]

Hey i remember JOHN JR.AND a few others long gone to the internet.Heck its been like 20 years or longer around here.many good times and a few real sad ones.RON K.

[rpbcps]

On 5/31/2023 at 3:17 AM, rpbcps said:

Hi Michael,

I hope you are keeping well.

Don't quote me on this one, but I am sure that Colt Thompson #66 was owned by Babty & Co of London, Specialists in weapon hire for movies, TV and theatre in the UK. One of the examples in my collection used to be a Babty firearm during its long journey to my house. I think the publisher, Penguin, just wanted a photo of a TSMG for the cover of the book in the UK, and used a stock photo. I believe serial # 66 had no connection with Ernest Hemingway.

At least they used a real TSMG for the shot unlike the photo on the cover of 'To take arms: A year in the Provisional IRA', which used a Model Gun Corporation of Japan produced Thompson on the cover.

Just got an opportunity to look up #66 in Gordon's book 

"It was shipped on the 4/11/21 to Walter Morgan, Auto Ordnance sales manager. Morgan took the gun to England in early 1921 as a sales sample. He was the sales manager in charge of sales for Auto-Ordnance".

It also says:

"In the 1960’s, Bapty & Co of London, suppliers of theatrical props, possessed this gun, which was purchased in the 1940's."