Today The Remington Arms Museum Was Open

Richfield Springs, NY
Cooperstown, KOA

While we were disappointed yesterday when we saw the closed sign, we didn't let that keep us from visiting the Remington Arms Museum today.

  

We did find out that they were filming a 200th year anniversary film for TV yesterday while they were closed to the public.   Can you imagine a manufacturing company in continuous operation for 200 years?  

Eliphalet Remington or Lite as he was called, constructed his first Remington rifle which he used in a contest back in 1816.  The interest and demand from him placing second created a demand for his rifles.  By 1817 he was making two to three hundred guns per year.  

This was the only display of handguns I saw.

When we walked in we saw our neighbor, Mike, who was being shown this Model 700  200th Anniversary edition.  

The commemorative medallion was on the pistol stock.  

I remarked about all the beautiful prints that were displayed, but I neglected to get a photo.

There were a lot of displays about these sporting guns.  

In the years following the Civil War, gun production decreased.  In order to keep the company afloat they began producing the Remington typewriter and in the 1870's Remington sewing machines.

I'm sure you probably remember the old Remington Cash Registers that were produced.  

They also produced bicycles.  I can't explain why every museum we've visited this summer seems to all have bicycles on displays.  Most be the year of bicycles.

When I saw gauge guns, I thought it was the size of the barrel.  

Here's an example of a gauge gun that is no longer used. 

Even though they no longer offer factory tours, they had a video playing that showed all the manufacturing  steps to producing different models.

The Remington family was very generous and I was surprised to learn how many employees are long term.  

Shelia told me she has been an employee for 39 years.  She suggested we check out the parking lot where the employees with 45 years of service are recognized.  You could tell how much she enjoyed working there.  

She was working in the gift shop but took time out to explain interesting things about the family.  We spent plenty in the gift shop, but I thought the prices were great.  

I did ask her how large the plant was.  She said a million square feet.  That's huge!  It was difficult to tell how far back the buildings went, as they were all fenced.  

I asked her for a suggestion of a restaurant.  Without hesitation she suggested Sorrento's.  We headed straight to the restaurant as it was well past lunch time.  Shelia was right about the restaurant, it was great and we have enough left over for dinner tomorrow.  

Shelia had told us how to get to the mansion site and also the cemetery.  When we came out of the restaurant, we forgot all about checking out the other sites until we were halfway back.  

I forgot the other great thing about this museum.  If you don't count what you spend in the gift shop--the museum is free.

We sat outside with our neighbor Mike Aikens.  He is the proud owner of this fifth wheel which is less than a year old.  It's a beauty, he showed us the inside.  

Tomorrow I will tell you about our first stop today at the Erie Canal.  

Turtle Safely.........