The year was 1964, my job was manager of "Steel Stores" 18B Winchester Ave, New Haven Ct. Then we stored up to 3.4 million lbs. of steel and castings for the initial phases of manufacturing Winchester firearms. Our department cut the barrel blanks, straightened, pickled, stamped, cut small parts and supplied all the raw metals through the plant. We were under government contract for the M-14, making sporting rifles and shotguns and producing all the ammunition three shifts could turn out. The plant employed approx. 15K to 20K workers skilled in the many aspects of manufacturing. It was a very busy and happy place to work and easy to make life long friends that had one common goal.... their love of Winchester Firearms and pride in the products we produced. I will always have fond memories and of working with these fine crafts people and be proud of the few short years I had the privilege to be employed there.
Burned in memories; The pungent heavy air in the acid pickling room, the worker that pushed the enclosed cart full of thousands of primers from the primer vault to the ammunition production area along yellow painted lines on the pavement, the constant fine mist from the roof "misters" to prevent dry static shock and chance of powder ignition, the eye stingers caused by the mixing of the mist and the exhausted acid fumes from the pickling room, the guards friendly greeting each morning at 6:30am as everyone reported to their sections to begin another busy interesting day, the two teenagers that daily fired thousands of rounds of RamSet fasteners into the concrete floor of the old power plant testing the Ramset guns until they failed, the test range, the secret hide aways with coffee pot where we would meet for a break and to discuss company issues. The Winchester Museum was impressive and to be able to use the on site range was a blessing.
Glad I had the chance....
Pete K.
