The Story of Union Metallic Cartridge Company and Its Products

The Union Metallic Cartridge Company has a rich history that dates back to 1855 when it was founded in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Founded by Oliver Winchester and others, the company started as a small business that manufactured lead bullets.

The company's early products were lead bullets, which were used for hunting and target shooting. These bullets were made from high-quality lead and were known for their accuracy and consistency.

One of the company's early innovations was the introduction of the first self-contained cartridge in 1860. This marked a significant shift in firearms technology, as it allowed for more efficient and reliable shooting.

The company's products quickly gained popularity among hunters and shooters, who appreciated their quality and performance.

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The Union Metallic Cartridge Company, or U.M.C. for short, was established in 1867 by Marcellus Hartley. He foresaw the replacement of paper rifle cartridges by metallic ones and formed U.M.C. to capitalize on this change.

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Hartley was an expert in marketing and finance, but he was totally ignorant of production techniques. He remedied this by hiring Alfred C. Hobbs, a former superintendent of the Howe Sewing Machine Co., to develop manufacturing equipment.

By 1870, Hobbs' production line was producing 120,000 cartridges per day. This was a significant achievement, especially considering the innovative machinery Hobbs had installed.

The company's growth continued, and in 1888, Hartley bought E. Remington and Son, arms manufacturers from Ilion, NY, and combined the firms as Remington-U.M.C.

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U.M.C. produced a wide range of cartridges, including rim fire rounds made by Crittenden & Tibbals Mfg. Co. and C.D. Leet, which were later formed into the Union Metallic Cartridge Company.

The company's early cartridges were made in calibers from 22 through .58, with the first showcase featuring pre-U.M.C. rim fire rounds followed by U.M.C. cartridges in various calibers. U.M.C. center fire rounds were also produced for different gun makers, with their names approximately alphabetized throughout the exhibit.

Some notable U.M.C. products include the Acme, Arrow, and Black Club cartridges, which were all made between 1892 and 1910. The company also produced the Challenge Flower and High-Base cartridges, which were made between 1892 and 1900. Other notable cartridges include the Majestic and Magic cartridges, which were made between 1901 and 1908.

Here are some notable U.M.C. products:

These are just a few examples of the many cartridges produced by U.M.C. over the years. The company's products were widely used by hunters and shooters, and many of its cartridges are still highly sought after by collectors today.

U.M.C. Co. made shot loads for pistols, rifles, and shotguns, with shells ranging from 3 gauge to 32 gauge.

These gauges refer to the size of the cartridge, with gauge being a number derived from how many round balls of lead can be made with a pound of lead.

The U.M.C. Co. shot shells included all-metal shells and paper tube shells, which are more recognizable to the average observer.

Some of the U.M.C. Co. shot loads for rifled arms had a wooden or paper sabot holding the shot load.

Here's a list of some of the U.M.C. Co. shot shell trade names, in approximate alphabetical order:

These trade names were used by U.M.C. Co. in various gauges, and some were made with specific primers, such as the Primrose primer.

U.M.C. Products offers a range of other cartridges that complement their main product lines. These cartridges are designed to be compatible with various gaming systems and devices.

Their 3DO cartridge is a great example of this, with a unique design that sets it apart from other cartridges on the market. The 3DO cartridge was released in 1993 and was one of the first to use a CD-ROM format.

The Atari Jaguar cartridge is another example of U.M.C.'s commitment to innovation, with a sleek design and advanced features that made it a standout in the gaming industry. The Jaguar cartridge was released in 1995 and was known for its fast loading times and high-quality graphics.

U.M.C. also produced cartridges for the Atari Lynx and Sega Game Gear handheld consoles, offering gamers a range of options for on-the-go play. These cartridges were designed to be compact and lightweight, making them easy to carry around.

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