5 replies to this topic

[Big Ed]

The Elmira Arms Company has been in business since the 1880's, and I recently read they still exist. Bought some old bills from Ebay, posted below. Apparently JH Smellie was a photographer, since all the items he bought all seem photog related.

Anyway, in looking at these invoices, it would appear these guys did a lot business: the invoice number goes from 572 in February to 9466 in August. The prices are interesting too - looks like a camera sold for $25.00. There are Elmira Arms Catalogs floating around on the internet so maybe I can get ahold of one from 1924.

[Big Ed]

Here's a link to the present day Elmira Arms Company, now located in Gillett - they moved, why else, because New York State hates business. No surprise there...

We commenced moving to the Gillett, Pennsylvania area in June-July 2007, a lengthy and complicated process which we barely finished nearly a year later. We have held a Pennsylvania FFL and State License under the PEACO name for more than 20 years in addition to our New York licenses. We elected to avail ourselves of the more “user friendly” Pennsylvania location to avoid the self-serving activities of politicians, government officials and law enforcement personnel who favor criminals more than the victims, making it all but impossible for a successful business of our kind to operate in New York State.

So 130 years in business and forced out of the state of New York and it's namesake city of Elmira.

http://elmira-arms-peaco.com/

[Bill]

Ran out more likely, owned by a couple of brothers who before they went into the gun business, where used car dealers. They had ...paper work problems.

[Railfan285]

Ed, there's a gap in the business. The original Elmira Arms Co located at N Main & W Market Sts next to the old Colonial Theater went out of business around the time of the 72 flood. The Hartman brothers went into the business in the early 90s (I think) on Broadway in Southport. They were in the auto business prior to that and one of them did a stint as City Personnel Director. They graduated from Southside High and one of them (don't remember which) played some pro baseball with the Yankees I believe as a minor league pitcher.

The paperwork problems that Bill referred to are unknown to me, but the FFL paperwork has been a problem for most in the business for many years.

[Bill]

It wasn't the 4473's that they had a problem with, it was tax paperwork, or so I have been told.

[Railfan285]

could be Bill, my info was 2nd or 3rd handed. I remember the original Elmira Arms fondly. As a young beat cop it was a place to step in out of the weather and they always let us use the phone to call the station.