This is the back cover of a 1920's H. & D. Folsom Arms Co. catalog. They bought the design and rights to the Audley safety holster when Francis Audley died and marketed and sold them thereafter as shown on the front of the catalog. Less than $200 for a Thompson with 2 stick magazines and a 50 round drum. Enjoy.
Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

For perspective, you could buy a new car for about $500 in those days too. Wasn't cheap to own back then either.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

The very first Thompson subguns did not have a shoulder stock, as the photo of the policeman wielding one shows.

Here is John Thompson holding one.



Except for a 3" longer barrel, my semiauto 1927A5 "pistol" looks amazingly similar.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Not if you were travelling in style.

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Expect the unexpected

In 1925, you could buy a Model T roadster for $260.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Thompson's original emphasis on design was perceived as a trench-sweeping tool suitable for the conditions of WW1 warfare. Thompson's first production model did not appear until about 1921, or about 3 years after the armistice agreement ending WW1. Deeply in debt from developing the new product, Thompson marketed his products directly to the public. A vast store of advertising exists, complete with depictions of rampaging Indians, cattle rustlers, and every other nightmare that could be sold at that time.

Thompson's products were well-received by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies faced with the realities of "automobile bandits" during the 1920's and 1930's. Needless to say, the bandits also recognized the benefit of being properly prepared for whatever depredations they might be planning.

Very active mail order business, and corner hardware stores were happy to provide Thompson guns to anyone who walked in the door with the necessary cash. The National Firearms Act came along in 1934, requiring registration and (then absurdly high) $200 transfer tax.

Along came WW2. Nations in Western Europe were desperate for arms and equipment, so Thompson/AutoOrdnance (still teetering on bankruptcy) licensed production to Colt, Savage, and perhaps others. Thompson guns were produced by the tens of thousands for England and others facing the Nazi onslaught. By 1942 or so all production was focused on providing US forces preparing to enter the fray. Designs (1921 and 1928 Models) were simplified to facilitate production of the M1 and M1A1 Thompsons, and both Colt and Savage turned them out by the hundreds of thousands.

Those WW2 weapons remained in US inventory (as well as many other nations around the world) for decades. Thompson SMG's were relatively common during my service in Vietnam (1969-71), and I had one for about a year. Absolutely reliable, easy to maintain, very effective within modest (handgun) range. Only downside I recall was the weight, particularly when considering ammunition load required.

Left the Army and joined a police department. In the armory there were half-a-dozen Thompson guns that no one seemed to know what to do with. I was detailed to go through them, strip them down, service them properly, test fire (lots of surplus WW1 and WW2 ball ammo on hand!). Then the best and brightest heads prevailed, and those Model 1921's were traded off for new Colt AR-15 rifles. I recall that we got $200 trade-in allowance for each Thompson gun. The remaining .45 ammo was offered to officers for $0.05 per round, and I grabbed a bunch (both WW1 production and WW2, mostly steel-cased stuff). Still using some of the brass cases now, over 40 years later.

Interesting history. Great post!

Is it me, or does that Thompson look to be about 3/4 scale in comparison to size of the cop holding it? Look at the mitts on that guy!!

But in the same year Ford was also selling these for around 7 K.

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Expect the unexpected

Yup! That is one big feller alright.

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Expect the unexpected

I have mentioned this before, but my smallish home town in southern Ohio's police department had one. I saw it and held it once back when I was a teenager. I doubt it had ever been fired, it looked brand new. It was probably traded off many years ago.

I used to service the Thompson rentals we had when I was helping out in gunsmithing at my local club. They saw a LOT of use but for the most part were trouble free as long as they received frequent a and thorough cleanings. The part that would wear out was the barrels and I had re-barreled ours(aM28 and and an M1A1) more than once over the years. The heart of these guns, the receivers, never wore out. You can contrast this with a newer sub gun like a H&K MP 5 as the receivers had life of around 100,000 rounds before metal fatigue would kick in. We used to gusset the receiver tubes to keep them going as long as possible.
This is to me one of the reasons that even to this day Thompson's 70 years old continue to surface and in general run as good as ever. I saw some pictures of those that were recovered from weapons stashes in Iraq. Unfortunately they could not be brought back by the troops like in the good old days!
Additionally parts kits which used to be available in abundance inexpensively have dried up and a complete kit will go for $1500 + on Gun Broker these days.
Jim

All the 1921 Thompsons had a shoulder stock. It slides on and off by simply depressing the release button.

Curl

You are of course correct - The 1921 detachable stocks extended through the 1928 models. The M1 and M1A1 military guns had bolted-on stocks.

I was referring to the earliest pre-1921 prototypes, the first models of 1919. For reference, see Thompson: The American Legend by Tracie Hill, pp 21-25. These stockless guns were nick-named the "Annihilators." The stocks came later in that series. The policeman photo shows the absence of a rear sight, indicating that the photo was probably staged with a very early gun.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Thompson guys will know what and who this is:

If I could have ONE gun..................................

My inflation calculator tells me that $175 in 1920 equals $2,183 in 2018 dollars. (1147.8% rate of inflation). Even this would be a great price today.

That Pierce Arrow at $8,000 (again, assuming 1920) would be $99,821.60 in today's dollars. Again, ot a bad price for a luxury car.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

I don't know if any of you are familiar with Big Bill Thompson who was the last Republican mayor of Chicago back in the 20s. Several years ago as I recollect they were going over his auto and someone noticed something strange about the running board step to get into the vehicle. Upon further investigation it was found to house a Thompson SMG in a hidden compartment complete with ammo and mags.apparently kept for protection!