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Old 02-05-2014, 09:20 AM
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Question Occupation: "Extractor"?

My great uncle (b. 1886 - d. 1964) worked at Smith & Wesson in Springfield, MA his entire working life. Available Federal census data show the following listed occupations for him, all at S&W:

1910 - Age ~24 yrs - "Toolmaker"
1920 - Age ~34 yrs - "Assistant Foreman"
1930 - Age ~44 yrs - "Mechanic"
1940 - Age ~54 yrs - "Extractor"

Recognizing that not all census data are perfectly true & accurate (or even necessarily meaningful), I'd still like to ask the question: What would the S&W occupation or job description "Extractor" have meant back in 1940?

Any & all help appreciated. I'd really like to solve this family mystery.
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Old 02-05-2014, 05:52 PM
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I don't know, but I will ask Roy Jinks and see if he knows the answer. I will get back to you.

Bill Cross
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Old 02-06-2014, 07:03 AM
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I don't know, but I will ask Roy Jinks and see if he knows the answer. I will get back to you.

Bill Cross
Thank you!
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Old 02-06-2014, 10:02 AM
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Per Mr. Jinks...the job your father had was hand fitting the extractor to the cylinder. It is a very important job and affected the function of the revolver.

Bill
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Old 02-06-2014, 10:24 AM
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^^^^^^^ Is this place GREAT... or WHAT???
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Old 02-06-2014, 10:36 AM
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Per Mr. Jinks...the job your father had was hand fitting the extractor to the cylinder. It is a very important job and affected the function of the revolver.

Bill
It was actually my great uncle... ... but you solved the mystery for me! Thank you very much.

I thought it might be something like that, but in all my historical reading it appeared that they did not use the term "extractor" in those days. It appears that the word "ejector" was the preferred term for the part in question... and hence my confusion. [This is wrong! See corrections below in Posts 9 & 10]

Last edited by TTSH; 02-06-2014 at 02:03 PM.
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Old 02-06-2014, 11:50 AM
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An interesting occupational progression and goes to show that only the most experienced men were tasked with the final hand-fitting of parts back then. Good stuff.
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Old 02-06-2014, 12:20 PM
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An interesting occupational progression and goes to show that only the most experienced men were tasked with the final hand-fitting of parts back then. Good stuff.
It did intrigue me. The first progression from toolmaker to assistant foreman (in 1920 at age ~34) seemed to make good sense. The next progression from assistant foreman to mechanic (in 1930 at age ~44) made less obvious sense to me, but I can think of at least several plausible explanations.

It was the last progression and the term "extractor" (as an occupation) that was the big mystery... now solved thanks to Bill and to Roy Jinks.

My great uncle passed when I was just 14 years old. I am guessing that he retired from S&W at or near age 65 while I was just a toddler... but there is evidence that he still maintained his connections there long after retirement. My father is gone now too, but I recall many conversations with him about my great uncle and how he so loved working at S&W. My mom still remembers some of the stories and shares them with me whenever I ask.

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Old 02-06-2014, 01:09 PM
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in all my historical reading it appeared that they did not use the term "extractor" in those days. It appears that the word "ejector" was the preferred term for the part in question... and hence my confusion.
Semantics trip us up more than anything in the collecting game.

I'm not sure where you have been looking, but that part was always the "extractor", which is part of the "ejector system".
The guns were Hand Ejectors, but that part was the extractor. It was the extractor in Top Breaks, and it was the extractor in Hand Ejectors.

Pics below are from a P-2 parts catalog from the mid 30's-
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 001.jpg (108.4 KB, 32 views)
File Type: jpg 003.jpg (107.7 KB, 35 views)
File Type: jpg 004.jpg (172.3 KB, 29 views)
File Type: jpg 005.jpg (104.7 KB, 30 views)
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Old 02-06-2014, 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by handejector View Post
Semantics trip us up more than anything in the collecting game.

I'm not sure where you have been looking, but that part was always the "extractor", which is part of the "ejector system".
The guns were Hand Ejectors, but that part was the extractor. It was the extractor in Top Breaks, and it was the extractor in Hand Ejectors.

Pics below are from a P-2 parts catalog from the mid 30's-
When you are right, you are right (and you are 100% right!). They were producing "Hand Ejector" revolvers in 1940... but all of the parts that made up the "Hand Ejector" system were actually called "Extractor" parts. My bad for not recognizing that distinction in terminology. Thank you for pointing that out.
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Old 02-06-2014, 03:14 PM
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Many members on this forum call the extractor the extractor star. It is a descriptive term, but incorrect.

I am glad Roy was able to answer your question.

Bill
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