RICHARD J. GATLING - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/14/1885 - HFSID 269335

GATLING TELLS COLT PATENT FIRE ARMS THAT THE STATE OF NEW YORK "HAS SENT TWO GATLING GUNS HERE FOR REPAIRS"
RICHARD J. GATLING. TLS: "R.J. Gatling", 1p, 8½x11½. Hartford, Conn., 1885 April 14. As President, on stationery of The Gatling Gun Company. To Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, Hartford. In full: "The Chief of Ordnance, State of New York, advises us that he has sent two Gatling Guns here for repairs, and that if anything is needed in the way of appendages or spare parts, that he be furnished with a list of the same, before he gives the order for them. As soon as the guns are received, please put them in good working order, and furnish us with a list of the articles required as above." Exactly 20 years before this letter was written, John Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln with a Derringer pistol. Twelve days later, U.S. Cavalry Sgt. Boston Corbett shot Booth with a Colt revolver. By the 1850s, Richard J. Gatling (1818-1903) had become wealthy from agricultural inventions such as machines for sowing rice and wheat. He is best known for inventing the rapid-fire Gatling gun, the first practical machine gun, patented in 1862, the year The Gatling Gun Company was founded in Indianapolis. The Gatling Gun Company moved to Hartford in 1874 when he struck a deal with the Colt Patent and Firearms Company of Hartford to manufacture the device, by then in great demand by the U.S. Navy and Army for various purposes. Gatling moved to Hartford with his family that year, and stayed until his company was officially merged with Colt in 1897, at which time he moved to New York City. Light toning at edges. Accompanied by unsigned book photograph of Gatling with his rapid-fire Gatling gun captioned: "Dr. Gatling with Model 1893 Bulldog". Two items. Fine condition.