Rock Island, IL: Rock Island Arsenal Museum

(Satellite, 1,183 photos)

Rock Island Arsenal Museum posted
[Dec 21,] 1904, the first Rock Island Arsenal-produced Model 1903 Springfield Rifle, Serial No. 1, was accessioned into the collection of the Rock Island Arsenal Museum. The main production for the rifle was in Shop B (Building 60) where the Museum is located today.
Serial No. 1 will be on display when the Museum reopens in the Summer of 2023.
Mike Judd: Apparently Springfield Armory also has a serial number 1 https://www.thefirearmblog.com/.../the-first-springfield.../
Douglas Vanatta: Mike Judd there were a couple of other manufacturers and they probably also have a serial number 1.
Friends of Springfield Armory National Historic Site: Mike Judd https://youtu.be/gxUK5wezZbA

1 of 14 photos posted by Rock Island Arsenal Museum
The Rock Island Arsenal Museum opened [July 4] in 1905 and is the Army's second oldest Museum. Originally called, The Ordnance Museum at Rock Island Arsenal, the Museum was located in Building 102 until after WWII when it was relocated to it's current location in Building 60.

10:55 video @ 0:25
Illinois Adventure #1501 "Rock Island Arsenal Museum"
As the largest government-owned weapons manufacturing arsenal in the western world, the Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) provides manufacturing, logistics, and base support services for the Armed Forces. The Arsenal is an active U.S. Army factory, which manufactures ordnance and equipment for the Armed Forces. Some of the Arsenal's most successful manufactured products include the M198 and M119 Towed Howitzers, and the M1A1 Gun Mount.

1 of 7 photos posted Rock Island Arsenal Museum
The Museum collection includes a 1924 Singer sewing machine that was used for production in the early-20th century.

Rock Island Arsenal Museum posted 19 photos with the comment:

[Dec 27,] 1871, Shop B (Building 60) was completed. 

It has had many uses during its 151 year history. It has been home to the manufacturing line for the M1903 Springfield Rifle, the Officer's Club and Enlisted Club, a bowling alley, the Arsenal's cafeteria, the barbershop, and offices.

Today it is home to the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, Army Contracting Command - Rock Island, Arsenal Attic Thrift Shop, and Lock & Dam Lounge 

Mike Davis: I remember when there was a pistol range in the basement in the front of the building.

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Larry Ayer: It sure must have been noisy in operation!
Bob Nolen: This was the telodynamic system. It was only used for a very short time, 3-5 years due to mechanical failures. I do agree on the hazards and wonder how many hands were removed by this.

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Charles Enstrom: What a wonderful cafeteria back in the 50 s. They should be ashamed of how they let the food setup deteriorate into what they currently have.

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Dawn Duskin: I remember this. From when Aunt Mary took us to the museum MANY years ago.
Bob Nolen: I think there's only 1 or 2 of them left now and it's in a plexiglass case because they used to use strychnine in the tanning solution to preserve the hides. Lots of changes over the years and I'm sure there's lots more changes to come.

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ArsenalHistoricalSociety-exhibits
[I wish I could read that telodynamics explanation.  Bob Nelson's comment above is the first time that I have heard of that term.]

video on ria-jmtc @ 0:07
[I could not figure out how to turn of the closed captioning.]
"The Rock Island Arsenal - Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center footprint covers over 30 buildings and over 3 million sq. ft. of manufacturing space.
This state of the art, vertically integrated metal manufacturing facility is a readiness provider for the Department of Defense, designed to meet the needs of America’s Warfighter. Our skills do not make us unique, but we are unique in the fact that we can create product from the initial alloying and casting of raw material through all of the manufacturing processes required to deliver a finished part or system all under one roof.
At any given time, over 300 projects are running through our factory - items as small as a spring to as big as an Ambulance."