Accles Gun

[Mike Blake]

Does anyone know anything about this Gatling variant? I have found a small booklet which seems to be a sales brochure, which I have ordered, but it occured to me that amongst the experts here there might be someone who know something about it. Apparently the US Navy bought some to try, and I am particualry interested in any information about these guns.

Many thanks as always for any help anyone can give me.

Mike

[peter monahan]

Mike

Found this on Amazon:Accles Machine Gun, Carriages and Mounts (1892) [Paperback] J. Accles (Author)

Is that the same brochure you mention? 1 review listed on the Amazon site which says this: "Although the Accles was not issued officially, records show that it was used on some occasions by independent business companies against pirates in the Far East", for what its worth.

Also, http://acclesandshelvoke.co.uk/history.htm covers the history of Mr. Accles with the Colt company - built factories in China for wxample. Hope it helps a bit.

Peter

Edited August 9, 2012 by peter monahan

[Mike Blake]

Thanks Peter - yes, it is. And yes, the involvement in China is fascinating. But nowhere does there seem to be any more information on the USN trial. Strange.

Edited August 9, 2012 by Mike Blake

[Doc]

Given the close relationship between the British Gatling Gun Company and the Accles Firm, I wonder if this was really a new weapon, or if it was simply a copy of the original Gatling Gun, fitted with the Accles Cartridge Feed Mechanism.

The Gatling Gun Co of Holford Mill, Birmingham was formed in March 1888, and bought the rights to the Gatling Gun from the US Company. Mr. Accles was associated with this company after June 1888, and had been making improvements to the Gatling Gun for many years, while employed at the American company. This same year, the company bought the Holdform Mill after National Arms and Ammunition Company went out of business. During 1889 The Mill was refitted and workers employed; Mr J Accles was constructing engineer-in-charge; Mr Accles had made various improvements to the gun over the years^[4]. The gun was manufactured for the company by Messrs Armstrong, Mitchell and Co at Elswick Works. In 1889 the name changed to Gatling Gun and Ammunition Co Ltd, which soon went bankrupt. In 1891 Grenfell and Accles Ltd acquired the company. In 1892 An improved version of the Gatling Gun was displayed at the Birmingham and Midland Institute by Messrs Grenfell and Accles of Perry Barr, but I cannot determine what improvements were included. 1896 New company Accles Ltd was set up as a public company to take over the businesses of Grenfell and Accles Ltd and Accles Arms and Ammunition Manufacturing Co and operate them as going concerns; Mr J. G. Accles would join the board. By 1900-1902, the Accles companies had mostly specialised in bicycles and autos, with limited evidence of ongoing fun work (though they did keep making ammunition), and by 1902 they were pretty much taken over by other firms.

Glasgow Herald 18 November 1899 apparently has an article on the testing of the guns by the US government.

Graces Guide (

http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/J._G._Accles) has lots of information about the intricate web of companies Accles was involved with.

Apparently all of the Model 1883 Gatlings were originally produced with the Accles Feed, which is noted to have been "

way ahead of its time but proved to be too fragile and jammed easily". I have always been of the impression that it was these 1883s with the Accles Feed which are referred to as Accles Guns (I stand ready to be corrected, as this is not my area of expertise.)

[Mike Blake]

Thanks Doc.

I wondered about that too - whether it was just a Gatling with the Accles drum being sold by Accles. But that woyld seem odd given that the US Army adopted the Accles drum for it's Gatlings. So why would the USN then test it again??

I will keep digging, and again, thanks to respondents for there help, it is much appreciated.

[Doc]

Perhaps because the Army found the Accles Drum less than satisfactory?? Again, not my area, and I am only guessing. Doc