The development of the Royal Small Arms Factory (Enfield Lock) and its influence upon mass production technology and product design c1820-c1880
Through a study of the Royal Small Arms Factory (Enfield Lock) and its influence upon product design and development, we examine an apparent anomaly. While accepting that Britain was the seat of the industrial revolution, several historians have claimed that American engineers held the technological advantage in the manufacture of small arms in the first half of the 19th century. Accounts of this disparity in the main have sought economic answers but this thesis examines technological change in relation to the weapons procurement system for the British armed force operated by the Board of Ordnance. Attention is focussed upon the political interplay between the public and private sectors of the gun trade, which was particularly influential in delaying the progress of the British military small arms industry towards the standardisation of weapons through a mechanised system of manufacture. As a result, reliance by the private sector upon traditional labour intensive methods of production remained perhaps longer than would otherwise have been the case. In addressing these issues it is argued that Britain's seeming hesitancy in maintaining her earlier rate of technological progress was the result of a veritable
Lewis, James H.
The development of the Royal Small Arms Factory (Enfield Lock) and its influence upon mass production technology and product design c1820-c1880. Through a study of the Royal Small Arms Factory (Enfield Lock) and its influence upon product design and development, we examine an apparent anomaly. While accepting that Britain was the seat of the industrial revolution, several historians have claimed that American engineers held the technological advantage in the manufacture of small arms in the first half of the 19th century. Accounts of this disparity in the main have sought economic answers but this thesis examines technological change in relation to the weapons procurement system for the British armed force operated by the Board of Ordnance. Attention is focussed upon the political interplay between the public and private sectors of the gun trade, which was particularly influential in delaying the progress of the British military small arms industry towards the standardisation of weapons through a mechanised system of manufacture. As a result, reliance by the private sector upon traditional labour intensive methods of production remained perhaps longer than would otherwise have been the case. In addressing these issues it is argued that Britain's seeming hesitancy in maintaining her earlier rate of technological progress was the result of a veritable
development royal small factory lock influence_upon mass_production technology product design study royal small factory lock influence_upon product design development examine apparent anomaly accept britain seat industrial_revolution several historian claim american engineer hold technological advantage manufacture small arm accounts disparity main sought economic answer examine technological_change relation weapon procurement system british arm_force operate board ordnance attention_focus upon political interplay public_private sector gun trade particularly influential delay progress british_military small arm industry towards standardisation weapon system manufacture reliance private_sector upon traditional labour intensive method production_remain perhaps longer would_otherwise case address_issue argue britain seem maintain early rate technological_progress