3318

Extraordinary Presentation Case with Inscription to Inventor and One Time Colt President E.K. Root F

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:10,000.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
Extraordinary Presentation Case with Inscription to Inventor and One Time Colt President E.K. Root F
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Estimate: $25000 - 50000
This presentation case was given to the one time President of Colt and the designer of the Colt Model 1855 "Root" revolver. Prior to being employed at Colt, Root was hired by Connecticut industrialist Samuel W. Collins to work in his axe factory when he was 24 years old. While there Root reconceptualized the way axes were made. Before Root's invention axes were made flattening wrought iron, folding it around a steel pin and forging the two sides together under a trip hammer. Root arranged a series of dies and rollers that could die forge (apply pressure to a mold) forming a single piece of hot wrought iron into the shape of an ax with the hole already in it for the handle. Root next automated the tempering by inventing a machine that shaved the axes to give them a sharp edge leaving little finishing work on the grindstone. In 1849 Samuel Colt hired Root as a superintendent at the Hartford factory. While there he perfected the Lincoln miller milling machine. 150,000 of the machines were sold in the 19th Century making it the most important machine tool of the era. He also modernized firearms production by designing state of the art drop hammers, boring machines, gauges and jigs. He also improved the milling machine invented by Simeon North. The improved tool was known as the Lincoln Miller. Root's signature appeared on the the patent to the sidehammer revolver specifications as a witness, attesting that Samuel Colt was the inventor and Root has been given the credit as the designer of the Model 1855 revolver. After Colt died in 1862, root took over as the President of Colt's Patent Firearms Co. until his death September 1, 1865. The case dimensions are 10 1/4 inches wide, 6 inches deep and 3 inches high. It is constructed of pine with an attractively grained mahogany veneer. There is an inset silver shield on the lid which is inscribed "Presented to/E K ROOT/By Col Saml Colt/Prest Colt's pt. F.A. Mfg. Co/May 16th 1857". The outer edges of the shield are engraved with floral scroll and punch dot designs and a scallop border. The edges of the lid have a silver reinforcement band and there are two on each corner of the case. The interior features a glass lid and open compartment with blue velvet lining. The glass lid is secured closed by two sliding latches. The lock escutcheon is silver and is floral scroll and punch dot engraved. The interior dimensions are 8 1/4 inches wide, 4 1/2 inches deep and 1 1/4 inches high. Accompanying the case is a typed genealogy sheet of elisha King Root and his wife Charlotte Chaplin.
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Condition: Fine as period modified, reportedly by the family. The interior lining on the lid is absent. Some of the veneer on the bottom edge as chipped off and there are a couple of minor repairs (veneer reglued). The inside edging, which is made of veneered wood, is absent on one edge. The silver hardware has darkened with age. The lining is beginning to come loose on the upper edges, otherwise is very good plus. A very unique piece of Colt history and probably the only chance one may have to buy a presentation Colt case of this significance!.