founded in 1898 – 1944
East Alton, Illinois
Cartridges made by Western are stamped WCC
- 1886 Franklin W. Olin received an engineering degree from Cornell University
- 1892 one of several investors in the Equitable Powder Company in East Alton, Illinois
- 1893 they made blasting powder for coal mining in southern Illinois
- 1898 Olin formed Western Cartridge Company
– manufactured rifle powder and shotgun shells - 1900 Union Cap and Chemical Company (UCC)
– formed with the Austin Cartridge Company (Ohio) - 1907 purchased the Alliance Cartridge Company
- forerunner of the Olin Corporation (1944)
- 1931 Western Cartridge Company acquired the Winchester Repeating Arms Company
- 1935 formed Winchester-Western
- World War II produced 3 billion rounds of ammunition
- 1944 Olin businesses were brought together as Olin Industries, Inc.
Western Cartridge Company
About Western Cartridge Company
The Western Cartridge Company, founded in 1898 by Franklin W. Olin in East Alton, Illinois, grew from a blasting powder business into one of the most important ammunition makers in American history. Olin had helped establish the Equitable Powder Company there in 1892 to supply southern Illinois coal mines, and Western began making sporting rifle powder and shotgun shells for settlers on the Great Plains. In 1900 it formed the Union Cap and Chemical Company with Austin Cartridge Company to produce primers and rimfire cartridges, and in 1907 it bought the Alliance Cartridge Company.
Western’s high-velocity Super-X brand appeared in the 1920s, first on shotshells and then on .22 rimfire ammunition. In 1931 Western bought the Winchester Repeating Arms Company out of receivership, and the two merged as Winchester-Western in 1935. During World War II Western produced 3 billion rounds of ammunition, while its Winchester subsidiary developed the M1 carbine. Western was absorbed into the Olin organization in 1944, and the WCC headstamp found on many military cartridges identifies Western-made ammunition.
Key Facts
- 1898: Franklin W. Olin founded Western Cartridge Company in East Alton, Illinois
- 1900: Formed Union Cap and Chemical Company with Austin Cartridge Company
- 1907: Purchased the Alliance Cartridge Company
- 1931: Acquired the Winchester Repeating Arms Company
- 1935: Merged with Winchester to form Winchester-Western
- 1944: Absorbed into the Olin organization
Sources
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