University of Delaware Library

Special Collections Department

Edwin S. Cramp Papers

1899-1910

Manuscript Collection Number: 202
Accessioned: Purchase 1990.
Extent: 180 items (.2 linear ft.).
Content: Correspondence, financial reports, and clippings.
Access: The collection is open for research.
Processed: 1991 by Lori Bridgers.

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Table of Contents

Biographical Note

 Edwin S. Cramp was the President of the Standard Arms Company which operated out of Wilmington, Delaware. The company was involved in producing and selling the Smith-Condit military rifle to various governments, including those of Great Britain and China. This endeavor included a business agreement between the Standard Arms Company and the Vickers, Sons & Maxim, Ltd. company of Great Britain.

Although Cramp resigned as President of the Standard Arms Company in March, 1909, he continued to be involved with the company and its business. He was also involved with establishing the American Control & Equipment Company, which sought to secure commissions and contracts for war material, ships, railroads, and the development of natural resources in foreign countries.

Scope and Contents Note

 This collection consists of correspondence (1905-1910) to and from Edwin S. Cramp during and after his term as President of the Standard Arms Company. Five individuals figure prominently in this collection: E. S. Cramp, Irenee DuPont (Vice-President of Standard Arms from 1908), Charles M. Dally (private dealer of armaments), H. C. Wilson (Captain and later Major in the U. S. military and associated with the Sub-Target Gun Company), and B. Atwood Robinson (President of the Sub-Target Gun Company). The correspondence primarily concerns the development of designs for automatic machine-guns, and the negotiation of contracts supplying these guns to the military of Great Britain, Russia, and China. The prominent companies involved include: the Standard Arms Company, the Sub-Target Gun Company, the Smith-condit Arms Company, and the American Control & Equipment Company, (USA); the Vickers, Sons & Maxim, Ltd., and the Birmingham Small Arms Company, (Great Britain); and the Hotchkiss Company (France).

Also included in the collection are financial reports of Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co. and Vickers, Sons & Maxim, Ltd. and contemporary newspaper clippings concerning Russia, China, Great Britain, and France.

Contents List

 Folder -- Contents

F1        1905: October - November.  
          C. M. Dally.  Sale of arms to various companies,
          testing and inspection of rifles and automatics.       
          (5 items)

F2        1907:  April - July.  
          C. M. Dally, W. D. Condit, E. S. Cramp.  Design of
          automatic machine-gun for presentation to British
          government.  (10 items)

F3        1907:  August.  
          Wm. K. DuPont (V.P. of Standard Arms), C. M. Dally, E.
          S. Cramp.  (8 items)

F4        1907:  September - December.  
          E. S. Cramp, C. M. Dally, Wm. K. DuPont.  DuPont dies
          in December.  (12 items)

F5        1908:  March - December.  
          E. S. Cramp, A. L. Dawson (of Vickers, Sons & Maxim),
          I. DuPont, C. M. Dally, H. C. Wilson.  Patent of
          noiseless guns.  (11 items)

F6        1909:  January.  
          E. S. Cramp, H. C. Wilson, C. M. Dally, F. L. Emery. 
          Co-operation with Hotchkiss, development of gun for
          Chinese military.  (11 items)

F7        1909:  February.  
          I. DuPont, E. S. Cramp, F. L. Emery, H. C. Wilson. 
          Development of military rifle, proposed negotiations
          with China, Britain, Russia.  (10 items)

F8        1909:  March.  
          E. S. Cramp, C. M. Dally, W. D. Condit, H. C. Wilson,
          F. E. Muzzy, G. A. Lee.  Contract between Cramp and
          Standard Arms, business between Standard Arms and 
          Sub-Target Co., resignation of Cramp.  (13 items)

F9        1909:  April - July.  
          E. S. Cramp, I. DuPont, C. M. Dally, B. A. Robinson. 
          Arms supplies for Russia and China.  (11 items)


F10       1909:  August - December.  
          E. S. Cramp, H. C. Wilson, B. A. Robinson, C. M. Dally,
          I. DuPont.  Design of silencer for machine guns.  
          (11 items)

F11       1910:  January.  
          E. S. Cramp, B. A. Robinson, C. M. Dally, H. C. Wilson. 
          Sale of arms to China, establishment of American
          Control & Equipment Company.  (11 items)

F12       1910:  February - March.  
          E. S. Cramp, B. A. Robinson, C. M. Dally, H. C. Wilson,
          R. E. Budlong.  Same as F11.  (11 items)

F13       1910:  April.  
          R. E. Budlong, E. S. Cramp, H. C. Wilson, B. A.
          Robinson.  Same as F11.  (13 items)

F14       1910:  May.  
          E. S. Cramp, H. C. Wilson, I. DuPont, R. E. Budlong. 
          Same as F11.  (14 items)

F15       1910:  June - September.  
          E. S. Cramp, C. M. Dally, H. C. Wilson, B. A. Robinson. 
          Same as F11.  (12 items)

F16       1910:  October - December; n.d.  
          E. S. Cramp, B. A. Robinson, C. M. Dally.  Sale of arms
          to China, Britain, folding of Standard Arms.  (9 items)

F17       Miscellaneous.  1899-1903, 1909-1910, n.d.  
          Brief financial reports of Sir W. G. Armstrong,
          Whitworth & Co. and Vickers, Sons & Maxim, Ltd.  Also
          newspaper clippings about Russia, China, Great Britain,
          France.  (12 items)
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