Serial numbers, 'lifespan' of Fox business, etc.

[orpington]

I have often wondered if the businessmen that produced firearms in Philadelphia (this would have mostly been after Ansley Fox's tenure) planned on being there, or really, producing Fox shotguns for only a few generations. Maybe they saw only a limited market over a somewhat limited time frame? That is, based on the serial numbering, if 12 ga Sterlingworth's began at 50,000, they predicted that well under 50,000 graded 12 ga firearms would be produced. Likewise, with graded 20 ga firearms beginning at 200,000, it means that they predicted producing well under 150,000 12 ga Sterlingworth's. Likewise, with 20 ga Sterlingworth's beginning at 250,000, and 16 ga graded guns beginning at 300,000 and 16 ga Sterleingworths beginning at 350,000. Obviously, their foresight proved true, and they obviously predicted producing more 12 ga Sterlingworth's than anything else. Was the obsolescence 'planned' after only a few generations? Or, what was the 'plan' as far as numbering goes, if the allotted numbers in a series were exceeded?

[Mike of the Mountain]

My guess, and it is only a guess, is that the time it took to hand craft each gun led into their decision on where to begin the serial numbering. That and the economics of the times would dictate. There were other depressions/recessions before the big crash that would have affected what cash could be spent on a custom gun and on a "production" gun such as the SW.

[Researcher]

I'm sure if they reached graded 12-gauge serial number 49999, they would have figured something out. Maybe they'd have gone back and used 3001 to 7000 that they appear to have skipped!!
I've felt for some time that the Godshalks, for sure by about 1925, saw that their profits were in their automobile accessories and other light industrial items, not in expensive to produce shotguns with a limited market. I've always wondered what Ansley was thinking to go out and found two companies to build double barrel shotguns, after he'd spent a couple of years on the road shucking the Model 1897 for the big W.

Remington Arms Co. started their Hammerless Double Barrel Shotgun (aka Model 1894) serial numbers at 100000. When their Remington Hammer Double Barrel Shotgun (aka Model 1889) serial numbers reached 100000, they pretty quickly jumped to 200000 and kept going.