Lithgow Small Arms Factory

[chilliman]

I was passing through Lithgow on Friday and thought I'd call around to see if the Aussie home of the 303 was open. you wouldn't believe it, it's closed on Fridays.

has anyone been for a look?

http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithgo ... ms_Factory

http://www.lithgowsafmuseum.org.au/

[Guliver]

Went through their museum about 18 months ago, well worth a look, very surprised at the number of non firearm related stuff they have produced over the years.

[Seconds]

Yeah it's good.

Tonnes of non-firearms related stuff.

Sowing machines aren't really my thing but if you like sowing and shooting I guess it's perfect for you

[Warrigul]

Been through twice in the past three years, definately worth the effort.

Yep, pays to check the opening times before heading off.

[chilliman]

luckily for me I was heading back to Sydney from Dubbo so I just happened to be passing through - would have been very disappointed if I'd made a special trip to see the museum

[Harts]

Sowing machines aren't really my thing but if you like sowing and shooting I guess it's perfect for you

Er, Lithgow made sowing machines once or...

What? I'm confused

[Guliver]

Lithgow made lots of stuff under contract as a lot of engineering companies do, from the wikipeadia link in the op.

Opened on 8 June 1912, the factory initially manufactured Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield Mk III rifles (and bayonets thereof) for the Australian military during World War I. During World War II production expanded to include Vickers machine guns, Bren Guns, and, post-WW2, branched out into sporting goods (including civilian firearms and golf clubs), tools, sewing machines, (from the mid-1950s) the F1 submachine gun, L1A1 Self Loading Rifle, KAL1 General Purpose Infantry Rifle rifle prototype and similar products. The Small Arms Factory at Lithgow was known to produce their single shot models 1A and 1B as well as their model 12 repeater under the Slazenger brand during the 1960s.

The factory was first 'corporatised' as Australian Defence Industries by the Hawke Government, then later sold in 2006. ADI Lithgow is now owned by Thales Australia and continues to manufacture the F88 Austeyr rifle and F89 Minimi currently used by the Australian military. There is a museum on site with a large collection of military and civilian firearms manufactured at the factory and elsewhere.

I also remember seeing handcuffs and the like, Not mentioned about but I'm sure the did castings for mixmasters.

[FourFingersof Death]

The museum is staffed by volunteers.

[Hercl]

Sign me up

(p.s. not for the sowing machine section )