Thread: Colonial Ammunition Company - History

I'm looking for comprehensive information on this company. The sources I've looked at on the internet are pretty thin on detail.

What I'd like to know is, if possible, figures for the quantity and type of ammunition it produced during its existence. Any photos of the premises would be grand. When did it eventually go under and why? Lack of demand - bad management, etc?

I've seen a book or two at swap meets, check the whangarei one this weekend? I'd go but I'm on this weekend

Their shot tower was in Mt Eden Auckland, you can go and eat there now.
https://www.facebook.com/C.A.C.BAR/



MMMM what else, Oh that's right it also has a contaminated site file at the Council that will have some interesting info if you like dirt

https://www.ipenz.nz/home/news-and-p...den-shot-tower

So ICI purchased CAC in 1960

now this was new to me - "A little known unique activity of CAC was the commercial harvesting and canning of Toheroa, the large shellfish found on the West Coast beaches North of Auckland. This was carried on for many years until about 1975 when the fishery was closed."
Strange

http://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/87

Search the List | Colonial Ammunition Company Office (Former) | Heritage New Zealand

Sportways Home - Home, Sportways - Sportsways Distributors Ltd was in their old offices for a very long time..

Search the List | Colonial Ammunition Company Office (Former) | Heritage New Zealand

I can bore you all shitless with more of this if you want?

Originally Posted by 300CALMAN

I can bore you all shitless with more of this if you want?

Thanks but had already most of the links you'd posted except:

Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) of the United Kingdom, who had been major manufacturers of explosives with the NOBEL trade mark and following Nobel’s patents for Gelignite, supplied explosives to the New Zealand mining, quarrying and tunnelling activities and bought control of CAC in about 1960. The General Manager of ICI explosives in New Zealand was Dick Hazard, no doubt related to the CAC founder WH Hazard.

So by all means, please continue to bore me shitless...

Originally Posted by muzza

The New Zealand Cartridge Collectors Association has several very good referances on CAC . There has been considerable research done by several members over the years on ammunition manufacturing , and that information has been published.

Thanks, will assume it's been published in book form only?

Originally Posted by Ryan

Thanks but had already most of the links you'd posted except:

Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) of the United Kingdom, who had been major manufacturers of explosives with the NOBEL trade mark and following Nobel’s patents for Gelignite, supplied explosives to the New Zealand mining, quarrying and tunnelling activities and bought control of CAC in about 1960. The General Manager of ICI explosives in New Zealand was Dick Hazard, no doubt related to the CAC founder WH Hazard.

So by all means, please continue to bore me shitless...

@Ryan out of curiosity what exactly are you researching for?

Maybe a PhD in ammo manufacture?

Originally Posted by 300CALMAN

@Ryan out of curiosity what exactly are you researching for?

Maybe a PhD in ammo manufacture?

Curiosity.

An appreciation of history.

Attention to details.

I've got some CAC 308 150gn SP & HP in the safe. In original packets as well.
Too late now to post a pic - tomorrow when I dig them out.

Originally Posted by Ryan

I'm looking for comprehensive information on this company. The sources I've looked at on the internet are pretty thin on detail.

What I'd like to know is, if possible, figures for the quantity and type of ammunition it produced during its existence. Any photos of the premises would be grand. When did it eventually go under and why? Lack of demand - bad management, etc?

Lynn Harris's book is the authority ( a little faster a little further) I have previously written a paper on their Hamilton and australian operations and hope to publish this one say

I think that Im correct in saying that Graham Chapman who imports rifles from Scandinavia (lives in Hawera) owns the CAC brand now?

Graham

Originally Posted by MSL

Graham

Ta. Edited.

Originally Posted by omark

Lynn Harris's book is the authority ( a little faster a little further) I have previously written a paper on their Hamilton and Australian operations and hope to publish this one say

Sounds interesting.

It's sounds like that book might be what you want, actually I would like a e-copy myself I you get your hands on it.