On The Side Of Law And OrderVol. 15

"THE THOMPSON LEGEND"$40.00/YR

3RD. QTR., 2009

Web address http://www.nfatoys.com/tsmg/tata

© copyrighted 2009 B/H Dist.

"THE THOMPSON LEGEND"

LAST CALL FOR THE18TH ALL THOMPSON SHOW AND SHOOT

CALL TRACIE AT 740-587-0755IF YOU HAVE NOT MADE RESERVATIONS

Another mad minute from last years shoot.Not really. This is the FBI at Quantico.

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TATA'S EXHIBT AT NRA ANNUAL MEETINGSPHOENIX, AZ

BYRON BROCK

The 2009 NRA Annual Convention was another huge success. This year’s display featured the S/N 1,000,000 M1Garand rifle, which was produced in November 1942 at Springfield Armory and presented to John Garand whenhe retired from the armory on April 30, 1953. The display included several personal effects of John Garandincluding, to highlight a few, his Smith & Wesson Third Model Perfected Target Pistol purchased directly fromS&W, Springfield identification badge, photos, awards, an honorary doctorate degree from Lehigh University,

drafting set, Blue Cross insurance card, and his Medal for Merit (awarded in 1942).This award is the highest commendation presented to a civilian by the US government.John Garand was the second of 401 to receive the Medal for Merit. Also on displaywas a Primer Actuated Garand Rifle, a third generation Model of 1921.

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The display was very well received by the public, judges, and media. Several spectators returned for a second lookor to take photos after realizing they had left their cameras in their cars. The display and related artifacts receivedfour awards on Sunday. Silver medals were awarded to S/N 1,000,000 M1 Garand rifle, and the Primer ActuatedRifle (which was not entered in competition, but awarded the medal based on judges input). The Medal for Meritreceived The Certificate of Recognition, and the entire display won Best Educational Award for ContemporaryArms 1890 –fifty years ago. To put into perspective how close this competition was this year, the display came inthird place separated from first by 5 of 300 points!

I think I speak for all those working the show that we were completely exhausted by Sunday night. However, thecountless stories from veterans of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, that were issued, drilled, trained, or shot an M1Garand far surpassed the sore feet, legs, and backs. Based on our non-scientific research, about 70% haveexperienced an “M1 Thumb.” Those who served in the Army all seemed to admit to the sore thumbs, and in manycases admitted to more than one case. Those in the Marines were either less forthcoming with the “rest of the story”or paid a little more attention to their drill sergeants during training. Many just said, “Once was enough.” The awardfor the youngest case belongs to a son of an Army officer who learned his lesson at nine years old!

THE CROWD WAS HUGH WITH OVER 63,000 THROUGH THE DOORS BYSATURDAY.(BELOW L TO R) JOHN GARAND'S MEDAL OF MERIT, HIS NOTE BOOKFOR THE FIRST TRIALS OF HIS RIFLE, AND HIS CAR BADGES FOR SPRINGFIELDARMORY.

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The American Thompson Association would like to thank: Allan Cors, and Walt Kuleck for providing the artifactson display, Tracie Hill for designing and constructing the display, and all those who helped work to make the displaya huge success. We would also like to extend our deepest sympathy to Allan Cors and his wife Darleen for the lossof their daughter, Darcy. It was truly special to have such an important and historical grouping of memorabiliatogether which really symbolizes the great achievements of WWII and to share them with such a large group ofpeople from young children to veterans of WWII.

(ABOVE) THE TATA MEMBERS WHO HELPED MAN THE BOOTH, (RON AND KELLY BROCK,TRACIE HILL, JACKIE AND RICHARD VENSIL.

(ABOVE) TATA DIRECTOR RON BROCK RECIEVING FOUR OF THE FIVE AWARDSGIVEN TO THE TATA'S EXHIBIT.

THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE THE HANDOUT TATA USED FOR THIS EXHIBIT.

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9ULTIMATE THOMPSON BOOK OUT TAKES

One of the images removed from the "Ultimate Thompson Book" to allow the contents to fit insideof it's covers was the images of the Mills belt markings. These belts were in use since the 1900s inthe US military. Similar designs were in service around the world. The "canvas" or web equipmentbecame popular for it's lighter weight and ability to not rot like that of the leather suspension systemsthat pre dated them.

Mills Woven Belt Company was one of the largest companies of it's time dealing in this market ofmilitary equipment. The Mills Company came up with their own system of dating the productionof items that it sold. The early dating system included the company logo of the name "MILLS"enclosed in the outline of a cartridge and a month and year date mark (i.e.: July 1919).

This dating system can also be seen on the early Auto-Ordnance canvas equipment. The date systemwas created by Mills and used on all of it's product lines and has nothing to due with Auto-Ordnancerequirements. But, as historical caretakers for the items we all collect and preserve, it is a wonderfulway of learning the history of a particular item.

10WARNING!!!!!

DO NOT USE STEEL CASED AMMO INTHOMPSONS

MODEL OF 1928A1 OR M1 CARBINES

A new warning from Kahr/Auto-Ordnance is that they have seen alot of blown up barrels on theirsemi-auto carbine Model 1927A1 and M1s. The problem appears due to the ammunition havingunreliable loading characteristics due to variance in the steel shell weights. This variantion cancause a cartridge with a light power charge and a heavier shell weight to pass quality inspection, yetcause a bullet to not fully leave a 16" barrel. Also, the steel shell will not seal as well to the chamberwalls, compared to a brass cartridge, which can further complicate the problems.

This does not appear to be a problem in pistol barrels, but is a problem for the 16" long barrels. Itis unknown if it is a problem for 10.5" barrels. So ALL Thompson shooters should be aware of thisproblem!

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IT IS HERE AND READY FOR DELIVERYJUST IN TIME FOR

CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!!

800 PLUS PAGES OF INFORMATION AND HISTORYFROM 1900-PRESENT DAY.

COST IS $150 PLUS $12 UPS , CASH, CHECK ORVISA/MASTER CARD

SEND ORDERS TOTRACIE HILL,PO BOX 8710,

NEWARK, OH 43055

PUBLISHED BY:B/H DISTRIBUTION

P.O. BOX 8710NEWARK, OH 43055 ANY AD FOR $6.00 PER AD PER ISSUE

CLASSIFIED ADSCLASSIFIED ADS

"ON THE SIDE OF LAWAND ORDER "POSTERS

18" X 24" FULL COLOR POSTER$10 PER POSTER PLUS $5 S/H, TOB/H Dist. P.O. BOX 8710, NEWARK,

OH 43055.ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE

TATA.

FOR SALE: NEW MANUFAC-TURE! DRUM WINDINGKEYS($100 EA) EXACT REPRO-DUCTIONS, MADE TO COLTERA QUALITY. THESE AREONE OF THE HARDEST SPAREPARTS THAT CAN EVER BEFOUND. READY TO USE ONYOUR DRUMS. WILL WORKON ALL DRUMS MADE UP TO1940. MONEY BACKGUARENTEE. TATA, P.O. BOX8710, NEWARK, OH 43055 740-345-9777 DAYS

FOR SALE: TATA MEMBERSHIP PINS.POLISHED GOLD WITH BLACK LET-TERING. $7 EA. PLUS $1 S/H. ALSOAVAILABLE TATA HATS, BLUE WITHGOLD LOGO AND WHITE TEXT $20,POLO SHIRTS WITH POCKET $35 EA.SPECIFY SHIRT SIZES. TATA, POB8710, NEWARK, OH 43055