Hotchkiss: 1920

ALTHOUGH the Coventry works of Hotchkiss et Cie were only established in 1915, the history of the Company began in the early sixties, during the American Civil War. At that time the Hotchkisses, father and son, were extensive manufacturers of munitions for the Federal Government, and the Hotchkiss shell was the standard projectile for muzzle-loading field and garrison artillery.

During the Franco-Prussian War, Mr. B. B. Hotchkiss was invited to France by the Committee of National Defence, where he organized a factory at Viviez, and there manufactured metallic small arms ammunition until the close of hostilities. This factory was then abandoned, and works were established in Paris, where the famous Hotchkiss revolving cannon was developed as a defence against the earlier types of torpedo boat.

To meet the demands for this weapon, which was eventually adopted by nearly every navy in the world, works were established, in 1875, at St. Denis, near Paris, and have been in active operation to this day.

Here were developed the Hotchkiss quick-firing and semi-automatic guns, adopted by every country in the world save Germany, and the Hotchkiss automatic machine guns, destined to play such an important part in the allied victory.

Here, too, were designed and manufactured the Hotchkiss cars, which quickly won universal reputation through their exceptional qualities. Hotchkiss et Cie were pioneers in the application of the live axle and cardan drive to high power cars, and they initiated many valuable improvements in motor car construction which have since become standard throughout the world.

Soon after the outbreak of war, in 1914, the French military authorities ordered the removal of the Hotchkiss machine gun plant from St. Denis, and this was accomplished in the early days of September, when the German armies were almost at the gates of Paris. Overcoming, seemingly, insurmountable difficulties, the plant and personnel were transferred to Lyons, and in twelve days the plant was again in operation. From a relatively small beginning, two extensive plants were developed at Lyon-Monplaiser and at Lyon-Vaise, and the enormous requirements of the French and Belgian armies were not only satisfied, but it was also possible to equip with Hotchkiss guns the first American divisions to arrive in France.

In the spring of 1915, at the request of the British Government, a machine gun plant was organized at Coventry. Extensive building operations were undertaken, a vast equipment in machine tools provided, and, before the armistice brought work to an end, over 40,000 machine guns, with spare parts and accessories, had been supplied from the Coventry works alone. These machine guns provided the armament for the British tanks and the British cavalry.

Since the completion of war work, the extensive plant of Hotchkiss et Cie has been rapidly adapted to the requirements of general engineering. The special equipment for machine gun manufacture has been supplemented by new machine tools of latest design; the floor area of nearly 100,000 square feet has been considerably increased, and already the works are engaged in quantity production of motor engines and change-speed gears, to that high standard of workmanship and design which has made the name of Hotchkiss famous for over half a century. Hotchkiss et Cie are now in a position to undertake contracts for the manufacture in quantity, and under economical conditions, of machines, engines and components, requiring interchangeable workmanship of the highest quality.

See Also

• Hotchkiss