Colt M1849 inscribed "J.B. Van Hagen, Nevada City Cala." Sheriff IN

1859-60, Led Brief Indian War.

Civil War Colt M1851 Navy, inscribed "Presented to Col. John Warner by

Offi cers of the 108th Ill. c1862.

Remington - Elliot, inscribed "Judge James Kelly/Caldwell Kan-sas" - A Wild Cattle Town c.1880's.

Smith & Wesson Old Army #2, inscribed "Presented to J.F.E. Chamberlain by His Friends at the U.S. Armory" Pvt. Co. A

46th Mass. Vol. Mil.

Civil War Lefaucheux, Carried by Pvt. John Wysong of Eaton, Ohio.

S&W 1 1/2, Deluxe Nimschke Engraved, Pearl Grips, In-scribed "John Baird" V.P.

Metro. R.R. Co. N.Y.

NEXT MEETING

JANUARY 10-11, 2009 ROBERTS CENTRE

WILMINGTON, OHIO

A fi ne, educational exhibit by Jerry Pitstick featured at our last meeting. Jerry (right) with Civil War Colt M1851 and our new president Frank S. Hodges, Jr., with Smith & Wesson Old Army #2, inscribed "William T. Orchard," Pvt. in 30th Co.

Mass Heavy Artillery.

PAGE 2

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

The 2007 Board of Directors and Past Pres

idents

OFFICERSPRESIDENT

Frank S. Hodges, Jr.

FIRST VICE PRESIDENTCecil Parker

SECOND VICE PRESIDENTJim Tekavec

SECRETARYJoe W. Pittenger

TREASURERThomas L. Kyser

DIRECTORS2009-2010-2011

Frank Becker, Jr.Thomas E. Bowersox

Jon Chorpenning2008-2009-2010

Charles D. MetcalfCharles D. Rush

Kenneth Seminatore

2007-2008-2009Terrie L. HillFrank Kern

Robert Ray Preston

BUSINESS OFFICEOGCA P.O. Box 670406

Sagamore Hills, OH 44067-0406Laura Knotts, Business Mgr.

PH: (330) 467-5733Fax (330) 467-5793

Email: ogca@ogca.comWeb: www.ogca.com

Inside - January '09 PgDirector Election 3CRDF Knife 3The FN Story - Nemec 4Cleveland That Once Was 5Cosseck Pistols 6Snowbird/Lee County 7Applicants 8Guest Pass Form 11Table Application 13Passages / Newton Book 15BunkHouse 16Membership Dues 16

The November meet-ing was exciting with the director’s election and a great turn-out of 678 guests and 199 new ap-plicants. We are gearing up for a busy 2009, and I am honored to be your new president. I want to thank Joe Pittenger for his hard work during his term as president and for accepting the offi ce of OGCA Secretary where he will remain an asset to the association. I also want to welcome Tom Bowersox as our new Director and congratulate returning Directors, Frank Becker, Jr. and Jon Chorpenning. Tom Kyser was elected by the Board to another term as OGCA Treasurer, and we have a new Executive Committee with Cecil Parker moving up to First Vice President and Jim Tekavec to Second Vice President. Thanks to all of you who voted, those who ran, and to those who took the time to offer their services to the OGCA including the Nominating Commit-tee.

We are happy to say that we had several mem-bers of our military sign up as applicants at the November meeting. Reminder that one-year dues fees are waived for active duty members as per the last newsletter. Jerry Klinger’s son, Sgt. Jeremy Klinger, U. S. Air Force who just returned home from Afghanistan joined his Dad on Saturday at a recent meeting. Jeremy had a few days leave and came to Ohio to run in the Air Force Marathon in Vandalia the same week-end as our meeting. We want to thank all of our military for their service to our country.

People come from all over the state, country and world to attend our meetings. In September, fi ve people from Australia were present. We see loyal members each meeting from places like Iowa, Georgia, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, California, Alaska and many other far states. (I would mention Florida, but I hear we export more members than we import from this state as per the article on page 7.) I believe OGCA is worth the drive/fl ight. When the meet-ings were at the IX Center, I almost never missed a meeting even if it meant having to make the 4 hour drive to go home and back in one week-end. Our site search efforts will continue under the able hands of Director Charles Metcalf. In the meantime, to those of you who have not joined us lately, please come and check us out at The Roberts Centre in Wilmington, Ohio.

To those of you who are unable to attend espe-cially due to health or family situations, we are thinking of you and enjoy your notes and letters. We hope that the many great photos by Pete Cox and Bob Wos contained herein make you feel like you were there.

The cover of this newsletter features the Novem-ber Featured Display by Jerry Pitstick entitled

“Identifi ed Guns and Their Published Stories: Smok-ing Guns, Real People, Tales of Adventure.” Jerry has always taken gun col-lecting one step further by learning the history of the gun and its owner. Jerry’s articles have been in many publications such as the Civil War Historian, Man at Arms and The Gun Report. Jerry, you need to write a book! We want to thank the Civil War Histo-

rian magazine for supplying Jerry with so many copies of their recent edition for our members to pick up and enjoy. We also want to thank Jerry for his great display and for all the copies of his articles from other magazines that he took the time to make for us. Like genealogy, tracing the history of a gun and its owner can be a very rewarding experience. I am sure that if you are interested in this endeavor Jerry will be there to help you.

We also look forward to a display by the mem-bers of Big Irons S.A.S.S. (Single Actions Shoot-ing Society) at the January 10-11 meeting. We need YOU to be our Featured Displayer for March 14-15, 2009 so give us a call if you are interested.

After much research, we are working with the post offi ce to track this mailing. Many members have alerted us of their newsletter arriving so late – sometimes a full 3 weeks from when we mailed them. All newsletters are mailed “bulk” at the same time and pass through approximately 3-5 postal facilities before it reaches you. We have noticed a marked decline in service in re-cent months and our objective is to determine what or where the hold up is. As always, you do not need to wait for your mailing to reserve table space - sign up at the prior meeting, pick up table applications in the foyer and mail it from home at your convenience, or call your reserva-tion in to the business offi ce.

Your Board of Directors are now looking ahead to our busy season especially January, March and May including the Display Show and Ban-quet coming up the weekend of May 30-31. Di-rector Robert Ray Preston is the Display Show Chairman, Terrie Hill is the Banquet Chair and Jon Chorpenning is Chair of the NRA 2009 Display Committee. If you have any questions regarding these areas, please see these Direc-tors. Have a happy and healthy Holiday Season and see you January 10-11th!

Sincerely

Frank S. Hodges, Jr.President

OGCA President Frank Hodges, Jr., with his wife, Janet.

PAGE 3

OGCA ELECTION RESULTS - BY FRANK S. HODGES, JR.

BUCK KNIFE SERIAL NO. 1 TO BE RAFFLED JANUARY 11TH, 2009 TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM OGCA CIVIL RIGHTS DEFENSE FUND (CRDF) COMMITTEE

Our new Executive offi cers: First Vice President, Cecil Parker; Presi-

dent Frank Hodges; and Second Vice President, Jim Tekavec.

Three 1st Place CategoriesAntique - Modern - Military

For information

on exhibiting

return the

green postcard

enclosed in this

mailing or send

us an email at

ogca@ogca.com!

I am pleased to announce the results of the election for director of OGCA. A to-tal of 511 ballots were cast.

Frank Becker, Jr.. 324Thomas E. Bowersox 251Jon E. Chorpenning 233Richard Rohal 161Sean A. McCarter 129John DeBin 117

Frank Becker, Jr., Jon E. Chorpenning and Thomas E. Bowersox were elected to the Board of Directors for the 2009-

2010-2011 term. In addition, the Board of Directors unanimously elected Cecil Parker to the offi ce of First Vice Presi-dent, Jim Tekavec to the offi ce of Sec-ond Vice President, Tom Kyser to Trea-surer and Joe Pitttenger to the offi ce of Secretary.

Our Offi cers and Board members are there to help you with any concerns, so please see the tables with the orange fl ags. We certainly have a great team with which to move forward.

May 30 & 31, 2009 - The Rober ts CenterTHEME: FIREARMS OF THE WORLD

FIRST PLACE ANTIQUE* $2,000 FIRST PLACE MILITARY* $2,000FIRST PLACE MODERN* $2,000SECOND OVERALL $1,500 THIRD OVERALL $1,000 ROBERT RUBENDUNST BEST EDUCATIONAL AWARD* $1,000MEMBER’S CHOICE AWARD $850 BEST 1ST TIME DISPLAYER $850 JUDGES CHOICE: ANTIQUE–MILITARY–MODERN $500 EACH

*Award Includes a numbered Minuteman Freedom Bronze

If you have been a fi rst place display winner within the last 5 years, you must change your display at least 30% or more.

Display Show Chairman - Director Robert Ray Preston row H (orange fl ag)

Custom buck knife serial #1 of 25 will be raffl ed at noon on Sunday, January 11th at the Roberts Centre. Tick-ets are available to members, spouses and guests from Ken Seminatore, Jim Tekavec or Ron Clark up until 11:30 am on Sunday. Don't miss out on the opportunity to have this one of a kind knife. Benefi ts CRDF!

THE FN STORY - BY RICHARD J. NEMEC

PAGE 4

FIREARMS technology advanced at a rapid pace during the latter part of the 19th Century. The transition from black to smokeless gun powder combined with the ability to mass-produce interchange-able parts helped usher in the modern age of rifl ery. Liege, Belgium has long been associated with the arms industry. In 1888, the Belgian army decided to re-place their obsolete rifl es and rearm with the Mauser Model 1889 rifl e. The Mauser factory in Oberndorf, Germany could not manufacture them soon enough and nei-ther could any single Liege arms maker. A syndicate of Liege gun makers resolved this problem. The idea of combining their resources and starting a new company meant that Belgians, in their own fac-tory,, could manufacture the weapons. Fabrique National d'Arms de Guerr S.A. (Translation: National Factory for Military Arms or simply FN) was incorporated on July 3, 1889. The location selected was Herstal, a suburb of Liege. On July 12, 1889, FN was awarded the contract to supply the War Department with 150,000 clip loading, magazine rifl es. The Mauser fi rm received royalties. FN successfully fulfi lled its fi rst military contract on sched-ule in 1894, and quickly began manufac-turing cartridges for those rifl es.

In 1897, American fi rearms inventor John Browning met Hart Berg, a FN represen-tative who was visiting the United States. Fabrique Nationale needed new products and Mr. Browning had just designed a new handgun. Mr. Browning’s prototype was immediately sent to Belgium for eval-uation and a partnership between the two was formalized. This collaboration re-sulted in the Model 1900 automatic pistol. In 1902, Mr. Browning traveled to Europe and granted FN a license to manufacture the Browning A-5 automatic shotgun. In 1907, FN acquired the exclusive right to use Browning as a factory trademark. In rapid succession millions of Brown-ing patent pistols, rifl es, shotguns and machine guns were sold worldwide. In 1926, after 60 trans-Atlantic crossings, John Browning died at the FN plant while perfecting his Superposed shotgun and a high capacity pistol that evolved into the “Browning High Power.”

The Great Depression and two world wars would test the resilience of FN. In 1914,

Germany invaded Belgium. Company management responded by closing the factory and stockholders sequestered the corporation. After the armistice, fi rearms production resumed. WW II was quite a different story. Nazi Germany comman-deered the plant. Under the direction of DWM, Fabrique Nationale was forced to supply munitions to the German army. Severely damaged by bombing, the FN factory was quickly rebuilt. In 1945, FN received a contract to recondition all U.S. small arms in Europe.

Numerous post WW II confl icts and the shooting sport industry-required fi rearms of all descriptions. FN was structured to accommodate the demand. In 1971, the company changed its name to Fabrique Nationale Herstal. When the Cold War ended, FN received a contract to make M16A 2 rifl es for U.S. army. In 1981, they built a new plant in Columbia, South Carolina. Currently, FNH-USA is dedicated to government contract work and provides 70% of the arms used by the U.S. military. In 1986, FN acquired an interest in U.S. Repeating Arms. That same year, FN Browning became the exclusive worldwide distributor of Winchester trademarked arms. In 1988, it became the sole owner of Browning U.S.A. The only component in FN’s legacy that remains unchanged is their commitment to excellence.

My experience with Fabrique Nationale spans four decades. Recently, I had the good fortune to acquire a FN Patrol Bolt Rifl e XP. It’s built on a pre-64 Model 70 style action. Originally introduced by Winchester in January 1937, as a sport-ing rifl e, FN refi ned and re-confi gured this time-tested design into an incredibly accurate tactical rifl e. Chambered in .308 Win and equipped with a factory mounted optics rail, 30 mm FN rings and a mill-spec scope, my rifl e consistently shoots ½” MOA groups. Colonel Townsend Whelen would have been proud to own this “Rifl eman’s Rifl e.”

In closing, I wish to sincerely thank Bob Ailes of FNH-USA for his assistance and the OGCA for their gracious hospitality.

Acknowledgement: “FN – Browning, Armorer to the World”

Richard Nemec (right) with Jim Swansiger delighted members with this great display of FN rifl es and memora-

bilia at the September 20-21 OGCA meeting.

A couple of favorites from the display

The September 20-21 exhibit included some beautiful cased fi rearms by FN.

Outstanding poster art included in the display.

PAGE 5

With regards to the ongoing controversy of private ownership of fi rearms, permit me to tell you the way it once was in Cleveland, Ohio. Some of this author’s personal expe-riences with that issue as a youth are likely endemic to other cities.

At age 14, I acquired my fi rst fi rearm at Sears Roebuck and Co., on Carnegie Ave-nue. I purchased a sporting arm by myself, a 16 gauge J.C. Higgins bolt action shot-gun at their sporting goods counter, with Christmas gift money. Also, I purchased shotshells with it.

A year later, at age 15, I acquired my sec-ond fi rearm. It was brought home by my downstairs neighbors’ son on Crawford Road in his US Navy duffl e bag from the far east theater of war. He generously gave me the fi rearm – a Japanese World War II military carbine in mint condition. A scarce gun today, in that condition.

I carried the carbine, minus its wooden stock, on a Cleveland streetcar downtown to Hart Arms at 201 Huron Road. Just imagine! A real gun shop in Cleveland. I needed cartridges (bullets) for it. A few of the persons on the streetcar smiled, but otherwise, no one, including the conduc-tor and motorman objected. Hart Arms said that they had no ammo for it. Crossing Public Square, gun in hand, I successfully purchased ammunition for it at the May Co. sporting goods counter on Euclid Ave. It was no hassle for this teenager.

Now, consider this. When I was a student at Addison Jr. High School, located at East 79th St and Hough Avenue, the school principal had planned to have a gun dis-

play in the school display case and asked the students to bring guns from home. If I remember right, that was in 1946. Many students did bring interesting fi rearms to school, making a very nice display. How-ever, someone broke into the school over-night, via the front door entrance, and stole all the guns! None were ever recovered if the reports were correct.

One may ask here: “Did your parents own guns?” Frankly, no. They had no interest in fi rearms but didn’t object. This may be interesting also. When my two sons, one now a pharmacist, and the other one a government criminal investigator, were ages 12 and 10, my wife and I gave them Christmas gifts. Each boy received an Italian military Carcano carbine. You know, of course, the very same type of rifl e that Oswald used to assassinate President Kennedy. So they say.

I purchased them with my sons at Whitey’s Army and Navy store on Prospect Avenue. We took the guns out of an empty fi fty-fi ve gallon Oil drum with a sign on it that said “$7.00 each.” The drum held about twenty rifl es in it. I later removed the fi ring pins to be sure they would not fi re. As a Cleveland fi refi ghter, and a war vet-eran residing temporarily in Medina County for awhile, one of my daughters, a student at Highland Junior High School, was asked to bring, from home to school, something unusual for “show and tell.” I permitted her, my oldest daughter, to take my army US M1 Carbine to school on the school bus. She said it was “a hit” on the bus and in the class.

I remember well, as do many of you Cleve-landers, the basement exhibit in the West-ern Reserve Historical Society Museum in Cleveland. In the basement of the Mansion House, there used to be a glass-sealed room, full of semi-modern fi rearms, includ-ing machine guns, which came home as souvenirs of earlier wars brought here by Society Museum offi cers and members that went to war. Children loved that exhibit.

So, what part has fi rearms, in my youth, played in this native Clevelander’s adult life? I guess it could be said it prepared me for the inevitable. At age 20, I entered the US Army. My combat infantry unit, in the Korean War, issued me three guns at one time. Among other things, my duties included dispatch rider/company runner.

I was issued an M1 Garand Rifl e, an M2 carbine, and a Colt .45acp semi-auto-matic pistol, plus I slept with a light weight Colt Commander .45acp automatic pistol I obtained from a UN Belgium soldier for $20.00, who needed it for brothel money.

It was an exact match to my Colt Com-mander at home with my wife on Division Avenue.

My work consisted of trench warfare, ag-gressive patrol action and mountain as-saults. Small arms, including the bayonet, was our stock in trade. I fear more for my life now on Cleveland streets than I did in the war. Today, a potential murderer, who desires to blow your head off, and they are legion, can assume you probably are not armed in Cleveland. In an earlier time, the opposite was the case.

Clevelanders enjoyed a time at the turn of the twentieth century when a great de-terrent to murder was gathering together hundreds of people to watch a hanging on Public Square of a convicted murderer. You take a life - you forfeit yours.

My, how times have changed. Guns are now still popular, especially in Cleveland, with many school students taking guns to schools, churches, etc. as a status symbol for a “show and tell” of their own.

I have saved to the last this nostalgic tidbit that may warm your heart. In point of fact, one could actually visit an amusement park in the Cleveland area in those days, such as Puritus Springs Park on Cleveland’s west side near Rocky River valley, and potentially, win a genuine little .25 caliber automatic pistol! As one walked down the

THE CLEVELAND THAT ONCE WAS AND NOW IS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF GUNS - BY WILLIAM C. BLYNN

William C, Blynn at age 17, with Moss-berg .22 cal. Target rifl e in Brecksville,

Ohio (a suburb of Cleveland)

The author with .45 cal. Colt automatic pistol in holster on webb belt and M2

Carbine on front lines in 1952 Kumwha North Korea at age 20.

THE CLEVELAND THAT ONCE WAS (CONTINUED ON PAGE 6)

PAGE 6

Glenville area, near Crawford Rd and Hough. A few of the original commercial buildings still stand where once there was a bustling shopping center. The shells of the bank building and the Hough Library are still there and they pleasure my memory. The Hough theater and the Market Basket grocery are gone. Much to the credit of the Western Reserve Historical Society, they do have several original store-fronts, such as the Crawford Saloon on the basement level.

The reason I mention all that is it had much to do with my liking of guns. There was a hardware store on Hough near Hough school. Some of us schoolboys, on occa-sion, stopped in and nurtured our fascina-tion with the rack of rifl es, which included Winchester, Remington, Marlin, Lever, and bolt-action rifl es. Who could forget the looks of those wood fi nishes and blueing? The hardware store also sold beautiful Bowie style Case sheath hunting knives. In a Depression, these were the things dreams were made of. All the western movies were so common in those years—remember Stagecoach? The best I could manage to acquire in those days was a cap pistol. Gene Autry was on the plastic grips of my capgun.

If you do not already know it, the contro-versial 2nd Amendment to the Constitu-tion was inserted, not just so one could hunt rabbits or defi nd again criminals or invaders, but it was absolutely felt by most

founding Fathers that we should be able to defend ourselves against our future gov-ernment, if necessary.

Adios, amigo. Keep your powder dry and watch your back in Cleveland and in all the other big cities.

THE CLEVELAND THAT ONCE WAS (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7)

William Blynn has been a member for over 45 years and a past display

show particpant. Above, enjoying the great outdoors with his pal Jojo.

We want to thank Neil and Julia Gutterman for their great display of Cosseck Pistols at the September meeting. Following is an ex-cert from their display.

Georgia is a region in the south-central Caucasus with a long history of weapons production. Tifl is, the capital of Georgia, had an arms-production center composed of craftsmen from Georgia as well as Armenia, Dagestan and Ossetia. Attribu-tions of a particular Caucasian weapon to Georgia or any other region, can be made if there is a Tifl is, or other regional silver-guild hallmark, on the weapon or any of its associated accessories. The Georgian people, because of their similar Christian religion, were more receptive to the series

COSSECK PISTOLS of Russian victories in the Caucasus dur-ing the 19th century, whereas the people of Dagestan and Circassia resisted Rus-sian occupation and substantial numbers emigrated.

Circassia is the northwestern region of

the Caucasus but unlike Georgia it had no major weapons-production center. Rather, weapons production was undertaken by village craftsmen and forearms production usually involved imported Turkish barrels. Accordingly, the presence of Arab script is more likely on Circassian arms than on arms from Georgia. Due to the exodus resulting from the Russian victories of the

mid-19th century. Circassian arms dated after 1861 are extremely rare. Most Cir-cassian arms to be found today are from the 18th century or the fi rst half of the 19th century. There is very little difference in the appearance in technology of arms throughout that period, as there was little change during that 50 year period. The North Caucaus regions, including Circassa and Chechova were subject to severe repression under both the Imperial Rus-sian government and the Soviets. Arms possession was strictly prohibited, and routine searches and confi scation of even heirloom weapons was widespread.

boardwalk, there was a toss game where one would purchase balls to throw at fuzzy dolls, standing in a row. Your reward could be pleasing if the doggone dollies would just cooperate.

Upon relating how I could have possibly won a real .25 caliber German pocket automatic pistol at Puritus Springs Park as a teenager, reminds me of another .25 caliber German automatic pistol of three decades later in my life. I was approached by the owner of another identical German pistol to see if I might arrange a donation of his gun to the West Point Academy Mu-seum. His pistol was well-known to me and it would be an honor to handle the matter. It took one telephone call to the curator to hear a resounding yes! The pistol was on its way to a new permanent home on the Hudson. The pistol was a Menz Lilliput (remember the Lilliputians of Gulliver’s Travels?) It was gold-plated and totally engraved, and documented to have been Adolf Hitler’s own. What a match to the West Point Museum’s own Smith & Wesson military and police model revolver, once owned by Reichsmartial Hermann Goering. Doubtless, both guns can be seen there today.

Oh, and I must not forget what environ-ment had on the gun issue. I resided in what is now known as the Hough and

Neil and Julia Gutterman

PAGE 7

ANNUAL MIGRATION OF THE SILVER HAIRED SNOWBIRD

Although it has a tough, wrinkled face and chronic joint problems, the silver haired snow bird is graceful on the wing as it leaves Ohio in search of milder cli-mates.

The migration season has begun and sightings are coming in along the entire I-75 South corridor to its peculiar nest-ing grounds in Ft. Myers, Florida.

Wildlife experts suspect that the near-sighted creatures are attracted to the colorful Araba Shrine Temple with its plentiful nearby food supplies.

It seems the unique prey of the silver haired snowbird are old guns of all types and it just so happens that the Shriner's hall is home of the Lee County Gun

Show. There, you'll fi nd a selection of old guns and fi rearm collectibles along with a fl ock of fellow OGCA members.

Some of these silver haired snow birds have been captured in the photos be-low. The more elusive ones include Joe Cabot, Don Mitchell, Macy Hall-ock, Dave Taylor, Bill Myers, Francis Parrott of Indiana, Herb Ratner, Jr., of Pennsylvania, Walter Earl of Alaska and Wally Neys of Illinois.

The Lee County Gun Show was started by the late Everett Resh and is now in the able hands of his wife and daughter. The widely known Mr. Resh was a mem-ber for an incredible 43 years until his passing on September 8th. A snowbird, himself, Everett's summer home was in

Lee County Gun Show started by the late Everett Resh member from 1965 to 2008

Standing: OGCA's Second Vice President Jim Tekavec. Sitting from left: Treasurer, Tom Kyser; Past President

Walt Goulet and Tony DeNapoli

the northwest part of Ohio in Gallion. He worked for Boy Scouts of America and owned Collectors Unlimited An-tiques. He was a frequent tableholder at OGCA and will be missed.

If you are a snowbird en route to warm-er climes don your OGCA regalia and be sure to land in Lee County, Florida to say hello to your fellow members, as well as Everett's wife Roberta "Brucie" Oliphant and daughter, Wendy Resh. Upcoming Lee County Gun Shows are January 23-25, 2009, March 27-29, 2009 and November 20-22, 2009.

Norm Flayderman (center) at the Lee County Gun Show with Tom Kyser left and

Walt Goulet (right).

Al Frasca with copies of his book on the subject of the Springfi eld Trapdoor rifl e.

A quaint and interesting show for many OGCA members.

PAGE 15

PASSAGES Thomas K. Rankin, life member and member of OGCA for 36 years, passed away November 5, 2008. Tom graduated from Jeffersonville High School in 1961 and The Ohio State University in 1965. He received his Masters Degree from Xavier University and devoted his educational career in Washington City Schools as a teacher and administrator. Tom was pres-ently Weights and Measures Inspector for Fayette and Madison Counties.

Tom was a member and past president of the Fayette County Chamber of Com-merce and member and past chairman of the Republican Central Committee. He was a member and treasurer of Sympo-

siarchs and a member of the Elks Lodge. He was also a lifetime member of the Ohio Gun Collectors Association and the Fayette County Historical Society. We will miss seeing Tom at the tables he occupied for so long at our meetings.

OGCA member, Ronald L. "Spook" Weaver, died on Oct. 7, 2008. Ronald worked at Sidney Electric, Sidney, and had retired from International Brother-hood of Electrical Workers Union Local 32, Lima, where he served as president for six years and organizer for two years. He was a member of the Ohio Gun Col-lectors, the Tri State Gun Collectors, the

Cairo Sportsman Club, the Miami Valley Gun Collectors and the Bow Benders Hunt Club, Punxsutawney, Pa. He was known for his quality woodworking ability, evidenced by the fi ne cabinets and other woodworking projects that he produced in his home workshop.

OGCA member, Ken Snodderly, passed away Feb. 20, 2008. He was a collector of fi ne American and English Double Barell Shotguns and a retired pharmacist.

Everett Resh passed away September 8th. See page 8 for more information on this 43 year OGCA member.

Annual Banquet at AF Museum - May 30, 2009Annual Banquet at AF Museum - May 30, 2009Our Annual Banquet held in conjunction with the Display Show is Saturday May 30 at the world-class National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This very special weekend will

honor our long-time members and discounted pricing will be announced.

LARRY WALES WRITES SECOND NEWTON BOOK

Both editions of OGCA member Larry Wales' The History and Details of Newton High Power Rifl es are sold out and there are no plans for reprinting. However, a new more-comprehensive book covering Charles Newton and his rifl es is hot off the press. The new book is a 240 page hard-cover titled The Newton Rifl e.

Some of our members are very familiar with Charles Newton. He was an experi-menter, inventor, superior ballistician, fi re-arms designer and fi rearms manufacturer between 1905 and 1932.

Larry's fi rst book and second edition served as a catalyst to accumulate a large amount of new information about Newton and his rifl es during this period. The New-ton Rifl e is a more complete and accurate volume covering Newton's numerous ac-complishments. It contains most of the in-formation from the fi rst book.

Information added includes reprinting of all of Newton's patents, pictures of the nu-merous production changes of the Model 1916, new chapters about owning or pur-chasing altered Newton rifl es, wildcat car-tridges derived from Newton designs, and new information on Newton ammunition with more pictures. The chapter on the Model 1914 has been almost completely rewritten because of the surfacing of new data and has pictures of at least one Mod-el 1914 rifl e. The section on Meeker rifl es has been expanded, with original catalog scans and pictures of Meeker rifl es. A 15-page color section of Newton rifl es has been added. Pictures have increased from 75 to 190, including 60 in color. The number of scans has increased from 90 to 118.

Still included are Newton’s innovative rifl e and ammunition designs, including the Model 1914 rifl e group, the First Model 1916, the Model 1922, the Second Model 1924 or Buffalo Newton rifl e, and the Le-verBolt rifl e. The rifl e information can also be used as a reference guide for standard and factory-optional features.

The mechanical workings of the major models are presented in detail, and in-formation is given about rare and one-of-a-kind models. This new book also discusses several developments made by Newton that never came to be. Some of the information herein has never been presented by any other source.

The Newton Rifl e contains the history of each Newton enterprise, along with a sec-tion on the many catalogs offered by New-ton’s various companies. All calibers of Newton-developed ammunition and car-tridge boxes are discussed and pictured. Many new pictures and scans have been added to more completely clarify details of the Newton rifl e story.

Whether you are a Newton collector, a fan of bolt-action rifl es (especially sporting models), or just want to know more about this interesting aspect of fi rearms history, you will enjoy and treasure this book.

Larry's book is available at his tables at many OGCA meetings. Or, for more infor-mation visit www.newtonrifl e or write Larry Wales, 11175 MacArthur Road, Levering, Michigan, 49755.

OGCA member and author, Larry Wales at a recent meeting

123 Gano Road, Wilmington, OH 45177 (800) 654-7038. Roberts Centre is located at I-71, Exit 50 (U.S. Route 68) and is north of and visible from the interstate.

From Cleveland or Columbus take I-71 south. Take the US 68 exit, exit 50. Turn right onto US 68 and right onto Gano Road. Hall is on the left. From Cincinnati take I-71 North. Take the US 68 exit, exit 50. Turn left onto US 68. Turn right onto Gano Road. Roberts Centre is on the left. From Toledo take I-75 South. Take the US-35 exit number 52B. Merge onto US 35 east. Take the US 68/Home Ave exit towards Wilmington. Turn right onto US 68. Turn left onto Gano Road. Roberts Centre is on the left. From Dayton:Take US-35 east, take US Route 68 S (Home Ave.) toward Wilmington, Turn right onto US 68, turn left onto Gano Rd. Roberts Center is on the left.

HOTELS 1.) Headquarters Hotel: Holiday Inn at Roberts Centre 123 Gano Rd. Wilmington, OH 45177 (937) 283-3200 or (800) 654-7036 $82+ tax. Check in 3 PM. SOLD OUT 24 hour cancellation policy2) Hampton Inn & Suites 201 Holiday Dr, Wilmington. (937)382-4400 (7 mi) $89+tax. 3.) Amerihost Inn Wilmington 201 Carrie Dr., Wilmington. (937) 383-3950 (7 mi.) $70 + tax 4.) Holiday Inn Express 155 Holiday Dr., Wilmington (937) 382-5858 (7 mi) $89.96 + tax5.) Hampton Inn 11484 Allen Rd., NW, Jeffersonville. (740) 948-9499 (15 Mi.).1-71 at Exit 65. $85 South outlet mall.6.) Amerihost Inn Jeffersonville South 11431 Allen Rd., Jeffersonville, OH 43158 (740) 948-2104 (15 mi). I-71 at Exit 65. At the south outlet mall. $65 + tax7.) Quality Inn Jeffersonville North 10160 Carr Rd. NW, Jeffersonville, OH 43128. (740) 426-6400 (19 mi.) At the north outlet mall. 1-71 at Exit 69. $55 + tax.8) Budget Inn 264 W. Curry Rd., Wilmington OH. (.2 mi) (937) 382-6605 Single $45+ tax Double $49 + tax. 9) Budget Motel 9060 West Lancaster Rd., Jeffersonville. Oh 43128 (740) 948-2332 (15 mi.) rate: Single $45 + tax double $49 + tax. 10) Wilmington Inn 909 Fife Ave. Wilmington, (937) 382-6000 (7 mi.) $55 + tax11) The General Denver Hotel (6 mi) 81 W. Main St. Wilmington. $65+ tax Small, historic Inn (937) 383-4141.

DIRECTIONS THE ROBERTS CENTRE

WILMINGTON, OHIO

Saturday 8 AM - 5 PMSunday 8 AM - 2 PM

BUSINESS OFFICE: P.O. Box 670406, Sagamore Hills, OH 44067-0406 *Ph: (330) 467-5733 * Fax (330) 467-5793 * web: www.ogca.com

2011Jan. 8-9, 2011

March 12-13, 2011May 7-8, 2011*

July 16-17, 2011Sept. 17-18, 2011Nov. 19-20, 2011

2008 Jan. 12-13, 2008 March 8-9, 2008May 10-11, 2008July 19-20, 2008Sept. 20-21, 2008

Nov. 8-9, 2008

2010Jan. 9-10, 2010

March 13-14, 2010May 22-23, 2010*July 17-18, 2010Sept. 11-12, 2010Nov. 20-21, 2010

2009 Jan. 10-11, 2009

March 14-15, 2009May 30-31, 2009*July 18-19, 2009Sept. 19-20, 2009Nov. 21-22, 2009

DATES THROUGH 2011

Transient Vendor's Licensees: The Ohio De-partment of Taxation has a form where you may request to be excused from the electronic fi ling requirement. Form ST OOR "Opt Out Request Form For Electronic Filing of Sales Tax".

TIDBITS

HOW TO PAY YOUR MEMBERSHIP DUES

Annual Tables for 2009 are on sale NOW for those members wishing to prepay and apply for all six meetings. The cost for annual tables is $360.00 per table. We expect to continue to sell out all or most meetings thanks to your support. Tables are "fi rst come, fi rst served" beginning with Annual Tables.

Membership Dues payment will be gladly ac-cepted at meetings or by mail. We encourage you to pay by mail to avoid the possibility of a line at the meeting. You do NOT need your dues statement to mail in your dues, but please include your member number on your check.

Please pay by December 31, 2008. However, your previous years badge can be used for ad-mission into the January 10-11 meeting. Allow 3-5 weeks for processing. After January 15th newsletters for subsequent mailings will not be mailed until dues are current. If payment is not received by March 31st, the name of the non

paying member will be purged from the fi le and can be reinstated only by paying a minimum of 3 years dues by December 31st, 2009.

One Year $30.00One Year - Active Duty Military FreeThree Years $85.00Five Years $140.00Life $600.00Senior Life (65+ years) $300.00

We need and appreciate your support. With your help we will remain the oldest and largest private gun collecting group in the world.

We were delighted to meet 7 visitors from Australia (even though we could barely understand them!) sponsored by Indiana longtime Life member Paul Gittinger. Pictured at left are Charles Toohey, Paul Gittinger, James Atkinson, Brian Miles, Phil Ben-neh, Jo Miles, and Jan Bennett. Not pictured was Tony Van Elst. James Atkinson and Tony Van Elst were voted in at the November meeting. We have asked them to share with us about gun ownership in Australia for one of our upcoming newsletters (their stories are eye-openers). Hope to see everyone again soon!

Recently their have been two serious in-cidents regarding guns at public shows. Even though these incidents did not take place at OGCA, they should serve as re-minders that complacency has no place around guns. The fi rst incident was a loaded gun that was not checked before a tie was placed through the trigger and trigger guard causing a lady to be shot in the leg. The second a week later a loaded gun was brought from home to a public gun show and placed on a table for sale. Thank goodness security caught it before something happened. With today's politi-

FROM THE BUNKHOUSE

cal climate we do not need these kind of issues to put the spotlight on such a great group of people who like to hunt, shoot and collect fi rearms. Take the time to be safe and vigilant. Check and re-check to make sure there is no possibility of a dis-charge. Then treat every gun as if it were loaded. Once that bullet leaves the barrel you cannot pull it back.

Be safe and have fun,

Joe W. Pittenger, Secretary