I haven't bored you guys with any old-fart collector trivia in a while. So...here ya go: a Weihrauch brochure from the late 1950's:
1. Note the "Received" stamp on the front cover. HP White Laboratories did the very first published airgun velocity data for WHB Smith's landmark 1957 book, Gas, Air, and Spring Guns of the World. (They are still around...still doing specialized velocity testing.)
2. HW's range in those days was only three models--the HW 35, 50, and 55, though there are multiple interesting variations of each. All the guns shown here have the "long block" threaded rear section, thus dating the previous "short block" HW rifles to before 1959. The 55 and 35 variants all have Rekord triggers, but not yet the 50. In other words, the long-block action predates the modular Rekord Perfekt.
3. The HW 35 notes the plain, Luxus, and Export finger-groove stocks that were used for many years.
4. The HW 55 TF version - a modified HW 50 action with no locking lever - is illustrated on this page. The other 55 versions listed include the S with plain beech stock, MM, and MF. Also note a detail in transition--the 55 T on the front cover has a finger-groove fore end, while the 55 TF is shown with checkering. It seems odd that no "F" version of the least expensive HW 55 S is listed.
5. There are four versions of the model 50: base; M with adjustable trigger; S adding a fully adjustable rear sight; and SD with both open and diopter rear sight. Note the bottom line on this sheet, describing an optional deluxe stock with checkered grip and buttplate that is not illustrated.
6. The detailed technical desriptions and drawings are outstanding. The trigger designs, the HW 55's tilting breech adjustment, and various other details are clearly shown.
7. This sheet also shows a variety of sights and accessories, including some items in transition. The 35 and 50 target versions have an older type front sight with milled posts Inserts. The HW 55 had previously used this sight, but now has a modern tunnel sight with flat metal inserts. Both sights have the same element shapes - bead, straight post, tapered post, and aperture.
8. The older solid steel "turret" style diopter sight ("Mikrometerdiopter") is optional for the 35 and 50. Again the HW 55 has moved on, to an improved "square" pattern diopter ("Mikro-Prazisions-Diopter!"). The optional Siebert adjustable magnifying iris eyepiece fits both sights.
1. Note the "Received" stamp on the front cover. HP White Laboratories did the very first published airgun velocity data for WHB Smith's landmark 1957 book, Gas, Air, and Spring Guns of the World. (They are still around...still doing specialized velocity testing.)
2. HW's range in those days was only three models--the HW 35, 50, and 55, though there are multiple interesting variations of each. All the guns shown here have the "long block" threaded rear section, thus dating the previous "short block" HW rifles to before 1959. The 55 and 35 variants all have Rekord triggers, but not yet the 50. In other words, the long-block action predates the modular Rekord Perfekt.
3. The HW 35 notes the plain, Luxus, and Export finger-groove stocks that were used for many years.
4. The HW 55 TF version - a modified HW 50 action with no locking lever - is illustrated on this page. The other 55 versions listed include the S with plain beech stock, MM, and MF. Also note a detail in transition--the 55 T on the front cover has a finger-groove fore end, while the 55 TF is shown with checkering. It seems odd that no "F" version of the least expensive HW 55 S is listed.
5. There are four versions of the model 50: base; M with adjustable trigger; S adding a fully adjustable rear sight; and SD with both open and diopter rear sight. Note the bottom line on this sheet, describing an optional deluxe stock with checkered grip and buttplate that is not illustrated.
6. The detailed technical desriptions and drawings are outstanding. The trigger designs, the HW 55's tilting breech adjustment, and various other details are clearly shown.
7. This sheet also shows a variety of sights and accessories, including some items in transition. The 35 and 50 target versions have an older type front sight with milled posts Inserts. The HW 55 had previously used this sight, but now has a modern tunnel sight with flat metal inserts. Both sights have the same element shapes - bead, straight post, tapered post, and aperture.
8. The older solid steel "turret" style diopter sight ("Mikrometerdiopter") is optional for the 35 and 50. Again the HW 55 has moved on, to an improved "square" pattern diopter ("Mikro-Prazisions-Diopter!"). The optional Siebert adjustable magnifying iris eyepiece fits both sights.
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