Museum Visit (part two)

[Ken Hill]

Yesterday at the John Browning museum I spoke with Leon Jones who is the Chairman of the Board. Jones is married to the daughter of Val Browning

To settle a dispute that has appeared on the forums is the question did John Browning ever work for, or was he ever employed by Colt? He said no!

Jones stated that he has documents produced by Colt showing that they paid dividends to Browning (corporation) in Ogden Utah. Some of these documents show deductions for cash payments made directly to John Browning in Hartford. Colt did give Browning cash for such things as his living expenses, day-to-day expenses while he was in Hartford. One such document Jones recalls dated (ca) 1909 showed such a $2000 deduction.

Jones was emphatic that the business relationship was between the two companies and that John Browning was never a Colt employee.

So much for another day in paradise!

[Tuna]

Could he have been a consultant to Colt and not an employee???????

[Ken Hill]

Most likely a paid consultant, advisor or contractor.

[kwill]

He licensed his designs and the attendant patents to gun makers: Colt, FN, Winchester, etc. He was not an employee of any of them. He usually got an upfront payment and then a royalty fee on each unit sold.

[Ken Hill]

He licensed his designs and the attendant patents to gun makers: Colt, FN, Winchester, etc. He was not an employee of any of them. He usually got an upfront payment and then a royalty fee on each unit sold.

According to Jones the relationship was between Colt and Browning. Corporations involved with each other.

[kwill]

Kind of distinction without a difference in the case of the Browning Bros. John and his brothers and later his son were the only stockholders.

[Tuna]

He did work for FN and was working on his greatest pistol when he died.

[Ken Hill]

Kind of distinction without a difference in the case of the Browning Bros. John and his brothers and later his son were the only stockholders.

I added that it was between corporations because its the most correct answer for a topic that has been discussed here before. I'm sure there were informal payments, such as John Browning drawing cash to live on that amount debited from what was due the corporation. Might be different today with ATMs