A simple Google search. Here you go:
http://www.hoffmanarms.com/HoffmanHistory.htmlThe Hoffman Arms Company may not be well known to many 21st Century gun collectors and enthusiasts. They built some of the finest sporting guns of the early 20th Century and their work still stands up against the best more than eighty years later.
In the spring of 1923, Harry M. Snyder and a group of investors convinced Frank L. Hoffman to leave the Marine Corps and become General Manager of their new custom gun building venture. Initial capitalization was for $150,000 to build a modern shop in Cleveland, acquire the necessary tools and equipment, and hire some of the most talented and skilled workmen in the United States and from Canada and England. Eric Johnson, from Colt, was in charge of the barrel shop. John Dubiel worked on barrels, as well, but his real talent was in stockmaking. John Wright, of Holland and Holland in London, and his son came over to make stocks also. The intricately carved stocks of the early days were attributed to the elder Wright. William Doty was head of the Machine and Tool Department.
In June of 1923, the Hoffman Arms Company opened for business in a rented, second-floor shop at 174 East 27th Street, Cleveland, Ohio. A branch office was soon established at 25 Warren Street, New York City, and was run by Captain J.H. Portugal.
James V. Howe, initially a partner of Seymour Griffin, left Griffin and Howe in October of 1923 to join Hoffman Arms. He contributed with stockmaking, metal work, and designed the Howe-Whelen bolt sight. (According to the original in-shop sales/activity log, these sold for $25 in 1923.) Advertisements at the time announced "Mr. James V. Howe, formerly with Griffin and Howe, is a permanent member of our organization". Howe's "permanent member" status was actually only temporary and he soon left the firm.Here is the contact info:
Shane Robinson
PO Box 172
Joplin, MO 64802
417-860-0315
shane@HoffmanArms.com
I bet he would love to hear from you.
Pete
