Cyrus Buckland

August 10, 1799 (age 91)

An older brother was practising his trade of wheelwright in the neighborhood, and in helping him Cyrus gained considerable mechanical knowledge and experience by the time he came of age. When twenty-two he left home and went to Monson, Massachussets, where he obtained employment in a cotton-machinery manufacturing plant. This kind of work apparently appealed to him for he continued in it for the next seven years both in Monson and in Chicopee Falls, Massachussets. A slump in the cotton business in 1828 necessitated his finding work elsewhere and he entered the Government Armory at Springfield, Massachussets, as a pattern maker. He continued here for twenty-nine years until poor health compelled him to give up all active work. During the first ten years of his service Buckland rose to the position of proof-master and inspector of barrels but as early as 1833 a note appears on the pay-roll opposite his name as "making patterns for new machines. " The system of interchangeability of parts was being especially applied in firearms manufacture during this period and afforded many opportunities to Buckland to apply his inventive powers and mechanical skill. In 1843 he was instrumental in the manufacture of an eccentric bit and auger used in cutting the lock, guard plate, side plate, breech plate, rod spring, and barrels to gunstocks. He perfected a change in the form of the cone for percussion muskets in 1847, and devised the machines and tools to alter flintlock muskets to percussion on Dr. Edward Maynard's plan in 1848. In 1846 Buckland made improvements in Blanchard's system of making gun-stocks which resulted in doubling the previous production and in a fourfold gain in output over hand-made stocks. This increase was effected by building thirteen machines each one of which had a special function to perform in the process which transformed the lumber as it came from the mills into gunstocks, completed save for final rubbing. In 1854 Buckland devised the machines to manufacture a lock and chamber breech for altering rifles to the Maynard percussion type. In no single instance up to this time had he applied for a patent on any of the improvements which he had made, and private manufacturers of firearms both in the United States and other countries availed themselves of his devices. When, therefore, he was called upon in 1855 to design a rifling machine to cut a groove of a regularly decreasing depth from the breech to the muzzle, he decided, upon designing such a machine, to patent it, and so notified the secretary of war. This was his only patent and it was a year after his retirement in 1857 that Congress, on the recommendation of the secretary of war, J. B. Floyd, paid Buckland $10, 000 for the government rights to his invention. He relinquished his duties in the armory in November 1857, as inspector of arms and master machinist, but continued to reside in Springfield until his death thirty-four years later.

Cyrus Buckland

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Background

Cyrus Buckland was born on August 10, 1799 at East Hartford (now Manchester), Connecticut, the youngest in the family of eleven children belonging to George and Elizabeth Buckland.

Education

His youth was that of the farmer's son of the period: his time was spent in attending school a few months each year and in helping with the farm work.

Career

An older brother was practising his trade of wheelwright in the neighborhood, and in helping him Cyrus gained considerable mechanical knowledge and experience by the time he came of age. When twenty-two he left home and went to Monson, Massachussets, where he obtained employment in a cotton-machinery manufacturing plant. This kind of work apparently appealed to him for he continued in it for the next seven years both in Monson and in Chicopee Falls, Massachussets.

A slump in the cotton business in 1828 necessitated his finding work elsewhere and he entered the Government Armory at Springfield, Massachussets, as a pattern maker. He continued here for twenty-nine years until poor health compelled him to give up all active work. During the first ten years of his service Buckland rose to the position of proof-master and inspector of barrels but as early as 1833 a note appears on the pay-roll opposite his name as "making patterns for new machines. " The system of interchangeability of parts was being especially applied in firearms manufacture during this period and afforded many opportunities to Buckland to apply his inventive powers and mechanical skill.

In 1843 he was instrumental in the manufacture of an eccentric bit and auger used in cutting the lock, guard plate, side plate, breech plate, rod spring, and barrels to gunstocks. He perfected a change in the form of the cone for percussion muskets in 1847, and devised the machines and tools to alter flintlock muskets to percussion on Dr. Edward Maynard's plan in 1848.

In 1846 Buckland made improvements in Blanchard's system of making gun-stocks which resulted in doubling the previous production and in a fourfold gain in output over hand-made stocks. This increase was effected by building thirteen machines each one of which had a special function to perform in the process which transformed the lumber as it came from the mills into gunstocks, completed save for final rubbing.

In 1854 Buckland devised the machines to manufacture a lock and chamber breech for altering rifles to the Maynard percussion type. In no single instance up to this time had he applied for a patent on any of the improvements which he had made, and private manufacturers of firearms both in the United States and other countries availed themselves of his devices.

When, therefore, he was called upon in 1855 to design a rifling machine to cut a groove of a regularly decreasing depth from the breech to the muzzle, he decided, upon designing such a machine, to patent it, and so notified the secretary of war. This was his only patent and it was a year after his retirement in 1857 that Congress, on the recommendation of the secretary of war, J. B. Floyd, paid Buckland $10, 000 for the government rights to his invention.

He relinquished his duties in the armory in November 1857, as inspector of arms and master machinist, but continued to reside in Springfield until his death thirty-four years later.

Achievements

Cyrus Buckland's greatest contribution into the world of gun production was that he developed a precise set of gauges, which contributed greatly to manufacturing standards. He was instrumental in the manufacture of an eccentric bit and auger used in cutting the lock, guard plate, side plate, breech plate, rod spring, and barrels to gunstocks. He also perfected a change in the form of the cone for percussion muskets, and devised the machines and tools to alter flintlock muskets to percussion on Dr. Edward Maynard's plan.

Connections

He was married at Monson on May 18, 1824, to Mary A. Locke, and the two lived to observe their sixty-sixth wedding anniversary, surviving their three children and leaving two grandchildren.

Father:: Elizabeth Buckland
Mother:: Elizabeth Buckland
Wife:: Mary A. Locke

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The Life Of Cyrus (1799)

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Cyrus Buckland

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