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Featured Rock-ola Display Case

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New2brass View Drop Down
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Dan Pinto, Photo Editor

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    Posted: Feb 25 2020 at 12:36pm
2020-B 

Rock-ola Carbine Production Display Case

In CCNL 71 Marty Black wrote an article titled Rock-ola Information. In that article Marty reports on then member Art Jablonski’s 1977 tour of the Rock-ola factory and his interviews with Mr. David Rockola and several employees who were at the plant during carbine production.

That article has information on what Rock-ola was doing pre-war production and its portfolio showing what it's factories capabilities were, specification of the facilities as well as machines on hand. The purpose of this was for ordnance in hopes of getting government contracts.  

Of interest in this article is that it has an in-depth review of an airtight display case containing an ‘exploded view’ of the M1 carbine, broken down into sub-assemblies as well as a complete carbine. This covered all of the parts used in the production of the M1 carbine, but not all of the revisions.

In 1985  member Joe Betti was lucky enough to be granted access to the same facility as it was in the process of shutting down and moving to another location in Chicago.

In the CCNL 107 Joe reports of his adventure and his interview with Mr. Donald Rockola, son of David Rockola. In that article Joe also reports of the display case as well as a few interesting carbines that were shared with him to inspect. Joe provided a nice black and white photo of the display case and its contents. He also mentions after observing the display case it was wrapped back up in bubble paper, presumably for the move.

Recently a forum member and Rock-ola carbine guru Rcycles was able to obtain the display case from a friend of David Rockola.



As noted by the friend of David Rockola

This glass presentation shadow box case with the Rock-ola M1 carbines in various stages of assembly was built at the Rock-ola factory in Chicago, IL. It was on display in the factory cafeteria during the production years to the rifles. To my knowledge, there are no photos of this item on display at the factory. This information was passed on by Donald Rockola who was David Rockola’s son and working at the factory at the time. No information is available when this was removed from the cafeteria. Don Rockola was the owner of the display. All of the receivers are serial-numbered and were from the production line of the rifles.

Note the type two band and steel cased ammo. All slides were reported as having the narrow joint.

As pointed out in the mentioned newsletters that the parts are not representative of all the revisions that Rock-ola used. The bolts are all round and blued. The round part appears polished The extractors all have an “R” stamped on the top.



Note the relief cut for the operating slide handle.


There is a gas cylinder not attached to a barrel.


There is a shallow and deep grove handguard displayed in the case as in the first picture. There are an unattached handguard tab and rivets.


Interesting as one stock is wearing an Inland style buttplate. Displayed is a typical Rock-ola
buttplate and an IS marked oiler.


In the case there are the later stamped and brazed trigger housings displayed.


There is also an earlier trigger housing attached to the barreled action. All hammers are the later
straight style. Note the early checkered safety and the serrated and unmarked mag catch.



Much like the Rock-ola Presentation carbines that were given out in a case with nameplate, this display also has a nameplate.

When the item was received by Rcycles45 it was in a Rock-ola product cardboard box.


The box was for a Rock-ola Wall Box Model 508


This advertisement is from the 80s. It is quite possible that this display case sat in the same box since Joe Betti last saw in 1987!

In the article by Joe Betti he seemed to feel that one of the stocks may have been an RSG. Early on there was speculation that the RSG stock may have been made by Rock-ola. This has long been dis-proven with evidence that the RSG stocks were made by the Robert Irwin Co. under contract to Saginaw Steering Gear.

Both stocks have been checked by Rcycles45 and one is a very early I-cut with RMC vertical in the slingwell and the other a later oval cut with RMC in the slingwell.  

The Club would like to thank Rcycles45 for sharing this truly unique piece of Rock-ola carbine history.

Please note that in the 90's Rock-ola sold it's name was and the current owners have no knowledge of the carbine production nor any of the items from production.


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This article and/or its images are the property of the author. They're not to be copied without prior written permission (Title 17, Chapter 5, Section 501(a) U.S. Code)



Edited by New2brass - Mar 03 2020 at 8:14am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote W5USMC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb 25 2020 at 1:03pm
Great article Dan, thanks for posting and thanks to Rcycles45 for sharing his awesome find.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Donnie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb 25 2020 at 2:00pm
Wow, thanks for the excellent article and photos. Great info.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jamesicus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb 25 2020 at 4:47pm
Thank you for that wonderful post, Dan - and to and Rcycles45 for the material  - great historical information and photos!


Edited by Jamesicus - Feb 25 2020 at 9:03pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 1st M1 88 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb 25 2020 at 7:31pm
Absolutely amazing.. What a piece of history. Thanks Rcycles45 for sharing your treasure with us.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jackp1028 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb 25 2020 at 8:26pm
Thank you Dan and Rcycles45 for another great article! Great pictures too.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GotSnlB28 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb 25 2020 at 8:40pm
That's the coolest thing I have seen in a long time. Thanks for sharing!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote carbinecanuck Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb 25 2020 at 11:50pm
This is the sort of thing that keeps the carbine addiction going strong.

Thank you for posting this find!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sockit Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb 27 2020 at 1:07pm
My first carbine was a Rock-Ola so this article was near and dear to my heart.

Thanks!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote painter777 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb 27 2020 at 1:59pm
No surprise it would end up being owned by Cycles or WTMR.
Both living it up still Disco dancing to Saturday night fever.......

Nice grab... Thumbs Up

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote m1a1fan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb 27 2020 at 4:07pm
She’s a beauty! Congrats on the pickup.

So true that Wtmr and Rcycles end up with all the good stuff. Leave some for the rest of us. Oh, wait that requires money.

Never mind. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote painter777 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb 27 2020 at 7:09pm
Yea...... They have all the Wild and Crazy Luck...






Edited by moneawon - Feb 27 2020 at 7:48pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HARLEY08 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 12 2020 at 1:17pm
I am looking to buy US M1 Carbines
fxstbharley2008@yahoo.com
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