Virtually every chapter and topic covered in Tracie Hill's critically acclaimed 1996 Collector Grade title Thompson: The American Legend has been expanded, and some new ones have been added in order to incorporate a vast amount of important new information augmenting every aspect of the history of the Auto Ordnance Corporation, the Thompson family, and the design and production of the hardware that bears the Thompson name. Much of this priceless new material, including personal memoirs, dimensioned blueprints and other rare memorabilia, has been bequeathed by key people who were intimately involved in the day to day operations of the company.
The post WWII history of the Thompson begins with more new documentation concerning the Kilgore Manufacturing Company, historically a manufacturer of cap pistols and pyrotechnics. Kilgore's plans to re-launch the M1A1 Thompson came to naught, and the next incarnation of Auto Ordnance was as part of the Numrich Arms Corporation in West Hurley, New York. Then the story shifts yet again, with up to date coverage of the products of the current proprietors, Kahr Arms.
Chapters on Thompson drum and box magazines are expanded to include original manufacturing drawings and operation detail sheets. Chapters on Web Gear, Other Ancillaries, and Models and Miniatures; then over 100 pages of updated listings of serial numbers of all 15,000 Colt Model 1921 Thompsons, with shipping dates and dispositions where known. Then an impressive display of rare, colorful original paper-handbooks, brochures, price lists, catalogs, and military manuals, both U.S. and foreign.
All this and much, much more-plus ten times more color than The American Legend. Every copy of The Ultimate Thompson Book comes individually shrink wrapped in protective plastic.
