Production
"We all had to be fingerprinted, there was talk about sabotage... I had a feeling that I was doing something a little more than just being a welder."
D. Louis Bagnato, ALCO worker, 1993
D. Louis Bagnato, ALCO worker, 1993
Designing the M7
ALCO Proposal Model
105 MM Howitzer Motor Carriage, M-7
Jointly Designed By
United States Army Ordnance and American Locomotive Company
Schenectady, New York February 1942
105 MM Howitzer Motor Carriage, M-7
Jointly Designed By
United States Army Ordnance and American Locomotive Company
Schenectady, New York February 1942
After obtaining the contract from the US Government, ALCO, with Army experts, began the design of a tank destroyer, the M7. The Schenectady plant designed and manufactured the first M7 in only nineteen days. Three weeks after the final approval of the plans, the M7 was successfully tested at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds.
Manufacturing the M7
ALCO worker with an M7, 1942
ALCO inspectors checked every completed M7 and their work was reinspected by US Army inspectors. To get the M7 fielded as soon as possible, ALCO employees worked around the clock. "The guy said 'When do you want to start work?' I said 'Whenever you want me to.' He said '12 o'clock tonight?' and I said OK. Then I said 'Whoa, 12 o'clock tonight?'"
James E Persons, ALCO Welder, 1993
James E Persons, ALCO Welder, 1993
