Iver Johnson Firearms

A blow to the city

FITCHBURG  —  People watching videos on YouTube of the roof fully engulfed in flames would think the building was gone, but many that know and love the iconic Johnsonia Building on Main Street are hoping it can be saved.

Deputy Fire Chief Paul A. Vaillancourt and firefighters from Fitchburg and a dozen other towns — including Gardner, Leominster and Westminster — fought the six-alarm blaze at the historic building at 520 Main St. that started in the “cock loft” or attic area around 9:30 Monday night.

“The guys did an excellent job,” he said. “I'm amazed that much is still standing. It was a very good save. Looking at YouTube, it wouldn't seem that way.”

There are 46 condominiums in the building. In addition, there are several businesses on the first floor. About 60 people were displaced. The building is owned by the Straight family, including Clark Straight and his son, former City Councilor Matthew C. Straight. Both are residents of the building.

Local and state officials are investigating the cause of the blaze.

Deputy Chief Vaillancourt said part of the top floor of the five-story building was damaged by fire; the lower floors were damaged by water.

The fire, he said, was kitty-cornered in the front and rear of the top floor and into the attic.

“And, basically the whole roof,” he said.

Contractor Ray H. Bourgeois Jr. of Bourgeois Wrecking in Westminster was taking part of the roof down yesterday afternoon.

He said he called in Astro Crane of Stow to help clean it up and ensure no debris would fall.

While dozens of curious people stood outside police lines, his son, Ray H. Bourgeois III, was hoisted 70 feet in the air in a bucket by a crane to cut with a chain saw about 70 feet of the copper roof overhanging in the front of the building. That section weighed about 3 tons, Ray Bourgeois Jr. said.

“I don't like him going up that high, but I don't want to do it,” he said. “He's got to cut it into pieces. I might go up with him.”

Mayor Lisa A. Wong said officials were focusing on public safety and helping those displaced. The building was evacuated before 10 p.m. Monday night. No residents of the building were injured, officials said.

Iver Johnson 22 Target Pistol - TheFirearmsForum.Com

Hello, my dad gave me an Iver Johnson 22 TP handgun a number of years ago. He says the cylinder is not properly lined with the barrel as this gun literally spits lead when fired. I am intending to take it to a gun smith but am curious if anyone has any ideas on this gun, age, worth getting fixed ect. I believe it was manufactured in the 1950's but not sure. The only markings other then the name plate on the top of the back part of barrel is the S/N starting with an "M". I know the removable cylinder holds 8 rounds. I haven't fired it yet and won't until it is checked out but looking for suggestions/recommendations I really recomend you to stop firing it, you dont want to hurt yourself with a flying bullet piece, I have anamerican standard tool Pocket revolver in .22 short, and it used to do the same thing your gun is doing, what i did is that i dissasemble the barrel and with a drill bit ( a little bit larger in diameter than the caliber kf the gun) i made a funnel- like hole on the opossite side of the barrel, so when the bullet jumps out from the cilinder in to the barrel, the funnel- like hole will make the bullet to center back again to the barrel. note: ( this might decrease the speed of the bullet, but it will work fine, like i said i uses to have the same problem with my gun, and is now fixed, you can do that your self, but if you dont want to modify anything, then take it to a gunsmith, ( if all you want is to shoot it, and dont care about modifing the gun, then save some money and do this yourself, about the value of the gun. Post some pictures so i can have an idea on ( the condition, and the serial number if available.

Iver Johnson firearms

The Gun Digest Book of Firearms Assembly/Disassembly Part V - Shotguns

Iver Johnson Champion A good, solid design that has been virtually unchanged for 80 ... hunting gun to fancy matted-rib styles with hand-checkered wood. ...

The Southwestern reporter

The Iver Johnson safety hammer revolver never did discharge accidentally. No other firearms but the Iver Johnson safety hammer revolver has an absolute ...

The American artisan and hardware record

Those desiring copies of this publication or of the 1916 catalog of bicycles, motorcycles and firearms should write to Iver Johnson's Arms and Cycle Works, ...

Firearms and Their Use

This safety is on all of Iver Johnson's safety models. The Iver Johnson revolvers in the "IJ" line of low priced guns do not have this "hammer the hammer" ...