Shooting Star Arcade BB Machine Gun Feltman Coney Island

  

The Shooting Star Tommy Gun was invented by Charles A. Feltman, the grandson of Charles Feltman the inventor of the Coney Island "Red Hot" hot dog.

The first pneumatic machine gun was patented in 1939 and resembled a heavy water cooled machine gun. In 1941 Feltman modified the design to resemble a Thompson submachine "Tommy" gun and was granted another patent. Feltman industries operated in Coney Island for many years eventually moving to New Jersey and became Shooting Star Inc which is still in operation today.

The gun was in very poor condition when I bought it some 30 years ago. The barrel shroud was missing having only the barrel tube protruding from the gun. Every part was removed and cleaned, including the original wood. I made my own barrel shroud to resemble a Tommy gun. To protect this nice piece I built a wood case lined with red felt and insets for brass tubes that hold the #2 shot.

The outside of the case has several coats of black lacquer with brass corner trim to protect the edges. The brass lock is mortised into the case and uses a skeleton key.

The handle is custom made solid brass. The hinge is a brass 30 long piano hinge.

The serial number is in the low range, 34XX. I have had a lot of fun with this gun over the years and now it is time to let someone else enjoy it. Note: The Tommy gun holds about 100 #2 lead BB's, not the steel BB's used in most BB guns. The steel BB's will destroy the mechanism of this fine gun.