POTD: The First Daisy Air Rifle – The Daisy Model 1889
Sam.S 12.04.24
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! The Daisy Model 1889, originally called the “Chicago Model,” marked the beginning of Daisy’s legacy in air rifles. Born from the Plymouth Iron Windmill Company’s decision to offer air rifles as purchase premiums with their windmills, this all-metal design revolutionized the industry at a time when most air guns were constructed primarily of wood. The rifle featured a unique spring-piston design, with a wire spring and a cast iron barrel measuring around 20 inches. It used a simple lever-action mechanism to compress the spring, and unlike modern Daisy rifles, employed a gravity-feed system that required the shooter to elevate the muzzle for loading. Initially given away free with windmill purchases, the gun proved so popular that Plymouth Iron Windmill Company began selling it separately for $1.50. Its success prompted General Manager Lewis Cass Hough’s famous exclamation, “Boy, that’s a Daisy!” – the phrase that would eventually become the company’s new name. The Model 1889’s robust construction and innovative all-metal design established the foundation for Daisy’s future success, leading the company to abandon windmill production entirely by 1895 and rebrand as Daisy Manufacturing Company.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
