21 June 2011, 08:00
Wendell ReichVerne Juenke?
Anyone know anything about this man? I was told he invented the chronograph. I also have a rifle built by Verne in the 60's. That thing is dead nuts accurate using the same ammo that he loaded for it back in the 60's.
Anyone tell me anything about this guy?
21 June 2011, 18:34
micdisI think these days he's selling a device that you can use to check the balance of bullets. I've seen John Barsness mention his name recently in Rifle magazine
21 June 2011, 19:05
Wendell ReichAfter I posted this, I did some research.
He worked with my dad at Nevada Air Products in the 60/70's. He invented the first electronic slot machine. My brother bought the first one he made and then gave it back to him many years later as a birthday gift.
He and his brother started the "Saturn ICL" line. My rifle is a 270 ICL and will shoot the eye out of a flea at 1000 meters. Well, maybe not, but it will easily cloverleaf at 100.
I have been looking for about 19 years for information on who made this rifle. I believe he is still alive. I am going to call him this week.
22 June 2011, 00:58
DavidCWendell,
Verne's website.
The AccuracydenHe sound like a real interesting guy.
I believe builders like Dave Miller, Jarrett, D'Arcy and others use his ICC machine to check their hunting bullets....
Best,
Dave
Try Gun Digests late40's into 50's.lots about him back then.not classic styling though.
22 June 2011, 02:41
Alberta CanuckWendell...you must be referring to the "electric" chronograph, not the ballistic one or the electronic one.
The ballistic chronograph existed long before Verne Juenke was born.
I don't actually believe he invented the electric one either, as both Winchester and Remington had HUGE ones in their labs about 1920 or so.
The electronic ones came much later, pretty much after Verne was already on the downhill side of both life and the gun business.
He DID apparently invent,and does manufacture, and sell a device for determining the concentricity of the internal components of fully finished jacketed bullets. That unit is still in use by some benchresters. (He made a fair number of them and they can still sometimes be had, used, for about $500-$600+)
I am not sure if Verne himself is still alive (I somehow don't think so) but his company is.
22 June 2011, 02:45
Dago RedMan he sounds like a frickin' genius! definitely a mechanical/electronics wiz.
Red
22 June 2011, 06:30
Blake7062When I used to work in Reno I looked him up. He has been retired for quite a while and just built his bullet sorting machines part time. I havn't seen him in a decade so someone else may have better information. He lived west of Reno.
Blake
22 June 2011, 06:42
Michael PetrovThe most common, the Le Boulenge chronograph came out around 1880. This is the one used by both the large companies and ordnance.