ABT Air-O-Matic Top Loader Variant Air Rifle Repeater .173 BB + Provenance

Rare A.B.T. Air-O-Matic Top Loader Bolt Variant Air Rifle. These were pneumatic, hose fed from the bottom, and were made for carnivals and Shooting Galleries. Most of the ones you find are well worn from hard use, but were durable due to the rugged construction. This particular piece was owned by Dr. Robert D. Beeman (Of Beeman Airguns). This one shows some metal fading on the hand area of receiver, receiver shows a plum/brown patina The barrel shows similar finish with the barrel. Overall, 60-75% bluing remaining. Wood in good to very good condition showing scattered finish loss, serial number under pistol grip area, looks like "F134" Shoots .173 Cal. BB's; semi-auto repeater, has a smoothbore barrel within a larger barrel shroud. These airguns were fed from a pre-loaded filler tube of BB's that was fed into an interesting top feeding loading chute when the rifle was opened. It opened by pulling the side bolt back. The left side of frame shows various patent dates from 1942-1949 along with markings of, "A.B.T. MFG. CORP. CHICAGO 12 ILLINOIS OTHER U.S. AND FOREIGN PAT'S PENDING". Butt-plate still looks great with ABT Corp Markings. (A.B.T. was an acronym of the founder's names, Adler, Bechtol, and Tratsch).
PROVENANCE: Has a cable lock with a brass tag marked, "R.D. BEEMAN PRIVATE COLLECTION 862". On the opposite side of the tag, there is a signet lock with his intials, "RDB". A nice piece belonging to a leader in the industry.