The History of Bircher Incorporated
Jim Bircher moved to Carteret County, NC in 1979. Originally from Pennsylvania, he grew up around Greenville, NC. After 5 years of working as a journeyman machinist in an “old timey” marine machine shop in Beaufort, he decided to branch out into a business of his own, Jim Bircher, Machinist.
The humble beginnings of the present Bircher Incorporated were in a small concrete block building on the waterfront of Peletier Creek in Morehead City. The building had formerly been a part of a clam hatchery operation, thus for several years Jim’s machine shop was informally known by locals as “The Clam Farm”.
The signal cannon business, making Replica English Swivel Guns, was started by request and special interest, as a sideline before Jim opened his own machine shop. Through the years, Beaufort Naval Armorers has gained an impressive reputation for the design, quality and reliability of their replica cannons. BNA cannons have been purchased by many yacht owners, and thus Beaufort Naval Armorers replica signal cannons are inadvertently now being proudly displayed and represented throughout the world.
Jim Bircher’s machine shop was incorporated in 1992 and the business moved to a spacious new warehouse building home in 1996. Employees, which started with Jim alone, have now grown to six and the business continues to grow.
CNC machinery was added to the already impressive array and collection of Bircher Inc.’s job shop equipment in 2001, upgrading and modernizing capabilities and potential. At present, jobs and inquiries are arriving more frequently from other states and localities beyond Eastern North Carolina, the government contract work is increasing, and upscale luxury yacht manufacturers continue to order precision shaft and coupling systems. As always, individual custom repairs and fabrication jobs which are the backbone of the business arrive in house daily.
And, Bircher Incorporated continues to maintain its reputation for, “The place to go if you want the job done right!”
