Created in 1998, E.Christopher Consulting has been rebranded in 2018 to become a leading information services firm that provides training and IT consulting services to businesses, non profit groups and families and the public in the greater Cincinnati area.
E.Christopher has a special meaning. From E.Christopher Firearms Company Inc. founded by A.W. “Bill” Bram and named after his son Eric. Until its closing in 1997 it was the oldest gun store in the greater Cincinnati and Tri-state area. Having been in business for over 27 years, founded by A.W. “Bill” Bram. The gun shop presented a friendly, “Come in and sit a spell” atmosphere where gun enthusiasts and patrons could come in and enjoy the interesting artifacts that hung on the walls and and purchase their reloading supplies, Archery equipment and muzzeloading firearms.
The trademark used in the E.Christopher Firearms logo is a depiction of what is called a “Horseagator”. Based upon the legend that mountain men could run as fast as a horse and were as strong as an alligator. The logo was designed by a friend of Bills and became a synonymous with E.Christopher Firearms.
That same logo is being used to represent E.Christopher Consulting in honor of that legacy.
Bill started out in sales working for BSA Motorcycles and gained much of his experience there as an on the road salesman. After several years he decided to pursue his love of firearms and open a gun store where he could apply his craft or as he called it “The gift of gab” to his own business.
The store in its first incarnation started small and on the same piece of property where Bill was raised as a child and eventually raised his own family. Later, the store was moved to Miamitown, Ohio on State Route 128 into an old bank that still held a walk in safe.
Later, the store moved across the street into a large building that was once a general store at first and then an antique store, keeping in style with the large number of antique stores that frequented the streets of Miamitown
This largest incarnation of the store was its most grand, featuring over 300 Saturday Night Specials from Bills personal collection that lined the beams across the ceiling, and authentic bear claw necklace hung on the wall, and even an authentic cigar store Indian that greeted patrons when they entered the store.
Housing one of the largest Muzzleloading departments in the Tri-state area, many a father and son learned from Bill the skills of how to load and fire a Muzzleloading rifle safely.
The walls of the store were adorned with the many trophies of Bill’s hunting trips, including a buffalo, and several African mounts including a Kudu, (a South African relative to the White tail deer) and other types of indigenous animals.
Bill was a responsible hunter and never hunted or participated in a “Canned Hunt” or trophy hunted. He believed that hunting was a responsible way to control the wildlife population and always had the meat butchered to provide food for his family. The African hunt also followed this doctrine, where the meat was given to the workers on the large plantations where the hunts took place.
Bill semi retired in the early 1990s due to health problems but still kept busy running the store and doing the appraising of guns and purchasing of large gun collections. He still indulged in one of his favorite pass times, riding his motorcycle, a joy that he passed onto his son who continues to enjoy to this day.
Bill was well known to the local community and was also known and liked by many affluent members of society including Judges, Lawyers, Police Officers, and CEOs, and even a few members of Hollywood, including the late Gordon Jump who played Arthur “Big Guy” Carlson of the TV Series “WKRP in Cincinnati”. Jump, a native of Dayton, Ohio was a muzzeloading enthusiast and found the stores large section of muzzleloading firearms intriguing and struck up a conversation with Bill over their mutually loved hobby.
He had a great sense of insight when it came to people and had a way about him that caused some to seek his council on issues of their own lives knowing that he would give an honest (sometimes too honest) opinion about the things that were discussed.
On February 1st 1997 Bill passed away of a heart attack. He was having fun when he passed, enjoying life.
E.Christopher Firearms Company closed its doors for the last time about 10 months later. Bill was the founder and the essence of E.Christopher. Without his guidance everyone agreed the proper thing to do was to close the store as it would never be the same.
He was a loving father and even though he was not perfect, he made up for it later in life by being a best friend and confidant to his two sons Eric Christopher and Jason Allen.
One of the best memories they had was of Christmas day of 1996 where Bill and his sons spent the morning together where they laughed together and even shared a few tears of joy.
Above all Bill enjoyed being with his two sons. They meant everything to him,