sentences:  His early work involved not only gunsmithing locally in Fitchburg, MA, but it also included providing designs and work to other firearms companies, notably Allen & Wheelock for whom he made so-called "pepperbox" pistols.In 1871, Johnson joined Martin Bye to form the Johnson Bye & Company, merging his own and Martin Bye's gunsmithing operations.During this period, Johnson and Bye filed for and received several new firearms features and firearms feature improvement patents.