A question for the historians here .

[russia almighty]

Is there any idea how in the hell the late roman republic and empire was able to mass produce armor on a grand scale ? Was it like it is today , contract it off to the lowest bidder or something we don't really know .

[Sarcasm]

Essentially, almost like an early mini industrial revolution, with specialized workers manufacturing vast amounts of equipment in foundries owned by big corporations who made deals with the state.

The world doesn't change one bit does it?

[Zaknafien]

Yep. Lowest bidder (or best connected equestrian) gets the government contract for delivering X amounts of ___ equipment at a certain time.

[abou]

Speaking of which, there are plenty examples of bidders for certain jobs. Tax farmers in Asia Minor after Pompey's annexation are an example of this as are companies owning boats to transport equipment (either 2nd Punic war or afterwards with regards to shipping supplies to Iberia).

One of the best examples of this contracting is just outside the Porta Maggiore. It is the Tomb of Eurysaces. He was a freedman and baker during the reign of Augustus who built his fortune when he was contracted to supply bread to the Roman army. Talk about a lucrative deal.

[Zaknafien]

and there are remnants of complaints of soldiers and senators about the sub-standard metal used in armor and weapons in the late republic. Some things never change is right :)

[russia almighty]

Wow , history books do make there world too mythical . There just as bad as us . Sub-par armor, I have to lol at that .