It is worth to note
that the tools discussed so far had to be produced before 1896
and several steps needed to be accomplished before the catalog went
to print. First, the tools had to be built, tested and modified
enough to arrive with the final production versions.
After all that, I imagine, some presentations
had to take place with potential retailers, terms of sales
negotiated and agreed upon. Then engravers needed to spend some
time to produce engravings. This material with the final
descriptions of the tools would reach retailers, incorporated
in their catalogs and forwarded to printers.
Considering this hypothetical plan, the
drills most likely went into production before the patents were
awarded and well in advance of deadlines for printing.
This means that the discussed tools were produced sometime during 1895 or
prototyped even
in 1894.
Bit
Braces were also offered in the
1896
Hammacher, Schlemmer & Co. catalog.
This feverish-like push forward did not stop there.
William W. Pratt decided to publish first tool catalog and it
was released in 1896. It was titled "Goodell Brothers
Company Manufacturers, Mechanics' Tools and Specialties, No. 1,
Greenfield Mass. U.S.A." For the first time all tools
manufactured by the company were listed and direct sales became
a part of the operation.(18)
Seven months from the last patent received by Herbert D. Lanfair
in 1895, Henry E. and Herbert D. Lanfair filed
an application to patent the new Reversible Automatic Screw Driver. The patent was awarded on October 5, 1897, with
No. 591,097
and was assigned to the Goodell Brothers Company.
In October 5,
1897 issue of The Official Gazette of the United States Patent
Office this new design is summarized in part as:
"The combination with the
telescoping spindle the
screw-threaded, spirally-grooved cylinder and the
screw-threaded nut, conforming interiorly to a beveled ring
and adapted to engage the end of the said cylinder, of the
independent interposed ring annularly beveled and laterally
split, at one point, as and for the purpose set forth.
In a screw-driver, the combination
with the rod or spindle, having a stud fixed at one end and
a loosely-attached bit-holder at its opposite end, of the
left grooved
cylinder, screw-threaded at one end, said stud
engaging said groove, the split conical ring and the conical
nut adapted to engage said split ring and clasp the spindle
when said nut is driven upon the screw-threaded end of the
said grooved cylinder, as and for the purpose set forth."
The combination with the handle of the
screw-driver, the right spirally-grooved cylinder fixed
therein provided with a screw-threaded end, of the left
spirally-grooved cylinder described having a stud fixed
thereto to engage the groove of the right spirally-grooved
cylinder, the conical split ring encircling the left
spirally-grooved cylinder and the conical nut adapted to
engage the screw-threads of the right grooved cylinder, as
and for the purpose specified.
The combination in the right-and-left
screw-driver which consists of two cylindrical tubes, each
provided with a spiral groove, the one arranged to telescope
into the other, and a rod or spindle telescoping into the
smaller of the two cylinders, said smaller cylinder and the
said spindle provided with fixed studs to engage their
respective grooves and each of the said cylinders provided
with nuts, and the said spindle and smaller cylinder
provided with conical split rings, as and for the purpose
set forth."
By the end of 1896, major
initiatives with tools design and company reorganization came to
conclusion. William L. Pratt was positioned to march into
a successful future.
On January 1, 1897 a special meeting was held at
the Goodell Brothers Co. The Greenfield Daily Recorder
Gazette reported on January 2, 1897:
"The Goodells Sell Their Interest in
the Manufacturing Corporation Bearing Their Name!
An important change in the Goodell Bros.
Co. took place yesterday, when all the interest of the
Goodells was transferred to local capitalists. Wm. M. Pratt,
who has been treasurer of the company since its
incorporation on July 1, 1895, has now a controlling interest,
the new deal having been brought about by him.
Among the new owners of the stock is
Frank Taft of Brattleboro, who has been superintendent of
the electric light station there for six years. Mr. Taft
came to this town yesterday and will occupy an active
position at the works. The other buyers are Greenfield men.
The Goodell patents are owned by
corporation. H. E. Goodell and H. G. Goodell, who now sell
their interest, will eventually retire from all connection
with the company. The business is the manufacture of small
tools, and it is the expectation of the company under its
new ownership to considerably extend it.”
Henry E. Goodell was leaving the Goodell Brothers Company behind.
(19)
The Goodell
Brothers Co. continued the operation under the same name for another
year and half.
