Cleveland Twist Drill Adjustable Reamer Quick-Set No. 46

Private Lugnutz · Sep 9, 2016

I picked this up at a flea market a few months ago. I am posting some photos for Rileysan, who just picked up a 1947 Cleveland Twist Drill catalog.

Also, if anyone has any definitive insight into the purpose of the marking - "CODE WORD: PARLIAL" - on the lid, please comment. My instincts are telling me it was possibly some kind of marketing promotion code. But "PARLIAL" is a strange word. I was thinking it might be "PARTIAL," but it's clearly not.

PHOTOS:

A_Pmech · Sep 9, 2016

Before there was telephone, there was Telegraph, and they charged by the word.

All companies had code wordso for their items to make "fast" ordering easier and, well, faster.

Private Lugnutz · Sep 9, 2016

Thanks for de-ciphering that, A Pmech.

I wouldn't have expected that in the late 40s. And I've never seen it before on this vintage packaging, but it makes a lot of sense. Very interesting.

A_Pmech · Sep 10, 2016

I recall seeing code words in catalogs dated well into the 1960's. The fax machine totally killed off any need of them, but email has failed thus far at killing the fax machine. (I wish it would hurry up and finish the damn things off.) :willy_nil

Rileysan · Sep 10, 2016

Good guess on the code words. They were used when placing orders by telegram. The catalog notes that certain code words were borrowed with permission from one of the shipping companies dating back to the early part of the century.

I have no photos to post yet, but the catalog has code words for every set, every size, every quantity, etc, at the back of the book - there's over 5000 code words! There's even examples given on how to write and decipher sentences.

The set, No.46, is pictured and has a descriptive paragraph to go with it.

I will post photos for you on Monday.

Brian

Private Lugnutz · Sep 10, 2016

Rileysan said:
The set, No.46, is pictured and has a descriptive paragraph to go with it.

I will post photos for you on Monday.

Brian

Ya da man, Brian! Thanks. :thumbup:

larry_g · Sep 11, 2016

Also, if anyone has any definitive insight into the purpose of the marking - "CODE WORD: PARLIAL" - on the lid, please comment. My instincts are telling me it was possibly some kind of marketing promotion code. But "PARLIAL" is a strange word. I was thinking it might be "PARTIAL," but it's clearly not.

but the catalog has code words for every set, every size, every quantity, etc, at the back of the book - there's over 5000 code words!

I can imagine there were probably a few mis-orders with this system. The many people in the line between the person ordering the part to the shipper having to see this code word and not mis-interpert it as something else or miss a letter keying it in or reading the code at the DE.

lg
no neat sig line

Rileysan · Sep 12, 2016

From the Cleveland Twist Drill catalog No. 45, copyright 1947, is the "Quick-set" No. 46 adjustable reamer set.

Picture 4 is from the index and shows the other "Quick-set" reamer sets that were available from Cleveland Twist Drill.

Brian

Rileysan · Sep 12, 2016

For your enjoyment and education, here are a few pix from the code word index in the Cleveland Twist Drill catalog.

Brian

Private Lugnutz · Sep 12, 2016

Thanks, Brian! And thanks for including some extra excerpts from the codeword section. Very interesting. As I said above, I have looked at many catalogs from this same era, and I have never seen anything like this before. What are your thoughts on that? The only conclusion I can draw is that not all mfgrs used a telegraph system. Maybe the companies that didn't have "jobbers" (regional sales agents)?

Rileysan · Sep 12, 2016

Private Lugnutz said:
Thanks, Brian! And thanks for including some extra excerpts from the codeword section. Very interesting. As I said above, I have looked at many catalogs from this same era, and I have never seen anything like this before. What are your thoughts on that? The only conclusion I can draw is that not all mfgrs used a telegraph system. Maybe the companies that didn't have "jobbers" (regional sales agents)?

I can only speculate at this time.

My guess is that Cleveland Twist Drill sold directly to the customer in addition to using local distributors.

If they sold direct, businesses would have to order through the mail, over the phone, or send a telegram. The company started back in the 1880s - long before telephones were in every home. Long distance phone calls would have been prohibitively expensive even in the 1940s so the derived (or borrowed) system of code-words remained in place for many years.

Judging by how extensive the vocabulary is in the catalog, I would surmise this system was in use for a very long time.

This is all speculation on my part. I have no idea how close I am, but it sounds good to me!

Brian

Private Lugnutz · Jul 19, 2019

I picked up this huge Cleveland Twist Drill No. 11 Ezy-Out Screw Extractor at the flea market today. Found it in its original tube in an old Huot roller. This lot had a lot of large heavy duty stuff. It's clearly not as old as my No. 46 Quick-Set reamer set. Guessing 60's. It doesn't show any signs of having ever been used.

I also took some pics with a Steel Craft screw extractor set I found last year, just for context.

Big drop off from No. 11 (1-1/2") to No. 3 (19/64")!

Rileysan · Jul 20, 2019

Private Lugnutz said:
I picked up this huge Cleveland Twist Drill No. 11 Ezy-Out Screw Extractor at the flea market today. Found it in its original tube in an old Huot roller. This lot had a lot of large heavy duty stuff. It's clearly not as old as my No. 46 Quick-Set reamer set. Guessing 60's. It doesn't show any signs of having ever been used.

I also took some pics with a Steel Craft screw extractor set I found last year, just for context.

Big drop off from No. 11 (1-1/2") to No. 3 (19/64")!

That's in fantastic shape - even for an unused tool!

As for the source, you've got me wondering about the Huot roller!

Brian

Private Lugnutz · Jul 20, 2019

I didn't buy the roller, if that's what you mean, Brian. Did Huot not make a roller? Maybe the top box was a Huot and the roller was something else.

Rileysan · Jul 20, 2019

Private Lugnutz said:
I didn't buy the roller, if that's what you mean, Brian. Did Huot not make a roller? Maybe the top box was a Huot and the roller was something else.

Yes, Huot made a few different rollers. I have one that I picked up a couple years ago. I need to start a Huot thread so as to consolidate all the knowledge gleaned from members. Huot boxes are not very common here in the Pacific Northwest but the women I purchased the pictured top chest from told me her father was a salesman for Huot in this area back in the 60s & 70s, which is how he acquired the top chest.

Here's a photo of mine, along with the ad.

Brian

Private Lugnutz · Nov 16, 2019

Found this Cleveland Twist Drill Ezy-Out Set No. 15 at the flea market this morning. I would've bought it just for the tin with the slide-on lid and decal (pre-1963 address), even if it was empty or didn't contain any of the original contents, but it has the original No. 5, No. 4, and No. 1. The No. 2 and No. 3 are more modern replacements. Pictured in Pics 5 & 6 with big bro (Set No. 192, Ezy-Out No. 11).

Cleveland Twist Drill Adjustable Reamer Quick-Set No. 46

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