lr. MB. 2 5/2/39 three years. while liy present 2 etree for you and lr. Robillard He, therefore, is fully care of the matter in my absence arise. ~ to take is that it might be worthto go down to Washington m and search the patents qualified should the occasion as classified in the search room of the ratent Office; this, of course, providing that ou are thoroughly familiar with the construction and operaion of the automatic shotgun on which ir. Val Browning is working. It may well be that you will find some older pat- ents, granted either to Winchester or others, which will lead to the conclusion that you are free to make the gun which you have in mind; or he the conclusion that you cannot make the gun because you would be infringing one or | more outstanding patents. By that I mean that you may find some expired patents, now open to the public to use, which more or less completely show the construction which Mr. Val ae has in mind, eg tag that instance, you need not particularly worry about the claims which the Winchester br you may find some unexpired patents, people may get. by owned Winchester or others, May I suggest that containing and selling after you have prohibit you from manufacturing Val has in mind. claims the which would eun which considered this letter and the enclosed copies of correspondence that rou phone me, and we can then lay out a line of procedure. ly telephone number is Hartford embark on the 2-6205. At present, I ex- ect to be at the office on mt poy © the Sth, and Tuesday, he 9th. I will leave Hartford about seven o'clock on ilay lOth and will one o'clock in the afternoon. "Queen Mary™ Yours TCL:om encls. c/e Mr. Val Browning ir, M. A. Browning very which A truly sails "A fj) at