April 25, 1939 JM. & M.S. Browning Co, Utah Oeden, Abtentio =— n Mr, M. Dear as lr, BrowninBalog g A. Browning: ae | I hasten to ropry vo your letter of April 21st I can readily see that It is not this matter is an important possible unless we obtain consent of Winehester to see the specification. drawings of the Winchestér application. Patent one. the written clains or applica-= tions filed in the Patent Office are held "secret" and ean conversely, examine.the be examined by no one unless he is authorized. in writing by the applicant or the assienee of the application, For example, Winchester nor any other party could not examine the pending Brownine BS ee beara ab the Patent Office, and, chester we, pending or no third party, applications I thought that at could the Patent possibly the Office. Winchester Win; applica- tion may have gone to patent so T an having my office go through the recent Official Gazettes to see if it can find the patent. get in touch If we find:the United States Patent, I will with you It occurred immediately, to me that ) ) if the Winchester United states application has not gone to patent,‘it may. be’ that Winchester has already taken out a fOreimn.. patent, for, as you may know, you cannot keep an application pending for a lone time in Great Britain and france, for example. If we find a corresponding foreign Winchester yatent, we could what then sort see what of claims the structure Winchester is and may get deternine in this genérally country.