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Show May 2, 19h4 MEMORANDUM FOR MESSRS. M. A. AND VAL A. BROWNING: in @ telephonic conversation with Mr. James FP. Hume he asked that we obtain additional information for him. The data which he requests from the technical standpoint is as follows: & letter numbers, 1. Mr. Teller, in his list which accompanied of April 27, 1944, set forth the various patent together with a brief explanation of the features covered by the patent. Mr. Hume would like a similar prepared covering the Browning patents. He stated this list should be prepared regardless of whether Browning patents are expired or unexpired. A in the Colonel event list that the copy of Mr. Teller's letter is available, that he did not send a copy to you. 2. Mr. Hume, in Herrstrom, would preparing also like his statement to know if he for can claim that the guns which are now being manufactured for the United States Government are basically the result of original invention, with subsequent improvements developed by Browning's and Colt's. He thought that if we could make this claim it would greatly help our case. On the other hand, if the Government has been put to a great deal of expense in refining these guns, the picture may be somewhat different. A statement was sent to Mr. Hume showing the total royalties received by the Brownings for the years 1920 to 1944, inclusive, as $6,645,232.67. When it is considered that this amount represents,inventive genius available to the United States Government to furnish the armed forces with the outstanding guns of world war number two, it would seem that any reasonable person, or persons, would count the cost as small. AS an example, it has possibly cost the United States Government a great many millions of dollars to experiment with, refine, improve, and change many peace time items which are now part of the armament used in the war effort. The changing over of peace time trucks and automotive equipment to tanks, half-tracks, etc., has probably involved many millions of dollars. Another example would be the Garand rifle which, it is understood, has been developed by Government Urdnance experts. It this development work. know this cost and, if we feel it would be in would be interesting Undoubtedly a comparison our favor. to know the Ordnance is made with the cost Department our figures, of |
