'Found myself using a new Pratt-Read screwdriver today on a Pratt Read action. 'Seems that this is a spin-off from the old piano action mfg. Co.

'Nice screwdriver!

I think it’s what’s left of the old Pratt, Read.

Years back, while still R&D director at Baldwin, I visited a company by the name of Cornwall-Patterson located in Bridgeport, CT. This company made the agrafes used by most of the U.S. piano makers. My mission was to try to find out why they couldn’t seem to make any two agrafes alike. The holes in an agrafe are supposed to be in a perfectly straight line—these weren’t. This was particularly troublesome with the tri-chord agrafes. We wanted to impress upon them the importance of getting these things in a nice, even row.

Unfortunately the machinery used to drill the agrafes was really quite old and had been rather poorly maintained. There was no way this company was going to make decent agrafes. But what I found interesting was their growing side-business; they were making screwdriver blades for Craftsman Tools (Sears) and these were of quite good quality.

If you now do an internet search for the name “Cornwall-Patterson” you will be referred to the Pratt, Read Company. I don’t remember if C-P was a division of Pratt, Read at the time but it might have been. Whatever…it was obvious that they made far better screwdrivers than agrafes so it looks like they ended up in the right business.

ddf