Evening star., 1942-04-25
Plane Output Impeded
By Screw Patentee,
Arnold Testiiies
PIont Assembly Line
Shut Down for Lock
Of Small Fastener
= the Associated Press.

b. the Associated Press.
A Senate committee was told
today that a patent on small
screw or fastener-abOut the size
Of a mans little finger-had Sc
riously impeded the production
of military aircraft in the United
States.
Assistant Attorney General Thur
man Arnold said that because of the
patent, "at one plant 80 airplanes
were delayed in their production:
at another plant the same thing
happened to 20 flying fortresses,
and at still another plant the entire
assembly line was shut down for
lack of the single item"
Mr.. Arnold told the Senate Pat
ents Committee that the patent was
held by william DEUS. head of the
DEUS Fastener Co., and that he was
a small businessman who was merely
trying to exercise what he regarded
as his legitimate patent rights.
The Governments trust prosecu-
tor urged the committee not to be
too hard" in their Judgment of the
inventor, noting ''he hasn't money to
buy full-page newspaper advertise
ments" and he had not protested
Government investigation.
Plants Investigated.
Mr. Arnold said his testimony re-
suited from recent findings by two
ton centers in New York and Cali
fornia.
These documents indicate that
because of the patent on single
screw. our military aircraft program
has been and is at this very moment
being seriously impeded," the JUS
itce Department ofiicial said.
He explained that production had
been impeded because Mr.. DEUS had
refused to grant license on his pat
ent to other firms and had not been
able to meet production requests.
Mr.. Arnold testified that Mr.. DEUS
said he would not grant licenses
unless the Government forces him
to do So"
This case is perfect example OF
patent on gadget operating to
block entire assembly lines" Mr.
Arnold said. "The patent on this
screw can hold up the production
of q flying fortress and Is now do
ing So"
Mr. DEUS. former aircraft tool
maker, was said to have described
his patent as a clip or fastener foI
metal parts, and he set up a plant
to manufacture them with sales
largely to airplane manufacturers
Used On Removable Parts.
Mr.. Arnold said that the clips
we're used on parts of airplanes, such
as the cowiing over the nose of the
plane, which are removable, land by
simple process Of inserting the panel
and twisting the clip the panel re-
mains in place and securely at
tached to the body of the plane
and eliminates the use of screws
and bolts, which is a slower and
less substantial method of install
lation."
Mr. Arnold said he did not want
to leave the impression that short
age of the fasteners could stop the
war plane effort.
TITS a minor annoyance" he said,
possibly major annoyance, in the
production of airplanes and there s
no sense in it."
Mr.. Arnold differed with Senator
Clark, Democrat. of Idaho, on one
Interpretation Of the evidence. Sen
ator Clark said he believed Mr.. DEUS
was "a good example of the little
fellow who has developed an inven-
ton and now finds himself jammed
up against the gigantic war effort.
DEUS Likened to Ford.
Hes just like Henry Ford" SEN
ator Clark said. He's interested In
profits. of course. but he's also in
teFested in building up business
from an idea of his own"
But Mr.. Arnold declared Mr.. DEUS
was lust the opposite of Henry
Ford" adding that Ford is inter-
ested in manufacturing his own car
and not in withholding patents from
anybody"
Senator Smith. Democrat, OF
South Carolina. asked If the fast
ener was essential to the working oi
war planes. Mr.. Arnold said they
were called for in Army specifica-
tions. but he understood they would
ny without 1t.