Here is the e-mail reply I sent to John Ruth: 

Thank you so very much for your reply and kind comments, John. 
 
You wrote: 
 
> A suggestion: The 2100 brace page might be improved with a link to Dr. George 
Langford's site www.georgesbasement.com, specifically the page about the 
internals of the 2100 here: 
>  
> http://www.georgesbasement.com/fs2101a.htm 
>  
> (Dr. Langford has posted on OLDTOOLS in the distant past. He has a Sc.D in 
metallurgy.) 
 
Excellent suggestion - I will do that. 
  
> A question: You wrote that "Yankee" tools always reflect copious chrome 
plating of metal parts." I've seen some early ones that appear to be bare brass 
and some others that appear to be nickel.  Then again, I'm looking at a small 
sample of well-worn tools . The ones that appear to be nickle could be just 
showing the undercoating of nickle which you mentioned, meaning the chrome went 
away and left the nickle. 
 
Yes, John, I am not that happy with that statement. I too have handled - and 
owned - some with the finish characteristics you describe. As a matter of fact, 
the only emphasis on chrome plating by North Bros. in a publication is on the 
cover of their 1931 catalog that I own. I will re-write this. 
 
> Also, was chrome used on tools produced in wartime? (WW's 1 & 2)  (Darn! I 
should have bought that Yankee stamped S.C.U.S.A, which I think was Signal Corps

US Army. It was missing that little irreplaceable grub screw. I can't remember 
its finish. ) 
 
I believe so. I never encountered any WWII finish "YANKEE" tools in England 
during the war although many thousands of (mostly 131 spiral ratchet 
screwdrivers) those tools were used, especially in the production of Hawker 
Hurricane and Boulton Paul Defiant air frames which were all wood construction -

actually I think  probably most British air frame construction. 
 
Again, thanks for your message, John. 
 
James 
-- 
http://jp29.org/ - Portal to my Web Sites & Pages 
 
>  
> Overall, though, those are very professional looking web pages ! 
>  
> John Ruth 		 	   		  
 
And once again, thanks John.

  
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