PARTS CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
by
Douglas W. Richardson
As Thompson parts become more difficult to
find and the prices increase correspondingly, more people are going to
manufacture parts of varying quality and make misleading claims regarding their
products.
I have been trying to figure out a classification system for the parts I offer
as well as those that others offer. I’m not talking about condition. The NRA
established a system for that years ago. I’m talking about a system that
describes how the part was made. I have come up with the following
classification system for Thompson.
ORIGINAL
This would be any part made from 1916 through 1944 by or authorized by the
Auto-Ordnance Corporation including items procured directly by the Government
during WW2.
SPECIFICATION
This would include any part which is not an ORIGINAL but which was made in
complete accordance with the original Auto-Ordnance dimensional, material, heat
treatment and finish drawings. The only exception would be a change in material
used if the original material is not readily available and the material used is
as good as or better than that specified. For someone to make a part to conform
to this category, he would have to possess all those original drawings.
REPRODUCTION
This would include any part made by reverse engineering an existing part or
otherwise copying a part as well as any part made partly in accordance with the
original drawings where the intention was to make a SPECIFICATION part but the
part fails to completely meet that definition.
AFTER MARKET
Any part made, whether partly in accordance with the original drawings or not at
all, where the part differs from the original part or is a new design in order
to create a claimed improvement or different use.
FAKE
This would be any part which is represented to be an ORIGINAL but is not
regardless of how it was made.