“Premium Pad”

[Mills Morrison]

My SBT (1919 manufacture date and 183xxx sn) was ordered with a “premium pad”. A quick Google search yielded nothing and I have not heard of that kind of pad before. Can any of the more knowledgeable folks help? The pad on there now is modern.

[Randy G Roberts]

Possibly "Premium" was just referring to a higher grade or quality of pad and is not an actual brand ?

[Drew Hause]

I suspect Randy is correct. I've never seen an ad for a "Premium" pad and c. 1919 there were not a lot of pad options
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qxQsLDgpKtKITSGCJZ9H348YOsQL5CeZjjqNnHshpKQ/edit

Much later, Morgan and some Pachmayr pads were referred to as "premium" pads

[Dean Romig]

Very likely to have been a Silvers pad or one of the Jostams.





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[Mills Morrison]

All of that makes sense, although I did not realize there were different grades of pads back then. Seems like a Silvers pad would be a Silvers pad.

[Dean Romig]

Silvers made both a brick red pad and an orange pad. I have an original DHE with the orange option.
As was the norm the sharp edges were all rounded so as not to catch on clothing.





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[Chuck Bishop]

When I first started doing the letters I noticed that Parker used the word "Prim" or "Prem" or "Prm" pad when describing the recoil pad used on a SBT. Interestingly enough, I've never seen the word on a Parker SxS in the order books. I posted a picture of the word on the forum but nobody knew what it meant. I searched the internet thinking possibly it was the name of a manufacturers pad but came up empty. I figured it was just an abbreviation of the word Premium but that's just a guess.

Here are 3 pictures of the order book entries. The first 2 are from early 1917 when the SBT was introduced. The 2nd picture shows Prem crossed out and a Jostam pad substituted. The last is late 1919 (A-1 Special). Our order books ended Dec 1919. The stock books never mentioned recoil pads actually used on the guns. I've seen more Jostam pads and even a 3 ply sponge rubber pad asked for in the later 1919's. I think I'll call the factory and ask them what the word is:rolleyes:

[Mills Morrison]

Very interesting! Thanks Chuck

[Jeff Kuss]

Chuck,
If you contact the factory, have them call me. I want to order a 32" 28 ga. :whistle:

[Chuck Bishop]

Jeff, I'll put in for me too! Notice that in the first picture he didn't want a groved forend so maybe they did at one time make a groved for end! Interesting!

[Dean Romig]

That may be the only reference we'll ever see for the grooved forend other than the pics published in the earliest ads.

And it also suggests it was an unpopular feature leading Parker to discontinue it almost before they started offering them.





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[Mills Morrison]

If I had a SBT that needed new fore end, I think I would have one made like the grooved fore end in that Parker SBT ad.

[Bill Murphy]

I would guess that the guy who wanted "no grooves" in his forend saw pictures of the grooves in an ad rather than an actual gun with a grooved forend. Mills, I have a feeling that you could make a grooved forend from a standard single trap forend.

[John Davis]

I think Bill is correct about the grooved forearm. And I believe the reference to a premium pad is generic in nature. In other words, whatever pad Parker had in stock at the time. If they referenced a specific brand, then it was probably by specific request of the customer. Just my uneducated guess.

[Phillip Carr]

I wonder if a Premium pad would be in reference to a price of the best pad offered?

[Garry L Gordon]

Every time I see photos of the records, I marvel that Chuck can read them and report to us what is written. Once again, thanks, Chuck for your good work.:bowdown:

[Mills Morrison]

I would not alter an original. I would not be surprised if one is out there somewhere, or was and got altered

[walt brown]

i have a forend off of a sbt i used for years but traded it .anybody need it its free

[Dean Romig]

Here you go Mills. Take the one offered above and have it grooved.





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[Jeff Kuss]

Walt,
I sent you a pm.
Jeff

[walt brown]

Jeff i havent gotten anything

[Jeff Kuss]

I'll send it again.

[Mills Morrison]

My SBT is fine as is. I was thinking if I came across a project one

[Mike Franzen]

Mills if you want a project gun l have one. But it ain’t free.

[Mills Morrison]

Hold that thought until I get caught up on some others