Parker Order Books

[Destry L. Hoffard]

With the passing of Babe Delgrego last year, I thought this worth bringing up again.

It's well known that the Delgrego family holds several Parker record ledgers.

Perhaps this is the time for the PGCA to approach them again about a possible purchase them.

[Chuck Bishop]

Not a bad idea Destry but it's above my pay grade! We don't need to own them, just be able to photograph them. Same with Galazan and the stock books that Remington has. Just need to photograph them.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Obviously they aren't going to allow them to be copied, cause if they were it would have happened by now.

Perhaps a cash remuneration in tribute to their preservation of the history of the Parker Gun would purchase them though.

Last time I was aware, the PGCA was pretty well heeled. Maybe spending some of that cash to further the work the organization was founded to do might be a good idea.

[Dean Romig]

Personally I don’t think that will ever happen and Lawrence has said so.
But the one thing he didn’t say is that there are probably too many well kept secrets within those pages…





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[Destry L. Hoffard]

Everybody who was involved is dead, everybody whoever bought one of those guns is dead. I'm guessing the Delgrego family isn't millionaires, a strong cash offer might get it done.

[Brian Dudley]

I still wonder about back in 2013 at the annual meeting when two different people at the podium spoke about how the PGCA was going to be acquiring some of the missing records. It was not heard of again after that time. I would assume that whatever was supposed to be happening fell apart.

[Andrew Sacco]

Make him an offer he can't refuse

[CraigThompson]

Make him an offer he can't refuse

No , make him an offer the worst thing he can say is NO :whistle:

[keavin nelson]

While at the Southern I had a vendor ask me to look at a gun that wasn't on the table. Probably due to the Parker hat and vest badges, not that in impowers expertise! I am fairly certain it was an upgrade, and asked if he checked the book/site, he indicated no records available. It wore the familiar Delgrego colors. Perhaps the heart of the problem. But, let them that don't ask, have fond memories of not gotten any!:rolleyes:

[John Davis]

For the past 20 years I have served on either the board of directors of the PGCA or the Foundation. During that time both boards have considered all kinds of options and approaches to acquiring any and all of the known remaining records that we don’t already have. To date no avenues have been successful. I am certain that we will continue to pursue the records when opportunities present themselves, but based on my personal past experience I wouldn’t hold my breath that any of the parties on the other side of the equation will be willing to negotiate. Hopefully one day I’ll be proven wrong.

[Bill Murphy]

Making an "offer" is idiocy unless both parties are face to face and the books and the money are on site. Otherwise the offer is merely a free appraisal.

[Chuck Bishop]

John, have we told them we don't need to own them, just photograph them? We did tell the Remington Society that and they were receptive to that but they don't know what Remington intends to do with them at the present time.

[Dean Romig]

While at the Southern I had a vendor ask me to look at a gun that wasn't on the table. Probably due to the Parker hat and vest badges, not that in impowers expertise! I am fairly certain it was an upgrade, and asked if he checked the book/site, he indicated no records available. It wore the familiar Delgrego colors. Perhaps the heart of the problem. But, let them that don't ask, have fond memories of not gotten any!:rolleyes:


Keavin, that is exactly the scenario I had alluded to in my previous post on this thread.





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[Andrew Sacco]

There is one universal truth: EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE

[Brian Dudley]

The other universal truth is that eventually, everything is for sale.

The whole topic should be a reminder of how fortunate the PGCA and Parker enthusiasts are to have the records that they do. Other organizations have nothing or next to it.

[Andrew Sacco]

The other universal truth is that eventually, everything is for sale.

The whole topic should be a reminder of how fortunate the PGCA and Parker enthusiasts are to have the records that they do. Other organizations have nothing or next to it.

I belong to the Browning Collectors Association and it's pretty much a waste of $35 a year. There is little of substance, some ads, a few classified things for sale. The PGCA is hands down worth every cent due to the enthusiasm, history, records, knowledge and of course, PP magazine is second to none.

[Andrew Sacco]

Harry I get that, and you make a good point. But even with that said, it was meant not so much as a rip on the BGCA as much as a testament to how great the PGCA is. You've had some nice Brownings so I know you're a big fan. I just bought a 4 barrel Citori skeet set and I'm in love with it. I'm eyeballing a NIB Diana grade Superposed soon, not sure I can swing that one but that's one I would think is worth investing in (Broadway Trap he said..)

[chris dawe]

Why are these "other parties " so adamant that the pgca ,don't have access to these records?? ...that's the most childish crock of shit I ever heard tell of!

[Bill Murphy]

I don't understand Chuck's post. What is it that the Remington Society has that we want?

[CraigThompson]

Harry I get that, and you make a good point. But even with that said, it was meant not so much as a rip on the BGCA as much as a testament to how great the PGCA is. You've had some nice Brownings so I know you're a big fan. I just bought a 4 barrel Citori skeet set and I'm in love with it. I'm eyeballing a NIB Diana grade Superposed soon, not sure I can swing that one but that's one I would think is worth investing in (Broadway Trap he said..)

Congrats my first honest to God skeet gun was a Citori 4 barrel set !

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

I believe that the books that are in the hands of Remington, DelGreco, Galazan, and a couple others, when revealed , would answer a lot of questions as to authenticity! Gary

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I'm fairly certain the Delgrego Family aren't wealthy people. The right amount of money would likely shake them loose, particularly now that Babe has passed. Cash money, no bullshit, no questions.

[Brian Dudley]

Have at it Destry. Make the call.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I don't have a handle on the purse strings of this organization, nor am I likely going to get ahold of them.

[Bill Murphy]

Does anyone know who bought the order book (or stock book) that was advertised and supposedly sold in North Carolina a not too long a time ago? That would have been a start, if anyone was paying attention.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Murphy why didn't you make the organization aware of its availability if in fact there was a book for sale?

[Brian Dudley]

If I recall, that was one of the very early books. It was discussed here when it was on ebay. I think that Jeff Kuss bought it. And he brought it to Rock Mountain for anyone who wanted to see it.

The association had copies of the pages anyway.

[Bill Murphy]

If PGCA had copies of the pages, how did the original book get into the hands of the North Carolina paper dealer? I hope Jeff replies.

[Brian Dudley]

Here is the previous discussion on order book number 5 from when it was for sale in 2016. See Chucks comment on page 2.


https://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=19125&highlight=Book+ebay

[Chuck Bishop]

I'll take a guess, the BOD? They are listed in the Parker Pages.

[Brian Dudley]

Everyone knows that the Janitor in any company/organization is the one with the check book.

[Jean Swanson]

I will end the guessing----it is me for the last 20 + years & yes, I control the funds in both check books !!!!

There has been numerous attempts to acquire, copy, or gain access to the MISSING order books & to my understanding none have been successful.

I have been the Treasurer of the PGCA & Foundation for the past 20 + years---to make it clear---the PGCA is a 501c7 corp. & the PGCA Foundation is a 501c3 ( not for profit corp, with certain tax deductible advantages ).

I can be reached via phone at my home in Candia, NH @ 603-587-0544

Allan Swanson ----PGCA Invincible Member

[allen newell]

Keep trying. We just might get lucky one of these days

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I'd make a wild guess and say no monetary offer has ever been made just:

Wellllll waddaya want for em....

And

We just want photocopies really.

[Alfred Houde]

Different question. Does the PGCA have a working relationship or rapport with the Remington Society of America?

A dual/joint effort might be the ticket to uncover missing records/info.

[Bill Murphy]

If a third party has the missing books, Remington or RSA wouldn't be much help. We, yes we, have copied everything possessed by Remington and RSA doesn't enter into the discussion. Maybe it's time to repost the old thread that explains how we came to copy the records and what exactly we copied and how we did it.

[Alfred Houde]

I only brought up Remington and the RSA based on the Parker history with Remington. When I attended the Remington Armorer course back in 2001 one of the instructors told me that they held Parker records. I'm also familiar with the whole "Room that doesn't exist" story.

If the PGCA has already copied or obtained those, great.

[Bill Murphy]

Al, the PGCA Research Committee went to Ilion for a week in 1998 and copied tens of thousands of pages of order books, stock books, and IBM cards, a project initiated in 1997 by a smaller group. If the old thread gets reposted, the names of those involved will be mentioned.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

During the copying of records, a couple of our members caused problems and put the PGCA in dutch with the Remington Society. I'm not sure that's a wound that's ever been quite healed.

[Alfred Houde]

If Jonathan Browning and Winchester got together for a visit after all those years any hard feelings between the PGCA and RSA can be healed.

Sometimes people with a mutual interest just need to talk.

[Bill Murphy]

Destry may choose to change the wording of his last post when he gets more information.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I know what numerous senior PGCA members have told me.

[Bill Murphy]

That says a lot about the accuracy of your statements.

[Alfred Greeson]

At least we know they exist. The ownership of those records is near and dear to the Del Grego family and I imagine a source of pride since the grandfather had the foresight to acquire parts, equipment and records to start his business. I have certainly gained from them sharing their expertise to help people like me to learn and understand about Parkers, as with several members who I will probably never meet but sharing their knowledge has been greatly appreciated. All this to say, ownership of some things in life are a source of pride and beyond monetary value and the unknown is often of more value than the item or items. Like King Arthur and the location of Camelot.

[allen newell]

I may have missed it in reading through this post. Besides the DelGrego family who else holds Parker records that PGCA would like to copy and/or have research access to?

[John Allen]

Herschel Chadick had some of the books as well. I do not know what happened to them after Herschel passed. They may be the ones Galazan now has.