Ventilated Rib

[Bob Brown]

The earliest U.S. patent I could see was Clarence A. Godshalk, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, fliled in November of 1914, and granted in February of 1915.
The patent referred to the rib allowing for the heat expansion of the anchor points. I feel like I should know where Godshalk worked, it rings a bell.
Sorry, it was Fox of course. According to Bing, he and Edward Godshalk bought Fox out of receivership in 1912. Thats a long time before it's mentioned in the 1931 catalog.

[Randy Roberts]

There has been a documented Parker BH of 1918 vintage with a VR discussed here previously.

[Researcher]

Originally Posted by Bob Brown

The earliest U.S. patent I could see was Clarence A. Godshalk, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, filed in November of 1914, and granted in February of 1915.
The patent referred to the rib allowing for the heat expansion of the anchor points. I feel like I should know where Godshalk worked, it rings a bell.
Sorry, it was Fox of course. According to Bing, he and Edward Godshalk bought Fox out of receivership in 1912. Thats a long time before it's mentioned in the 1931 catalog.

The Godshalk patent was used on the Fox SBT which got delayed by war production for Europe's unpleastness, and wasn't introduced until late 1919. The earliest ad I've found is in the September 1919 issue of Field & Stream --

September 1919, Field & Stream.jpeg

and the J-, K & L-Grades are listed on the November 30, 1919, retail price list.

Remington Arms Co. added the extra cost option of a raised solid rib on their autoloading shotgun in their 1907 catalog and began offering a ventilated rib in their 1910 catalog.

1910 Remington Autoloading Gun Ribs.jpeg