DescriptionDrawing set: Pilot Drawing Instruments, set 984, made by Keuffel & Esser Co., New York, no date, circa 1916-1927. Pocket case, 9-3/8" wide x 2-3/4" deep x 3/4" thick; with seven metal instruments; plus graphite leads. Hinged wood case, beveled top and bottom edges; rounded corners; covered with black grained cloth; green velvet (mostly faded to a yellow) lined fitted interior; nickel plated sliding clasps Stamped on top at lower left: Pilot Drawing Instruments; Made in U.S.A.; Keuffel & Esser Co., N.Y. Note: a trademark is found on larger pieces (circle with a tee with a lower right bar - see catalog page image) and "Made in U.S.A." Set product number determined from the catalog description; it is not marked on case. Neither the K&E name or item number appears any of the contents. Contents: No. 950 Compass, 6-1/2", with pen, pencil point and lengthening bar (these count as three pieces of the seven total) No. 946 Plain divider, 5-3/4" No. 961 Steel bowspring compass, 3-1/2" No. 974 Drawing Pen, 5-1/2", upper blade with spring No. 959 Lead Box (metal tube for leads) This set is described on page 51-a in a ca. 1920 reprint of the 35th edition catalog of 1915. That reprint has 4 preliminary pages, "New Items Added since the publication of this Catalogue", in which the Pilot line is listed as a new product. Page 46-a is a full page of text titled "Drawing Instruments now made in the U.S.A. " It discusses "Owing to existing conditions [World War I and trade embargoes], it has been necessary to discontinue a large number of our drawing instruments...offering our Anchor Brand and Pilot Brand drawing instrument...made in our factory at Hoboken, N.J." The Pilot line is described and depicted on page 96 of the 36th edition catalogue issued in 1921. It does not in appear in the 37th edition of 1927. Prior to this period, K&E offerings in this genre were almost all imported from Germany. This set is signficant as an example of K&E producing them in America. Keuffel & Esser Co. main office and factories were in Hoboken in the period when this item was made.