"We grow too soon old und too late shmart." So it said on the tape dispenser in my parent's house, and alas, it was certainly true with me, though I suspect I wasn't much different than any other kid. As a youngster, it seemed the Briegel Method Tool Company had always existed and would continue that way forever. I scarcely paid any attention to it growing up, except when some advertising doodad attracted my attention: mechanical pencils and pens of all shapes and colors, playing cards so plentiful I bet we may have even opened fresh decks "once or twice" to supply the neighborhood with "motors" for their bicycles - cards attached with clothespins flapping on the spokes - salt & pepper shakers, match books, cigarette lighters and ash trays, pop bottle stoppers, even a magic trick - all with the company logo on them. It was pretty cool! And it was especially neat that I was somehow related to all of that through my mother.

It all came to an end in 1965. I had taken it for granted, and my chance to pay attention was over.