This is a transcription of a document prepared by Frank Deli, a founder of the Autopoint Company and an officer of that company for many years. Autopoint was a manufacturer of mechanical pencils and desk top accessories located in Chicago. A copy of this document was given to me by Frank Deli's grandson, Steven F. Deli.

I do not know why Mr. Deli prepared this remarkable document. Since it looks like a resume, I have given it that title.

The entry on the Black and Thomas Company tells briefly of the founding of the Autopoint Company.

See also Mr. Deli's Biography which tells more about the founding of the Autopoint Company.

 I, Frank C. Deli, was born in Sibenbergen Transylvania which is a German Colony [in] Austria, Hungary [which] now [belongs] to Roumania.

My father was a school teacher and an ordain German Lutheran Minister.

I have two brothers, one being a machinist and toolmaker, ten years my senior, and the other is also a school teacher and an ordain German Minister.

I was educated by my father and graduated from Public School at the age of 11 ½ years. I went to the Giminasium, which is equivalent ot high school here, until I was 15 years old. [D]ue to my interest mechanically since childhood... [I made] articles of which my father in particular was very proud, I, went to Hermanstadt to serve three years apprenticeship at Riegers Agricultural Machine Factory, which was the largest machine factory, which was the largest manufacturing company of its kind in our country. After serving three years I gave them two weeks' notice and left for home for a vacation, as I had planned during my apprenticeship to come to America.

In September, 1903, I landed in Baltimore and came on to Pittsburgh, as my oldest brother was employed by the Westinghouse Machine Company and he was instrumental in obtaining my first position with:

STANDARD ENGINEERING COMPANY, ELLWOOD CITY, PA. (Machinist) Mr. Thompson

I was just 18 years old. Started for 17½ per hour and after 9 months was getting 27½ ¢. Was offered a raise if I would stay, but I left as I was determined to work in as many different factories as possible, doing a variety of work, doing a variety of work, before I reached the age where I would have to settle down.

ELLWOOD CITY STEAM PACKING COMPANY, ELLWOOD CITY (Machinist) 4 months

SHARON STEEL WORKS, SHARON, PA (Tool Department) Mr. Meyer

I took this position temporarily as I was promised a job in the Tool Room of the Sharon Gun Works. I was determined to work for this company as it was newly organized and was well equipped and making, I believe, the French 75 Gun. Due to the influence of my brother I left and started to work for the:

This company was turning out some of the biggest compound engines in the country. was employed by them at two different occasions.

PITTSBURGH OIL WELL SUPPLY CO., PITTSBURGH, PA. (Machinist) 2 months

WESTINGHOUSE MACHINE COMPANY, EAST PITTSBURGH, PA. (Mr. Green) Machinist - 2 months

SIGNAL & SWITCH COMPANY, SWISSVILLE, PA. (Mr. Meyer) Tool Department 5-months

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY, EAST PITTSBURGH, PA. (Mr. Edmeyer) Electrical Experimental Dept. - 4 months
 

  I then came to Chicago as I desired to get some additional technical education, which was not available by attending night school in Pittsburgh. Might mention I came to Chicago as a total stranger. I attended the following schools:

AUTOCAR COMPANY, CHICAGO, ILL (Machinist)

I only worked here 1½ day as I was able to obtain a better position with the Western Electric Company at their Hawthorne Plant, as a machinist on steam turbines.

McCORD & COMPANY, CHICAGO, ILL. (Toolmaker and Machine Shop Foreman)

This company moved to Detroit and I was in charge of dismantling all the machinery and selecting a certain number of men to take along to Detroit. I, too, was supposed to bo along and continue as General Foreman of their Machine Shop, but changed my mind for certain good reasons a few days before their final departure form here.

I worked for this company twice.

This was a tool jobbing ship and I worked as a toolmaker for a few months, the remainder of the time was in charge of the shop

PLEMONDIN MFG. CO., CHICAGO, ILL. (Machinist) 2 months

ADDRESSOGRAPH COMPANY, CHICAGO, Ill. (Tool Department) 4 month

MIEHLE PRINTING PRESS CO., CHICAGO, ILL. 5 ½ years

I started for this company as a toolmaker during which time I was married and then had to settle down. I, therefore, remained for 5 ½ years, spending the last year and a half as General Foreman in their Taunton plant. May mention I was selected form about sixty toolmakers to assist Grosshardt in running their Taunton, Mass. Plant.

This company was organized by Mr. Vanderworn who was formerly Tool Room Foreman of the Miehle Printing Press Co. and for whom I had worked during my employment as a toolmaker at Miehle, and upon my return from Taunton, Mass. Mr. Vanderworn offered me the position of running his shop.

I left the previous company to work for this company as I had a much better proposition offered me by Mr. Wurum who was Mr. Krasberg's partner with whom I had worked as general foreman over the production of the 32nd M.M. Gun Breech.

I worked for this company during the war in charge of their Machining Division, Department H. 

After the Armistice I stayed with the Standard Steel until the summer 1919 at which time all war work was wound up and I obtained a position with the above company to run their factory. However, as my home was in Chicago and I was unable to rent a residence in Racine during the housing shortage, after three months I was forced to return to Chicago.

These people had taken over the manufacturing rights of an oil burner and hired me to take charge of their factory. Due to certain flaws in their contract which licensed them to complete the Allan oil burner, they decided to discontinue after six months operation.

BLACK & THOMAS COMPANY, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 6 months

I left the previous company and went with two associates into the pencil business. We were financed by the above company. However this did not prove entirely satisfactory. We, therefore, started our own company in 1921, which was the original Composition Products Company, which later became the Realite Company, Realite Mfg. Co., Autopoint Products Co. and Autopoint Company.

Notes

• Frank Deli's associates in the original Realite Pencil Company were Michael Kaufmann and John Lynn.