Mr. Hubert.

That would have been what year, sir; about?

Mr. Ruby.

I think 1947; 1947.

Mr. Hubert.

Did you keep in contact with him?

Mr. Ruby.

Oh, yes; we corresponded, not too often. We came up every few years. Of course, he came up for my mother's funeral in 1944. Then he came up for my dad's funeral.

Mr. Hubert.

He came from the service for your mother's funeral, I suppose?

Mr. Ruby.

Yes; that is right. At that time he was in the service.

Mr. Hubert.

And your father died in what year?

Mr. Ruby.

1960.

Mr. Hubert.

Now, I understand that you and your brother Sam changed your name from Rubenstein to Ruby by a court proceeding for that purpose?

Mr. Ruby.

Yes.

Mr. Hubert.

Was that a coordinated decision between you and Sam?

Mr. Ruby.

Yes.

Mr. Hubert.

You know, do you not, that Jack did the same thing about the same time?

Mr. Ruby.

Yes.

Mr. Hubert.

Was that coordinated with him, too?

Mr. Ruby.

No; I don't think so. In our conversations in telling him that we were doing it, maybe he decided to do it, but I don't know if it had any bearing at all.

Mr. Hubert.

What was the reason for the change of name?

Mr. Ruby.

Well, first, everybody called me Ruby, even in the service, and wherever I went they called me Ruby, so that was one of the reasons to change it.

Mr. Hubert.

After Jack left did you and Sam continue in business?

Mr. Ruby.

Oh, yes.

Mr. Hubert.

For how long?

Mr. Ruby.

For possibly 8 or 9 years, anyhow.

Mr. Hubert.

You still lived in Chicago at that time?

Mr. Ruby.

Oh, yes.

Mr. Hubert.

Do you know what was the cause of the breakup of the Earl Products Co. which then consisted of you and Sam only, and of Sam's removal to Dallas?

Mr. Ruby.

Well, I didn't like he was supposed to handle the shop and I was handling the office and the advertising, and by this time, when I say "shop" you must understand we were now in the manufacturing business.

Mr. Hubert.

What were you manufacturing?

Mr. Ruby.

We were manufacturing aluminum salt and pepper shakers, key chains, bottle openers, screw drivers, small hammers.

Mr. Hubert.

How large an operation was that?

Mr. Ruby.

Well, I think our maximum sales there reached about a quarter of a million dollars.

Mr. Hubert.

How many employees did you have at the maximum?

Mr. Ruby.

Its maximum we had there was probably 40 at any given time. Anyhow, he was supposed to run the shop and I was supposed to run the office, and I didn't think he was taking care of the shop the way he should, and I told him several times, and finally he says, "Well, if you can do better, you can take care of that yourself," and he didn't report to work for almost a year.
In the meantime, I was giving him his check every week. So, finally I decided after waiting that long that the only thing to do was dissolve the partnership and buy him out.

Mr. Hubert.

How much did you pay him when you bought him out?

Mr. Ruby.

I paid him a total of about $30,000.

Mr. Hubert.

And you say you actually paid him a weekly salary check?

Mr. Ruby.

Yes.

Mr. Hubert.

Although he didn't do any work at all?

Mr. Ruby.

That is right.

Mr. Hubert.

What was he doing as a matter of fact during that year?

Mr. Ruby.

Nothing. He was just--just nothing.

Mr. Hubert.

You didn't even see him do you mean?