Chapter 15

A dramatic illustration of a shortage resulting from a restrictive patent agreement enforced by cartel groups is provided in the case of tungsten carbide. Few items are as important as machine tools to our economy both in peace and in war. The best cutting edge for machine tools is made from tungsten carbide. Because of a patent cartel agreement between the General Electric Company of this country and the Krupp Works of Germany, the price was maintained at such a high level that the second largest manufacturer of t…