This topic came up on the iBOB list a few weeks ago, here's the question I posted;
On 30 Oct 2001, Roy H. Drinkwater wrote:
>It was explained by Josh Putnam:
>
>>There were four companies in Ashland, Oregon, that grew out of
>>United Bicycle Tool Supply:
>>
>>* United Bicycle Supply is what used to be United Bicycle Tool
>>Supply, wholesale suppliers of tools and small parts. They sell
>>to shops and established framebuilders.
>>
>>* United Bicycle Parts sells small parts wholesale. If you
>>aren't a shop, you can't order from them.
>>
>>* The Third Hand sold tools retail. They werere an independent
>>company but had about the same selection as UBS/UBT.
>>
>>* Loose Screws used to have a paper catalog that looked almost
>>identical to the UBP catalog, except with retail prices.
>>
>>The Third Hand and Loose Screws combined to become Loose Screws
>>Bicycle Small Parts, http://www.thethirdhand.com
>
> Ok, so who is Bike Tools etc. ? http://www.biketoolsetc.com/
> 350 East Hershey St., Ashland, OR 97520.
>
> Their web site looks a lot like Loose Screws.
>
>Roy "bigger hammers" Drinkwater
Didn't get a response on that, but I do have the free catalog. I assume that Loose Screws sold off their tool business to Bike Tools, Etc. I'll probably be ordering after the 1st...
Roy "even bigger hammers" Drinkwater Lititz, PA