The Form 20 is 8"x10 1/2" and was never in an envelope and was never rolled . Across the bottom on the reverse side is, "IMPORTANT--UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL THIS CARD BE FOLDED, ROLLED, OR CREASED". The reason being that to do so would interfere with the sorting when searching for a specifically trained/qualified/educated individual. All four sides of the card contained small holes about 1/8" in diameter broken done into blocks for certain types of information. The upper right corner of the form was cut at a 45 degree angle while the other three were 90 degree. There were captioned blocks for various information. Each hole had either a number or an alpha designator below it to register the information. For example, the first block in the upper left corner was "MAR. ST. (Martial Status) and contained two holes numbered 39 for DEP. (dependent) and 38 for MRD. (married). The second block #10 was CORPS AREA OF ENLISTMENT OR INDUCTION and contained 9 holes, numbered from left to right 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 9. Coding was done with a punch which cut a V shape over the appropriate hole thus eliminating the straight edge of the Form. In my case, neither 38 nor 39 was punched because I was single. In the block #10, #3 hole was punched since I was inducted in the Third Service Command Area. To pull out someone with specific training/qualification/education etc. an instrument called a needle was used. It was a rod about 1/8" in diameter and about 12" long with a wooden handle and looked much like a screwdriver. To look for someone who entered Service from 3rd Service Command, the rod (needle) was inserted in the #3 hole in block #10 of a stack of Forms. Using the needle, the stack of Forms was raised and low and behold all the 3's fell out since that hole had been punched out. The system was the McBee Keysort, covered under U.S. Pat No.1.213.607. For its history and more detailed information, Google McBee Keysort. Ellis Hosbach Bethel Park, PA

Thanks Ellis - I wasn't involved with the original question, but learned a lot from your answer. Regards, Dave Ellis Hosbach wrote: > The Form 20 is 8"x10 1/2" and was never in an envelope and was never rolled > . Across the bottom on the reverse side is, "IMPORTANT--UNDER NO > CIRCUMSTANCES WILL THIS CARD BE FOLDED, ROLLED, OR CREASED". The reason > being that to do so would interfere with the sorting when ................... >