On January 20, 1920, Arthur received the patent rights for the Hawkesworth Drill, in the United States, Canada, and Internationally. Arthur was thrilled to have the registered patent and excited about the future, but he had terrible timing and his drill bit just sat in his workshop. Nobody was interested in it.

 Tough times were in store for the copper industry. Less and less drilling was going on because the demand for copper had fallen off a cliff.
Frustration snaked through Arthur. He had created a genuine innovation, yet its existence was known only to his wife, a handful of friends, and the Company. Mysteriously, it piqued nobody’s curiosity as he encountered pushbacks from every direction.
“If I can just get someone to start using it, everything will change,” Arthur said to Mamie. “Arthur if it is as good as you say it is, just go out and prove it,.”
Taking Mamie’s advice he took matters into his own hands and went down into the mine to prove the bit’s worth. He put it to the test unleashing its impressive power against the solid granite wall in the Emma Mine. And boy, what a welcome surprise.
The sheer power of his drill bit was a remarkable sight, piercing through the granite wall with such intensity that it was downright awe-striking – a performance unlike any drilling bit he had ever seen before. It would cut clean crisp holes with less dust.
It left him gasping for breath, erupting into an excited “Woo-Hoo.” The drill operator, too, found himself notably impressed saying, “Hawk that’s a dandy bit you got there.”
Arthur told everyone, “I have the greatest drill bit in the world.”
Inspired by the first test, he repeated it using new bits and documenting the results. The tests validated his claim. He sent the findings to his acquaintance at the Company, hoping he would get instant approval for immediate use.
Arthur had meticulously documented the results and pointed out the tremendous value for the Company by reducing their operating costs.
The vice president responded in a handwritten letter.
A.L. Hawkesworth c/o The Troy Times, New York,
“My Dear Mr. Hawkesworth: I am in receipt of your letter of July 31, 1920, in which you detail the result of tests made with your new drill bit. I am very pleased that the results were so satisfactory to you, and that you are so sanguine as to the successful outcome of the Bit.
Very truly yours, C.F. Kelley.
The letter was dismissing and no follow up came from Cornelius F. “Con” Kelley, the vice president of The Anaconda Copper Mining Company (ACM) of Butte, Montana. Or as everyone in town called it, “The Company.”
Kelley and the President of ACM, John D. Ryan were well aware of what the Hawkesworth Drill was capable of doing and had already made up their minds. They had convened a secret meeting on the second floor of the Henessey building in Butte.
“This new Hawkesworth Drill is creating a buzz,” said Ryan. As he sat down in the plush high back leather chair with a glass of whiskey in hand, Kelley sitting directly across from him in a matching chair said, “Yes, it is,”  as he took a seat and picked up a glass of whiskey.
“I heard from the foreman in the Emma Mine that bit of his is a game changer,” said Ryan. “Could be,” said Kelley. “Save us millions?” asked Ryan. “Possibly,” said Kelley as he sipped his whiskey.
“And Hawk isn’t willing to give us the rights?” asked Ryan, “No, he created a corporation and wants us to enter into a contract to purchase the bits from his new company,” said Kelly.

“I will be damned. Didn’t he invented that bit of his, on our time, in our shop, and on our dime,” asked Ryan.
“ Well, Hawk claims he spent his money, made the model in his  house, and on his  personal time,” said Kelley.
Like Arthur’s other inventions, ACM felt that they owned the rights to the bit, just like they owned the rights to everything else in Butte. And in the past Arthur had gone along with them. But this time was different. Arthur was not giving in. If ACM wanted to use his bits, they were going to pay.
“Well, Con what are we going to do about it? asked Ryan. “We are not going to do anything right away; we do not have to. Business is slow and there is no need to invest in a new drilling bit. I have my own men on his board and in his company. We will stall him, and I will watch his every move. Besides, that bit it so damn simple that if that ungrateful son of a bitch does not cooperate, we will get our machinist to make our own bits just like his,” said Kelley.
Arthur was not going to get the support of the ACM and if anything, they were going to steal his idea. He was stuck. He was not a quitter, and he was not about to just give them his bit. He would find a way to forge ahead with his dream of owning his own company and mass producing the Hawkesworth Drill for the world. Even if he had to go up against the mighty Anaconda. Nothing was going to stop him.