Anything is possible, especially when you live in a small rural area in Montgomery County, PA during the 19th and 20th centuries. Ever since the patent law was passed in 1790, many ordinary citizens across the United States began to create inventions that were innovative and creative for everyday use.
History of Patents
The first patent was grant in 1641 to Massachusetts resident Samuel Winslow from the state's general court. He invented a new method of making salt. Ever since the first patent was granted, the colonies began to govern their own systems on patents. It wasn't until the US Constitution was signed and the basis of the patent law was formed. The law was unified so that everyone in the country have to follow procedures for their patents.
Therefore, the Patent Law of 1790 was passed in the United States:
"Titled 'An Act to promote the progress of useful Arts, it was passed to grant inventors 'sole and exclusive right and liberty of making, constructing, using and vending to others to be used' of their work."
- "Patent History in the United States"
In 1793, Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary of State, made modifications to the 1790 law, stating that "for a object to be patented it must be 'any new and useful art, machine, manufacture or composition of matter', including any new improvements to currently existing works."
With many people understanding the benefits of patents from Jefferson's modification of the law, patents were rising in numbers during the early 1800s. In 1836, 10,000 patents were issued.
List of Patents by the Inventors of the Wissahickon Valley Region
Thomas J. Whitney - Car Brake
Thomas J. Whitney (1832-1919) invented brakes for railway cars that can be automatic or self-controlled by the engineer or brakesman. His patent was granted and issued on May 19, 1868. Other patents he invented were his "gravity hot water feeder" for steam boilers that helped prevent the supply of water from becoming exhausted.
Fun Fact #1: While on the way to a friend's house by a trolley car one evening, the tracks were blocked by a heavy truck. The horses couldn't move the truck, so Thomas suggested that electric power could be applied to move the wagon.
Thomas's father came to Pennsylvania in the early 19th century from Connecticut. Thomas was a successful businessman during his time: he manufactured combs made out of horns and bones. As an agent for the Florence Sewing Machine Company, he was the one to introduce and sell a good sewing machine in Whitpain. He also introduced and sold clothes wringers by Empire that was widely used by everyone in the community.
Thomas was also a school teacher who was vocal in support of education reforms, and advocated to adopt the public or common school systems in Plymouth Township.
Alfred Thomas - Photographic Picture Holder
Alfred Thomas invented a storage box for pictures to prevent from dust or damage. It is also used to view pictures inside the box by using a lock and a key. His patent was granted and issued on December 22, 1874.
Not much was known about him, but all we know was that he was a Whitpain native who was a school teacher, possibly at the Mount Pleasant School that stood on his property.
Albert was married to Elizabeth, and had two sons: John and Augustus.
Jeremiah Frantz - Combined Corn Planter and Fertilizer-Distributer
Centre Square native Jeremiah Frantz (1845-1894) invented a special farming machine that can help with corn planting and distributing fertilizer faster instead of by hand. His patent was granted and issued on February 28, 1882.
From the 1850 census data, Jeremiah was one of the eight children of Jesse and Margaret Frantz.
Growing up, Jeremiah became a farmer that lead to his invention.
Penllyn native Curt Bush invented an add-on for kegs to prevent leakage. His patent was granted and issued on August 18, 1891.
Amos R. Rosenberger - Apparatus for Removing Snow from Roadways
Spring House native Amos R. Rosenberger (1846-1928) invented a machine that shoveled out the snow on paths and roads. His patent was granted and issued on June 30, 1896.
The Keasbey & Mattison Company was the biggest innovators in Ambler and created many patents listed below. Even the two founders Henry G. Keasbey and Richard V. Mattison patented products for their company. The only invention created by Keasbey was a feed-water heater. In the early 1890s, Mattison invented three different non-heat conducting compositions with different chemical elements.
To read more of the patents created by the Keasbey & Mattison Company, click here!
To read more of the patents created by Dr. Richard V. Mattison, click here!
Bibliography
Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the Year 1893. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1894): 235.
"Fort Washington." Ambler Gazette. July 6, 1899. Page 8. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_421.
"Free Inhabitants in Whitpain Township in the County of Montgomery State of Pennsylvania
1850 Federal Census." Transcribed by James Quinn. Gwynedd Friends Meeting. Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.friendsjournal.org/legacy/abington/gwynedd/whitpain1850.htm.
Hart, Edward. Journal of the American Chemical Society, Volume 15. (Easton: Chemical Publishing Company, 1893): 117-118.
"Patent History in the United States." Patent Laws. Last modified December 23, 2019. https://patent.laws.com/patent-history/patent-history-in-the-united-states.
Report of the Commissioner of Patents for The Year 1868, Volume 1. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1869): Page 276.
The Commissioners Of Patents' Journal. 1875. (London: The Commissioners Of Patents, 1876): 227.
The Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office 21, no. 1 (1882): 583.
The Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office 56, no. 1 (1891): 809.
"Valuable Invention." Ambler Gazette. January 30, 1896. Page 1. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_11434.
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