Monday, January 5, 2009

Patents from Scipio

As I mentioned in my last entry, I read a copy of Jethro Wood's plow patent. Curious, I looked further and found a few more patents filed by Scipio residents.
Patented on July 19, 1881 was a road scraper, invented by John N. and Theodore Wallis. John was of Scipio; Theodore from Fleming.A labor-saving device, the declared purpose of the road scraper was to scrape up earth in such a manner that it also served as a dumping cart. The earth was taken up by the road scraper, transported to wherever it was needed, and deposited without a lot more labor. A timesaver as well as a back saver!
1970, 1974, 1979 and 1980 found patents by Bernard Tuft on behalf of General Electric Company. In 1978,Robert Duffany invented a radio frequency intereference suppresosor conductor for Gulf & Western.
In 1884, The Wallis men were at it again, this time inventing an improved horse hay rake that revolved with less vibration. I imagine that made parts last longer, don't you?

3 comments:

Roger A. Post said...

Assuming that the rake had a seat from which the team was driven while raking, reduced vibration may have made the farmer last longer, too!

Sandie Stoker Gilliland said...
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Sandie Stoker Gilliland said...

Roger, I have ridden on and driven some pretty old farm equipment, some held together by probably not much more than baling twine and hope! Those famers sure had to put up with discomfort in the early years of tractors and anything that reduced vibration must have been welcome.