Posted 8 years ago
JoyousJunker
(3 items)
I acquired this from an attic. I located a patent date but no other wording.
"Patd April 15 1879". Any other info on tracking the maker would be appreciated. I'm going to clean it and keep it so I'm not interested in value as much as history. Thank you!
There is a lithograph in the lid. So pretty.
Yes it is similar to the one I have posted -- makers bought their hardware from outsourced companies and many trunks had similar styles and shapes. This trunk probably originally had crystalized tin finish. It will look nice cleaned up!
Trunkman, may I ask you a question regarding patent dates...
More than one patent marks say "Mar. 16 80". A space between the 16 and 80.
I'm assuming that this means March 16, 1880. Would I be correct? Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
By law all items had to have a patent date on them. This is the simple explanation, but it will do for now. Because of this you will find many different dates on a trunk. The Mar 16 patent is 1880 and is by CA Taylor. Your trunk is most likely from the 1880's to early 1890's. Makers labels or tags are the really the only way to identify a maker, and since I do not see one on your trunk, we will never know. However, less than half of all makers marked their trunks. Hope this helps,
Jim
hmsantiquetrunks.com
"By law all items had to have a patent date on them."
That is not true.
Marking an item with the patent date and number is more about money and PROTECTING the item from unauthorized duplication. It serves as notice that the item cannot be manufactured by others without acquiring the rights.
In this case the patented item would appear to be the lock and have nothing to do with the trunk itself.
scott
I forgot to add-- GREAT trunk!
scott
Thank you both! When I cleaned it I found more patent dates but still no manufacturer, with the exception of the wheels. There is a name of "Micholson".
The patent date on them is 1885, the latest of all of the dates.
I believe my post was quite clear as I was referring to the patented articles, not the trunk itself being patented. "Items" that were patented, such as locks, latches etc. were required to be marked (section 4900, The Marking of Patented Articles). Because of the marking were are able to use that as one tool to help date trunks. The reason for the marking is irrelevant to the discussion.
Once again, you are incorrect: " "Items" that were patented, such as locks, latches etc. were REQUIRED to be marked (section 4900, The Marking of Patented Articles)." ALL CAPS is my highlight.
Patent law required(s) that NOTICE be given BEFORE a company can recover damages for patent infringement. Marking an item is a method of giving notice.
By law items do NOT have to have patent information on them. Items are NOT required to be marked.
If an item or article does NOT have patent information on it, the item or article may still be patented (as some businesses have learned).
As an antique collector/ dealer, I find that copies of original patent paperwork add to the desirability of objects. Objects WITHOUT patent information on them, may still be patented (although the search is often harder to accomplish).
Are patent dates important to dating an item or article-- certainly. It gives us a NO EARLIER date for the object.
The FACTS are always relevant to the discussion.
scott