July 13th, 1835

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY.com! in 1835 John Ruggles received patent #1 from the U.S. Patent Office for a traction wheel device used in locomotive steam engines. Before Mr. Ruggles received Patent #1, all of the 9,957 previous patents were not numbered as at the time of the US Patent Act of 1790, no one thought there would be a need for a numbering system as the Senators and Representatives didn’t think there would ever be more than 20 to 30 patents a year. Between 1790 to 1835 there were over 200 patents granted each year and actual fistfights erupted between inventors who claimed to have received patents for the same idea. In 1835 the Patent Office finally overcame the old guard mentality and decided to use the brand new idea to start numbering the patents.

About Joel Byers

Born in North Georgia and educated at some very fine public institutions. Real education started after graduating from college and then getting married and raising two boys. Has the ability to see the funny and absurd in most things and will always remark on it, even if it means getting the stink-eye from his victims.
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One Response to July 13th, 1835

  1. John Ruggles says:

    FIRST!

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