![]() She assigned three-fourths of this patent to Joseph C. These were essentially eyelets for corset laces. Spencer was granted patent number 342,940 for lacing bearings. His invention, patent number 80,281, was a wire-framed, glass-bottomed burner plate designed to improve light output otherwise obstructed by conventional burner construction. Spencer is listed as a witness to the patent.Įsther's father, Richard Gorsline, entered the patent arena in 1868 when he patented an improvement in lamp burners on July 28th of that year. patent number 65,515, issued on Jfor an improvement in atmospheric filters for pharmaceuticals, was granted to A.B. Spencer was granted a third patent for railroad car ventilation, patent number 40,199.Īll three of his railroad car ventilator patents were basically roof-mounted systems designed to introduce fresh air into the passenger car and filter out dust and cinders - a condition which must have plagued the early locomotives. 42,234, is substantially different from his previous patent. On April 5, 1861, Apollos was granted another patent for an improvement in a railroad car ventilator. This invention was assigned patent number 20,176, granted on May 4, 1858. In 1858 he patented an apparatus to "ventilate and exclude dust" from railroad cars. He was an inventor as well, having received patents for at least four inventions. Apollos is listed as a "safe maker" in the 18 directories and as a "machinist" thereafter. The old cliché, "the acorn never falls far from the tree," rings true with Charles and his father. Spencer entered into rest on at the age of 81. It is not known when the child was born or died. This confirms that the Spencers did try to start a family and suffered a tragic loss. Census entry for Esther, there is the numeral "1" in the column headed Number of Children Born, and a zero in the column headed Number of Children Living. Esther's entry lists her occupation as "keeping house," so it is assumed that she was not a working woman at that time. In the 1880 census, Charles' occupation is listed as "inventor." Again, no children are listed and he and Esther were then in their early forties. Strangely, I find no listing in the 1870 census for either of them. He is listed with his wife, Esther Spencer. Federal Census Spencer is listed as a " patent rights dealer," which is consistent with his activity during the period he seemed to aggressively market his ideas and assign or sell patent rights to his inventions. Charles and Esther apparently boarded at the Spencer family home from the time they married until 1860-61 as he is listed at the same address until the 1861 directory entry, 26 East. She was the youngest daughter of Richard and Aurelia Gorsline. Gorsline, a native of New York State, was born on April 20, 1836, being three years younger than Charles. They were married by the Reverend James Boylen Shaw the ceremony took place at the Brick Presbyterian Church. Spencer as witness to the patent.Ĭharles married Esther R. patent number 65,515, issued on June 4, 1867. The family continued at Delaven and Finney until 1869 which is the last entry noted for Apollos.Ītmospheric Filter invented by Apollos B. By 1859 the family had moved to the corner of Delaven and Finney. The 1857-58 entry lists the residence at 1 Howell. Spencer first appears in the 1853-54 city directory at 10 Gibbs, then again at the same location in the 1855-56 directory. Sometime prior to 1853 the family moved from Sweden to Rochester. His father's occupation is listed as "laborer." Charles, then seventeen years of age, worked as an "iron turner," presumably in a machine shop or foundry. In 1850, the family resided in Sweden, New York, a small town northeast of Rochester. Little information has been located pertaining to his early years. Charles had four siblings: Frances M., Flora L., Martha M., and Sherman B. Spencer was born in Pennsylvania in 1833, the eldest child of Apollos B. Other patents soon surfaced and the story unfolded.Ĭharles F. Later, I located two patents for burial coffins issued to Spencer in April and September, 1877. In addition to his lighting patents, the first patent I discovered was for a child's see-saw that he patented on May 5, 1891. Shaffer, originally piqued my interest, I became more intrigued with Spencer as I uncovered a legacy of unrelated innovations and improvements to everyday items items that were used essentially from the cradle to the grave. While his lighting inventions and possible association with another Rochester entrepreneur, Henry E. The beauty of Spencer's innovations was not in their sheer numbers, but rather in their diversity. It would appear that around every corner, Spencer saw a better way his mind must have been stuck in overdrive. Spencer was a prolific inventor whose contributions spanned at least three decades during the mid- to late-1800's.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |