S&W Innovators 1896-1961?

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

Edit: From searching the records of the U.S. Patent office, at least for the years between 1884 and 1917 (the range of patent years stamped on the revolvers themselves), it turns out that with VERY few exceptions the development, modifications, and improvements to the entire Hand Ejector line came from the minds of Daniel B. Wesson and/or Joseph H. Wesson. The only other names I have thus far uncovered associated with related patents are John L. Hobbs, Charles M. Stone, and Edward S. Pomeroy.

I'm wondering how the last three fellows mentioned were "associated with related patents"? Can you elaborate further on your findings?

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[walnutred]

I wonder if the Wessons actually created the designs or if their name is on the patents because S&W had a corporate policy that anything developed at S&W became the property of S&W.

 

[TripleLock]

"associated with related patents":

U.S. Patent No.635,705, "Safety Device for Revolving Firearms", granted to Joseph H. Wesson and John L. Hobbs on October 24, 1899; Hobbs (b.1847 in MA; d. after 1920) was a Foreman at Smith & Wesson in the early 1900s and 1910s.

U.S. Patent No.824,197, "Firearm", granted to Elmer E. Neal on June 26, 1906; I do not, at present, have additional info on Neal.

U.S. Patent No.933,979, "Self Cocking Revolver", granted to Charles M. Stone on September 14, 1909; Stone (b.1847 in NH; d. after 1910) was a Foreman at Smith & Wesson c.1910.

U.S. Patent No.1,122,635, "Firearm", granted to Edward S. Pomeroy on December 29, 1914; Pomeroy (b.1874 in MA; d. after 1930) was a Master Mechanic at Smith & Wesson c.1910, later Superintendant c.1920s-1930s.

The first of these patents addresses preventing the hammer from falling while the cylinder is not closed and locked into the frame, and the remaining three address methods to positively block the firing pin from contacting a primer due to an accidental blow to the hammer. As was (and still is) common practice, since the men noted above were employees of Smith & Wesson, the rights to their patents were by contract the property of, and assigned to, Smith & Wesson.


Jim

 

[TripleLock]

Additionally, I have uncovered three patents, No.301,180, 301,181, and 301,182, each titled "Revolving Fire Arm", issued to William Trabue on July 1, 1884; Trabue (b.1852 in Philadelphia, PA; d.1934 in Louisville, KY) was a Machinist and Inventor living in Louisville, KY, from the 1880s until his death in 1934. His patents covered certain details of locking the cylinder to the frame and details of attaching the crane or yoke to the frame, certain (but not all) elements of which were utilised by Smith & Wesson in their Hand Ejector series of revolvers.

Since Trabue was not a Smith & Wesson employee, the rights to his patents would have been purchased by Smith & Wesson, with Trabue most likely receiving a lump-sum payment. Royalties were not generally the 'rule of the day'.

Jim

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

I wonder if the Wessons actually created the designs or if their name is on the patents because S&W had a corporate policy that anything developed at S&W became the property of S&W.

Looks like your spot on with that conclusion.

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

Well done gentleman.

Cheers;
Lefty