Overweight Counterbalance Elevator Company records
Finding aid created by California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives staff using RecordEXPRESS
California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives
2020
111 I Street
Sacramento, California 95814
(916) 323-8073
Library.CSRM@parks.ca.gov
http://csrmf.org/visit/library
Title: Overweight Counterbalance Elevator Company records
Dates: 1897-1901
Collection Number: MS 715
Creator/Collector:
Overweight Counterbalance Elevator Company
Extent: 1 half-box
Repository:
California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives
Sacramento, California 95814
Abstract: Includes records from the Overweight Counterbalance Elevator Company.
Language of Material: English
This collection is open for research at our off-site storage facility with one week's notice. Contact Library & Archives
staff to arrange for access.
Copyright has not been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. All requests for permission to publish or quote from
manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the CSRM
as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must
also be obtained by the reader.
Overweight Counterbalance Elevator Company records. California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives
From the Offices of the Sierra Railway, Jamestown, California
Biography/Administrative History
The Overweight Counterbalance Elevator Company of San Francisco was incorporated March 13, 1897 by Henry L. Weber, Charles
M. Weymann, John L. Boone, Charles J. Armbruster and Elmer E. Greeley. The Company had purchased the rights to Philip Hinkle's
patent No. 257,943 (issued May 16, 1882) which by the application of an overweight counterbalance improved the lifting power
of freight and passenger elevators. With the assistance of Oakland attorney Hiram Van Arman, the Company began to target
companies which had infringed on the patent and to collect royalties.
Individuals involved with the Sierra Railway of California, were connected to the Elevator Company: Sidney D. Freshman, one
of the five original stockholders of the Sierra, was appointed to the Board of Directors May 6, 1898 and named President August
20, 1898. Thomas S. Bullock, first General Manager and later President of the Sierra, was also on the Board of Directors.
By 1901 the Elevator Company was in decline. Without fiscal resources the Elevator Company was forced to sell all rights
to the Hinkle patent to attorney Van Arman to settle legal fees.
Scope and Content of Collection
Includes the minutes of the directors meetings of the Overweight Counterbalance Elevator Company, resignations from the Board,
a blank stock certificate, and a stock register.