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California State Railroad Museum Patent Collection
MS 863  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Accruals
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Arrangement
  • Historical
  • Other Finding Aids
  • Preferred Citation
  • Related Materials
  • Scope and Contents
  • Conditions Governing Use

  • Language of Material: English
    Contributing Institution: California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives
    Title: California State Railroad Museum Patent Collection
    Identifier/Call Number: MS 863
    Physical Description: 1 Linear Feet
    Date (bulk): 1863-1941
    Date (inclusive): 1863-1980
    Abstract: The California State Railroad Museum Patent Collection contains original and photocopies of patents documenting an invention. The patents are primarily for railroad related subjects and are generally dated from 1863-1941.
    Physical Location: Statewide Museum Collections Center, Nook

    Conditions Governing Access

    Collection is open for research by appointment.

    Accruals

    Future additions are expected

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Collection has accrued since 1981 through multiple donations.

    Arrangement

    Arranged alphabetically by the patent holder's last name.

    Historical

    A patent for an invention is the grant of a property right to the inventor, issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Generally, the term of a new patent is 20 years from the date on which the application for the patent was filed in the United States or, in special cases, from the date an earlier related application was filed, subject to the payment of maintenance fees. U.S. patent grants are effective only within the United States, U.S. territories, and U.S. possessions. Under certain circumstances, patent term extensions or adjustments may be available.
    The right conferred by the patent grant is, in the language of the statute and of the grant itself, "the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling" the invention in the United States or "importing" the invention into the United States. What is granted is not the right to make, use, offer for sale, sell or import, but the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, selling or importing the invention. Once a patent is issued, the patentee must enforce the patent without aid of the USPTO.
    There are three types of patents:
    1) Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof; 2) Design patents may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture; 3) Plant patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant.
    General information concerning patents. (2020, February 26). Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.uspto.gov/patents-getting-started/general-information-concerning-patents

    Other Finding Aids

    MS 42, Folder 3; David Lindsay Joslyn Collection

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item], CSRM Patent Collection, MS 863, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.

    Related Materials

    CSRM Technical Drawing Database, 2 drawings for AJ Stevens Switch Stand, full scale.

    Scope and Contents

    The California State Railroad Museum Patent Collection contains original and photocopies of patents documenting an invention. A patent for an invention is the grant of a property right to the inventor, issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The patents are primarily for railroad related subjects and are generally dated from 1863-1941. Included are photocopies of patents granted to AJ (Andrew Jackson) Stevens, Henry J. Smalls and Stephen Uren.
    Andrew Jackson "AJ" Stevens was the Master Mechanic of Southern Pacific from 1869 to 1888. The railroad build 74 locomotives of Steven's design from 1872 to 1888. Stevens was granted 24 patents for various steam locomotive and maritime devices. His many patents include patents for valves, furnaces power steering, hoisting crane and an apparatus for burning petroleum.
    Henry J. Small, the Master Mechanic after AJ Stevens and the Railroad Superintendent of Master Power, has many patents credited to his name, including a patent for a car brake and a train number indicator for locomotives. Stephen Uren, an Assistant Foreman Blacksmith, has eight patents in his name. The patents are for a device for forming links, apparatus for converting scrap into bar steel, machine for making nuts as well as a slot making attachment for bolt heading machines.

    Conditions Governing Use

    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 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.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Patents--Technological innovations
    Stevens, A.J. (Andrew Jackson), 1833-1888
    Steam Locomotive