Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-05-25
TO the Public.

lie, having published an article in the
stanton Spectator Of the 9th of April
ast, Designed to injure the sale Of all
Improvement in the Spring of Spring
Seat Saddles invented by me, for which
have lately obtained Letters Patent of
the United States, l am compelled in
defence of my rights to state few facts
in order to relieve those who may feel
disposed TO patronise my improvement
from the apprehension of danger with
which they are threatened. The Mes
srs. Boards having been very industrious
in collecting and spreading before the
public certificates as to the usefulness Of
their invention, now intimate that what
claim as my invention is precisely their
angled spring curved. This charge is
incorrect in point oil fact as is proved by
their own description of their machine
as taken from their Patent now before
ma. In their description they use this
language: Nov we do not claim as
new in the construction of spriug seat
saddles. the application of as.epring to
''the head OF the tree, nor a spring of
zig gag or w shape, as applied to this
purpose. But what we do claim as
new, and our invention. and for which
1--WE ask Letters Patent, is the form and
manner of constructing the frame and
attaching the spring thereto. both be-
ling curved so as TO conform TO the Gull
'let of the saddle" From this descrip-
ton it is apparent that the form and
manner of constructing the machine of
the Messrs. Boards may be attained by
any one who will weld one end Of zig,
gag spring 10 the side of buckle, such
as old men formerly wore OH their shoes.
This mode of obtaining the action of a
zIg-za spring on saddle seat is for
aught L know, entirely new, and the
invention OF the Messrs. Boards they
are entitled to all the merit of the dis
covery, which seems to consist in lis
unsurpassed simplicity.
1, like the Messrs. Boards, do not
pretend to claim the invention Of the
zig gag spring; l only claim, as any one
who will take the trouble to read my
Letters Patent will discover, the i'm
Provement produced by the invention
and application Of the double sliding
frame regulating the action of the spring.
The public now have before them dis
tinctly what is claimed by me as my in
vention, and what is claimed by the
Messrs. Boards as theirs, and the entire
dissimilarity In the two machines is so
very obvious, that l cannot conceive il
possible for any man of common sense TO
point out one single particular in which,
my invention infringes upon that of the
Messrs. Boards. 1t is not true, as the
Messrs. Boards suppose. that my spring
will cost from two to three dollars can
pay the wages of skilful workmen who
are making them for me, and afford to
sell them at one dollar and expect very
shortly to have them made for even less
than that.-Not to be tedious, I will
merely state to the public. that am au-
thorised by the United States Govern
ment to make and sell my improvement,
the threat Of the Messrs. Boards to the
contrary Notwithstanding and if l have
Infringed upon their rights, their most
rttectuai mode of redress is by the YER
lict of twelve men, which | dare them
TO seek. in Court of justice, which is
open TO them, This course would be
more fair and manly than their attempt
to inJure me by unfoundcd insinuations
And that they may not be subjected to
Inconvenience in looking up evidence,
| here distinctly avow that have made
and sold. and shall continue to do so
whenever and wherever | can, the i'm
Provement patented to me on the Both
day of March, 1897, which the Messrs.
Boards pretend is all infringement upon
their improvement and moreover,
will furnish them with list Of the per-
sons to whom | have already sold rights,
and model ofmy machine gratis, to file
so evidence in their suit, should they be
as accommodating to me as to institute
one. HENRY SHEETS.
Stanton. May ii, 1887.
VIDCJNJI