The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-26

A QUARREL AMONG PAPER COLLAR
MAKERs.-There Is al present quarrel existing
between the manufacturers of paper collars,
cuffs, shirtbosoms, and other articles of that
description, which bids fair to rival the great
india-rubber controversy which occupied the
courts of the land so many weary years.
Since the breaking out of the late Rebellion,
the paper-collar business has increased to nearly
ten times what it was before hostilities COM
menced, owing to the demand among soldiers
and sailors for those articles. There is, at the
present time, all of 100000 invested in the
manufacture of paper collars and cuffs; and
from 5000 to 5000 persons are furnished employ
ment in this branch OF business. Unfortunately,
quarrel has arisen among them, and there is a
prospect that the lawyers will absorb good
share OF the profits. The quarrel hinges upon
patents.
From the best information we can gather, the
first patent for paper-collaTs was issued IN 1854
| 70 Walter Hunt, of New York, who is said to
| have been the inventor of the seWing.machine
| and also OF diaper-pin. Each one of these
| articles has since made the fortune of several
| gentlemen, but Mr.. Hunt failed to acquire for
| tune. After his death, Lock kwood, of this city,
bought the paper-collar patent IRON the widow
| The original patent granted 10 Mr.. Hunt was
! Tor a collar manufactured from combination
| OF paper and muslin, and that gentleman in his
| application, distinctly saws that paper collars
| were previously in use, and that all he claims
| is the introduction OF the muslin.
As early as 1882, and from that time to the
| present. Yaper collars and cuffs have been worn
| but no patent was issued previous to the one
| granted to Mr.. Hunt. MIR. Lockwood has had
| the pate ut renewed several times and each time
| has claimed more Than Mr.. Hunt ever conUem.
| plated, until now it is asserted that the old
| original patent covers not only paper and muslin
collars, but collars made of paper alone. Mr..
| Lockwood, and several other gentlemen engaged
in the business, merged their interests and
formed the Union Paper Collar Company, y
and under this name have notified other dealers
that they claimed a monopoly OF the business
Suits have been commenced against several
manufacturer, and retail dealers have been
warned against selling collars Of any other
make than theirs.
The Union Company is understood to have
licensed twelve persons to manufacture thel
collars, promising to suppress all intringements
OF their rights within three months. The three
months have nearly elapsed, and although lega
steps have been taken looking to that end, nC
other manufacturers have yet been suppressed
Yesterday number OF the paper collar manu-
tacturers met TOR he purpose of completing az
Association and raising funds to defend all suit
brought AGAINST themselves or customers by thu
Union Company. These gentlemen deny tht
validity OF any paper-colar patent which doe
not recognize muslin as one of the componen
parts OF the collar, and are resolved to fight tn
"Union Company" on that line.
The Union Company publishes the names O
fifteen lawyers employed 10 prosecute thei
cases, and doubtless the new Association viii
employ an equal number, so that there is
prospect of plenty of litigation before the ma
Ter is lnally settled.