The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-12-01
PhelDenney Automatic Car Coupler

Mr.. Samuel l.. Denney, of this town, has
recently been granted letters patent on an
automatic car coupling device upon which
be has spent considerable study in perfect
ing Within few days the Commissioner
of Patents has allowed all the claims asked
for on the Denney coupler, thereby giving
the inventor a complete monopoly for
seventeen years on one of the broadest
patents ever granted on strictly automatic
and thoroughly practical car coupler.
The coupling is of the old style link-and-
pin type which he has shown is superior 10
the later styles employed on freight trains
from the fact that the play in the link allows
the locomotive to start one car at time, and
thus gather momentum TO move a heavily
loaded train, which 1t would be impossible
10 start were they fastened with the rigid
type of coupler besides reducing the risk of
derallment in rounding sharp curves, as
each car is allowed an Independent motion
The device being strictly automatic does
away with the necessity of going between
the cars to couple or uncouple, thereby
insuring perfect safety to life and limb.
The value of apatent where merit ex lists
depends upon the breadth of the claims, and
where negotiations are pending is the first
decideratnm with shrewd capitalists, not
only as security from litigation, but con-
stitutes guarantee of success. 1t is upon
this broad and solid basis that the Denney
coupler business is 10 be built. A combine
ton has already been formed by the inventor
with the Pittsburgh Forge and Iron Co.,
who have been engaged in the manufacture
Of the wrought iron draw-bars and other
parts composing the old style of coupler,
and whose facilities are such as can be used
10 advantage in the prosecution of this
enterprise to supply any demand that may
be made upon the combined manufactures.
The Interstate Commerce Commission has
decreed that all railroad companies shall
adopt an automatic coupling ofsome descrip-
ton within specified time. syndicate
is about 10 be formed to take the matter of
introducing the manufactured couplers to
the railway companies, which will relieve
the manufacturers of all concern in that
direction, and with the approval of railway
officials who have given 1t as their opinoion
that from the excessive cost and expense of
maintenance of the couplers now in use, the
ink-and-pin type deprived of its dangerous
features, as the nenney coupler is, will
eventually become the standard device,
gives good assurance of the final success of
the enterprise.
II is the purpose of Mr.. Denney to produce
the automatic APP liances at Sylmar. in a
Plant to be erected for that special purpose.
constituting not only new enterprise but
new creation wholly independent of other
mems ideas and productiveness, adding so
much new stock to the manufacturing indus
try of the country. 1t is this character of
production. that of original inventions in
machinery for turning ont things in advance
Of the rest of the world, that the present
nnassuming though prospective town of
Sylmar is t. be known.
You might search the great continents
and isles of the seas all over and you will
fail to find within the walls of any manu-
factory men engaged in producing exact
counterpait4 tn that which is today being
produced within stones throw of Mason
and Dixon's ne and IN sight Of the barren
ridge "nown for ITS steri1e aspect, yet coll
tanning greater varltty of mineral sub
etances than can be found in the same area
anywhere else, and it is right here may
prove the nucleus around which may
crystalize ether impntant industries.