The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-11-27
HE TELLS WHAT HE SAID TO
GRANT BRAMBEL.
BrambeI Has Given an option on His
New Engine to an English Syndicate
For $1,000, 1000, but rlr. Phillips
Says That His Offer is a Good Deal
Better--How the Sleepy Eye Tele-
graph Operator Comes Suddenly
Into the Possession of Wealth and
Fame.


the twin city papers about the wonder
full invention of Grant BramLel, the
G. & n. W. telegraph operator at
Sleepy Eye. The invention is that of
rotary engine, to do away with the
piston rod and Mr.. Brambel secured a
patent on it last December. A Lon
don syndicate, headed by Mr.. Allen,
has been negotiating for the purchase
of the patent right, on the basis of
paying Mr.. Brambel 1000, 900 for it,
and on Tuesday of this week A. G..
Phillips made him. what he considers
better offer.
Mr.. Phillips, accompanied by his
daughter, is stopping at the City
Hotel for short time, and was seen
by FREE PRESS reporter Friday fore
noon in regard to the offer which he
has made to Mr.. Brambel. His &C
count is considerably different from
that published in the twin city pa
pers. Said he:
II am stopping in the city at pre-
sent, closing up some business affairs,
and noticed in the papers the other
day an account of the engine and of
the offer made by the Allen syndicate
| went TO Sleepy Eye Monday evening
and had talk with Mr.. Brambel and
learned that the syndicate has an op-
linn tho Of hn
right until Jan. 18th, to cover Great
Britain and'h her dependencies-and the
United States. If the syndicate
closes the deal. Mr.. Brambel will re
ceive Sl,600,000 cash. He seems to
prefer cash deal, although / made
him two offers that | told him would
bring him several times as much
money, | first made him a PROPOSE
tion to take the right and pay him a
royalty on the machines made, but he
would not consider this. Then [ pro-
posed that stock company be formed,
subsidiary companies started, ETC., as
is done in such cases in England and
elsewhere. The stock could be dis
posed of in large quantities. He pro-
missed to write me and advise me what
he would do. in the matter. If the
Allen syndicate takes the right, that
will end it. that far, but | proposed to
him TO take the right for other coun-
tries. L do not represent anybody at
present, but my idea would be to in
terest capital in the matter after |
had made deal for the patent right.
did not make cash offer, or tender
him a certified check on the Bank of
England for 100000 as published.
81 have examined the drawings of
the engine and was very favorably
impressed with it. Mr. Brambel told
me that l could see $50 horse power
engine operating the city electric
light plant at Newark, n. j., where it
has been in operation for eight or
nine months, and | intend to see it.
The machine is so simple that every
one has overlooked the essential
feature. 1t costs very little to con-
struct and place on foundation-in
fact only five per cent of what the
ordinary engine costs. The boiler, of
course, costs as much as ever. 1t
uses third less fuel and volume of
steam. Mr.. Brambel claims that he
can make double, triple and quad
ripple expansion engine and save fifty
per cent, but he has not made a prac-
tical demonstration of this yet.
''Mr. Brambel is man about 80
years old, is candid, cautious, and
underestimates rather than over
estimates his claims. He is
mechanic by trade, and for seven
years was first assistant engineer on a
steamship. He has other inventions
which he is working on. One of these
is dynamo which he believes will
revolutionize the system of electric
transmission and lighting. He began
to work on these inventions eleven or
twelve years ago. The Brambel engines
are to be of all sizes, power and speed.
from one to 10000 horse power, and to
cost from S25 to $4,000. One to
twenty horse power will sell for $50 to
800, twenty to fifty horse power from
800 to $500, so to $50 h. p. from $500 to
$500, and 250 to 500 h. p. from $500 to
$1,000.
81 came to Mankato in 1859,