New-York tribune., 1909-01-17
THE SELDEN PATENT
HISTORY And STATUS IN
AUTO WORLD.
Long Fight in Courts Likely To Be
Ended IN the Near
Future.
BY Hermann +. CuntE
Manager Patents Department OF Association Of
Licensed Automobile Manufactures.

The Selden patent covers the combination or an
internal combustion engine OF the compression type
with a hydro-car roon. such gasolene kerosene,
alcohol etc. or any other kind, carried on the
vehicle as q liquid, with the engine sha cunning
faster than the driven wheels. the whole combina-
ton in a vehicle for common road use having dr!v-
ing wheels and steering wheels and 50 combined
az to leave free space for occupants or goods
As to the history and status OF the Secen patent,
It Is well begin AT the beginning. In the early
7V's OF the last century George b selden OF
Rochester studied subject of mrcIan-
caly propelled vehicle on common roads lie con
sdered the steam engine and other methods OF pro-
pulsion. He found substantially what power was
necessary to propel vehicle. He decided that FOR
success it was necessary have a light en-
gine and he proceeded 60 select tie class OF engine
which he considered would produce the results.
His choice an Internal combustion engine. and
for practical his decision was that liquid
hydro-carbon would have to be used a fuel. lie
then found that this general type Of engine should
be permitted to run even when the vehicle was
stopped. which lei to tie Inclusion necessary
element, of The clutch or disconnecting means To
get the power out OF an engine OF small weight
and bulk he decided Il must be run fast He ex-
dressed this by saying that the engine must run
faster than the driven wheels. He found that such
a combination of machinery used on vehicle
would still leave space for occupants or goods lie
was thought visionary for many years hut pro-
ceeded in his deductions and conclusions. and hav-
ing previously built engine of this general class
and satisfied himself as its operation and prov
ing that such engines could BE- made small, OF high
speed and compact. he filed an application for
patent in the United States Patent ONCE In May,
1879
While Mr.. seIden's patent pending. and some
years after its filing. Benz, and then Daimler, in
Germany started their work, and made vehicles
ernbodying all the essential features OF the Selden
invention. In due course Mr.. Sedens patent was
issued in November, 1895, and after this long scru-
tiny given his application in the United States
Patent Office upon its issue the Commissioner
Of Patents referred in his annual report for the
year 1895 in the following language:
selden. in 1898. received patent. November. ),
5of in the appion of the gas
engine 10 road OF horseless carriage use.
The patent. necessity attracted attention. but
then the ultimate design OF automobiles was
uncertain that some engineers anticipated de-
velopment Of a revolutionary nature before the
hnrseles.s carriage could come Reperal
w,nle others believed the steam boiler and engine
would prove practical than gasoiene car.
and others pinned their faith to the storage Of
electricity for road propulsion.
All this is past In 1899 some OF the manu-
facturers became convinced that the Selden type
self propelled vehicle would be the commercial
Iy successful product Of the future with the result
that exclusive rights to the OF Mr.. Selden's
patent which meant the exclusive use of gasaIene
automobiles in the United States. acquired.
These manufacturers made under the Selden
patent and then proceeded through the regular
channels to enforce their rights under the patent.
1t was March 1903, that ten of the principal
manufacturers of gasolene automobiles negotiated
for license under the Seden patent. which was
granted, and the licensees associated themselves
together In organization now known as the
Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers-
Within six months. a new company having been
formed and started manufacture ga seiene auto
mobiles a suit was brought 10 enforce the Seldeu
patent and maintain the exclusive rights granted
=. arir ruda tb,
Since then numerous other companies have started
20 manufacture gasoene automobiles. Some have
been licensed under the Seden patent. and number
of them have been sued for infringement OF the pat
ent To-day there great many suits against
manufacturers. importers and individuals for in
fringement OF the patent The main case, which is
in the nature OF test case, has now reached the
point where all testimony, pro and con, has been
taken, and Will be tried in the near future and |
Judgment rendered in the Circuit Court Of the |
United States. -