The Washington times., 1911-01-11
HEAVY BLOW DEALT
TO SELDEN PATENT
Many Washington Dealers
Affected by Decision Rem
|. dered in New York.
By HARRY WARD.

The chief topic Of conversation In
automobile circles here is the court de-
cision rendered in New York Monday,
whereby the so-called "Selden patent"
received a solar plexus blow
Washington automobile dealers are
greatly interested in the decision, an
the major portion of them handle ma
chimes manufactured by meSbers Of
the Association Of Licensed Automo-
bile Manufacturers, which organization
bore the brunt of the battle in the
effort to uphold the SeIden patent II
was learned today that the holders Of
the Seiden patent are now taking steps
to apply for writ Of certiorari, with
view Of having the case go to the
United States Supreme Court for final
decision. 1t will probably be a year
before the case is finally settled. Il
always was the contention Of the un-
licensed manufacturers that a court
defeat would mean the disruption OF
the A. L. A. NJ. But men in the latter
organization do not think so. They
say they control enough other patents
In connection with automobile building
to assure them Of control of the motor
car industry. Howard E. Coffin, presi-
uCIll VI Lll0 OOSAcIy O1
gineers, and inventor of many auto
mobile devices, is one of those who do
not think the decision against the Sell
den patent will cause much change in
the automobile industry.
II believe" said Mr.. Coffin, that the
great value Of the Selden patent has
been that 1t formed the nucleus for
trade organization which has accom-
nit WnnhaTa fnr the hmginpSS in
America. 1t does not stand to reason
that this organization can or will be
discontinued. The time probably is past
when such a tie as the Selden patent
can be considered necessary to bind to-
gether an organization working only
for the welfare of the business"
Prices already have been fixed for
this year, and the decision cannot al
ter them Factory production in 1912;
however, will be at the maximum, and
then. ii is expected by unlicensed MAX
ers, prices will have to come down.
Automobile makers say the patent bat
tie served to keep much capital out OF
the industry.
Fred Harveycutter, of the Century
Tire Company, and Frank Boyd, of the
Warner Instrument Company, left to-
day to attend the automobile show IN
New York.
The remarkable close competitions
which have occurred in automobile
speed contests during the past year
have necessitated careful consideration
by the contest board Of the American
Automobile Association of the old sub
ject of automatic electric timing. When
finishes in both short and long distance
events are narrowed down to a few
seconds, as was the case in the grand
prize race at Savannah, when the win
ming car forged across the line 142 sec
onds ahead of the second car, after
t-aveling AS miles. the inefhciency OF
The contest board is now making ar
rangements for the establishment Of
three electric timing machines one to
be stationed in New York and the other
two in Chicago and on the Pacific coast,
SO as to meet the increasing demands
for electric timing at all speed contests
Of ma jor Importance.
Alvin Portner Is the latest purchaser
of a Regal torpedo roadster. The sale
was made yesterday by Emerson &
Orme.