The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1911-01-12
CANNOT USE OWN NAME
Seth Thomas Strikes a Snag When
He Enters Business.

81 70 be deprived the use OF one
: own name is certainly a peculiar cal
anity but such an experience ha
come to prominent Oskaloosa younI
J, man. One would naturally resent |
h command from any individual, or cor
poration, who makes the claim tina
i to use your OWE name Is violation o
the law. In this particular case III,
young man did what most any othel
person woul have done and that t
resent the intrusion into private af
\ fairs.
i Seth Thomas a prominent young
business man of this city, son of Mr.
land Mrs. John Thomas, of Beacon
was advised recently that to use his
own name was violation of :he Law
and an infringement on the patent Of
another. Mr.. Thomas was formerly
connected with the firm of Burridge
& Connect of this city and was la.er
employed at the T. X. Smith Jewely
house as an expert watch repairer
Desiring to enter a business of his
own place was secured at No. 20S
High avenue west, where he is now
engaged in 'he business of watch and
clock repairing. Recently Mr.. Thorn
as desired a catalogue from the Seth
Thomas Clock Co. and wrote the Chi.
cago Office asking for such cata.
logue. in a short time he was as.
founded to receive the following let
GER: .a.
Chicago, Dec. 29.--Mr. Seth Thorn.
as, oskaloosa, Iowa. Dear Sir
When we received your letter of re-
cent date we almost had fit, es.
especially as we noted you we're
using the trade mark the head of
the Seth Thomas Clock Co. has used
for years. a ... ....
Now, Mr.. Thomas, guess you know
that the name Seth Thomas" is
something that is patented. 1t is, in
fact, a trade mark and cannot be
used by anyone in connection with
the clock or watch business.
OF course, the chances are if it is
your idea to conduct a local watch
business nothing would, be done
about it, but we never can tell what
somebody else might want to do in
reference to that name. so this is to
advise that under legal authority we
protest using the name of Seth
Thomas" except locally, and now,
Mr.. Thomas, won't you kindly tell us
4, n
Thomas?" In connection with that
we are quite sure you will not under.
take to- use the trade mark on your
letter because, as we mentioned
above, that was used for fifty years
by Mr.. Seth E. Thomas who died
last February.
Yours truly, -.
SETH THOMAS CLOCK CO.
(Signed) w. J. Miller, Mgr.
The reader can guess the wave of
both amusement and anger that surg
ed through Mr. Thomas when he
read the above letter. The following
letter fully expresses the gentle
mans feelings: .
"Oskaloosa, Ia, Dec. 80.
"Seth Thomas Clock Co., Chicago,
ILL.,, Dear Sirs: l sincerely hope that
you have recovered sufficiently from
your recent eft" 20 be able to pro-
coed with this letter. Since you say
the name Seth Thomas is patented,
and cannot be used, coul you recon-
mend some good name that is no.
patented that / may use? >-..
Some twenty odd years ago there
came into the family of Mr.. and Mrs.
John Thomas a bouncing baby boy,
which they labeled Seth Thomas,
and which has been known by that
cognomen ever since. In later years
this same baby boy became a watch
repairer. Recently he started a
business of his own and being in the
market for regulator, wrote for a
catalogue, knowing that the Sch
Thomas Clock Co. makes the best
clocks ON earth. | don't know to
what extent | am infringing on your
paten. by using my own name, but
it is my impression that in this free
country of ours a man has the right
to use the name given him by his
parents.
at is not likely chat | will ever
branch into the manufacturing oil
clocks or watches, but assure you
If | do your trade mark viii not be
used on such articles as are man
nfactured by me. II there Is any
doubt I'm your mind as 20 my sinceri
ty about this matter, and you are in
any way interested. will gladly
give you my fhwily history complete
and a certified copy OF my birth.
Now. Mr.. Miller. would like very
much to meet you and will make II a
point Of much interest to call on you
lthe first time am in Chicago. Hop
ing that you viii not overlook the
fact shat 1 am still waiting for a
clock catalogue, remain,
Yours truly,
(signed) SETH THOMAS.
The following answer was receiy
ed last evening by Mr.. Thomas
Chicago, Jan. 3.--Mr. Seth Thorn
as, oskaloosa, Ia, Dear Sir: You
| letter Of December 80 is received
and the writer is Just little inclin