Arthur Ehrat Oral History Interview (original)
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Ehrat, Arthur
label: Collection Creator
content: Fleckner, John A., 1941-
setName: label: See more items in
content: Arthur Ehrat Papers
label: See more items in
content: Arthur Ehrat Papers / Series 1 : Background Materials / 1.3: Oral History
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1 Cassette tape (Total Running Time: 59:35)
unitdate: label: Date
content: May 16, 2005-May 17, 2005
container: label: Container
content: Box 1, Folder 9, Cassette OTC 907.2
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Audio
label: Type
content: Cassette tapes
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Discussion of Ehrat's prototype rims and the parts he used to create a rim that would snap back without bending and pulling down on the backboard. He tried a hinge mechanism, but that was too weak so he tried a magnet, then a ball bearing and a spring from a John Deere tractor, because he wanted something to hold the rim before it hit the spring. Ehrat talks about photographs from the early days of the rim, such as the workbench at his friend's shed where they worked on and tested the rims, the rims he gave to each of his seven grandchildren and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, where he donated some materials. Color photocopies of these photographs are in Series 1, Subseries 2. He discusses the problems he encountered in getting the patent issued and the reversal of examiner Paul Shapiro's rejection. Other topics covered: licensing to companies, attorney fees, and Ehrat's field spreader patents.