Laurence Myers

Laurence or Lawrence Myers was born in Philadelphia on the 12th of December, 1813 and died on the 19th of March, 1884. 
He was an iron merchant in Philadelphia as well as an inventor of railroad parts that were used in the early start of the railroad industry. He was described by the Common Council of Philadelphia and William Penn's Charter of 1691 in 1855 as a gentleman of great inventive genius who has perfected and patented several very useful inventions.Common Council of Philadelphia The Common Councils of Philadelphia comprised the legislative branch of city government from 1691 until 1919. The councils were responsible for building and
maintaining the city’s infrastructure and enacting legislation.
Probably the most outstanding of Myers' patents was the Rotary Oil Car. It was the first invention and appearance of an oil tank on wheels designed specifically for the transportation of petroleum. 
Other patents are the Improvement in Cars for the Transportation of Coal, Safety Gate for Railway Crossings, Improvement in Hose Tunnels for City Railways and the Underground Cable for Street Car Propulsion.
The patent for the Improvement for Striking Clocks was issued and named the Angelus Clock. 
He received a large contract and commissioned to deliver iron pipes, bends, sleeves and branches in the building of the Washington Aqueduct.Washington Aqueduct It was the largest federal construction of a public water supply and the first of its kind in the country and is now a national historic landmark.https://www.nps.gov/places/washington-aqueduct.htmHistoric Landmark
== Family ==
Laurence Myers' mother was born in New York of Huguenot descent. 
His father, William, and grandfather, Lawrence Myers, worked as blacksmiths and ship smiths in the Southwark area of Philadelphia.Philadelphia Directory 1809 Their company was located at 202 Swanson and 32 Christian Streets.Philadelphia City Directory 1809
His grandfather, Lawrence Myers, was an early resident of Philadelphia and a founding member of the Weccacoe (Wicaco) Fire Company in the district of Southwark in Philadelphia. It was the first fire company in the neighborhood and started service on the 4th of July 1800.History of Philadelphia 1609-1884 by John Thomas Scharf and Thompson Westcott
An uncle, Arundius Tiers, was in partnership with Charles Parke and ran the Point Pleasant Iron and Brass Foundry
== Background and work ==
Laurence Myers invented, manufactured and delivered parts for the railroad industry. Philadelphia City Directory, 1874, page 992https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/2863958?usePUB=true&_phsrc=HwC31&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=176456616Philadelphia city directory 1874, page 992 His inventions were written about in The Journal of the Franklin Institute. , newspapers in Philadelphia and in books.
In 1835 he established the Moyamensing Iron Foundry. It was located at Christian Street.The Catholic News Archive page 7.
In 1839 the name changed to Lawrence Myers and Co, Iron Founders
At one point, it was situated on the corner of Broad and Callowhill streets.
Later at Lombard and 25th streets. and Broad street at the corner of Fairview.
In 1845 he started an iron and brass foundry in Philadelphia. It was at the corner of Broad street and Sassafras street. The company was mentioned in the newspaper Public Ledger on 22 October 1845 Sassafras street is now Race street.
== Inventions and Patents ==
Laurence Myers' first registered patent was on the 16th of January 1851 for a Railroad Car Revolver also known as the Rotary Rail-Car. 
Myers presented this invention at the monthly meeting of the Franklin Institute
It was tried on the Reading Railroad. page 143-144. It was also tried on the Frankfort and Lexington Railroad. Despite this and with help from an agent, the idea disappeared. 
 
On June 24th 1851, a patent was registered for an Improvement in Cars for the Transportation of Coal.US Patent Office.U.S Patent Office [in Cars for the Transportation of Coal] 
This patent was reissued on March 21st 1865 and extended to July 18th 1865. 
Myers describes the 1865 patent in detail and how it was improved from the 1851 patent for the use of transporting coal, to transporting petroleum in order to prevent, as he states in the patent,: violent shocks and strains which would in time impair it and render it leaky and consequently useless as a vehicle for transporting petroleum.Improvement in Freight Cars
The Eagle Transportation Company bought the rights for the patent. The Rotary Oil Car, as Laurence Myers named it, is mentioned in three books: Fuel Oil in Industry, by Stephen Osgood AndrosFuel Oil in Industry , The Petroleum Handbook published in 1920The Petroleum Handbook and The Petroleum Industry, by Charles E. Bowles.The Petroleum Industry. In this book the author, Charles E. Bowles, describes the Rotary Oil Car: a flat car with two sloping tanks mounted on it, similar to the field tanks of today. The modern oil tank still has this convex shape outward.
In 1855 he invented a Safety Gate for Railroad Crossings.Public Ledger On 29 October 1855, a circular was issued to presidents and directors of several railroad companies to attend a meeting at the Common Council Chamber to examine the models and designs that were exhibited. The first model mentioned was that of Lawrence Myers of Philadelphia. He was described by the council as a gentleman of great inventive genius who has perfected and patented several very useful inventions.
On the 11th of June 1858, a contract was signed between Myers and Captain Montgomery C. Meigs. Captain Meigs was the chief engineer of the Washington Aqueduct. The contract was for cast iron pipes, bends, branches and sleeves to be used in the building of the aqueduct. , page 1002-1008.
The newspaper , Public Ledger, writes about the contract. 
Improvement in Hose Tunnels for City Railways patent was issued on the 14th of March 1871.United States Patent and Trademark Office This was an invention of a tunnel for water hoses under railroad tracks. A removable bridge protecting the hoses would make it easier to access them when needed. 
September 10th, 1872, he issued a patent for The Improvement for Striking- Clocks and named it the Angelus Clock. It was registered in the United States Patent Office.[States Patent Office]
He also made an international patent for the invention in the European Patent Office.European Patent Office record
Myers started a partnership with Thomas E. Cahill to manufacture the Angelus Clock and the Angelus Clock Company was registered in Philadelphia on April 13th, 1874.[Clock Company]
The book Pennsylvania Clocks and Watches, Antique Timepieces and Their Makers by James W. Gibbs, mentions the clocks on page 13 and 14. 
The Angelus Clock Company was incorporated on March 20th, 1874 in Philadelphia. The address was 136 S. Sixth Street. The clocks were made of marbelized wood, carved to depict a cathedral or church. The company existed a few years before there was a litigation between Myers and Cahill that settled in court. The Times 21st of May 1878.
January 2nd, 1880, he patented the invention for a Freight Car.United States Patent and Trademark Office The patent is described in the Scientific American The Scientific American[Gazette of the United States Patent Office] 
This freight car was constructed for the purpose of the transportation of grain and other solid matter.US Patent Office 
December 19th 1881, the invention for an Underground Cable for Street Car Propulsion was filed.United States Patent and Trademark Office
The invention is explained:Underground Cable for Street-Car Propulsion
Laurence Myers registered a European patent for this invention.European Patent Office
Category:1813 births
Category:1884 deaths
Category:People from Philadelphia
Category:American merchants