Trim Tag - Off Topic

[Jack C.]

I came across a trim tag for a Seldon Road Engine (automobile) # 43581. George Seldon's US Patent 549,160 on November 5, 1895. Free if you can provide proof of ownership.

[Dick W.]

Re: Trim Tag - Off Topic

Dang, I was wondering where I lost that. I went to DMV to register the car, but without a VIN tag, no registration. Seriously Seldon held the patent for motorized vehicles for a period of time early in the 20th century. Ever other manufacturer had to pay him a royalty. Sadly he went broke fighting Henry Ford when Ford decided to quit paying the royalty. Died penniless

Sure would look good on my crap

[Jack C.]

Re: Trim Tag - Off Topic

Dick, PM sent.

[Chuck W.]

Re: Trim Tag - Off Topic

Dang, I was wondering where I lost that. I went to DMV to register the car, but without a VIN tag, no registration. Seriously Seldon held the patent for motorized vehicles for a period of time early in the 20th century. Ever other manufacturer had to pay him a royalty. Sadly he went broke fighting Henry Ford when Ford decided to quit paying the royalty. Died penniless

Sure would look good on my crap

Actually Seldon, a patent attorney and not an automobile manufacturer, held the patent from the late 19th century (1879) and attempted to hold every automaker hostage for patent license fees. Ford refused to pay Seldon and joined an existing suit which Seldon himself began against the Winton Company of Cleveland. Seldon's patent rights were upheld in a lower court then overturned just a year before the patent's expiration in a higher court.

Seldon attempted to make patent infringment claims against any gas powered automobile AND electric automobile if they failed to pay his royalty fee, then called extortion. His claims were doomed when he attempted to actually make an automobile in accordance with his patent and it expired in demonstration during the trial.

The only upheld patent to Seldon was the Brayton type 2 stroke engine as described in Seldon's patent application. Ford was praised for his fight against Seldon and it was believed that any harm done to Seldon was due to his own greed and attempt to capitalize on something that he played no role in bringing about.

Interestingly enough, I witnessed firsthand a Seldon like attempt in the late 1990's against makers of industrial control software and their users, also by a patent law firm. Their end results were similar to Seldons.