Patents issued prior to the Patent Office fire in 1836 are "X" documents.
Search "X1" to find the first patent for improved method of making potash.
The very earliest patents did not have numbers on them at all. The X
documents dont run in consecutive order either, the next one you can find is
X4.
The continuous number series began with Mr Ruggles patent in 1836.
>From: "MALETZ, BARBARA" <BARBARA.MALETZ@spcorp.com>
>To: PIUG-L@DERWENT.TECC.CO.UK
>Subject: Old US Patents
>Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 15:52:00 -0400
>
>
> If US patents go back to 1790, can someone explain why patent number
>1,
>J.
> Ruggles' traction wheels for rail roads, is dated July 13, 1836? Did
> reviewers at USPTO at that time have the luxury of 46 years for their
> review?!?
>
> Barbara Maletz
>
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Aug 10 2001 - 15:58:56 EDT