There was a fire in 1836 that destroyed the patent office and all records
except for a handful of material that must have been offsite, including the
original patent #1. So the number system was restarted in 1836. I think the
pre-1836 patents that survived have an X in the number in the USPTO
databases, like X-1 or something like that.
Andy Berks
Merck & Co.
> ----------
> From: MALETZ, BARBARA[SMTP:BARBARA.MALETZ@spcorp.com]
> Sent: Monday, October 02, 2000 3:52 PM
> To: PIUG-L@DERWENT.TECC.CO.UK
> Subject: Old US Patents
>
>
> 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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