The patent number or patent date on that strange razor
that you just acquired may tell a story about its origin. The text of a patent often tells why the
razor is unique; where, when, and why it was invented, and of course,
by whom. For example, the first U.S. patent for a razor guard (see
below) was obtained by John Kinloch, a soldier in the U.S. Army during
the civil war so that a "razor may be used without danger of cutting
the face by those who are maimed or wounded..."
Useful patent information
is sometimes found on the razor itself or on instruction sheets and
packaging.
Patent numbers or dates found in these places indicate the earliest
possible date for the item. Regular (utility) patents expired after 17
years. Older design patents were good for 3, 7 or 14 years (now they
are
only issued for 14 years). An expired patent is usually no longer
listed
on items. For example, a patent date of 1903 means that the item was
produced after
1902 and probably before 1921. Beware! Exceptions do occur.
The mark Pat. Appl. For would at first seem less
useful than a date
or patent number, but if one can locate the patent referred to, it
narrows
the vintage of the item to the time between the date the patent was
filed
and the date of issue (plus a year or so). The false use of phrases
such
as "Patent Applied For" or "Patent Pending" was and is illegal, but a
patent
that was applied for may or may not have been granted. An existing patent
doesn't always mean that the item was manufactured and sold. Physical
evidence
is required––a razor in the hands of collector, a catalog
listing, an advertisement,
even an instruction sheet or empty box would suffice. |
