Smith-Lee Bottle Cap Patents

Although they are best known for their typewriter business, the Smith brothers had a variety of additional business interests. Three of the Smith brothers, Wilbert, Monroe, and H.W., partnered together to form the Smith-Lee Company, which produced sanitary caps for milk and cream bottles.

  1. A Meldrum Bottle Cap 1923

Alexander Brown Patents

Alexander Brown worked with the Smith brothers from 1878 to 1904. Brown initially worked as a lathe operator for W.H. Baker & Co. Firearms. When William Baker left the business, L.C. Smith elevated Brown to the position of lead designer. Brown and Wilbert Lewis Smith shared a firearms patent, making him one of two Smith brothers to hold a patent. Alexander Brown later convinced the brothers to shift their attention to typewriters and designed their Smith Premier typewriters. When L.C. Smith and his brothers left the Union Typewriter Company in 1904, Brown stayed on as president of Smith Premier. His interests extended beyond typewriters and firearms. Over his expansive career, Brown also patented a number of bicycle, electrical system, communication system, automotive, and farm-related inventions.

  1. Kinyon and Brown Rotary Churn 1881
  2. Breech Loading Fire Arm 1882
  3. Fire Escape 1883
  4. Gun Lock 1883
  5. Electric Fire Arm 1884
  6. Lock Mechanism for Concealed Hammer Guns 1886
  7. AT Brown and WL Smith Safety Catch for Gun Locks 1886
  8. Breech Loading Shotgun 1887
  9. Type Writing Machine 1888
  10. Air Gun 1888
  11. Cleaner for Type Writing Machines 1889
  12. Type Cleaner 1890
  13. Cleaning Attachment for Type Writing Machines 1890
  14. Type Writing Machine 1890
  15. Matting Machine 1890
  16. Type Writing Machine 1891
  17. Vehicle Tire 1892
  18. Type Writer Cabinet 1892
  19. Brown and Stillman Pneumatic Tire for Vehicles 1892
  20. Ribbon Mechanism for Type Writing Machines 1893
  21. Lipe and Brown Velocipede 1893
  22. Ejector Mechanism for Breakdown Guns 1894
  23. Type Writer Inking Ribbon 1894
  24. Vehicle Tire 1895
  25. Type Making Machine 1896
  26. System for Electrical Communication 1898
  27. Switching Apparatus 1899
  28. Type Writing Machine 1900
  29. AT Brown Gearing 1902
  30. Power Transmitting Mechanism 1902
  31. Gas Engine 1902
  32. Driving Mechanism for Bicycles or Like Vehicles 1903
  33. Type Writing Machine 1905
  34. Propeller 1906
  35. Power Transmitting Mechanism 1906
  36. Transmission Gear 1906
  37. Lipe and Brown Changeable Gear 1906
  38. Type Writing Machine 1906
  39. Power Transmitting Mechanism 1908
  40. Brown and Briggs Type Writing Machine 1908
  41. Brown and CE Tomlinson Type Writing Machine 1908
  42. Brown and JH Barr Type Writing Machine 1908
  43. Type Writing Machine 1908
  44. Type Writing Machine 1908
  45. Gearing 1909
  46. Type Writing Machine 1909
  47. Type Writing Machine 1909
  48. Type Writing Machine 1909
  49. Type Writing Machine 1909
  50. Type Writing Machine 1909
  51. Type Writing Machine 1909
  52. Type Writing Machine 1909
  53. Type Writing Machine 1909
  54. Type Writing Machine 1910
  55. Type Writing Machine 1911
  56. Electric Exchange System 1911
  57. Type Writing Machine 1912
  58. Type Writing Machine 1912
  59. Type Writing Machine 1913
  60. Lubricant Retaining Means 1913
  61. Type Writing Machine 1913
  62. Type Writing Machine 1914
  63. Type Writing Machine 1914
  64. AT Brown Gearing 1914
  65. Kippen Brown and White Multiple-Compartment Coin Controlled Vending Machine 1915
  66. Type Bar Antifriction Bearing 1915
  67. Motor Agricultural Machine 1916
  68. Traction Machine 1917
  69. Transmission Gearing 1918
  70. Recording Machine 1919
  71. Computing Machine 1919
  72. Gear Grinding Machine 1920
  73. Gear Grinding Machine 1920
  74. Force Pump 1920
  75. Computing Machine 1921
  76. Motor Agricultural Machine 1921
  77. Motor Agricultural Machine 1921
  78. Agricultural Machine 1922
  79. Gear Shifting Mechanism 1923
  80. Gear Shifting Mechanism 1923
  81. Tractor Plow 1923
  82. Motor Agricultural Machine 1923
  83. Motor Vehicle 1923
  84. Agricultural Machine 1923
  85. Air Cooled Internal Combustion Engine and Electric Generator Plant 1923
  86. Friction Clutch 1924
  87. Internal Combustion Engine 1924
  88. Pivotal Bearing 1925
  89. Apparatus for Casting Engine Cylinders 1925
  90. Tractor Frame for Agricultural Machines 1926
  91. Mower Bar Construction 1928
  92. Antifriction Bearing 1929
  93. Agricultural Machine 1930
  94. Type Bar for Type Writing Machines 1900
  95. Electric Exchange System Reissued 1922

Burns Lyman Smith Patents

The only son of L.C. Smith, Burns Lyman Smith focused his business efforts on the fledgling automotive industry. Burns focused on producing automotive wheels and held patents for both the wheels he invented, and for many of the manufacturing processes involved in their production.

  1. Spoke Wheel for Vehicles 1916
  2. Process of Heat Treatment for Castings 1920
  3. Apparatus for Casting Hollow One Piece Spoke Wheels 1920
  4. One Piece Cast Metal Wheel and Method of Making the Same 1921
  5. Cushion Wheel for Motor Vehicles 1923
  6. Vehicle Wheel 1923
  7. M Wightman assignor to BL Smith Mechanical Air Cushioning Device 1937
  8. Platen and Method of Manufacturing the Same 1940

Carl Gabrielson Patents

Carl Gabrielson first became involved with the Smith brothers while they operated Smith Premier within the confines of the Union Typewriter Company. When L.C. Smith and his brothers became unhappy that the other members of the Union Typewriter Company would not allow them to begin producing a “visible” writing machine, they recruited Gabrielson to join their new company. Gabrielson was the lead designer for the new L.C. Smith & Brothers Typewriter Company and designed their first machines and a number of later models.

  1. Type Writing Machine 1900
  2. BC Stickney and C Gabrielson Type Writing Machine 1901
  3. J Felbel and C Gabrielson Type Writing Machine 1901
  4. J Felbel and C Gabrielson Type Writing Machine 1902
  5. Felbel and C Gabrielson Type Writing Machine 1902
  6. Type Writing Machine 1903
  7. Type Writing Machine 1903
  8. Type Writing Machine 1904
  9. WL Smith and C Gabrielson Type Bar Cushion 1905
  10. Paper Feeding Device For Typewriters 1906
  11. Type Writing Machine 1907
  12. Type Writing Machine 1907
  13. Type Writing Machine 1907
  14. Type Writing Machine 1907
  15. C Gabrielson and WH Stearns Type Bar Cushion 1908
  16. Type Writing Machine 1908
  17. Type Writing Machine 1909
  18. C Gabrielson and FC Stanley Platen Brake for Type Writing Machines 1910
  19. Type Writing Machine 1911
  20. H De Wallace and C Gabrielson Electric Water Heater 1913
  21. Tabulating Mechanism for Type Writing Machines 1914
  22. Platen Position Indicator 1916
  23. Platen Position Indicator 1916
  24. Card Holder for Type Writing Machines 1917
  25. Type Writer Platen Release Mechanism 1917
  26. Card Holder for Type Writing Machines 1919
  27. Milling Machine 1921
  28. Typewriting Machine 1923
  29. Snap Guage 1923
  30. Adjustable Arbor Support for Milling Machines 1924
  31. A Meldrum C Gabrielson ETAL Limit Snap Guage 1924
  32. Reverse Line Spacing Device for Typewriting Machines 1926
  33. Typewriter Platen for Index Cards 1926
  34. A Meldrum C Gabrielson and AJ Hoffman Cast Metal Vehicle Wheel 1926
  35. Platen Clutch 1927
  36. Drilling Machine 1928
  37. Card Platen for Typewriters 1929
  38. Type Writing Machine 1931
  39. Type Writing Machine 1931
  40. Stencil attachment for Typewriting Machines 1932
  41. Type Writing Machine 1933
  42. Type Writing Machine 1934
  43. Means for Inking Type Impressions 1934
  44. C Gabrielson ET AL Typewriting Machine 1937
  45. C Gabrielson ET AL Typewriting Machine 1937
  46. Type Writing Machine 1938
  47. Type Writing Machine 1934

Rose/Standard/Corona Typewriter Company Patents

Beginning with Frank Rose’s original patents for what would become the Standard Folding Typewriter, and later the Corona Model No. 3, the patents related to these companies led to some of the greatest portable typewriters of the era. The Corona Typewriter Company employed a number of innovative designers in the years leading up to their merger with L.C. Smith & Brothers Typewriter Company. Many of these men later worked for L.C. Smith & Corona Typewriters and established the firm as a leader in both office and portable typewriter technology.

  1. FS Rose Escapement Mechanism for Type Writers 1910
  2. FS Rose Type Writer 1913
  3. Petermann Bar Mechanism for Type Writing Machines 1913
  4. Petermann Keyboard 1913
  5. Petermann Carriage for Type Writing Machines 1914
  6. Petermann Type Writing Machine 1914
  7. MW Hazen and Petermann Type Writing Machine 1914
  8. MW Hazen Type Writing Machine 1914
  9. Petermann Carriage Lock for Type Writing Machines 1916
  10. Petermann Type Writing Machine 1916
  11. Petermann Key Lever Construction for Type Writing Machines 1917
  12. Tucker Dirand Type Writing Machine 1917
  13. FS Rose Type Writing Machine Reissued 1915
  14. FS Rose Escapement Mechanism for Type Writers Reissued 1915
  15. Petermann Typwriting Machine 1914
  16. Petermann Typewriting Machine 1914
  17. Petermann Line Spacing Mechanism for Typewriting Machines 1914
  18. Petermann Platen Shift for Typewriting Machines 1914
  19. Petermann Platen Shift 1914
  20. Petermann Ribbon Mechanism for Typewriting Machines 1914
  21. Petermann Platen Shift 1914
  22. Petermann Platen shift for Typewriting Machines 1914
  23. Petermann Typewriting Machine 1914
  24. MW Hazen Feed Mechanism 1914
  25. MW Hazen Platen Shift 1914
  26. Petermann Universal Bar Mechanism 1916
  27. Petermann Typewriting Machine 1916
  28. Petermann Dead Key Attachment for Typewriting Machines 1916
  29. Petermann Label Holder for Typewriting Machines 1917
  30. CP Mosher Typewriting Machine 1917
  31. BW Tucker Typewriting Machine 1917
  32. CP Mosher Typewriting Machine 1918
  33. EG Latta Typewriting Machine 1918
  34. P DE Clamecy Typewriting Machine 1918
  35. P De Clamecy Typewriting Machine 1918
  36. EG Latta Typewriting Machine 1918
  37. BW Tucker Typewriting Machine 1918
  38. P De Clamecy Typewriting Machine 1918
  39. BW Tucker Typewriting Machine 1918
  40. BW Tucker Typewriting Machine 1918
  41. BW Tucker Typewriting Machine 1919
  42. P De Clamecy Foldable Typewriting Machine 1919
  43. P De Clamecy Foldable Typewriting Machine 1919
  44. Petermann Typewriting Machine 1919
  45. HM Seagers and SH Drake Stand 1919
  46. JE Simpson Line Ruling Device for Typewriting Machines 1919
  47. BW Tucker Typewriting Machine 1919
  48. P De Clamecy Typewriting Machine 1919
  49. P De Clamecy Typewriting Machine 1919
  50. P De Clamecy Collapsible Typewriting Machine 1920
  51. P De Clamecy Collapsible Typewriting Machine 1920
  52. FH Armstrong Typewriting Machine 1921
  53. Petermann Typewriting Machine 1914
  54. EL Harmon Typewriting Machine 1922
  55. Petermann Typewriting Machine 1922
  56. LB Bridges Folding Typewriting Machine 1922
  57. FH Armstrong Type Writing Machine 1922
  58. EL Harmon Typewriting Machine 1922
  59. FH Armstrong Typewriting Machine 1923
  60. FH Armstrong Typewriting Machine 1922
  61. FH Armstrong Typewriting Machine 1923
  62. P de Clamecy Typewriting Machine 1923
  63. FH Armstrong Typewriting Machine 1923
  64. EL Harmon Typewriting Machine 1923
  65. Petermann Typewriting Machine 1923
  66. H McD Brown Typewriting Machine 1924
  67. AB Ely Oil Can 1924
  68. AB Ely Escapement Mechanism 1925
  69. CH Bradt Supporting Means for Typewriting Machines 1925
  70. Petermann Typewriting Machine 1926
  71. AB Ely Typewriting Machine 1926
  72. FH Armstrong Typewriting Machine 1926
  73. HA Avery Typewriting Machine 1926
  74. AB Ely Typewriting Machine 1926
  75. EG Latta Ribbon Mechanism Reissued 1918
  76. EG Latta Typewriting Machine Reissued 1918

Leroy H. Smith Patents

Although he did not design any of the firearms sold by W.H. Baker & Company Firearms, it is worth showing that all of the Smith brothers were successful businessmen. Of the five brothers, only two actually held patents and both were for firearms-related items. The family’s eldest son Leroy, who left his brothers’ business in 1880, went on to found Ithaca Gun Company. Collaborating with their former partner W.H. Baker, Leroy Smith held patents related to innovations for breech-loading shotguns. Similarly, Wilbert Lewis Smith shared a firearms patent with Alexander Brown.

  1. C Pierce and LH Smith Lock Mechanism for Breech Loading Guns 1887
  2. Breech Loading Gun 1888
  3. Breech Loading Gun 1888
  4. Breech Loading Fire Arm 1889

Smith Corona Patents

Coming out of World War II, Smith Corona expanded rapidly and accumulated hundreds of patents over the course of the next 60-plus years. These patents ranged from typewriters to word processors, an assortment of appliances, and even thermal printing technology. Though the collapse of the typewriter market severely hurt the company, these patents and the company’s history of innovation has helped it to recover and move forward in the expanding thermal label market.

  1. Cleveland Office Machine Escapement Disengagement and Automatic Engagment Mechanism 1984
  2. Baron Integral Locking Device For a Typewriter 1992
  3. Jalbert Multi-Bar Encoding Apparatus Utilizing Acoustic Energy
  4. Rimbey Acoustic Transmission Member
  5. Longrod et al Cartridge Ribbon Lift Apparatus
  6. Longrod et al Acoustic Member Mounting Means for Use in Typewriters
  7. Jalbert Acoustic Encoding Apparatus
  8. Pajer et al Encoding Apparatus Utilizing Acoustic Waves of Controlled Initial Polarity
  9. Longrod Ribbon Driving Mechanism
  10. Shattuck et al Ribbon Cartridge Handling Apparatus
  11. Smith Reverse Tab Control System for Typewriters
  12. Smith Halfspace Control System for Electronic Typewriter with Correction Register
  13. Blanchard et al Encoding Apparatus Having an Acoustic Member with Mirror-Image Tabs
  14. Longrod Ribbon Drive Clutch
  15. Blanchard Automatic Work Correcting System
  16. Gray One-touch Character Correction and Replacement System
  17. Adams et al Spelling Error Finding Feature Including an Electronic Spelling Dictionary
  18. Curley Right Margin Zone Hyphenation
  19. Compact Spelling-Check Dictionary
  20. Duncan et al Dictionary Memory with Visual Scanning from a Selectable Starting Point
  21. Mueller Tape cassette for Metering Correction Tape Feed
  22. Cappotto Ribbon Tensioning Mechanism
  23. McRae et al Punctuation Check Feature for an Electronic Typewriter
  24. McRae et al Memory Typewriter with Count of Overused Words
  25. Mueller et al Ink Ribbon and Correction Tape Cassette Compatibility
  26. Blanchard et al Thesaurus Feature for Electronic Typewriters
  27. Mueller et al Plural Cassettes Having Compatibility Arrangement
  28. Curley Plain Paper Cartridge for Facsimile Machine
  29. Curley Thermal Paper Cartridge for Facsimile Machine
  30. Martinez Ribbon Cassette with Integral Paper Guide
  31. Curley Facsimile Paper Supply Cartridge System
  32. Martinez Ribbon Cassette with Integral Paper Guide
  33. Martinez Thermal Print Head Control Mechanism
  34. Baron et al Integral Locking Device for a Typewriter
  35. Cappotto Cassette Having Compatibility Arrangement
  36. Pearce et al Label Printer and Tape and Ink Ribbon Cartridge for Use Therein
  37. Cappotto et al Ribbon Cassette
  38. Mueller et al Ribbon Cassette
  39. Mueller et al Ribbon Cassette
  40. Salinas et al Label Printer

W.H. Baker Firearms Patents

These were the patents that started it all. From 1877 to 1951, when the last surviving brother H.W. Smith passed away, the five Smith brothers found enormous success in their various business pursuits, and it all began with a handful of patents held by William H. Baker. Baker’s patents for a breech-loading shotgun led to the formation of their first successful business, W.H. Baker & Company. Even though Baker split with L.C. Smith in 1880 and sold his interest in the business, he helped to launch the brothers’ careers and deserves credit for his contribution to our company’s history.

  1. Gun Lock 1863
  2. Breech Loading Fire Arm 1878
  3. Lock for Fire Arms 1880
  4. Breech Loading Fire Arm 1881