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Burroughs Corporation records. Patent and trademark records

 Collection
Identifier: CBI 90, Series 64

Scope and Content Note

The collection contains information on patents obtained by William S. Burroughs and many of his early competitors, including Felt, Hiett, Hopkins, the Wales Company, and many others. The collection also contains information on Burroughs typewriters and on the Gidion Sewing Machine Company, a company Burroughs was interested in purchasing as well as information on various Burroughs trademarks used throughout the years, including the name "Burroughs," the letter "B" and other logos.

Scope and Contents

This is one series of the Burroughs Corporation Records (CBI 90). Please see the other series finding aids for further information regarding the Burroughs Corporation.

Dates

  • Creation: 1897-1980

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Access to materials:

Access to the collection is unrestricted.

Copyright:

The Charles Babbage Institute holds the copyright to all materials in the collection, except for items covered by a prior copyright (such as published materials). Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provisions of the copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).

Historical Note

The first Burroughs Corporation patent was applied for by William S. Burroughs on January 10, 1885 and it was granted on August 21, 1888. He was not alone, however, as several people both in the United States and elsewhere had applied for patents for various calculating devices, including Dorr E. Felt, who invented the Comptometer. There is confusion as to whether Burroughs or Felt actually had the "first" adding machine. Burroughs filed his application for a patent was about a year and a half earlier than Felt's, but Felt's patents were granted in 1887. Burroughs' machine also had several unique features not found on other machines including: a single lever stroke that computed the answer and printed it on paper, printing (or listing) of individual items, self-correction and checking before finally pulling the lever, and the dash pot to regulate the operating mechanism and compensate for the different styles of lever pulling by the operators.

Extent

1 box (1 cubic foot)

Abstract

Collection contains information on patents obtained by William S. Burroughs and many his early competitors, including Dorr E. Felt; Burroughs typewriters; and the Gidion Sewing Machine Company which Burroughs was interested in purchasing. It also has information on various Burroughs logos and trademarks used throughout the years.

Arrangement of Collection

The materials in this collection are arranged into the following groups:

  1. Patent History
  2. Patent Lists
  3. Patent Reports
  4. Patent Rights
  5. Patent Sales
  6. Patent Transfers
  7. Trademarks

Acquisition:

The records were given to the Charles Babbage Institute by Unisys Corporation in 1991, accession 991-35.

Related Material

This is one series of the Burroughs Corporation Records (CBI 90). Please see the other series finding aids for further information regarding the Burroughs Corporation.

Title
Burroughs Corporation Records. Patent and Trademark Records, 1897-1980. Finding Aid.
Author
Prepared by Susan A. Stepka, September 1995.
Date
July 2005
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Collecting Area Details

Contact The Charles Babbage Institute Archives Collecting Area

Contact:
Elmer L. Andersen Library
222 - 21st Avenue South
Minneapolis MN 55455
612-624-5050