March 2016 Auction Ends Thursday, March 31st, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/31/2016
Very historic and important U.S. Patent Office document signed by Orville Wright on 25 October 1916, releasing five patents including the notorious #821,393. Originally approved as a patent in May 1906, #821,393 allowed the Wright Brothers to dominate the U.S. and world aviation industry for ten years, as this patent was the only one allowing humans to control movement of an aircraft in flight. It allowed for the control of the important 3 axes of flight: the airplane's pitch, roll and yaw; without such control, an airplane could not safely be flown. The Wright Brothers so focused on controlling the use of this patent, in fact, that they failed to technologically innovate in other ways, allowing for Europe to surpass the U.S. in aviation prowess just before the outbreak of World War I. The expensive royalties to license the technology protected by this patent also stunted the production of American aircraft before WWI, causing the federal government in 1917 under President Wilson to step in and force plane manufacturers to share patents so that America could ready itself for WWI. This action by the federal government effectively ended the decade long ''patent war'' surrounding #821,393.
Lot includes the document dated 25 October 1916, signed by Orville Wright and his brother Lorin Wright (Wilbur had died in 1912), releasing the five patents, since payment had been completed on them. A group of New York investors led by William Boyce Thompson had bought the patents, not knowing that they'd be stymied from collecting royalties on them come 1917. Document reads in part, ''I, ORVILLE WRIGHT, of the City of Dayton, State of Ohio, do hereby certify that a certain mortgage...made and executed by The Wright Company...covering the following described United States letters patent: No. 821,393, dated May 22nd, 1906, for improvements in flying machines...is paid. And I do hereby consent that the same be discharged of record...'' Attached to the document is a notarized slip from Montgomery County, Ohio, and also a U.S. Patent Office slip with seal, dated 28 October 1916, confirming the patent transfer. Single page document measures 8.5'' x 14''. Half inch tear to right edge, folds, pinholes at top left and some chipping to edges of blue paper, to which document is attached. Overall in very good plus condition, with a large and prominent signature by Orville Wright, perfect for display. An extremely rare document in early 20th century aviation history, and one of the few important Wright Brothers documents in private hands.
Landmark Wright Bros. Patent Document, Signed by Orville Wright in 1916 -- Orville Releases Patent #821,393, the Cornerstone of Aviation & Basis for Patent War That Affected WWI Readiness
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