Story #19
More Patents From Peebles
A cabinet maker in Peebles has been credited with at least two patented inventions. Charles E. Ely probably learned most of his skills from his father, Joseph, whose occupation was listed as a chair maker on a census report.
Patent #635,038, dated October 17, 1899, was awarded for a “Fire-Escape and Scaffold-Holder, but which, when made larger and stronger, can be successfully used in bridge-building for raising and lowering heavy timbers and irons, and the fire-escape can be used with safety in descending from a balloon.”
Tethered balloon rides were very popular at the time and the growth of the nation's infrastructure, brought about by the development of the automobile, created a need for quick and easy construction equipment and techniques.
The two witnesses signing the application were W. L. Davisson, Charles' brother-in-law and future treasurer of Peebles, and A.B. Ely, Charles' brother and past treasurer of the Peebles Dramatic Club.
The patent was noted in the October 28, 1899, issue of Scientific American, in a list of inventions for that month. The Western Christian Advocate, dated August 12, 1903, reported Ely had been recognized for his invention and was given an award by the Parisian Inventors' Academy.
In the April 1893, edition of Engineer and Inventor, an article was published that questioned the validity of the Academy and its practices.
The second patent, #661,240 was less controversial. Approval was given to the document dated November 6, 1900, for the “certain new and useful improvements in Music-Holders.”
Ely's description begins: “My invention relates to improvements in music-leaf holders; and one object of my invention is the provision of an ornamental device which can be readily applied or placed upon the music-rack of the instrument and which will hold the leaves of the music perfectly and which will permit ready and easy turning of the leaves.”
“Another object of my invention is the provision of an attractive and ornamental device which will be very light in weight, small and compact in size, and which will be the embodiment of simplicity, inexpensiveness, and durability, thus combining all the requirements to insure a practical and useful device of the character.”
