Name/Title
J.B. Cahoon Patent ApplicationEntry/Object ID
2000.FIC.02.272Scope and Content
Handwritten letter from J.B. Cahoon applying for a patent for a lathe and window sash cutting frame that he claims he invented. He describes the lathe in great detail, including how to apply power to it through water, horse or manpower.
He is inquiring wether he might be granted a patent or if there is another machine that would prevent that.
Louisville Ky 14th Nov 1839
To The
Clerk of the United States Patent office
I hearby file with you a description of a machine entitled the patent Lath and window sash slitting machine of which I claim to be the inventor from the present date viz the Patent lath and window sash slitting machine will be composed of a rectangular frame of wood about 4 feet high and 4 1/2 feet wide in which will be set a blad or knife at an angle of some four or five degrees with the sides of the frame the blade or knife will be about four feet long and six and a half inches wid
the fram will work against the fender post similar to the fender posts of a saw mill attached to the posts will be a stationary bench in front of the knife to receive the material of which the lath or sash are to be cut over this bench and attached to it by gudgeons will be paced a feeding valve Connected with the frame and immediately back of knife is placed a guage governed by two screwes the object of which is to determine the thickness of the lath or sash. The above are the material features of the machine which of course can be made to suit circumstances It can be propelled by manual labor or by horse or water power and well adapted from its small cost and simplicity to the use of almost every mechanic who uses a building with a power applied to it necessary to drive a sawmill this machine will cut 4.50 laths per minute or 540.000 every 24 hours allowing 4 hours for detention the use of the blade or knife instead of a saw is of Course a grate improvement as it saves in Timber the whole of the saw head will be found to amount to 1/3 of the whole timber
[p. 2]
I wish to know from you whether I shall be Entitled to a patent for this machine or whether their has been a patent for a similar machine granted which will preclude my obtaining letter patent from your office an early reply will be dully acknowledged by
Your Obt Sevt
J.B. CahoonCollection
Early Family Papers: CahoonRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Cahoon, Joel B.
