1861. Ball-bearing patent.
The first prominent patent in the American office, upon balls or rollers, is dated June 18, 1861, No. 32,604. There are some three hundred drawings of roller and ball-bearing patents on file at the United States office; this, however, does not represent the entire number issued. All of the more recent patents are substantially modifications of former patterns, such as No. 29,570, 1860; 37,765, 1863; 58,739, 1866; 63,609, 1867; 82,665, 1868; 113,867, 1871; 202,271, 1878, and Peter’s, November 20, 1877, No. 197,289.
One of the most useful variations and the one best adapted to the cycle art, is the lateral adjusting bearing of this style.
Rear-wheel bearing.
Below find selected figure and claim from a prominent patent over which there has been much contention.
J. H. HUGHES, BEARING FOR WHEELS, NO. 227,632, PATENTED MAY 18, 1880.
Hughes’s Patent.