Doug MacQueen wroteJack, I think you are being a little overly critical of “American Genius”. Overall, it is a very well researched book. Ferreting out the true history of locks and lockmakers is not an easy task, especially when you consider that so many of the existing sources of information themselves have some misinformation in them. For example, take the 1928 “Lure Of The Lock” written about the Mossman Collection and a primary source book for “American Genius” . In it you will find a reference to the McBride and Davidson Safe Co. of Albany, N.Y. Still today, the company is referred to as McBride and Davidson. The problem is that there were not 2 men involved here. The owner was John McBride Davidson, one man not two. That little mistake has been handed down as fact for a long time and yes, will be found in “American Genius”. Not a big deal but also not correct. Doug
Perhaps, but I’ve caught several mistakes or omissions like the Premier one I mentioned & I’m only up to page 56. As an example, the description of George Wilder’s Salamander Safe Lock on p. 50: ‘In 1843 George Wilder of Brooklyn, New York, secured his patent…’ If you use no other secondary research sources & go hunting for an 1843 patent to George Wilder in the USPTO, you won’t find one. If, however, you pursue the ‘Patented June 1 1843’ found on the photograph of the lock, one of the first patents issued that day (US3117) was to Daniel Richardson & assigned to Enos Wilder having to do with safe fireproofing & not to a lock. Further research on the internet does bring out more details about the further involvement of George Wilder & Rich & Co in lock & safe design & marketing & the common use of the salamander design on safe doors as a mark of a safe’s fire resistance ability.
I’ve done a lot of research work in my career over the years & I fault the Erroll’s book for both these kinds of lapses & for its lack of thorough footnoting in their discussions of inventions & patents.
Jack
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