Old Ford Photo

Compotato

Compotato

Junior Member
I posted this photo earlier and finally got permission to publish it in its entirety. We are coming up on the 100th anniversary of Ford's victorious challenge of the Seldon patent. Razelmond A. Parker successfully defended Ford in the lawsuit that eventually declared Seldon's patent invalid, due in large part to Seldon's inability to come up with a practical working model.This photo was taken at the Parker farm about the time of the twenty fifth anniversary of the original Ford Quadricycle. That would put it around 1921. Razelmond A. Parker on the left and Henry Ford on the right are sitting in a 1902 steam powered Locomobile (which may explain the scowl on Ford's face). Note the flat tires that indicate that this was a staged photo op. Thanks again to the members here who assisted in the research.
RAParker_HFord.jpg
 
Selden (an attorney, not an inventor) held a patent on the "Road Engine" and initially won his suit allowing him to threaten, then shakedown anybody who produced a carriage propelled by an engine. Ford won on appeal when he proved the Selden design was not practical and Selden could not produce a practical working model of his patent for the court. This broke Selden's stranglehold on the fledgeling auto industry in the U.S.
 
Yes, it looks like it was front wheel drive according to the original patent drawings, but as the article explains below, Selden expanded his claims and dragged out the patent application process for so long that he was able to extort royalties from just about anyone who dared to produce anything that looked like an automobile in the U.S. Ford and a few others decided not to play along. Although it is not a requirement to produce a working model to receive a patent, in a courtroom you may have to produce a working model to defend your patent from being declared invalid.
 
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