Protecting the Hutchinson Patents
In order to aggressively protect their income flow, W. H. Hutchinson & Son incorporated detailed patent information and terminology directly into their advertising materials. The following examples (reproduced because the originals are deteriorating) are from the 1889 W. H. Hutchinson & Son Manufacturers and Dealers in Bottlers Supplies catalog:
THE
Is now entering upon the tenth year of its
existence as the ONLY PERFECT Soda Water Stopper ever adopted by the
bottling industry of the
ALL OTHER SPRING STOPPERS ARE MERELY
IMITATIONS OF THIS, and as the mechanism cannot be used without
rendering the manufacturer liable for damages for infringement of
our patent, these Stoppers cannot have the fit, nor strength, nor
spring that the Hutchinson Stopper has, and we wish to warn our
customers against these imitations.
Whoever buys, uses, or sells any Stopper, other than the
Hutchinson Patent, held in both its Open and Closed positions by
means of a Lateral Spring, is infringing the Hutchinson Patent
Spring Stopper, and will be held liable for such infringements.
Is the only Stopper legally having those
claims; others are intended to deceive.
WARNING – Take
Notice.
All Stoppers manufactured by W. H.
HUTCHINSON & SON have their Patent Mark stamped on the bottom of the
Button.
If you purchase any Stoppers of the same
construction as the
We put our Stoppers at a fair price, and
as the Patent is ours we expect to furnish all such Stoppers used,
and to prosecute all parties using or making infringing Stoppers.
W. H. HUTCHINSON & SON.