the latter court nine additional cases called for hearing in November were continued to the January term. All the cases before the District Court of Appeals were on appeal from the decision of the Commissioner,.while the remaining cases were suits under Sec. 4915 R. S., in which the Commissioner is served with a copy of the bill. As these cases are hotly contested and embody subjectmatter of considerably more than average importance, it can readily be seen that Mr. Hostetler's work is cut out for him. But lest he forget that there are at least twenty-four hours in a day's time, a few additional duties comprise his daily task. Inasmuch as he performs them all cheerfully, thrives on them, and acquits himself with universal satisfaction, it's difficult to see how a complaint can be entered. The following is the subject matter of a bulletin, circulated by the National Machine Tool Builders Association, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Various Commissioners of Patents have on numerous occasions called the attention of Congress to some bad conditions at the Patent Office. 1st. All the valuable records of that office are stored on wooden shelves. If a fire should ever start, there would be irreparable damage to some vital records before it could be stopped. Therefore, Congress should provide in present appropriation bills which will be passed during the short session, for enough money to refit the Patent Office with proper metal furniture, or racks for the storage of these documents. 2nd. The scale of salaries for examiners is so low, that the Patent Office is not able to keep experienced examiners on its staff. The examiners take positions in patent solicitors' offices, at very much better salaries than the Government is paying them at this time. The result is a very fast turnover of examiners. Many of the divisions have not been able to replace the examiners who have left the service, even with young men just out of college willing to take service in the Patent Office as a training school. A staff consisting of inexperienced examiners is not conducive to the granting of good patents. The inexperienced examiner is very likely to turn out poor patents that are the cause of expensive litigation later. Therefore, it is to the interest of this industry to have Congress revamp the scale of salaries of Patent Office examiners, so that we may have competent men passing on our applications. Will you not make a strong plea to that effect to your Representatives and Senators to help bring about this change in conditions? These comments upon the Office situation are substantially correct. The conditions, however, assumed in the first case are not 100 per cent accurate. Probably 10 per cent of the records in the Office are stored in modern fire-proof cabinets. Due to the efforts of the present Commissioner this modern equipment is being extended and it is hoped eventually that all of the soft copies of patents will be so stored. It is understood that efforts are being made to have Congress appropriate a sufficient sum to store the patented files for a period covering at least 17 years. The spirit shown in these comments is bound to be helpful to the Patent Office and the interests it serves. Undoubtedly if all those legitimately concerned in the patent system would show equal interest in the same manner many improvements would result. DAVID E. WILSON. Chief of Manuscript and Lithograph Division. David E. Wilson, was born in the City of Washington, D. C., where he received his Public School and High School education. He studied Marine Ship drafting and Mechanical engineering under C. A. Bostrom, professor of Mathematics and Ship design at Annapolis, and Electrical Engineering courses through Electrical Engineering Institute of New York; also drawing and design at George Washington University. He was employed from 1903 to 1905 by The Union Switch and Signal Company, of Pittsburgh, (a Westinghouse subsidiary), as draftsman and illustrator for patent and publication work on electrical and mechanical signal appliances and track circuits. While so employed he was a member of The Westinghouse Electrical Club. Mr. Wilson was appointed through the Civil Service as draftsman in the Patent Office July 5, 1906, and serve in that capacity until 1908, when he was appointed as acting assistant chief of Manuscript and Photolithographic Division. In 1914 he was made assistant chief of Division and served as such until August 21, 1920 wher he was appointed chief of Division, being thus in charge of a very responsible and exacting service, preparing and furnishing certified and uncertified copies of all office records such as pending applications, interference records, foreign filing applications, transcripts of record for the Court of Appeals and for the Department of Justice and the circuit courts throughout the United States, as well as all copies required for Departmental use. Mr. Wilson has made numerous friends among the patent profession and public by reason of his courtesy and ability to give service, at times, under the most trying conditions. His record in the Office is one of harmony, cooperation and efficiency. CARROLL H. CREW. Chief of Division of Publications. Carroll H. Crew, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and was educated in the Public Schools, Baltimore City College and Eaton and Burnett Business College where courses in stenography and higher accountancy were taken. He was appointed to the Patent Office as a Messenger in 1901 and assigned to the Copy-Sales Division where he advanced from one position to another until on July 1st, 1920, after acting as Assistant Chief of the Division, he was appointed Assistant Chief. On February 18th, 1922 he was appointed Chief of Division succeeding Mr. Alexander Mosher who had been ill for many months previous. While serving as Acting Assistant Chief of Division, Mr. Crew originated the card method now in use in the Publications Division for the handling of subscription orders of manufacturers and others for printed copies of patents, as issued weekly, in various official classes and subclasses. The Publications Division has the custody of the many millions of printed copies of patents printed by the Government and these are sold to attorneys, manufacturers and others for 10 cents per copy. During the calendar year ending December 31st, 1926-2,070,005 copies were sold for which the office received $297,000.50. Approximately 748,388 copies were sold to Public Libraries with the understanding that the copies were to be bound in books and placed on their shelves for public inspection -an additional $800.00 was received for these. This special price was made to certain libraries by an Act of Congress when the Bound Volume of "Specifications and Drawings" were discontinued July 1st, 1912. Nearly six thousand dollars were also received for Service Fees, since a fee of $1.00 is now charged for the entering of the first subclass on a subscription for pat ents, as issued weekly, in Classes and Subclasses and 10 cents for each additional subclass. During last year 5,556,728 copies of patents were distributed to the many sources supplied by this office. Mr. Crew is an efficient employee and executive of the Patent Office who wins the cooperation of his fellow employees and the confidence of the office patrons. He is active in Building and Loan Association work in Baltimore City and vicinity as Director and Active Secretary of one of them. LOS ANGELES PATENT LIBRARY. The Los Angeles Public Library has recently set aside a large section which is devoted to patent interests. This section is in charge of an assistant librarian who renders all possible aid to the parties seeking information regarding patents. The list of patent Records as of Nov. 1926 follows: United States. Annual Reports of Commissioner of Patents 1837 to date. (Reports from 1837 to 1871 contain description and drawings of patents; descriptions and drawings continued in Official Gazette 1872-date). Official Gazette. Complete file. 1872 to date. Specifications and Drawings 1871-1915 and 1926 to date. (An effort is now being made to fill in gaps). Decisions of Commissioner of Patents 1869 to date. Great Britain. Illustrated Official Journal 1853 to date. |