On his patent infringement lawsuit - photo 1
On his patent infringement lawsuit - photo 2

On his patent infringement lawsuit

Lot 79
02.02.2024 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 3 528
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
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Archive
ID 1129697
Lot 79 | On his patent infringement lawsuit
Estimate value
$ 3 000 – 5 000
WATT, James (1739-1795). Autograph letter signed ("James Watt") to Abraham Weston, Birmingham, 9 August 1795.

Two pages, 197 x 249mm (mailing folds, lightly toned at top and bottom, some ink show-through at top).

Watt writes to his attorney regarding his ongoing suit against Edward Bull for patent infringement. Watt opens the letter by offering the services of a nearby physician Dr. Carmichael to assist his correspondent's ailing son, stating he had spoken with the doctor and he could travel to London with little difficulty. He also mentions his wife and son's desire to see Weston's family and a scheduled conference between his son (James A. Watt Jr., then a partner in one firm of the Boulton & Watt steam engine company) and [Thomas] Wilson, a mine manager and Cornish agent for Boulton & Watt. He concludes: "...As we have not heard from Wilson since we expect he will be here on Monday night or Tuesday morning & shall be glad to see your brother...there will be many points on which we wish for legal advice & some talk will be necessary to satisfy Wilson why Bull could not be proceeded against last term..."

This refers to Watt's 1793 lawsuit against Edward Bull, who (with a few other manufacturers) began making his own engines that infringed on Watt's patents. Around this same time, numerous other manufacturers began infringing Watt's patent, either by altering the designs of other engines to include aspects of Watt's or outright releasing new engines mimicking Watt's design. Boulton & Watt engines were frequently sold second-hand, especially in Cornwall, where some engines passed through the ownership of as many as five mines during their lifespan. With every transfer of ownership, Boulton & Watt would draw up new terms with the new owners; Thomas Wilson, as the firm's Cornish agent, was responsible for drawing up the agreements, negotiating with mine owners, and setting out payment details. However, due to the influence of Bull's engines (and others), mine owners began to withhold payments to Boulton and Watt, believing Watt's patent could not be enforced. Watt first sued Bull in 1793, yet his patent would only be unambiguously upheld in January 1799, after numerous suits were filed in the interim.
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