Calvin Witty and his first

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Calvin Witty and his first "licence plate" to ride

The greater wheel world 150 year ago ..as the Velocipede fever was roaring hot ...Calvin Witty was about to end the party.

album: První licenčnční poplatek

February 3rd, Calvin Witty sends out a notice to all involved with velocipedes.

"You are hereby notified that Letter Patent #59,915, granted Nov. 20, 1866, secures a velocipede with two wheels, treadles and guiding arms, and that the velocipede you manufacture is an infringement upon the said patent. The present is to require you to cease the further manufacture of said velocipedes and to settle with me for all past infringement of the rights under said patent. Your respectfully, Calvin Witty”.

This notice spread fear through the just booming velocipede world. Witty was quick to offer terms in which all could continue to manufacture machines and for those who had purchased machines you must now pay a licensing fee of $10.00. Witty was quick with his legal thugs to go to each riding school and demand payment for licensing or threat of shutting down the schools. The schools were the easiest targets for existing machines, as each school would have 6-50 machines, easy money for the taking. The licensing was a stamp on the machine of the Lallement patent date "Patd Nov 20th 1866" and a serial number. (6) The stampings were hand held and hammered onsite. The manufactures that signed a licensing agreement would pay 10.00 to 25.00 per machine depending on production projections. Absorbing the licensing fee "royalty" was not part of the manufactures program, a simple increase in price of $10.00 was made.

The $10.00 fee was marked paid with a stamping on your velocipede of the Lallement patent date and normally a # ... the first form of "licence plate" to ride .
Source: Carey Williams 2019

Pierre Lallement patent 1866

album: Lallement patent 1866

Witty Velocipede

June – July 1868, Made by Calvin Witty of Brooklyn, NY under order of the Hanlon Brothers, copied from Lallement patent drawing. Non adjustable saddle or pedals.

Privat collection - Italy

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