27
The Converse Connection
Below Lucien Mumford
‟
s signature on his 1892 patent (above left), is the
signature of his patent attorney, M. D. Converse.
Converse later becomes a player in the cork extractor field by filing for his own
patent on July 12, 1898. His objective was to
“
cheapen the cost of manufacture,
and to provide a cork-extractor...that will be durable and...expeditiously used.
”
U.S. Patent No. 624,457 was issued May 9, 1899. The patent is signed Maschil D.
Converse (above right).
To add a bit of mystery: Closely examine the signatures of Mumford and
Converse above left. Are these not the same handwriting? Now compare the
Mumford signature to the one below left from his 1879 patent. Is it not the same?
Finally compare the Mumford signature on the 1900 patent (below right) to the
other two. Why is it different? Could his signature have changed over 18 years?
