Perfects Engine
Burning Kerosene
The following item taken from the Ohio State Journal, pertains to a former Delphos man, Mr. C. Bruce Hardman. He was formerly connected with the  Delphos Printing Press Company, leaving Delphos several years ago or Columbus, where he is president of the Burkett Mfg. Company.
Yesterday he announced that after years of experimenting he had perfected an engine that after years of experimenting he had perfected an engine which burns kerosene oil. Many patents are pending on the engine and on a hay press upon which the engine is installed.
Delphos Herald, Jan. 7, 1918
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Local Man Invents Lock
Thomas Welch is the inventor and patentee for a device which is calculated to bring him large financial returns and at the same time “put Delphos on the map.”
The invention is a lock for automobiles and Mr. Welch has decided to call it the “Delphos lock”. If the demand for it is anything like present indications, the Delphos lock will circulate to every corner of the globe, and as it will contain the Delphos name, it will be known wherever there are automobiles.
Mr. Welch has applied for a patent covering the seven models of his invention, which is guaranteed to lock any kind of automobile now being manufactured. He will shortly be ready to put his invention on the market. Without any soliciting he has at this time more than five hundred orders.
The lock attaches to the transmission of the machine, holding it securely in “neutral” making it impossible to run the machine until the lock is removed. There have been a few locks offered the public which have been not entirely successful, thieves being able to remove them. This is impossible with the “Delphos”.
The price of the Delphos lock will be $$2.50 and $3.50, according to the model car on which it is installed.
Delphos Herald, July 3, 1914
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Chris Hauber is an Inventor
Chris  Hauber, a skilled tinner employed at the Clover Leaf shops in Frankfort, who was formerly a resident of Delphos and employed at the local shops, has with Harry Potts, foreman of the coach department, invented an improved caboose lamp, which when patented and placed on the market promised to result in a great saving to the railroads that use them. These lamps are to be placed in the cupola of the caboose and are different from the lamps now in use. They are made of galvanized iron, ten inches high and twelve inches in diameter. In addition to the bull’s eye there are two red, two green and two white lenses. By means of a thumb screw the lenses may be changed at will. Signal lamps now in use cost about $7 each, while this new and improved lamp can be manufactured for about $3, at a good profit.
Delphos Herald, Jan. 15, 1909
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H.T. Miller Patent Railroad
Safety Appliance
It is apparent that the persons backing H.T. Miller in his patent automatic safety appliance, are so well pleased with its valuable features that they have organized a company for the promotion and perfection of the new system of blocking trains on railroads for safety sake and dispatch. W.S. Kinball was sent to Columbus and secured a charter in the name of the Miller Safety Appliance Company. They will equip a section of track on one of the railroads passing through Delphos and will fit out a locomotive to be used in the demonstration. They are confident that when a practical demonstration is given, the railroads will readily recognize the valuable features of the invention. The incorporators of the company are H.T. Miller, A.J. Rahrig, C. Rahrig, W.S. Kimball and Mede Dolt.
Delphos Herald, May 8, 1905
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Patent on Turbine
Water Wheel
Messrs. Lybarger and Osborne of Delphos, have invented and received letters patent on a turbine water wheel, which embodies principles not heretofore applied to water motors.
Delphos Herald, May 16, 1878
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Patent on Gage-cock
A.H. Jettinger, an employee at the Clover Leaf shops, has been granted a patent on a gage-cock for use on boilers. Mr. Jettinger has spent a great amount of time in perfecting his idea along this line, and unless all indications fail, he has something that will pay handsomely, and will also prove a boon to railroad companies.
Delphos Herald, Mar. 30, 1909
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Improvement on
Harness Pads
Mr. M.V. Longsworth of this place has been granted letters patent for a new and useful improvement in harness pads which will fully recommend itself to harness manufacturers and all who use harnesses. Mr. L. is a thorough mechanic and his invention is the result of diligent study. It is claimed that it will save labor and lessen the cost in making harness-pads, while at the same time producing neat, strong and durable pads. It is destined to become THE pad and take the place of all others.
Delphos Herald, Aug. 17, 1876
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Invents New Planer
Our attention was directed last week to a remarkable invention in woodworking machinery, in the shape of a planer or surfacer, the product of a Delphos mechanical genius — Mr. John Lybarger. It differs from other machines in many respects, chief of which is its great simplicity, strength, capacity, perfection and more. It is claimed that it will accomplish more work in a given time than any machine of its kind in existence, and can be furnished at less than half the cost of standard surfacers. It may be seen in operation at Minnigs factory.
Delphos Herald, Oct. 26, 1876
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Fire Escape Patent
Mr. Joseph Welch has received letters patent for a fire escape, which we have carefully examined and believe to be a perfect device for the purpose for which it is intended. It consists of a sheet-iron basket, perforated for the free passage of air, with capacity to carry two adults or three or four children. The basket is attached to wire ropes and guided from window to window, or in any other direction desired.
A one-half interest in the patent has already been disposed of at a large price.
Delphos Herald, June 21, 1877
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Machine Being
Manufactured By
F. Johnson
A machine which bids fair to be a great success and to have a large sale has been designed by Fidelis Johnson of this city, and is at present being manufactured by him at his shop on North Washington street. The machine is a hot blast combined furnace and flue welder and is designed to be used in boiler and machine shops where machines of a large and expensive type are not needed. Coke is used as fuel in the welding.
Mr. Johnson states that his machine can be operated at a much lower cost than any other  machine on the market. In an addition to this, the initial cost is about one-third that of an oil welder.
Two of the machines are now in operation at Indianapolis and are proving successful. Indiana furnishes a fertile field at the present time, as the state has ordered that acetylene welding of boiler flues be stopped because of the danger of the joints cracking and those in the boiler room being scalded.
Delphos Herald, Mar. 20, 1920
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Fidele Johnson,
Building An Automobile
Fidele Johnson, the east Sixth Street machinist, is building a steam automobile. All parts of the steam engine, as well as the carriage wheels, will be ball bearing.
Delphos Herald, July 16, 1901
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Patent Combination
Portable Mantle
A company may be formed in Delphos for the manufacture of a combination portable mantle of which F.E. Smith, the Main Street photographer and Jos. L. Martin, operator at the Pennsylvania tower here, are the inventors. These gentlemen have made application for a patent on a combination book case, desk and mantle, for which there will be an unlimited demand. At present, all mantle-pieces have been permanent fixtures, attached to some wall and not removable without defacing the wall.
The invention of the Delphos gentlemen is something entirely new. Their second model is finished in mahogany and will be placed on display at the Lang, Huges & Weisgerber furniture store.
Delphos Herald, December 2, 1913
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Artificial Limbs
Fred Schleuter has finished an artificial limb of his own device for Jack Stepleton that is an improvement over anything of the kind ever seen in Delphos. Mr. Stepleton is enabled to walk almost as well as though he still retained his natural limb. He runs, jumps and gets around as nimble as anyone. Mr. Stepleton has taken up the sale of the limbs, acting as Mr. Schleuter’s agent. No hinges are used and they are warranted for eight years.
Delphos Herald, Jan. 30, 1901
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Patent Ice Ticket Punch
Fisher & Haller are having their patent ice ticket punch manufactured and placed on the market. The work is being done at the plant of the Guss Novelty Mfg. Co.
Delphos Herald, Jan. 28, 1901
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It is quite probable that the water wheel invented by the late Dr. Osborne will again be manufactured and placed on the market. G.W. Leasure is the owner of the models, and  has about closed a deal with O.G. Guss for the manufacture of the wheels on a royalty.
Delphos Herald, Jan. 22, 1901
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Invented Combination
Window and
Fly Screen
W.R. Cochran, Jr.  has had another idea patented. He has invented a combination window and fly screen. The screen disappears below and above the frame when both parts of the window are closed, and when opened takes the place of the glass. It is a good idea and could be made a winner. Bennett went to Toledo this afternoon with the model.
Delphos Herald, Nov. 27, 1900
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George Hiett
Patents Cistern Filter
George Hiett of the 300 block of East Fifth Street, has just completed arrangements to place a patented cistern filter in the hands of contractors and builders supply dealers. The filter, which will be known as the Suro is built of copper and is arranged to be placed in the cistern filter wall. Hiett states that most filter walls either fail to filter properly or do not let through a sufficient supply of water.
Delphos Herald, 1932
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Improved School Desk
Henry Weber of Delphos has secured letters patent on a new automatic or self-returning school desk that rivals anything of the kind yet brought out. The desk  has a self-folding seat that is moved out of the way as the pupil rises and resumes its position again as the pupil takes his seat. This improvement allows the desks to be placed about six inches nearer to each other and causes the pupil to sit upright. The seat is  noiseless in action, neat and durable. It has been practically tested in our school rooms and gives perfect satisfaction. The seats will be manufactured at the Delphos Foundry and the demand will be sure to follow.
Delphos Herald, Feb. 26, 1885
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Flat Iron Heater
Patented Mar. 23, 1882 by Ida R. Angell, Delphos, Ohio. Patent Number 258,689.
From Ohio Toolmakers by Jack Devitt
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O.G. Guss Patent
O.G. Guss has received word from Washington that he has been allowed a patent on a metal ventilator for buildings that are arranged in the form of a telescope; also on a patent lubricator for vehicle wheels that makes it possible to oil an axle without removing the wheel.
Delphos Herald, June 15, 1901
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Invented Fire Alarm
Chas. F. Smith, of this place, has invented a fire alarm, which promises to fill an important place in its special field. It is ingenious in construction and can not help but find a demand — a patent has been applied for.
Delphos Herald, June 27, 1878
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Improved Fire Alarm
The patent fire alarm invention of Klevorn and Smith of Delphos is a grand success. The improved fire alarm was place don the engine house this week, and gives the utmost satisfaction to all concerned. George Stevens of Lima is general agent, and will exhibit the apparatus throughout the state.
Delphos Herald, Oct. 16, 1879
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John Vetter, Inventor
John Vetter, one of the original founders of the Delphos Hardware, received a patent for a door lock, dated 1877.
Delphos Herald, 1877
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The Delphos Canal Museum has a model of steel fence posts, invented by Thomas W. Smith of Delphos, and filed Sept. 1913. Patent number 791.827 (CL256.52).
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Invents Steam Automobile
Peter R. Mueller owns and operates the Delphos Machine Works, located on North Main St.
In 1902, he added the manufacture of automobiles. With his superior knowledge of steam power, he has succeeded in perfecting a machine, propelled by steam, which is far superior to those which depend on gasoline or electricity for motive power. It is not subject to the faults always found in those machines, and can be operated by anyone. He expects to increase this branch of business and establish a factory in Delphos, second to none in the country.
Delphos Herald, Nov. 21, 1902
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B.A. Gramm’s Invention
B.A. Gramm built a brand new plant in Delphos in 1925 and remained here until the early 50s. At age 18 he built his first horseless carriage. In 1903 he built a light-duty vehicle with a power takeoff on the transmission.
“The power takeoff operated a clover huller and it astonished the farmers,” Gramm said.