i started this list because i have been searching old patents and wanted to share what i knew. i have been looking at hundreds of thousands of people filing patents and realizing they all have descendents. so i wanted to share what i have learned.

patents after 1976 are on the web, searchable many ways. before 1976 it gets interesting.

if you have the patent number you can search old patents and if you download a viewer from the patent office you can see them. certain libraries, including the los angeles downtown branch, have ledgers of all patents starting in 1790 or so. they are easily searched by inventor name and date. one enormous ledger for each year. you get the patent number from the ledger and then search on line.

it is possible that there will soon be CD's searchable by name but it isn't working yet. i have been searching my own line, full of mad inventors, and for antique farm machinery for a cousin. that was hard. so if anyone needs help doing this i will be glad to share whatever i can.