In reference to Patent Page, December 2005, thanks for reminding
me what I wrote in Diesel’s Engine about Rasmus Hvid
probably 25 years ago now! Hvid certainly introduced a new and
cheap form of compression ignition engine to America, but in all
fairness credit should also be given to Jan Brons of Holland who
had patented and was building the same basic engine years before
Hvid’s beginning in 1904. In Diesel’s Engine, pages
388-398, one can clearly see that Hvid copied Brons’ patent so
closely that he was forced to buy from Brons the American rights to
the Brons patents. Hvid only patented some minor “improvements”
over Brons.
Having had the pleasure of arguing cases to receive patents for
Dad and myself, I have always wondered how Hvid was ever granted
most of his patents! Other than in this country the engine is known
as the Brons, and Hvid is considered only a licensee.
Lyle Cummins
P.O. Box 301
Wilsonville, OR 97070
