Thomas Blanchard

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Thomas Blanchard (June 24, 1788 – April 16, 1864) was a prolific American inventor, awarded over twenty-five patents for his creations.

Born in Sutton, Massachusetts, his first machine, made and patented in 1806, was a mechanical tack-maker, which could fabricate five hundred tacks per minute, each much better than tacks made by hand. Selling the rights to his machine for $5,000, Blanchard turned his attention to gun-barrels, and invented a machine that streamlined the process. Hired by the Springfield Armory during its construction, Blanchard finished the machine in 1820. Turning his attention to transportation, Blanchard invented a "steam wagon" before the invention of railroads, and created a powerful upriver steamboat that was used on the Connecticut River and the West, patented in 1831. In 1851, he designed and created a machine that could bend dense and strong wood. In addition to these major accomplishments, Blanchard also designed multiple envelope cutting and folding machines before his death in 1864.

[edit] Patents

  • X0002080 Horizontal shearing machine May 4, 1813 (patent destroyed by fire)
  • X0003010 Machine for tacks and brads October 3, 1817 (patent destroyed by fire)
  • X0003131 Turning irregular forms (image only, no text) Patented September 6, 1819
  • X0003436 Machine for turning gun stocks September 6, 1819 (patent destroyed by fire)
  • X0004832 Regulating the speed of carriages December 28, 1825 (patent destroyed by fire)
  • U.S. Patent 3  Machine for turning, &c., wooden sheaves and pins for ships' tackle-blocks and pulleys, dated August 1, 1836
  • U.S. Patent 4  Stock shaving or rounding machine for edges, ends, &c., of ships' tackle-blocks, dated August 10, 1836
  • U.S. Patent 5  Machine for mortising solid wooden shells of ships' tackle-blocks, dated August 10, 1836
  • U.S. Patent 6  Machine for forming end pieces of plank blocks for ships, &c. dated August 10, 1836
  • U.S. Patent 7  Machine for boring holes and cutting lanyard-scores in deadeyes. dated August 10, 1836
  • U.S. Patent 8  Machine for cutting scoress round ships' tackle-blocks and dead-eyes. dated August 10, 1836
  • U.S. Patent 9  Method of riveting plank or made blocks. dated August 10, 1836
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