Charles V. Rote, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

At this time, I do not know what connection, if any, Charles V. Rote of Lancaster, Pennsylvania had to my family. However, as there were a number of Rotes living in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area, many of them descendants of Alpheus Rote, and possibly of his siblings, it seems quite possible that he was a relative.

Regardless of the specifics of his connection, in honor of my relatives, and those of my husband, who worked for the railroads, especially those who worked as brakemen, I am sharing this patent listing for a better brake.

On page 674 of Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, Volume 160, available as a free book on Google Books, is an entry for a patent on a railway car brake, filed with the United States Patent Office on July 25, 1910. The patent was filed by Charles V. Rote, with assignor Maggie P. Holman, both of Lancaster, Pennsylvania:

Image 1: Left Column of entry for 975,893 CAR-BRAKE.

Image 2: Right Column of entry for 975,893 CAR-BRAKE.

Transcript of text from above images:

975,893 CAR-BRAKE. Charles V. Rote, Lancaster, Pa., assignor to Maggie P. Holman, Lancaster, Pa. Filed July 25, 1910. Serial No. 573,656.

1. In a car brake the combination of a track-brake suspended above and adapted to be lowered upon the rail, a brake-applying device and a take-up device, both movable with the track brake whereby they maintain a relation at each application of the brake, and means for locking said take-up device in a substantially fixed position when the track-brake is on the rail, said brake applying device exerting pressure upon the track-brake and having its reaction taken by said take-up device.

2. In a car-brake, the combination of a track-brake supported above and adapted to be lowered to the rail, a wear-compensator or take-up device movable with the track-brace to maintain a constant relation thereto, means for locking said take-up device in a substantially fixed position when the track-brake is on the rail, and a brake-lever mounted upon the track-brake and having a projection taking under said take-up device, said brake-lever being operable to bear down upon the track-brake.

3. In a car-brake, the combination of a track-brake supported above and adapted to be lowered to the rail, a wear-compensator or take up device movable with said track-brake, means for locking said take-up device in lowered position, and a leg-formed brake-lever supported upon the track-brake and having a foot-portion or toe adapted to engage under said take-up device, said brake-lever being operable so that its heel portion bears the track-brake.

4. In a car-brake, the combination of a track-brake, and brake-actuating mechanism including a pressure applying device and a wear-compensator, said pressure-applying device bearing upon the track-brake and having opposed pressure taken by said wear-compensator, the latter being automatically adjustable in proportion to the increased distance the brake-shoe has to travel to the rail as it wears away.

5. In a car-brake, the combination of a track-brake and a brake-actuating mechanism including a pressure-applying device and a wear-compensator, said pressure-applying device bearing upon the track-brake and under said wear-compensator, the latter being automatically adjustable in proportion to the increased distance the brake-shoe has to descend as it wears away.

[Claims 6 to 39 not printed in the Gazette]

On page 105 of The Railway Review, Volume 62, available as a free book on Google Books, is a list of patents on railway devices, issued by the United States Patent Office on December 18, 1917. Among them is a mention of a patent submitted by Charles V. Rote:

Brake shoe mechanism, 1,250,513 to 1,250,515 inclusive — Charles V. Rote, Lancaster, Pa., assignor to C.V. Rote Brake Shoe Co., Lancaster, Pa.

These two entries provide evidence that Charles V. Rote was living in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the years 1910 and 1917, that he was an inventor, that he was associated with one Maggie P. Holman, and that he owned or was associated with a company called C.V. Rote Brake Shoe Co. located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1917.

If Charles V. Rote is your relative, or if you have any more information about him or his family, I'd love to hear from you. Please, feel free to comment or send me an email.