Union Switch and Signal Company Records, 1888-1898
Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Union Switch and Signal Company Records
Creator
Union Switch and Signal Company
Collection Number
AIS.2021.03
Extent
.5 Cubic Feet(1 box)
Date
1888-1898
Abstract
The Union Switch and Signal Company (US&S), created by George Westinghouse (1846-1914), aided in the creation and manufacturing of railroad switching devices. The Union Switch and Signal Company Records contains letters, financial and legal documents, and patent transfer transactions from the late 1880's in relation to patent infringement lawsuits against the Johnson Railroad Signal Company. A copy of the company's mortgage from 1893 is also included.
Language
English
.
Author
Brianna Facciani.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System Archives & Special Collections Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Acquisition Information
Gift of John T. Pekarcik in August 2017.
Biographical / Historical
The Union Switch and Signal Company (US&S) was founded by George Westinghouse (1846-1914) in 1881 through a merger of the Union Electric Signal and Interlocking Switch & Signal Companies. It was the first company to create a power interlocking switch for railway systems.
The company also aided in the creation and manufacturing of railroad equipment and signals, many of which were implemented in subways and railways found in New York City, Boston, and other cities. George Westinghouse, who would later have 361 patents and 60 companies under his belt, set up the US&S plant in Swissvale, Pennsylvania.
For more information about George Westinghouse's life, please visit:
https://historicpittsburgh.org/collection/george-westinghouse-museum-collection
Scope and Contents
This collection contains written or typed correspondences from the late 1880's. Financial statements and reports, along with a copy of the company's mortgage (found in Folder 24), are also included. Additionally, legal documents detailing the transfer of patent ownership with the patent attached can be found within the collection. The correspondences note the discussions between US&S and their legal firm, Carter, Hughes & Cravath, in relation to the US&S's suspicions of patent infringement with the Johnson Railroad Signal Company.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Brianna Facciani in March 2021.
Arrangement
This collection is organized chronologically.
Copyright
The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Union Switch and Signal Company Records, 1888-1898, AIS.2021.03, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System.
Related Materials
Union Switch and Signal Company Strike Photograph Collection, June 1914, AIS.1991.03, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System.
Subjects
Corporate Names
Union Switch and Signal Company
Johnson Railroad Signal Company
Personal Names
Westinghouse, George
Geographic Names
Swissvale (Pa.)
Genres
Correspondence
Patents
Other Subjects
Railroad equipment industry -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
Locomotive industry -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh -- History
