1895 Selden Patent Plate

01

Artifact Overview

George Selden received a patent for an internal combustion automobile in 1895. Those patent rights were enforced by the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers. Carmakers certified by ALAM paid royalties to the group and displayed plates like this on their vehicles. ALAM was dissolved after losing a lengthy legal battle against Henry Ford in 1911.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

1895

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

84.1.1671.P.B.24582

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8.125 in
Width: 10 in

1895 Selden Patent Plate