Rocket PoweR, InteRstellaR tRavel and eteRnal lIfe

secretary-treasurer, was president.
From 1912 through 1914, a completely
different group was in charge with
Albert S. Bevans serving as president.
The turnovers in management and
addresses suggest an unsettled state for
the business. One might conclude the
company was created, unsuccessfully it
appears, to exploit a Hungerford invention.
An American Thermostat patent
application was filed on July 22, 1909
and the patent granted March 22, 1910
to Daniel Hungerford with assignment
to American Thermostat. For an “automatic
stop and reverse mechanism”
suitable, according to the patent, were a
“thermostatic damper regulating apparatus,
automatic clock winders, and the
like.” The sophisticated and complicated
device suggests the depth of
Hungerford’s mechanical insights. The
description of Hungerford’s patent
(#952,991) notes
The object of my invention is to provide
a means whereby the reverse
motion will be accomplished without
reversing the motor, in combination
with an automatic stop and reverse
switch, whereby the connections
leading to the circuit closing device
will be short circuited immediately
upon the closing of the motor circuit;
thereby eliminating the effect of any
fluctuation in the circuit closer, and
insuring the continuous operation of
the mechanism for the prescribed
period, or number of revolutions.
Daniel, Floyd, their sister Jennie, and
their mother Mary moved from the east
side in Elmira, probably in the summer
of 1911, to far West Second Street, a generally
undeveloped area near the city
line. 14 Daniel Hungerford wrote later
that his house and the neighboring
structure to the west were built for Peerless officials of a
dye factory located in the 700 block of Second Street.
The two houses probably were erected in the mid-1890s,
possibly 1896. 15
Beyond the city’s water and sewer system, the
Hungerfords shared a shallow well with the residents
Figure 3. Daniel D. Hungerford’s patented invention in 1910 for an “automatic stop
and reverse mechanism” was assigned to the American Thermostat Company in
Elmira.
in the similar house to the west. Hungerford later
recalled the cost of his property was $1,100 in a “land
contract from a Mr. John Holleran [sic] who took the
contract from Arnot Realty Co. E. J. Dunn was the co.
agent.” 16 Over the years, the house was piped for water
and wired for electricity by the Hungerfords. A “pipe-
Chapter One: Early Years 3