"Charles M. Clinton, the well known model maker and designer, died at 11:30 o'clock last night at his home, 206 South Geneva street....
Charles M. Clinton, was born in Newark Valley, Tioga County, N.Y., January 26, 1834, a son of Samuel Clinton, who moved to Candor in 1841, and in the spring of 1845 came to Ithaca, locating first on a farm and later moving into the city, where Samuel Clinton died in 1858. Charles M. was the youngest son of Samuel Clinton and he early developed a taste for machinery, going in 1850 into the machine shop of E.G. Pelton to learn the trade; there he remained for one year, during which time he was promoted, and the following year was engaged with the Treman Brothers on sewing machine work.
In 1853 he and his brother, Miles L., started a small shop in their residence, their first attempt at model making and experimental work, using foot power, and they built a 10 H.P. engine in their little shop. About 1856 they bought a power privilege on Cascadilla Creek and built a foundry and machine shop 130 by 40 feet in dimensions, where they did general job work and manufactured boilers and engines. In 1858 they patented the Clinton sewing machine and manufactured about 600 machines. In 1861 fire destroyed their works and in 1862 Mr. Clinton went to Yonkers to work in the armory of the Star Arms Company. He returned to Ithaca in 1863. On December 4, 1863, Mr. Clinton married Addie Rolfe, of Enfield; they had one son who died aged six years.
In 1864 he engaged in the manufacture of models and experimental work, which he had since followed except about one year. He was the designer of all tools used in the Ithaca Calendar Clock Company, and superintended the manufacture. In 1868, in company with Lynfred Mood, they patented the Marine Calendar Clock, which patent they sold to the Ithaca Clock Company. Clinton & Mood also patented a self-dumping horse rake. He and his brother Miles L. patented a vegetable slicer, which they later manufactured. He patented a railroad indicator, a grain binder, and indicator for water motor, and improvements in grain drills. He patented the Clinton fishing reel, the finest trout reel made.
He made many improvements in dental appliances, besides all machinery and tools used in his model making and machine shop. He had assisted many other parties in perfecting inventions. Mr. Clinton's reputation as a model maker and experimenter was second to none. His last invention was a typewriter which in company with James McNamara he worked for over two years, and it proved one of the best machines ever invented. It was named the Peerless and was manufactured by the Ithaca Gun Company.
Charles M. Clinton was the last surviving member of a family of four brothers, Miles, Myron and Henry, and four sisters. A sister, Mrs. Olmstead, who was known here, died at Missouri Valley, Ia., April 26 inst. Mr. Clinton has no immediate relatives excepting his widow, Adelaide Rolfe."
"Charles M. Clinton Has Passed Away: Had Contributed Many Useful Inventions Tools Used by Calendar Clock Company, a Railroad Indication, Self-dumping Hose Rake and the Peerless Typewriter His Products," Ithaca Daily Journal, June 16, 1909, 3, accessed December 4, 2024,
https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=idj19090616-01.1.3