"The first machine to keep a calendar carried by the clock, was the invention of J. H. Hawes, Esq., of Ithaca, and was patented in 1853. This machine would not, of its own mechanism, show the 29th February in leap year, and soon found its place on the shelf. Soon after, Mr. William H. Aikins invented a calendar which was perpetual in its operations, and readjusted itself, showing all the changes, including the 29th February. A patent was issued to Aikins and Joseph C. Burritt, for their improvement, on the 19th of September, 1854. The patentees dis
posed of their patent, in 1854 and 1855, to Messrs. Huntington & Platts, who obtained another patent on the same machine in 1857. The Aikins machine was placed in the hands of Eugene M. and James E. Mix, for manufacture and improvement, and they gave it shape for practical use.... Improvements made by the Mix Brothers were patented by Huntington & Platts in 1860 and 1862. In the winter of 1864-5. Mr. Henry B. Horton, of Ithaca, invented a new and more perfect machine to keep the calendar, aud in April, 1865, obtained his first patent of eight claims. In August, 1866, he obtained a new patent for improvements, with nine claims, making upon the calendar alone seventeen claims. These patents have been transferred to the Ithaca Calendar Clock Company, who are now manufacturing under the rights acquired as above."
1869-1970 Ithaca Directory, 40.