Sometimes a little luck is needed to make an invention a success. George Pullman designed a superior sleeping car for use by trains in the mid 19th century. Unlike other sleeping cars on the market, it was luxuriously appointed, and made sleeping a real possibility, instead of a cruel joke. His design is in patent number 42,182.
The only problem was his car was wider than the existing cars, and the train stations, loading ramps, and platforms were sized for the narrower cars.
A tragedy for the nation was a marketing Godsend for Pullman. When President Lincoln was assasinated, officials wanted to send his body in a two week procession through 8 states, to his home in Springfield Illinois. The Pullman car was obviously the most stately, impressive and splendid car for the job. They ordered that all the stations on the route make modifications for the Pullman car of the procession. As the car made its way through the nation, lots of people came to see the train, and especially the beautiful Pullman car with Lincoln's casket. After the procession, sales of Pullman cars took off, and other stations made the necessary modifications.
The lesson for inventors is not to kill a president for sales effect, but to make your product so that existing regulations are met, or hit the marketing home run, and make the regulations change to require your product to be used. This is what happened to the company that makes the little backup beeper on trucks and forklifts, the Boise company Preco.
My records show that Frederick H. Furniss of Watrloo, NY patented his model, "Combination Sleeping and Drawing Room Car". Furniss sold his patent to George Pullman in 1858.
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