William Somers built a wheel almost identical to the one George Ferris would build two years later. But where Somers used wood, Ferris went with steel. Somers sued Ferris for patent infringement, but Ferris died before the issue was settled. Hence, the popular ride lost its bid to be the Somers wheel. In 1893 Mr. Somers was issued a patent for this invention from the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). There are 6 documents included with this patent. The drawing specification sheet of the patent has been reproduced from original USPTO documents and printed onto parchment paper. This print is sized and ready to install into an 8" x 10" frame. The additional sheets included are printed on 5.50" x 8.50" parchment paper. These accompanying documents describe the scope of this invention in formal terms. The following is an actual excerpt from the patent…

       " Be it known that I, WILLIAM SOMERS, a resident of Atlantic City, in the county of Atlantic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roundabouts; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings"…