At this point, one might ask, "Why not use this tool in the patent section in a future newsletter?" The simple fact is that no patent was ever issued for the King carpet stretcher. A similar version appears, which is named the Star (possibly a company name?), and the numerous other approaches that used a rotating eccentric wheel are not the same as the model shown. The application for a patent does not guarantee an issuance. In fact, this subject was discussed in a previous article. Perhaps this version was too close to a competitor's model and the application was rejected.

So, the next time one of these shows up in the attic, flea market or at the local auction barn, after you wow the crowd by identifying the tool with ease, feel free to talk about the variations that were manufactured and distributed.

D.S. Orr

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