Summary Information
Bornett L. Bobroff Papers
1904-1946
Mss 110
0.2 c.f. (1 archives box)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of Bornett L. Bobroff, a Milwaukee, Wis., inventor of legislative voting machines, hospital call signals, and turn signals for automobiles. Included are correspondence and patents concerning these and other inventions, testimony in a voting machine patent dispute, documents on the Teleoptic Company which Bobroff headed, and biographical and miscellaneous materials.
English
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Biography/History
Bornett L. Bobroff emigrated from Russia to the United States in 1904 and settled in Milwaukee. He worked at various places as a machinist until 1912 when he participated in a water waste survey for the City of Milwaukee. During all these years, his avocation was inventing. In 1917, the Bobroff voting machine was installed by the Wisconsin Assembly. This was the first operating legislative voting machine in the nation and ended the need for time-consuming roll call votes. Other inventions were a system of call signals for use by hospital patients, and turn signal devices for automobiles. The latter were manufactured by the Teleoptic Company of Racine, Wisconsin, of which Bobroff eventually became president.
Scope and Content Note
The Bobroff Papers, 1904-1946, mainly concern his inventions. They include patents from several countries, articles and advertising matter concerning his inventions, and arguments before the Patent Office in a dispute over origination of the voting machine. The correspondence consists of letters of recommendation, letters concerning inventions, and personal letters. Included are letters of introduction signed by Charles E. Hughes and Robert Lansing. One folder of miscellaneous materials contains resolutions of endorsement of the voting machine signed by members of the Wisconsin Assembly, 1917; documents concerning the Teleoptic Company; and ship passenger lists from Bobroff's trips to Europe.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Source of the papers is unknown.
Processed by Karen Baumann and KL, June 18, 1970.
Contents List
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Correspondence, Sept., 1904 - Feb., 1946
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Inventions, miscellaneous materials, 1911-1939
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Patent Dispute, 1916
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Patents, 1921-1931
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Miscellaneous, 1911-1935
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