San Diegoite invents new version of merry-go-round

-

 

POSTED BY: CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM AUGUST 8, 2021


On October 2, 1906, the United States Patent Office approved Patent No. 832,459 to Patricio Cruz, a San Diego, Texas resident, for having invented “new and useful improvements” to the existing merry-go-round.  Cruz’s notable improvement was the innovative idea of having bicycles operated by the merry-go-round riders to provide the power.

It took the Patent Office nearly two years to approve Cruz’s application, submitted on October 17, 1904. Bruno Rios and John L. George witnessed Cruz’s submission.

The objective of the innovation was to combine entertainment with an opportunity for the merry-go-round riders to get some exercise. The design provided a  track for the bicycles to move; it also used a motorcycle in a second track to give more power to help move the merry-go-round. Ironically, men and horses provided the fuel of earlier carousels. It was not until the middle of the 1800s that steam-powered carousels came into being, eliminating the need for men or horsepower. By the end of the 1800s, electrical power drove the merry-go-rounds.

In Cruz’s model, not all riders mounted bicycles to provide power. Instead, some 28 cars, in the forms of boats, sleighs, or wagons, lent ornamentation and gave those riders that did not seek exercise but merely pleasure an opportunity to enjoy the ride. Other features included an “ornamented band” and an organ that got its power to provide music from the motion of the circulating platform.

“An amusement apparatus thus described provides several ways whereby amusement is provided for those who do not care to ride bicycles, while those desiring such amusement and exercise can do so,” Cruz explained in his patent application.

According to the 1910 Census, a 41-year-old self-employed house painter and singer was the only Patricio Cruz living in San Diego. Cruz was born in Mexico circa 1869 and immigrated to the United States in 1885. Cruz, and his wife Isabel, had seven children: Angelita, 13; Josefina, nine; Francisco, eight; Isabel, five; Hortencia, three; Hada (Aida?), one; and a newborn named Sara. By 1920 the Cruz family had moved to Hebbronville, which in 1913 had been separated from Duval County to be the county seat of the new Jim Hogg County.

There is no evidence that the invention took off and was ever a success. Still, Mr. Cruz had the honor of having his inventiveness recognized by the U. S. Patent Office.


23 COMMENTSON "SAN DIEGOITE INVENTS NEW

VERSION OF MERRY-GO-ROUND"

  1. Rachel Bazan-Shipp | August 11, 2021 at 7:56 am | Reply
    Thank you for sharing! I truly enjoy reading your blog and learning about San Diego/Duval County.

  2. Idalia Davila | August 10, 2021 at 6:13 pm | Reply
    Thank you, for this interesting information, Alfredo. The Cruz family was very dear to my family in Hebbronville. The Cruz sister were very good friends with my mother and Ada Cruz Spencer was my mom’s best friend.
    A short profile of Patricio Cruz in our Jim Hogg County Centennial book states that he came to Hebbronville around 1913. Patricio was the first to establish a motion picture business in town but the first theater was lost in a storm in 1919, and a fire in 1923 took his second one. In 1925 he built the Casino which was used for movies, theatrical plays, commencement exercises, and wedding receptions and is still in use today.

    • cardenas.ae@gmail.com | August 10, 2021 at 9:05 pm | Reply
      Thank you, Idalia for this great contribution to Mr. Cruz’s story. With his grandson’s information it makes this entrepreneur come alive

  3. Tim Kavulla | August 10, 2021 at 9:14 am | Reply
    Alfredo
    Was there a baseball player from San Diego in the 1920’s

    • cardenas.ae@gmail.com | August 10, 2021 at 9:08 pm | Reply
      Yes Tim. There were many baseball players in San Diego since the late 1800s. I suspect you are thinking of Adolfo Arguijo, one of the area’s premiere players.

  4. Ana Benson | August 9, 2021 at 9:23 pm | Reply
    Thank you for this post. My grandfather was Patricio Cruz who had this patent, which I am very aware of from my mother Ada. I will share this story with our family.

    • cardenas.ae@gmail.com | August 9, 2021 at 9:28 pm | Reply
      Thank you, Ana. You are the second family member to comment. I am very glad that the family was able to see the post and hope they will enjoy it.

  5. Patricio Rivera | August 9, 2021 at 8:14 pm | Reply
    My name is Patricio (Pat) Cruz Rivera originally from SD. Isabel Cruz Rivera my mother & Juan Rivera my father. They had dry goods store next to Donato Serna’s drug store & later bought the Kress building same building as piggly wiggly and set up their store tell fire shut it down. Patricio Cruz, my grandfather, painted murials on side of buildings which included drug store building. All the Cruz siblings are deceased.

    • cardenas.ae@gmail.com | August 9, 2021 at 8:35 pm | Reply
      Thank you, Pat. I was hoping a member of the family would read it. I knew your dad well. Great man. Do you have any pictures of the murals your grandfather painted? Had you heard about his invention before this appeared?

    • cardenas.ae@gmail.com | August 9, 2021 at 8:39 pm | Reply
      Take a look at Andres Tijerina’s comment below.

  6. Richard Lopez | August 9, 2021 at 8:06 pm | Reply
    Interesting reading. It’s an honor to have your invention patented.

    • cardenas.ae@gmail.com | August 9, 2021 at 8:36 pm | Reply
      Thank you, Richard. It certainly is an honor, especially for someone in a small town.

    • Dalia Bazan | August 16, 2021 at 11:59 am | Reply
      I enjoy your blog so much. I was born in San Diego on Schaefer St. (The home of Tio Teófilo Molina & Tia Herminia) but I grew up in Alice & now live in Houston. My parents used to tell us stories of how “La Plaza de San Diego” was the place to be on Saturday nights & how much they enjoyed that! Thank you for sharing your stories of historical events of the area!

      • cardenas.ae@gmail.com | August 16, 2021 at 1:14 pm | Reply
        Thank you, Dalia. Glad you are enjoying my stories. I have Molina ancestors, my maternal great grandfather was Vicente Molina. Maybe we are related.

  7. Jo Nell Huff | August 9, 2021 at 2:33 pm | Reply
    Interesting history! It would have saved energy. I didn’t know Hebbronville was ever a part of Duval County.

    • cardenas.ae@gmail.com | August 9, 2021 at 7:45 pm | Reply
      Thanks, Jo Nell. Yep, Hebbronville was part of Duval County until the early part on the twentieth century.

  8. Andres Tijerina | August 9, 2021 at 1:20 pm | Reply
    Tell his family to market it. It would sell now.

  9. Domingo Rodriguez | August 9, 2021 at 9:58 am | Reply
    ” Design ” pretty much in line with ” Los Caballitos ” de Marcieal that we enjoyed riding back in the 50’s at the San Diego plaza.

  10. Ramiro c. Salinas | August 9, 2021 at 9:31 am | Reply
    Great story

cardenas.ae@gmail.com | August 9, 2021 at 9:37 am | Reply
Thanks, Ramiro. It did catch my attention. Pretty cool to get a patent even if it didn’t catch on.

Comments

Post a Comment

We welcome constructive comments and invite you to share your own research if you would like. Thank you.

Popular posts from this blog

'64 Vaquero state finalist basketball team will be inducted into the Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame in Laredo

-
Image
The 1964 San Diego Vaqueros basketball team placed third in the state. They are (kneeling, left to right) Walter Reyna, Orlando Oliveira, Roel Perez, Homero Rosas, and Raul de Leon .  Standing, from left to right, are Coach Anthony Cubriel, Carlos Trevino, Ruben Escobar, Luis Barrera, Tomas Molina, Manuel Esparza, Lupe Ibarra, and Coach  Modesto Garcia .   Alfredo E. Cardenas, Soy de Duval Blog On Saturday, January 20, the Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame will induct the 1964 San Diego Vaqueros basketball state finalist team. Open to the public, the ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. at the Laredo Country Club. Members of the team included Seniors Tomas  Molina , 6'4.5"; Manuel Esparza , 6'; Walter Reyna , 5'8"; Lupe Ibarra , 5'10"; Luis A. Barrera , 6'; Raul de Leon , 5'9"; and Ruben Escobar , 6'. Junior class members included Orlando Oliveira , 5'8"; Roel Perez , 5'9"; Carlos Trevino , 5' 9";
Read more

1963-64 Vaqueros inducted into Sports Hall of Fame

-
Image
1963-64 Vaqueros state finalists, left to right,  Lupe Ibarra , Carlos Treviño, Homero Rosas,  Walter  Reyna, Luis A. Barrera, Roel Pérez , and  Manuel Esparza . Not pictured,  Raúl de León ,  Rubén Escobar, Tomás F. Molina, Jesús O. Oliveira  (deceased), and coaches Modesto García and Anthony Cubriel, both deceased. (Photo by Lupita Barrera) By Lupita Barrera, Guest Blogger The Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame/ Salón de la Fama Latinoamericano del Deporte inducted the 1963-64 San Diego, Texas, Vaqueros basketball team in Laredo on Saturday, January 20. Team members attending the ceremony were Luis A. Barrera, Manuel Esparza, Guadalupe Ibarra, Roel Pérez, Walter J. Reyna, Homero Rosas, and Carlos S. Treviño. Players who were unable to attend but also honored were  Raúl de León,  Rubén Escobar, Tomás F. Molina, Jesús O. Oliveira (deceased), and coaches Modesto García and Anthony Cubriel, both deceased. The ceremony was a long overdue formal celebration of the achievem
Read more

Tommy Molina, stood tall with '63-'64 Vaqueros roundballers

-
Image
Tommy Molina (#28) with the 1964 South Texas All-Star team that won the Texas High School All-Star game. (Photo courtesy of Tommy Molina)  Tommy Molina led the 1964 San Diego Vaqueros state basketball finalist team, but he and his team members will no doubt give credit to the entire team, including the reserves and coaches. Still, at 6’4 ¾”, Molina was the big man on the court and provided much energy to the squad. During the pre-district games, Molina was the top scorer with 297 points, averaging 17.5 points per game, although the starters played only the first half in seven of those games. Tommy Molina practices for the Texas All-Star game in 1964. (Photo by Alice Echio-News) In the bi-district game against Donna, Molina was the leading scorer with 18 points. At the regional opener, he scored 32 points. In the regional championship game against Sweeney, Walter Reyna and Manuel Esparza each scored 20 points and Molina 18. Molina and Esparza controlled the backboards throughout the ga
Read more