Ezra Lofts

Ezra Lofts (1842-1899)

A grocer at Cambridge. He took out a patent in 1865 for all apparatus for checking the receipts and payments of money in shops and other similar places, and for the detection of negligence, errors, and thefts in such receipts and payments."

1876 Formed a business in check tills.

1878 Won a legal action for infringement of his patent against Mr Foster of Nottingham

1880 Dissolution of the Partnership between Ezra Lofts and John Lincolne, in the Manufacture and Use of Lofts' Patent Improved Bottle Washing Machine, Lofts' Patent Check Till, and Lofts' Patent Bus Check, carried on at Cambridge and Cherryhinton, in the county of Cambridge. All debts due to and owing by the said partnership will be received and paid by the said Ezra Lofts, who will henceforth carry on the said business alone at Cherryhinton, Cambridge.

1891 Residing at Sandown, Brading, Hants: Ezra Lofts (age 48 born Gazeley, Suffolk), Engineer (and employer). With his wife Sarah, sons Lewis and Robert, step-son John Woolgar, and four daughters.

1892 Lofts Patent Stove Company of Cambridge was wound up voluntarily. C. F. FOSTER, Chairman.

By 1895 Lofts' Patent Check Till Co Ltd was wound up; John Lincolne was chairman.. George Gledhill acquired the business.

1899 Died. 'Many inhabitants of Cambridge will regret to learn of the sudden death, while he was away from home, of Mr Ezra Lofts. The late Mr Lofts served his time as a grocer, and was for some years with Mr Lincoln, of Sidney-street. He made his mark as an inventor. It was he who invented the first bottle washing machine. He also invented the first cheque till, and afterwards a new form of stoves. With the first two inventions he became widely known, and was understood that both machines had a very large sale. Mr Lofts was connected with one or more useful associations the town, but latterly has resided in the Isle of Wight.'

See Also

Loading...