The Public Snowplow Battle of 1890: When Two Inventors Fought for Supremacy

Описание: In 1890, two Canadian inventors faced off in a dramatic public competition that would determine the future of railway snow removal technology. Orange Jull of Orangeville, Ontario, bitter from losing his original rotary plow patent to the Leslie Brothers, had designed a revolutionary new machine - the Jull Centrifugal Snow Excavator. But standing in his way were Edward and Sam Leslie, who now controlled the very rotary snowplow design Jull had once invented. This public showdown would determine which technology would dominate Canadian railways for decades.
Discover how personal vendetta transformed into technological battle, why Orange Jull's second attempt at snowplow innovation ended in even greater failure, and how the 1890 competition cemented the Leslie Brothers' dominance over Canadian winter technology. This is the story of ambition, revenge, and the brutal reality that the best inventor doesn't always win.
🌨️ What Happened in 1890?
The rivalry began in Orangeville, Ontario in 1884. Orange Jull, a skilled machinist, had patented significant improvements to Dr. J.W. Elliott's rotary snowplow concept. Unable to manufacture machines himself, Jull approached Edward and Sam Leslie to build a prototype. The Leslie Brothers recognized the invention's brilliance - they built it, tested it successfully on Canadian Pacific Railway tracks, then purchased Jull's patent outright.
What seemed smart became Jull's greatest regret. The Leslie Brothers formed the Rotary Steam Shovel Manufacturing Company and mass-produced Jull's rotary snowplow design. The machines became standard equipment on railways across North America. CPR and major lines purchased dozens. The Leslie rotary plows conquered the Canadian Rockies, opening mountain passes impassable in winter. The Leslie Brothers built an empire and became wealthy, while Orange Jull watched from the sidelines.
Determined to reclaim his position, Jull spent years developing a different approach. By 1890, he created the Jull Centrifugal Snow Excavator - a cone-shaped screw mechanism fundamentally different from rotary design. Instead of spinning blade wheels, Jull's invention used a spiral screw pulling snow into the center before ejecting it. Jull believed this could outperform Leslie rotary plows and restore his reputation.
The 1890 public competition tested both technologies head-to-head. Orange Jull's Centrifugal Snow Excavator faced the Leslie Brothers' rotary snowplow - ironically, a machine based on Jull's own earlier patent he'd sold to them.
The result was devastating. The Leslie rotary plow proved decisively superior. It cleared snow faster, handled varying conditions better, required less maintenance, and demonstrated greater reliability. Jull's Centrifugal Excavator, despite innovative design, couldn't match proven rotary technology. The competition wasn't close. Railway officials left convinced Leslie rotary plows represented the future.
The public defeat ended Orange Jull's career. Only 11 units of his Centrifugal Snow Excavator were produced - the same number as his first machines before losing that patent. Jull had failed twice: selling his breakthrough to the Leslie Brothers, then losing to that same technology publicly. He never recovered and faded into obscurity.
The Leslie Brothers continued dominating for decades. Their rotary snowplows became standard across Canadian and American railways. The irony was complete: Orange Jull invented the technology that made Leslie Brothers successful, then failed to beat it with his alternative design. The 1890 battle proved that in Canadian innovation, being first isn't enough - you must control your inventions and prove them superior when challenged.

📚 ABOUT SNOWPLOW CANADA:
We explore Canadian inventor rivalries, railway history, and snow removal technology evolution. From patent battles to public competitions, we document how Canada battles winter.
🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more inventor tragedies, competition stories, and Canadian innovation content!
💬 Ever lost a competition to your own invention? Share below!