It doesn't seem like the monoblock caught on, outside of France, until after the 2nd world war, Miller. Regis Darne died in 1939. Manufrance made lots of monoblock guns after the war, and some before.
Why would Pieper patent the monoblock in the US, where he had little, if any competition, and not in France, where there would be huge competition with Belgian guns?
Have you ever seen an early Beretta catalog? Beretta was using the monoblock early on and continues to do so today.
Sears 1897 catalog showing a modified diana. Pieper had several sales outlets in the USA including SD&G. Notice the warning about fakes.
A later German catalog.
No one said Pieper did not file a French patent. I just do not have copies of it.
Handbook of patent law of all countries By William Phillips Thompson
1905
http://books.google.com/books?id=rjAMAAA...=gbs_navlinks_sBelgiumPatents of Invention are granted for
twenty years, subject, however, to the payment of an annual tax of twenty francs before the end of the first year, thirty francs before the end of the second, and so on, increasing ten francs each year. Payment of these taxes must be made within the calendar month during which they come due, but can, in default, be made good by paying the tax and an additional fine of ten francs any time within six months of the date they come due.
FrancePatents of invention are granted for
fifteen years, but fall void with any prior foreign patent for the same invention, except when obtained under the rules of the International Union.
Certificates of addition are granted for additions to, or improvements on, any existing patent, and to expire with the same.
The duration of patents can only be extended by special Act of Legislature, very rarely obtained.
Pete
