It's a bear!
Olds Patents
This is the patent referenced on the engraving of early Olds trombones. It covers several design features, including an improved tuning-in-slide mechanism and extended stockings. It is unclear what, if any, relationship there was between Mr. Riblet and F. E. Olds.
Reginald Olds, Patent 1821397 granted September 1, 1931 "Piston Valve for Wind Instruments"
Reg Olds' first patent; it covers the spring and valve guide system used in some early Olds trumpets and cornets.
Reginald Olds, Patent 2021323 granted November 19, 1935 "Stationary Inner Slide Tube for Trombones and Similar Instruments"
The original fluted slide patent, using longitudinal grooves drawn into the surface of the inner slide. This design would have been difficult to produce (as mentioned in the introduction to patent 2106327). At one point, I did not think that it had ever actually been used, but it was apparently produced for a short period of time, as evidenced by this instrument.
Reginald Olds, Patent 2106327 granted January 25, 1938 "Stationary Inner Slide Tube for Trombones and Similar Instruments"
An improvement of the design in patent 2021323, using a 16-sided "duo-octagonal" cross-section in place of the earlier fluted version. Olds applied for this patent on September 1, 1936 - less than a year after receiving the patent for the fluted slide. Slide tubes of this pattern were standard on Supers and Recordings, but they pop up on other models (like this Standard) on occasion. There's a rumor that Olds never actually made duo-octagonal tubes after the move to Fullerton, but was simply working through a large stock of tubes drawn prior to the move from Los Angeles. A obscure point of terminology: since the term "fluted" actually refers to a grooved surface, its use to describe tubes made under this patent is not technically correct.
Reginald Olds, Design Patent 110493 granted July 12, 1938 "Trombone"
The trademark one-piece streamlined braces used on the Super Olds trombone. Variations on this design can also be found on the Recording and Studio models.
Reginald Olds, Patent 2260723 granted October 28, 1941 "Piston Valve for Musical Wind Instruments"
A grooved valve design, simlar in concept to original fluted slide covered by patent 2021323. As with 2021323, I have neither seen nor heard from anyone who has seen a valve using this design.
As you read through the patents, you might notice that all of the Olds patents were filed by the legal firm of Hazard and Miller. In addition to being involved with the Los Angeles Tool Works (and thus Frank Olds' one-time employer/business associate), Henry T. Hazard was a significant figure in the history of Los Angeles, having served as both City Attorney and Mayor (1889-1892). In 1887 he built Hazard's Pavillion, a 4,000+ seat auditorium that was, at the time, the largest structure of its kind in the city and was the predecessor of the structure that came to be known as Philharmonic Auditorium, the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra from 1920 until the early 1960's.