William Scott wrote:
>Does anyone know of a good website (or other resource) for searching U.S.
patents by number.  The few sites >that I have found date back to 1971 at
the earliest.  I need years between 1920 and 1950.

Chicago's Harold Washington Library )the main branch of the public library)
has patent records on  microfilm and in bound volumes. If you know the
number, it's pretty easy to look up the drawings on microfilm. 

I don't know if they'll do searches over the phone, I've always done them
in person.

good luch,
Diane