Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-10-28
From the Albany Evening Journal.
The Patent Office Report of 1852.

} These elaborate reports from the Patent
Ofhce are gratifying indexes of the general
inventive industry of the country. Commits
sioner HopGEs' present one is full of valuable
interesting information. There were 1859
applications rec sived for patents during the
year. and 1920 patents issued. An applica-
ton is rarely disposed of, without being exam
med at least twice, and sometimes six times.
Probably these 1920 patents have cost 1000
examinations. This is the largest number
ever granted in one year, except during the
first year of Gen. TAYLoR's Administration,
when Commissioner EwBANK issued 1850.
Extensive additions have been made to the
Patent Office buildings, and there is still
want of space.
Prof HENwIcK's Examiners Report en-
plains the principle of the celebrated HOBBS
lock. Its "unpickability' depends upon u
secondary or false set of tumbers, which pre-
vent the instruments used in picking from
reaching the real ones Moreover, the lock
is powder proof, and may be loaded through
the keyhole and fired off until the burglar is
tired of his fruitleSs work, or fears that the
report of his explosions will bring to view his
experiments more witnesses than he desires.
Doors and shutters have also been paten-
ted that cannot be broken through with either
pick or sledge hammer. The burglars "oc-
cupations gone"
The Caloric Ship is described and com
that its end is not yet fully attained.
A Harpoon is described which makes the
whale kill himself. The more he pulls the
deeper goes the Harpoon.
An Ice making machine has been patented,
which goes by steam engine. In an exper-
mental trial. it froze several bottles of sherry
and produced blocks of ice the size of a cubic
foot, when the thermometer was standing at
so. 1t is calculated that for every ton of coal
put into the furnace it will make a ton Of
ice.
From DR.. GALES Examiners Report we
gather some idea of the value of patents.
A man who had made slight improve
ment in Straw Cutters took model Of his
machine through the Western States, and after
a tour of eight months, returned with $40,-
900. Another had machine to thresh and
clean grain, which in fifteen months he sold
for 100000. A third obtained patent for
printers ink, refused $4,000 for it and
finally sold it for 100000. These are ordi-
nary cases; while such inventions as the Tel
egraph, the Planning Machine, and the India
Rubber Patents are worth millions each.
Twenty-seven Harvcsters, fifteen ploughs,
twenty-six seed planters, eight threshing ma
chimes, ten corn hulers and three horse rakcs
have been patented during the year, in add-
ton to those now in use.
Six new saw mills, seven Single splitterS,
and twenty new planning machines have been
patented within the year.
Seven new machines that spin, twenty that
weave, and seven that SER, are also described.
Examiner LANES report describes various
new electrical inventions. Among these is an
electric whaling apparatus by which thewhale
is literally shocked to DEATH Another is
an Electro Magnetic Alarm, which rings bells
and displays signals in case of fire, or burglars.
Another is an Electric Clock, which wakes
you up, tells you what time it is, and lights
lamp for you, at any hour you please.
There is "sound gatherer," sort of huge
ear trumpet, 10 be placed in front Of loco
motive, bringing to the Engineers ear all tho
noises ahead, perfectly distinct notwithstand-
ing the rattle of the train.
There is an invention that picks up pins
from confused heap, turns them all around
with their heads up, and sticks them in pa
pers in regular rows. Another goes through
the whole process of cigar making, taking in
tobacco leaves and turning out the perfect
article.
One machine cuts cheese; another scours
knives and forks; another blacks boots; an
other rocks the cradle; and seven or eight
take in washing and ironing.
There is parlor chair patented that can
not be tipped back on its legs, and a railway
chair that can be tipped back into any posi-
ton, without any legs at all.
Another patent is for machine that counts
the passengers in an omnibus and takes their
fares. When a very fat man gets in it counts
two, and charges double.
There are variety of guns patented that
load themselves; fish line that adjusts its
own bait; and rat trap that throws away
the rat, and then bats itself, and stands in
the corner for another.
The truths of the Patent Office are stranger
than fiction.
There is a machine also by which a man
prints instead of writing his thoughts. , 1t is
played on like piano And speaking ofpi-
amos, it is estimated that nine thousand are
made every year in the United States, giving
constant employment to over one thousand
nine hundred hands, and costing two millions
Of dollars
One class of inventions we are glad to see,
meet with deserved reprobation. Whatever
may be said Of Others, the examiners Of the
Patent Office are not likely to exaggerate,
either from ignorance or design. This is their
official judgement respecting burning fluids
There is yet much to be accomplished in
perfecting artificial light; and it is to be re-
GREETED that inventors should be so generally
satisfied with attempts on their part to render
the use of dangerous materials popular, rather
than occupy themselves with the search after
something that could be used to supply this
want, without endangering the safety of all
who participate in its consumption.
The desire to render the useof highly com