Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-11-12
THE PATENT OFFICE.

ihe ratent-Oflce report, wnich Is anhuai-
ly published, is one Of the most interesting
public documents which the Government
puts forth. 1t shows the progress Of inven-
tion in this country, and the remarkably
practical character of mind which dis,n-
guishes our countrymen. There is nothing
which promises saving Of manuel labor, no
matter in what department of domestic in
dusiry, or which may accomplish work IN
an improved manner, which is too nsignif-
cant Tor The application Of inventive genius.
Many OF these inventions are, no doubt, more
curious than profitable ; bn, many Of them
yield the inventor forluue. Thus in the
pa,en, report for 1852, man, who had maize
a slight improvement in straw.cuiers took a
model of his machine through the Western
States, and after tour of eight months re-
,nrued with $4,000 Another had ma
chine 10 ihresh and clean grain, which, IN
fifteen months, he sold for 500, 600. third
obtained a patent for printers ink, refused
$50,o00 for ii, ard finally sold it for $780, 200.
Examiner Lanes report describes various
new electrical invelions
Among these is an electric whaling appa-
ra,us, BY which The whale is literally 'shock
ed to deathn Another is an electric mag.
netic 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, aud lights lamp
for you al any hour you please.
There is "sound gaherer," sol, Of huge
ear trumpet, 10 be placed in front Of loco
motive, bringing 10 The engineers ear all The
noises ahead, perfectly distinct, notwlh-
Standing 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 papers, in regular
lows. Another goes through the whole pro-
cess OF cigar making, taking in tobacco
leaves and turning out the perfect article -
One machine cuts cheese another .cours
knives and forks; another blacks boots :.
another rocks he cradle and seven or eight
take in washing and ironing There is a
parlor chair patented, tina, cannot be tipped
can be tipped back into any position, with
out any legs at all. Another patent is for a
machine that counts the passengers in an
omnibus and takes heir fares. When very
ia' man gets in it counts two, and charges
double. There is variety of guns patented
that load themselves fish line That adjusts
lis own bait and "A rat trap that throws
away The rat, and then bats and sets itself
and stands i'll the corner for another.
There is machine also by which man
prints, Instead Of writing his thoughts 1t is
played on like piano Aud speaking of
pianos it is estimated that nine thousand are
made every year III the United States, giving
constant, employment TO one thousand nine
hundred hands, and costing over two millions
OF dollars There is also an explanation Of
the principles Of the celebrated Hobbs lock
cts applicability" depends npon secon-
dairy or false SET Of iumblers, which prevent
The instruments used in picking from reach
ing the real ones. Moreover, the lock is
powder proof, and may be loaded lhIongh the
key hole and fred off until the burglar is
tired of his iru;tless work, or fears that the
report of his explosion will bring TO view his
experiments more witnesses than he desires
Doors and shutters have also been patented
that cannot be broken through with pick or
sledge hammer. The burg.ar's Occupation
Is gone A harpoon is described which
makes the whale kill himself. The more
he pulls the line, The deeper goes the har-
Poon. An ice making machine has been
patented, which goes by steam engine
In an experimental trial ii froze several bot.
ties of sherry, and produced blocks Of ice of
the size OF Il cubic foot. when the thermome-
Ter was standing al so degrees. 1t is calcu.
lated that for every ton of coal put into the
furnace il will make ton Of ice
There ale no less than lwenty-seven pat
en,s granted during the year for sleam and
gas inventions. An Improvements is also
mentioned in cuItins-nails, so as to possess
the compound quality of wrought and cut
nails. Also, IN making copper kettles, by
which The kettle is formed by the pressure
OF burnlsher, as the disc is revolyed in a
lathe. Ont Of 493 applications examined,
l65 were granted, which shows that nearly
| three-lourhs the labor bestowed in invention
is unproiIably employed, probably for want
Of the general spread of that kind of infor.
nation which the Ledger lay before its
readers, in the weekly publication of the
patent list. Many an inventor spends his
hours conlrlving mechanical improvement,
only TO find, when he has succeeded, ,ha,
| some other inventor has foresla!ed him, and
| patented The same invention.
RICHMOND, Nov. ,, 1853.
FrighDm Scene. - Thomas Board, who