New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-09

The thOugntith reader OF remarkably iuCiu duu
suggestive article on the Patent Office in late
TRIBUNE will have been struck by the fact therein
stated that there is now one Examiner in that
Office whose entire attention is given to Haryesters
(Reapcrs and MOwers) and another whose whole
time is devoted to Sewing Machines, for which no
less than two hundred patents have already been
issued, while new ones are constantly applied for.
The number Of Reapers and Mowers is not
stated, but it must be very considerable to re-
Qure an Examiners whole attention. We have
been trying for some time to gather sta
tistics with regard to these two classes OF
inventions, with success yet imperfect; but
we are satisfied that more than ten thousand Sew
Ing Machines, with an equal number of Harvesters'
were manufactured and sold in this country during
the last year, the aggregate value of the former
being probably under, and that of the latter some
thing over One Million dollars. And these two
branches of manufacturing industry, extensive rs
they may seem, are evidently yet i'll their
infancy. We shall have improvement on i'm
proyement, patent after patent until these
two classes of labOr-saving implements, like
NEST other manufactures, will be not enhanced in
price, but cheapened by the large demand, until
almost every grain grass-growng farm will have
its harvester and nearly every comfortable house
hold its sewing machine-a contamination which
is evidently the work of many yesrs yet, which will
be approached in constantly accelerating ratio.
These two classes of manufactures are essentially
American: forwe cannot learn that sing lie valuable
patent for sewing machine has originated in any
country but this, and not reaper or mower that
was deemed of any value at home until attention was
drawn to il by the triumph of some American rival.
At the Paris Exhibition there could not have been
less than scOEes of French conriyanccs for reapng
aud moving by horse power, of all ages this side of
the antediluvian; not one of them worth more than
five cents pound for the old iron il contained.
Whether the civilized world shall sooner or later
reap, NOW and SOW by the aid of machinery il will
be indebted for the advance to Americans.
Even here, these inventions are relatively new.
The Oldest Rcapers that have any value are those
of Mccormick and IIussey, first patentedless than
a quarter of century ago. Most Of their success
full rivals are hardly vet ten years old. As to sew
ing machines, M patent of any value has yet ex
pircd, so far as we know. We may fairly presume
that We are vet in the first stage of improvement
with regard to both.
OF course, great majority of the patents OBJ
tanned for either prove OF no practical value, and
only entail loss on the inventors and their hackers
This is So in all departments OF invention. OF the
two hundred patents on sewing probably
not more than ten ever yielded net fsrthlng to
their contryers, and not twenty ever will. OF the
various machines for sewing probably not halt a
dozen have any decided merit whatever. But Some
must have merit, or they would not sell IN CON
stantly accelerating ratio. We have already cited
the fact that single thrifty and enterprsing house
largely engaged in the fabrication of HOPED
Skirts has now one hundred and seventy-fiye
sewing machines constantly at work, and is steadily
adding to the number. There are seamstresses in
our city who first borrowed the money the buy one
and now own two or three. hiring other seam
stresses to work those for which their own hands