Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-12-03

MARVELLOUS MISUNDERSTANDING the
numerous marvellous inventions which Amer
lean genius has produced within the last few
years are the following compiled from the
Patent Office Report:-
The report explains the principles of the
celebrated Hobbs lock. Its "unpickablity"
depends upon secondary or false set of tum-
bers which touches the real ones. Moreover,
the lock is powder-proof and may be loaded
through the key-hole and fired off till the bur-
glar is tired OF his truitess work, or fears that
the explosion will bring to view his expert
ments more witnesses than he desires.
A harpoon is described which makes the
whale kill himself. The more he pulls the
line the deeper goes the harpoon.
An ice-making machine has been patented,
which is worked by steam engine. In an
experimental trial it froze several bottles of
sherry, and produced blocks of ice the size of
q cubic foot, when the thermometer was up to
so degrees. 1t is calculated that for every ton
at coal put into the furnace it will make ton
of ice.
From Mr. Examiner Dale's report we gather
some idea of the value Of patents A man
who had made slight Improvement in straw
cutters, took model of his machine through
the Western States, and after tour of eight
months returned with $4,000. Another man
had machine to threSh and clean grain,
which in fifteen months he sold for 100000
These are ordinary cases, while such inven-
tons as the telegraph, the planning machine,
and Indiarubber patents, are worth millions
each.
Examiner Lanes report describes new cleo
trical inventions. Among these is an electrical
whaling apparatus, by which the whale is liter
ally shocked to death" Another is an cleo
tro-magnetic alarm which rings bells and dis
plays signals in case of fire and burglars. An
other 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 a "sound gatherer," a sort of huge
ear trumpet, to be placed in front of loco
motive, bringing to the engineers ears all the
noise ahead, perfectly distinct, Notwithstanding
the noise of the train.
There is an invention that picks up pins
from confused heap, turns them around with
their heads up, and then sticks them in paper
in regular rows.
Another goes through the whole process of
cigar making, taking in leaves and turning out
finished cigars
One machine cuts cheese; another one
scours the knives and forks and another rocks
the cradle and seven or eight take in washing
and ironing.
There is parlor chair patented that cannot
be tipped back on two legs, and railway chair
that can be tipped back in any position without
any legs at all.
Another patent is for machine that counts
passengers in an omnibus and takes their fare.
When very fat man gets in it counts two and
charges double.
There are variety of guns patented that
load themselves fishing line that adjusts its
own bait; and a trap which throws away
the rat, and then bats itself and stands in the
corner for another.
- oIc
prints instead of writes his thoughts. 1t is
played like a pianoforte. And speaking of
pianos, it is estimated that 5000 are made
every year in the United States giving EN-.
ployment to 1900 persons, and costing over
S2,000,000.