The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-09-28
A List of Wonders.

ventions which American genius has pro-
duced, within the last few years, are the
following, compiled in an abstract from the
Patent Office Report. Read them ver,anG
then say if you can, that there is nothing
new under the sun.
The report explains the principle of the
! celebrated Hobb lock. Its 'unpickability
depends upon secondary or false set o.
tumblers, which prevent instruments used
in picking from reaching the real ones
Moreover, the lock is powder proof, and
may be loaded through the key.hole and
fred of till the burglar is tired of his fruit.
less work, or fears that tho explosions will
| 10 view his expriments more witness than
he desires.
Doors and shutters have been patented
that cannot be broken through with either
pick or sledge- hammer. The burglars 'oc.
cupation's gone.'
a harpoon is described which makes the
whale kill himself. The more he pulls the
line, the deeper goes the harpoon.
An ce-making machine has been paten-
led, which is worked by steam-engine In
an experimental tria |, it iroze several bot.
Ties of sherry, and produced blocks of ice
the size of a cubic foot when the thermome.
Ter was up eighty degrees. 1t is calculated
that for every ton OF coal put into the fur.
mace, it will make ton OF ice.
From MIR. Dale's examiners report, we
gather some idea OF the value OF patents
A man who had make slight improve.
ment is slraw-catters, took a model of his
machine through the Western States, and
after tour of eight months, returned with
forty thousand dollars. Another man had
machine 10 thrash and clean grain, which
in fifteen months he sold for sixty thousand
dollars. These are ordinary cases-while
such inventions as the telegraph, the plan
ing machine, and India rubber patents, are
worth millions each.
Examiner Lanes report describes new
electrical inventions. Among these is an
electrical whaling apparatus. by which the
whale is literally shocked 10 DEATH An
other is an electro magnetic alarm, which
rings bells and displays signals in case OF
fire and burglars. Another is all electric
clock, which wakes you up, tells you what
time ii is, and lights lamp for you at any
hour you please.
There is Sound galhcrer, sort of huge
trumpet, TO be placed in front of a locomc.
tive, bringing 10 the engineers ear all the
noise ahead perfectly distinct, notwih'
standing the noise of the train.
There is an invention that picks up pins
from a confused heap, turns them 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 leaves and turn,
ing out finished cigars.
One machine cuts cheese another scours
knives and forks; another rocks the cradle
and seven or eight take in washing and
ironing.
There is parlor chair patented that can
not be tipped back on two legs, and rail.
way chair that can be tipped back 10 any
position without any legs at all.
Another patent is for machine that
counts passengers in an omnibus and take
their fares. When very fat gentleman
gets in, it counts two and charges double.
There are variety of guns patented that
load themselves, q fishing line tina: adjusts
its own bait, and rat trap that throws
away the rat, and bats itself and stands
in the corner for another.
There is machine also, by which man
prints, instead of writes, his thoughts. Ii
is played like a piano-fore. And sheak
ing of pianos, it is estimated that nine thou
sand are made every year giving constant
employment 10 one thousand nine hundred
persons, costing over two millions of dollars