The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-07-17
Marvellous Inventions.

Among the numerous marvellous in
ventions which American genius has pro-
duced within the last few years. are the
following. compiled from the Patent Of
fee Report
The Report explains the principles ol
the celebrated Hobbs lock. Its unpicka-
bility depends upon secondary or false
set of tumblers, which touches the real
ones. Moreover the lock is powder. proof,
and may be loaded through the key hole
and fred off until the burglar is tired oil
his fruitless work, or fears that the ex-
plosion may 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 deeper goes the harpoon.
An ice making machine has been pat
ented, which is worked by steam en-
gine. In an experimental trial it froze
several bottles of sherry, and produced
blocks of ice the size of cubic foot,
when the thermometer was up to eighty
degrees. 1t is calculated that for every
ton of coal put in the furnace it will
make ton of ice.
From Mr.. Dake'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 a
tour of eight months returned with forty
thousand dollars. Another man had a
machine 10 thresh and clean grain, which
in fifteen months he sold for sixty thous
and dollars. These are ordinary cases.
while such inventions as the telegraph
and Ihdia rubber patents are worth mil.
lions each.
Mr.. Lanes report describes new elec,
trical inventions. Among these is ar
electrical whaling apparatus, by which
the whale is literally shocked to death
Another is an electro magnetic alarm
which rings bells and displays signals in
case of fire and burglars. Another is al
electric clock, which wakes you up. tell:
you what time it is. and lights lamp fol
you at any hour you please.
There is sound gatherer. a sort Of
huge ear trumpet, TO be placed in front
of locomotive, bringing to the engin.
eer's ears all the noise ahead, perfectly
distinct, Notwithstanding the noise of th,
train.
There is an invention that picks uI
pins from confused heap, turns then
around with their heads up, and theI
sticks them in paper in regular rows.
Another goes through the whole pro
cess Of cigar making. taking in paper.
aud turning out finished cigars.
One machine cuts cheese one scours
the knives and forks, and another rock:
the cradle and seven or eight take il
washing and ironing.
There is paror chair patented tha
cannot be tipped back on two legs. and
railway chair that can be tipped back il
any position, without any legs at all.
Another patent is for machine tha
counts passengers in an omnibus. anC
takes their fare. When very fat mar
gets in, it counts two and charges dou
BILE.
There are a variety of guns patented
that load themselves [; fishing line that
adjusts its own bait. and rat trap which
throws away the rat, and stands in the
corner for another
There is machine by which man
prints instead of writes his thoughts. Il
is played like piano forte. And speak
ing Of pianos. il is estimated that 5000
are made every year in the United States
giving employment to 1900 persons,
aud costing over $4,000. 1000.