The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-07-06
A LIST OF WONDERS.

ventions which American genius has pro
duced, within the last few years, aro,tlic
following, compiled in an abstract from the
Patent Office Report. Read them over.
and then say, if you can, that there is notu.
;nynew under the sun: -
8 Tho report explains the principle Of the
celebrated Uobb lock. Its 'unp;ckabli,v'
depends upon a secondary or false set Of
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
fired off till the burgler is tired Of his fruit
less work, or fear that tie explosions will
bring to view his experiments more witnes.
ses than he desires.
Doors and shutters have been patented
that cannot be broken through with either
pick or sledge e-hammer. The burglars 'oc-
cupatiou's gone
A harpoon is described which makes the
whale kill himself. The more lie 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 Ct
sherry, and produced blocks of ice the size
Of cubic f'ot, when the thermometer
was up to eighty degrees. 1t is calculated
that for every ton of coal put into the fur
mace, it will make ton of ice.
From Dr.. Da!e's examiners report, we
gather some idea Of the valuo of patents
A man who made slight improvement in
straw cutters, took model Of bis machine
through the Western States, and after a
tour of eight months, returned With forty
thousand dollars. Another man had una.
chine to thresh snd clean grain, which in
fifteen months he sold for sixty thousand
dollars. These are ordinary cases-whi|e
such inventions as the telegraph, the plan
ing machine, the India Rubber patents, are
worth millions each.
Examiner Lanes report describes new
electrical inventions. Among these there
is an electrical whaling apparatus, BY which
the whale is literally shocked 70 death
Another is an electro magnetic alarm, which
rings bells and displays signals in case Of
fire and burglars. Another is an electric
clock. which wakes you up, tells you what
time it is. and lights bomb for you at any
hour you please.
There is sound galhercr,' sort Of huge
ear trumpet, TO be placed in from, Of loco.
motive, bringing'to the engineers ears all
noise ahead, perfectly distinct, notwilhstahd-
ing the noise of the train.
There is an inyen,ion that picks up pins
from 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 aud turn.
ing out finished cigars.
One machine cuts cheese; another scours
knives. and forks; another rocks the era
die; and seven or eight tske 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 in any
position. without a"y,legs at all.
Another patent is for machine that
counts passengers in an aSaibus and takes
their fare. When very fat gentleman
gets in, it counts, two, and charges dou-
ble. q
There afe,a variety ofguns patented that
load themselvcs; 6shing.llne that ad justs
lis own Sait, and rat-trap that throws away
the rat. and then baits itself and stands in
the corner for another.
! There is a machine, also, by which a
man printss instead Of writes. bis thongbts
[SIsis played like spiano.for,e. And spesk.
|Iangof pianos, it is estimated that nins thou.
ssnd.are made every year in the United
States. giving constant employment to one
thousand nine bunjrsd pers ons, and cost.
ing over two millions ofsdolIars.