The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-04-10
A LIST OF WONDERS.

Among the thousands of marvellous inventions
which American genius has produced, within the
last few years. are the following, compiled in an
abstract from the Patent Office Report Read
them over and then say, if you can, that there is
nothing new Under the sun:
The report xplains the principle ofthe celebrated
Hobb lock. Its "unpickability' 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,
aed may be loaded through the key hole and fred
off till the burglar is tired of his frutless work
or fear that the explosions will bring to view his
experiments more witnesses than he desires.
Doors and shutters have been patented that
cannot be broken through with either pick or
sledge-hammer. The burglars Occupation gone"
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 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 Tor every ton of coal put into the
furnace, it will make a ton of ice.
From DIR. Dales examiners 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
with forty thousand dollars. Another man had
months he sold for sixty thousand dollars. These
are ordinary cases-while such inventions as the
telegraph, the planning machine, the India rubber
patents, worth millions each.
Examiner Lanes report describes new electrical
Inventions Among these is an electrical whaling
apparatus, by which the whale is literally 'shocked
to death" Another is an electro ma gnetic 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 Isl and
lights lamp for you at any hour you please.
There is "sound gatherer," sort of huge
trumpet to be placed in front of locomotive,
bringing to the engineers ears all the noise ahead
perfectly distinct, notwithstanding the moi 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 papers 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 scours knives
and forks 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 omnibus and takes their fares.
When very fat gentleman gets ie, it counts two,
and charges double.
There are variety of guns patented that load
themselves; fishing line that adjusts its own bait
and rat trap that throws away the rat, and then
bats itself and stands in the corner for another.
There is machine, also, by which man prints,
instead of writes, his thoughts 1t is played like
a piano-forte. And speaking of pianos, it is esti
mated that nine thousand are made every year in
the United States, giving constant employment to
one thousand nine hundred persons, and costing
over two millions ofdollars. Baltimore Exchange.