The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-01-25
Ex,cn.iou Of the Howe sewinx.Ma.

ExtenstOn Of the Howe SoWing-uhs
chine Paient.-Undoubtedl one Of the most
unjust things the people oftheU nitei States were
ever asked to submitto Is the extension ofiowe's
patent on sewing machines. This patent, as
some Of our readers are probably aware, ex.
pired last September, and was renewed OF ex-
tended for seven years more by the Commits
sioner of Patents who has just retired after
having been In office but few months. For
fourteen years have the people been obliged to
submit to the most enormous prices Tor oil
sewing machines coming under MS patent
(which he claims includes sill the hrst-class ma
chimes in the country. and to pay ~ tne rae
of from scyenty-hye to one hundred anu my
dollars for machines the actnal cost OF whch
does not average from eight to twenty dollars
each And Il Is only very recently that the
most inferior Of these machines have been re-
duced 10 forty and ffty dollars each. This tax
has fallen upon that class who are least able 10
submit To Il, but who have been obliged TO suo.
init 10 il, or be turned out Of employment and
left to starye. The full intent aud meaning OF
the law Is that the inventor shall receive rea-
sonable reward for his invention. For thus
purpose patents are for fourteen years, anu NJ
the expiration OF that time II the inventor mas
not been reasonably remunerated, an extension
of seven years can be given. In the applca-
ton of Howe for an extension Of his patent he
could not show that he had realized but irac-
ton less than half million ofdollars, and that
too, out of an invention, II il may be so called,
which IL Is almost universally conceded, was
made by Walter Hunt and others, years before
Howe ever saw sewing machine. We consider
all such extensions null and void from the very
nature Of the case, and that whatever property
there is in an invention which has been PATENT
ed and for which the people have been taxed 30
illiberaliy for fourteen years, belongs 10 them
Al. .,,,, If hat itna asnpeially where
the invention has rewarded the inventor as II
has In this case Notwithstanding Commis.
sioner Of Patents mayhays entirely transeendei
the laws Of the country, aud granted an extern
sion for term of seven years longer than the
original patent. The machines Of the four
principal sewing machine manufacturers In the
country are all based upon Howe's patent and
are mainly dependent for their existence upon
his invention By clubbing together to main
tain him they have been enabled to build them
selves up, aud almost monopoliIe the whole
sewing machine business. Of course this mon
opoly has used every means In their power to
enable Howe to obtain an extension OF his pat
eut, for had he not succeeded In this they
would all have fallen to the ground together,
and the public would now have been able to OBJ
tain what they are entitled to. sewing machines
Mt a reasonable price. Without insinuating
anything Il somehow appears that the more m
inventor makes the more liable he Is TO OBTAIN
an extension Of his patent when II expires.
We are led to make these remarks from having
recently noticed that some person has been
actually imprisoned for not needing the de-
mands of this sewing machine monopoly and
from the fact that ever since the extension OF
IIowe's patent this monopoly has become more
oyerbearing than ever publishing notices
to all persons using machines not licensed by
them that they will be stopped using them.
although they may have purchased them OF
parties who undoubtedly had rs much right to
make and sell them rs they have. Now II our
houses are to be invaded by their spies, and
people are to be imprisoned by their money,
we think IL quite time that there should be
a general awakening, and an understanding Of
the matter as to whether the people have any
rights ut all, or whether they are to be over
ridden by q wealthy and unjust monopoly
whose impudence increases in exact ratio with
its wealth. Let the voice Of the press through
out the country speak against one VI the most
unjust usurpations Of the peoples rights which
now or ever has existed under our laws. The
law provides that patented invention shall DO
put on sale within specified time, anc kept on
sale. But putting an invention on sale ut
price entirely hey ond the reach Of the masses.
Is virtually not putting II on sale ut oil and
in this respect have these parties who have
taxed us so unjustly forfeited oil protection un-
der their paents. For instance, o man who
has patent on q penny whistle, by putting
them on sale ut one thousand dollars each In
no sense whstcyer complies with the require
ments Of the patent laws, and would really for
f.it his patent. But we are glad to see true
view of the whole matter Is being taken by some
of the courts, and that injunctions restraining
the manufacture and sale Of cheaper machines
have been refused entirely. or II has been adj
judged that their manufacture might be con.
tinued by paying small license fee on each
machine. This Is rs II should be, and It Is only
In this way that the public may yet receive
some part of its rights, and our needlew0men
and families be enabled to supply themselves
with sewing machines ut reasonable prices
Sentinel.