Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1873-06-28
Curious Inventions.


The Records Of the United States Patent
Office exhibit iunumerable applications for lu-
dcrous as vel! as impracticable inventions -
The time and talent expended in dcvising some
machine, which it is supposed will make the
inventors fortune, would if applied to bis or
binary daily labor make him q thoroughly
competent mechanic and secure him acomior-
table likelihood As proof Of the truth oi
the above remarks, a few illustrations may be
giyen. In 1870 the owner Of some beehiveS,
irritated by the loss Of his honey by the bee
moth, asked for patent for comblnad hen
roost and beehive. lie had noticed that the
bee moth travels at night, while the busy bee
works by day His desire therefore, was Tor a
device that should admit the worker by day
and keep out the thief by night. Thus MS
ingenuity effected the erection Of henroost
pivoted upon beehive, provided with gates
The bees were expected to be in their hives
Just before dark tho hens lighting on their
roosts were then to close tie gates Of the hive
and keep them shut all night. The carly rising
of tho hens would automatically open the gates
again and return the bees-their honey all
safe-,o the airs Of heaven and the flowers Of
earth. he received the best patent
Another applicant asked for patent right
for an artificial moon that should light each
town that used it without expense. His eye
had often been struck by the reflection Of the
distant windows at sunset and how far light
travelled lie therefore proposed balloon for
each town sufficiently large to raise huge re-
fector, that was to be hoisted every evening ct
dusk, about the time the hens had shut in the
/ bees. The reflection Of the suns rays cas-.
/ downwards upon the village was sure to light
it through the darkness Of the night. Fortu-
nately for himself this inventor presented bis
application through q patent attorney, who
TOLD him it was doubtful if it could be obtained.
In the fall of 1872, gentleman applied for
and received patent for building houses on
wheels and rollers, SO that in case Of earth
quake hey might roll forward and backward,
and not be shaken to pieces.
Another gentleman applied for patent for
J heating canals by steam, So that boating could
20 on in the winter as well as in summer
The Office decided that this invention was
worthy of protection and gave him bis patent
Another applied for a combination Of a clock
aud bed, soiugeuiously contrved that when Il {
clock struck the bottom Of the bed dropped
cut, He claimed this plan wolll probably
awaken the sleeper
Another invcutor from the frontiers asked
for q patent for combination Of cannon and
a plough For this purpose he fled three APP
plcations, making the elongated handles Of the
plough hollow, SO es to form two cannon
These were to be kept loaded till the sucrrilIas
were after the ploughman, the cannon were tc
be fired the guerrilaS shot down, and the far
mer to 20 on bis way rejoicing.
In 1870 q very ingenious gentleman from
the rural districts applied FOR a patent to pre-
vent COWS from switching ;heir tails. lie pre-
seuted two models-Ono shaped like bottle
around which the cows tail was to be cured
the other was a square block, with hole
through the center, wherein tho tail was TO be
put and tied in a knot, 50 that the animal
could not withdraw it,