National Republican., 1883-10-23
CURIOUS INVENTIONS.
The Novelties in GravestoneS Shown in the
Model Room of tho Patent Office.
The Immense 6rrny OF Washing Machines,
Egg Bcators, Rat Traps, sc.

Fashions do not change so easily as most
people suppose. The fashion for tombstones,
for instance, has been much the same for
many years, yet it appears from models in
the patent Office that various attempts have
been made by entorprising gentlemen to
change the form and style Of these gruesome
reminders Of mortality. Monuments are
still made of marble and granite, although
an inventor patented hollow glass column,
filed with white powder. Another
man devised glass pyramid to
be placed on stone pedestal, the
pyramid to be filled with artificial flowers.
Several people have made plans for preserv-
ing the picture of the occupant Of the grave
in q conspicuous place upon the tombstone.
In 1851 the leading style of picture was n
daguerreotype. There is one Of them fastened
to the model of tombstone which was pat
ented that year. 1t is probably the "coun-
terfeit presentement' Of the gentleman who
patented the contrivance 1t has o ghostly
look. There arc a largo number Of models for
tombs and monuments in one great stone
grave, to be placed above ground. On these
models as well as upon those of the many con-
trivances for grave guards, IL appears TO have
been the custom TO engravo names as they
would appear upon tho genuine article. The
chosen. One tomb bears the name of John
Smith" and hurts nobody's sensitive feelings,
but upon others the irroverent inventors have
put George Washington" and abraham
Lincoln" The queerest model in the col
lection is labeled, Improvement in grave
mounds" 1t was patented in 1868, and ap-
pears to be pyramid OF little yellow cones.
There is nothing to show what the little cones
are to be made of, or why they are an i'm
provement upon ordinary earth and turf
A strong effort has also been made to change
the fashion of opening oysters. There are
numerous models of machines for that pur-
pose. One of them appears to have q wise TO
hold the oyster while powerful battering
ram comes up from behind and hits him una
wares. 1t is understood that after the batter
ing ram hits him once theloyster Will give up
and let go of himsf. Several of the models
are called machines for "shuckng" oysters.
One of them seems to be nothing but big
iron hook. In spite of all these excellent ar
rangements, the colored man still stands be-
hind the counter with knife, prizes the she'll
open, cuts his own finger with the knife. an d
bedews the oyster with human glood as he
passes him out to be swallowed.
There are several ingenious devices for
scaling fish. One of them is shaped like a
box car, has twenty wheels; and q dozen
leather belts. One of the leather belts has q
row of sharp tacks along it. There is place
for the fish to be put in whole. aud another
place for it to come out dressed. Tho machine
appears to be intended to run by steam power.
Housewives have received their fair share
OF attention from inventive genius. There
are more models of washing machines than
of any other one thing. Much mind labor
has been bestowed upon potato Washers and
egg beaters. Some of the results are sur
prising. There is model of an egg beater
which is exactly like an old fashioned four
poster bedstead. Instead of cords or springs
there is combination of wheels and bands
by which several egg beaters are whirled
around with great rapidity underneath The
eggs are deposited in cups under tho bed.
Some thousands of animal traps, insect traps,
fly traps, rat traps and mouse traps have been
invented TO make life more pleasant for the
housewife, and to relieve her of her tor
mentors. Some OF them appear to be so con-
structed that the rat, mouse, fly. or insect
must have q previous course of training to
enable it to get into the trap. One rat trap
has loaded pistol just outside of it, which is
intended to shoot the wretch while he is
trying to get in. 1t was patented in
1859. Several of the traps consist
of inoffensve looking cylinders, out Of which
sprung harpoons lbarbed hooks, spears, and
other deadly implements to pierce the animal
when he accommodatingly touches the trig-
ger. There is one fly trap, of tho size and
general appearance of n corn shelter. 1t is
probably intended to be run by horse power.
The farmer is remembered by small spears
concealed in the hills of freshly planted corn.
When the crow comes the springing spear flies
upward and impales him.
There are no shapes into which wire can be
twisted which arc not to be seen in the mod
els for spring beds. The first one was patented
by C. w. Curtis, of New Haven, forty-one
years ago. 1t consists simply of thin and
narrow strips of metal running lengthwise
and crosswise of the bed, and riveted at the
intersections. For a few years thereafter the
rage seemed to be for canvas substructures
for bedsteads then came the wire, and the
wood strips. Some bed frames were composed
largely of rubber, and these must have been
delightfully."- elastic. Humanity went through
a long course Of experiments, however, before
it found tho easiest way to rest its
weary bones, and the Sybarite who
bitterly complained because one of the roso
leaves which composed his bed had become
crumpled, would have found some of the con-
trivances invented for his comfort quite un-
bearable. The oldest model for bedstead is
dated June IL, 1929. 1t was patented by
Rogers and Pearson. Only one post and one
side bar appear in the model and the inven-
tion must have been either of new way of
putting them together, or of n reversible post
which would stand upon either end with
equal ease.