Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-06-02
THE TOMB OF GENIUS,
Wherein Lie Buried the Offspring Of
1900 Busy Brains.
FRUrTLEss TOLL AND LABOR LOST.
The Unique Auction Sale at the National
Capital yesterday-Why the Useless
Mechanisms We're Bought
What Was Sold.

WASHINGTON, June l.-Seyenteen thous.
and models, the fruitless product Of the
inventive genius of Americans for the past
eleven years, were sold at the Patent Office
at noon to-day. Fourteen large cases filed
with models in the model room, and as
many benches" or series Of shelves in the
room over the south portion, were sub.
mitted for sale to those who imagined they
could find use for what the Governments is
anxious TO be rid of. These models repre-
sent the rejected cases since the last pub
lie sale in 1872, have at last come to occupy
so
Much Valuable Room
that there must be complete. house clean.
ing. They have been kept by the Govern
ment, in some cases for the convenience Of
the appican IS and IN many cases because
their owners are too indifferent to send
for them. AS may be supposed, they rep
resent about every class and order OF in
yentiCn. The prices realized were general
ly small, but limited number OF bidders
being in attendance.
In conversation with Mr.. Gill, superin-
tendent of the model room, that gentleman
said that the motives Of the buyers OF these
oil models were obvious.
"Most OF them" said he, buy them on
account of the metal that is in them. Of
cou rse that is OF some value. Then, toe,
many who have an inventive turn OF mind
buy them thinking to
Profit In the Failure ofOthers.
or buy them on account OF the machinery
that is in them. Some buy them for spec
ulation Now, the last time, | knew OF
man who bought the whole lot Of collins.
He was an undertaken, and thought that
be could make use Of them. Another, |
remember, bought number of the models
to send to friend in Chicago who started a
museum with them. 4 few buy them As
relics or mementoes.
AZ the Last Sale,
eleven years ago, the total amount realized
was about $i25 representing seventeen
amount from 81 70 Sl2l.5O. The sale to-
day footed up $7l6 On the sale OF lamps
and sewing machines $1,000 was real
Ztd. while chemicals. metallurgy
and rhromos brought $3.50. Many
of the ilcn ranged about so and SO, on
Iy three being over 80. AS no record is
kept OF the rejected cases it is not known
how the number on Land will compare
with that sold liz 1872 The cases in which
The models sold to-day were stored on
he north side Of the model room under
V,
and are numbered from one to fourteen.
A number OF the models were sold yes
terday at private sale, and many who were
merely visitors examined the cases with
interest. In eastern end OF the hall
were several cases devoted to builders
implements, Woodworking machinery,
some surgical appliances, no doubt de-
signed with the best intentions in the
world, but having an appearance that
would hardly be supposed to reassure
patent.
There are some very ingenious nstru.
ments for measuring time, liquids, count
lug money, changing il and performing
similar functions, generally supposed to
be done only with the fingers.
4 Prominent Object
is a night clock, consisting Of a white glass
globe with the hours marked around it.
IL is illuminated and slowly regolves past
a certain upright bar of metal thus en-.
ablng one To tell at glance the hour OF
the night.
The cases near by contained various
kinds OF hOistinP apparatus and other me-
chanCal appliances, the reasons Tor the IN
vention of which could hardly he dlscov-
cred by one not versed in the particular
industry in which it is employed. Cases
Nos. and 10 were sold together. The
former contained bed models, many OF
them similar TO those in use now. and the
latter is devoted to hydraulics and pneu-
mates. :, :,
Asa rule the metal models were all well
made, but some OF those constructed Of
wood are atrociously put together: IL
would seem rs though the models them
selves were enough to condemn the appiica-
tiOn