The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-11-22
CURIOUS INVENTIONS.


the same for many years, yet it APP
pears from models in the Patent office
that various attempts have been made
by enterprising 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, filled 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 preserving the picture of the
occupant of the grave in conspicuous
place upon the tombstone. In 1851 the
leading style of picture was daguerre-
otype. Where is one of them fastened
to the model of tombstone which was
patented that year. 1t is probably the
counterfeit presentiment" of the gen.
tleman who patented the continuance.
1t has n ghostly look. There are
large 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 contrivances for grave guards, it
appears to have been the custom to en-
grave names as they would appear upon
the genuine article. The taste of the
inventor appears in the names chosen.
One tomb bears the name of John
Smith," and hurts nobody's sensitive
feelings, but upon others the irreverent
inventors have put George Washing.
ton" and abraham Lincoln" The
queerest model in the collection is la
beled, Improvement in grave mounds"
1t was patented in 1908, and appears to
be pyramid of little yellow cones.
There is nothing to show what the lit
tie cones are to be made of, or why
they are an improvement upon ordina'
ry earth and turf.
A strong effort has also been made
to change the fashion of opening oys-
ters. There are numerous models OF
machines for that purpose. One OF
them appears to have wise to hold the
oyster while powerful battering ram
comes up from behind and hits him
unawares. 1t is ur 1erstood that after
the battering ram hits him once the
oyster will give up and let go himself.
Several of the models are called
machines for "shucking" oysters. One
of them seems to be nothing but big
iron hook. In spite of all these excel.
lent arrangements, the colored man
still stands in behind the counter with
knife, prizes the shell open, cuts his
own finger with the knife, and bedews
the oyster with human blood as he
passes it out to be swallowed.
There are several ingenious devices
for scaling fish One of them is shaped
like box car, has twenty wheels, and
dozen leather belts. One of the
leather belts has row of sharp tacks
along it, There is a place for the fish
to be put in whole, and another for it
to come out dressed. The machine APP
pears 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. In
stead of cords or springs there is a
combination of wheels and bands by
which several egg beaters are whirled
around with great rapidity underneath.
The eggs are deposited in cups under
the 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 house
wife, and to relieve her of her torment
ers. Some of them appear to be so
constructed 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. Sew
eral of the traps consist of inoffensive-
! looking cylinders, out of which sprung
harpoons, barbed hooks, spears and
other deadly implements to pierce the
animal when he accommodating
touches the trigger. There is one fly
trap of the size and general appearance
of corn shelter. 1t is probably in
tended 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 i'm
pales him.
There are no shapes into which wire
can be twisted which are not to be seen
in the models for spring beds. The
first one was patented by G. w. Curtis,
of New Haven, fortyone 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 few years there
after 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 de-
lighfully elastic. Humanity went
through long course of experiments,
however, before it found the easiest
way to rest its weary bones, and the
Sybarite who bitterly complained
because one of the rose leaves which
composed his bed had become crump-
led, would have found some of the con-
trivances invented for his comfort quite
vulnerable. The oldest model for a
bedstead is dated June IL, 1929. II