Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-06-06

Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, June i, 's3.
To-day there will be a sale of more
than sixteen thousand models in the
United States patent office. These repre-
sent as many rejected applications fol
patent, and pile of ruined hopes, dreams
and calculations that cannot be computed
by numbers or by any units Of measure
ment known to science. Fourteen large
cases filed with models in the model
room, and as many "benches" or series Of
shelves in the room over the south portico
will be submitted for sale to those who
think they can find a use for what the
government is anxious to be rid Of. These
models, representing the rejected cases
since 1872, have at last come to occupy
so much valuable room that there must
be complete housecleaning. They have
been kept by the government. in some
cases for the convenience of the appli-
cants. and in many cases because their
owners have been too Indifferent to send
for them. As may be supposed they
represent about every class and order oil
invention. Case No. contains electrical
apparatus and sewing machines, and is
the most inter esting of them all. A model
of telegraph system by the well known
W. E. Sawyer of New York attracts
attention on account Of its inventor s
reputation. There are telephones without
mum Der, electrical fire detectors, burglar
alarms. electric candles, lamps. etc. An
electric appliance for curing vicious
horses is most original and interesting
Two wires extend from the vehicle to the
horses hind legs. These can be charged
instantly, sending shock into the horses
legs that would convince any horse of
average reasoning powers that continued
misconduct was unadvisable. have seen
within the last week electricity applied to
baking horse with the happiest effect.
small battery was placed in the buggy,
and wires were attached to the harness
saddle. The horse, an incorrigible baker,
went off like machine when the charge
was applied. A very ingenious little
machine is in case No. 1. 1t is the inven.
ton of woman. 1t consists of three
grooved rollers working on one another,
while in the angle thus formed spiral
needle revolves in the grooves. Women,
by the way, make no small figure in the
inventive world, and there has been
within the last five years a large number
of patents granted to women. Their
patents consist to a large extent OF inn
provements in articles of wearing apparel,
but they have secured patents in many
other classes, such as household furniture,
devices peculiar to the laundry and to the
dairy, surgical instruments, and medicines.
Case No. also possess interest to those
who care for the curious. 1t contains
measuring instruments, and is generally
devoted to horology and optics. There
are some very ingenious instruments for
measuring time, liquids, counting money,
changing it, and performing similar
functions generally supposed to be done
only with the fingers. A prominent
object is night clock, consisting of a
white glass globe with the hours marked
upon it around it. 1t is illuminated, and
slowly revolves past certain upright bar
of metal, thus enabling one to tell at u
glance the hour of the night. As q rule
the metal models are all well made, but
some of those constructed of wood are
atrociously put together. 1t would seem
as though the models themselves were
enough to condemn the application.
At the last sale, eleven years ago, the
total amount realized was about s525,
representing seventeen different purchases
and varying in amount from 81 to sl24.50.
On the sale of lamps and sewing machines
SlO7,5O was realized, while chemicals,
metallurgy, and chromos brought $3.50.
Many of the items ranged about $40 and
only three being over $50. As no record
is kept OF the rejected cases it is not known
how the number on hand will compare
with that sold in 1872. The cases in
which are the models to be sold to-day
stand on the north side of the model
room under the gallery, and in the centre
of the room, and are mum bered from one
to fourteen.