The Press., 1883-06-07
Washington Letter.


 To-day there will be sale of more than sixteen thousand models in the United States patent office. These represent as many rejected applications for patent, anG a pile of ruined hopes, dreams, and calcu lations that cannot be computed by mum bers or by any units of measurement known to science. Fourteen large cases filled with models in the model room, and as many ''benches' or series of shelves ir the room over the south portico, will be submitted for sale to those who think they can find use for what the government is anxious to be rid of These models, rep resenting the rejected cases since 1872, have at last come to occupy so much val uable room that there must be complete house cleaning. They have been kept by the government, in some cases for the con- venience of the applicants, 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 of invention. Case No. 4 con- tains electrical apparatus and sewing ma- chimes, and IS the most interesting of them all. A model of 8 telegraph system by the well-known w. E. Sawyer of New York, attracts attention on account of it's inven- tors reputation. There are telephones without number, 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's hind legs. These can be charged instantly, sending a shock into the horses legs that would convince any horse of av- craze reasoning powers that continued misconduct was unadvisable I 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 sad dle. The horse, an incorrigible baker, went off like machine when the charge was applied A very ingenious little ma chine is in case number 4. It is the inyen- tion of a woman. It consists of three grooved rollers working on one another :: while in the angle thus formed a spiral needle revolves in the grooves. Women. by the way, make no small figure in the inventive world, and there has been with in the last five years @ large number of pa- tents granted to women. Their patents consist to large extent of improvements Tn articles of wearing apparel, but they nave secured patents in many other classes, such as household furniture, devices pecu, liar to the laundry and to the dairy, sur glcal instruments, and medicines, Case No. also possess interest to those who care for the curious. It contains measur- ing instruments, and is generally devoted to horology and optics. There are some very ingenious instruments for measuring time, liquids, counting money changing 1t, and performing similar functions gen, erally supposed to be done only with the fingers. A prominent object is night clock, consisting of white glass globe with the hours marked upon it around it. It is illuminated, and slowly revolves past a certain upright bar of metal, thus en- abling one to tell at glance the hour of the night. As rule the metal models are all well made, but some of those con- structed of wood are atrociously put to- gether. It would seem as though the models themselves were enough to con- demn the application
 At the last sale, eleven years ago. the to- tai amount realized was about $525. rep- seventeen different purchases. and varying in amount from $2 to $124s5O. On the sale of lamps and sewing machines $1O7.50 was realized, while chemicals. and chromos brought $28. 50. Many of the items ranged about $10 and S15, only three being over $5O 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. l