The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-08-27
MODERN STOVES.
Invention IIns Perfected Only Two Sub
stantial improvements.


Z" The scientific principles of stove are
not yet determined. We know that very
large part of the heat goes up the chimney,
but we cannot yet prevent it. The two great
innovations in stoves within the memory of
this generation are on the base-burning
principle and the clinkerless CRATE. By put
ting large quantity of coal in an upright
cylinder, which is open at the bottom fire
can be retained for a long time As fast as
the bottom of the column of coal is burned
away the coal above falls down and keeps
the fire supplied. This was discovered
about 1850. Clinkerless CRATES are later
device, the first ones having been manu-
featured in 1870 or 1874 When coal has
been in state of ignition for some time it
partially cakes together, and most of the
support beneath can be taken away. That
support has generally been given by n CRATE
upon which the ashes and other refuse from
the coal gathered, thus choking the draught.
1t is, however, possible to remove the CRATE,
leaving the coal suspended by its lateral
pressure, and to take poker and lightly
sweep away the ashes which hang to it.
The bed of Goals will thus shine downward
as we'll rs above. Spear, of Philadelphia
was the first who produced parlor stoves
based on this discovery. They attracted the
attention of Mr.. N. s. Perry, of Albany,
who was travelling in Pennsylvania, and he
conceived the idea of making stoves some
what like them. The head of the firm, Mr..
John s. Perry, at his cousins solicitations
also examined them, and they determined
to go into the manufacture. Spear demand
ed 100000 year for license to use his
invention. The Perrys thought this was
excessive; but in the meantime Mrs. John
s. Perry, q highly accomplished lady, had
begun search in the State Library to asoer-
tain whether Mr.. Spears patent was good
one. A stove patent very rarely Is good,
and this proved no exception. A patent
had been granted three or four years before
to man living in small town in Massa.
chusetts, involving the Same principle. A
trusty agent of the firm was sent over there
with instructions to buy it, but on arriving
in the village he found that the inventor
was dead, never having used his patent but
In single case, which was that of o church
in which ho had placed furnace. Some
thing was wrong with it the first night il
was used, for the ashes and coal were pre-
cipitated on the floor in the night, and the
church was burned down. That ended his
experimenting, and inclined the heirs to
dispose of their interests at nominal sum.
But of his half dozen children who held the
right of the patent one had gone to Texas
and his address was unknown. Armed with
photograph and description, the agent
sailed for Texas, and after two months
search found the man, from whom he pur-
chased the remaining interest. Perry q Co
accordingly did not take out license from
Spear, but went ON manufacturing the
clinkerless CRATES without permission. They
were Immediately sued by Spear, compli-
ment which they at once returned. Other
manufacturers also began making these
CRATES, and were sued by both Spear and
Perry. The novelty was, however, too tax
ing for them to desist. and within two yearn
every manufacturer In the United States
was producing this kind of stove, under
lcense from the Perrys or Spear, or as an
infringer. Those who were sued As infring-
ers formed On association to defend each
other, the amount spent in litigation being
enormous. Spear and the Perrys finally
joined forces, but IL was of little avail, for
the Supreme Court of the United States de-
cided that their claims were not good, and
the making of clinkerless stoves is now
freen