Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-01

my business" said one Of the best known
model makers in the city to q STAR reporter
the other day, "is not what It used to be
When they abolished the model system In the
Patent ofnce, some four years ago, it affected
me great deal. I thought 1t was going tc
draw my eye teeth when the change to plans
and specifications was first announced, but
work came In from other sources, and 80 did
not suffer as much as feared was going to.
do great deal Of work for the government
departments-in fact, get nearly all Of it. The
Smithsonian institution and the Fish commits
Keep going about as usual"
"You have been in the business q long time ~
the reporter remarked, "and have had lots Of
experience with inventors and would be invent
"Yes, have been at it for thirty years but 1
have not had as much TO do with cranky In
ventors as you might think. The fact U.s. Whist1
man comes to me with what he inagiues a
great invention, tell him just what think Of
him so at once, and do what can to disc6ur
age MIN from wasting his time and money with
1t; But 1t is disease-an insanity--and when
working Il out He viii sell the coat h rom r Sis
PACK ,snI 10 get money to perfect his invention
plenty Of men who viii teli him that hen he has
pay for, so we might as well have his money Is
anybody else.' This Is true enough, too; and 60
when see q man has plenty Of money, and
course I give him all the attention he wants
l am business man, and know my own bust
same It is too bad, though. the wsy ~ so sne
patent attorneys will lead these poor fellows
on who think they have struck q bonansa
of a man from way out, IN Missouri or Ne,
braska. 1t occurred several years ago. ne
thought he had made big discovery IN gun.
him In the idea, getting what money he could
out of the poor fellow for obtaining, OF pretend
not going to the satisfaction Of the man ia
scraped money enough together to come here
TO Washington in order to exhibit his inven.
friend Of mine, who was at the navy yard. said
he came there one day, cornered one or the
officers and began 70 impart 70 him hts discov:
made Of his gun. The oicer iistene de a as,d
when the western man was through, took him
had long before been rejected as worthless
h he found ,, Al his hopes denolished, ana wspi
IA good many years ago." the model make,
continued. ~ became acquainted With queer
my shop and let him Work on his inven naon'
there without charging him anything. He had
good ideas, and invented system q. driyino
But he wouldn't sell any oS them unless he IS;
few dollars = Week sent him b. SON out west sss
sell some Of his patents for what he could ret
But no. He was offered 10000 for one q
| them, but said he would starve before he WouiG
take price that he considered below Its value
pointed out to him that be was getting old
than million would be In Q few years. Il W.
no use. Then lost sight Of him for = time, One
gay was going mp Broadway, In New York
very much like Rip Van Wrinkle. His hair ~,
long, MS coat very shabby and his tEowses ssy
inventor. told q friend who was with M
what knew about the old han, and added
| HE said be would starve before he would ~
| ing.," =
"Have you ever run across . map Who N,
trying TO invent perpetual motion machinae'
the reporter asked. :.
'of recent years the psEpstaal motioa, mail