Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-07-04

field High school Has
Done for C"l"red
~tudeuts-N"tCs
and News.
No character has been 50 often drawn, q
fiction than that of the inventor. The maj
who patiently spends his existence druyiu!
! himself the comforts ana often the neCrS
SarirS of life his brain filled with ingenious
| in trying to adapt means to an end, whiCl
/ shall save his fellows unnecessary labor
gather an interest in our eyes akin to thai
which we attach to the life of a poet, an ar
every invention is romance. The life OF
an inventor has much of the excitement and
feverish hope and expectation which attends
that of gold miner or daring SpeCulatOr.
The thoughtful brow. the eye fixed on no
outward object, but looking at the
cherished machine which As yet exists only
in thought. the intelligent Countenamce
all these are characteristic of the man who
has chosen inyenting for his life work. And
then the astonishing changes of fortune
which come to every successful inventor;
from cottage to a palace; from poverty
aud obScurity in many cases 10 houndlesS
wealth, fame. and the gratitude of an ad-
miring nation. Let me tell you
ROMANCE OF AN INVENTION
and the story of a Springfield inventor.
When first the sewing machine became
an assured success. among the first Ia enter
the business of repairing and setting NJ the
new labur-Savimg machines was Robert l..
Loopcr, now of this city. hUt then of Co
lumbus. He set up some of the first ma
chimes ever used in Ohio. After working
at his trade in Columbus for some time he
came To Springfield in 1867, and has lived
business of repairing sewing machines. He
has been an inventor all his life and has
made many improvements in various
kinds of machinery. There is hardly
tAlANh IA 'li ili-la' ~ 'NN "AAi ~ AitN III
Der Mr. Loopers modest little shop
in the Old Joe Shattler property on Market
street. and later on his little general
repair shop on Fisher street. In his bus
ints> of sewing machine repairing Mr..
LOCKER became wonderfully familiar with
the merits and defects OF every sewing ma
chine in the market, and obtained minute
know ledge of their construction. While
would often tell him difficulties which they
found in running the sewing machines and
ask him if there was no machine made in
which these We're Obviated. Any point of
difficulty thus pointed out to him Mr.. Look
ar carefully remembered, and thus in few
Years he gained perfect knowledge of the
weak points of sewing machines. from the
operators standpoint
About the year 1872 he first conceived the
dea that he could invent improvements on
he sewing machine which would prove of
immense value, and which would revolution
Ze the manufacture OF sewing machines
lbil tllt IibAl liNll A'Ntd W IL III 81 ttl-
;eiAed 10 this day. June Sd, fourteen long
iears. MT. LOCKER has worked steadily on
hese Improvements. 1t has been the con-
rolling purpose of his life, and his efforts /
very minute that he could spare from his |
DusinesS was devoted TO his inventions. In
he grey OF the early morning, by the light .
If the midnight lamp, he poured over his .
fascinating task, little by little maturing his
deas and perfecting the mechanical devices /
which were to put them into execution, He .
became prs-Occuped and thoughtful and .
AIRED more for pouring over his inventions .
lily occupation. During the years when .
lr was perfecting his improvements, he .
,ept his secret with wonderful success. and .
10 one dreamed of the ideas which 50 DOM
mated his mind. At last the inventions .
we're sufficiently matured To think of knock .
ny at the doors of the patent Office for Of .
cial recognition. But here was appalling .
ifticulty fOr the poor inventor. He saw .
hat nine or tel patents would lie necessary
o secure his inventions; perhaps trips to .
Washington would be necessary. suits of .
difference, and what nOt-thiS would in .
olive heavy expense. What could he do? .
must have partner But where could .
Ie find one of the proper sort?
At this juncture Mr.. LOCKER set himself |
o find partner to advance money to take .
,ut the necessary patents. How To show .
he inventions to people without their .
tealing the ideas, was the great question. /
Nv daer inventor, whoever you are, don't .
rust your friends in the idea that they are
90 high-Souled to steal Your ideas. The .
unsCience of the average man is remark /
bly easy on the subject of patent stealing. /
( the friend of your bosom thinks he can !
make 4 few thousand dollars ont of your
lupatentad idea he will do it, yuu may rest
ssured Nh LOCKER hit on the following .
,lan: He showed the invention to about a
IoZen of his most particular friends, taking .
hem in to see il by twOS ond threeS, under .
solemn promise of secTrsy. Every time
iC ttoh q" A'''Aiu ~ w ms uc'i'tS anu VA
,lained them to him, he wrote the date .
own, with the friends full name opposite, .
nd obtained a promise from the latter that .
le would testify concerning the invention .
II case of interference. The friends looked .
t the devices, praised them in the highest .
erms; but still no partner could he find. .
finally one evening in the year 1883, just
l years after the invention was first con-
etved, Mr.. LOCKER casually invited