The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-22
Fortunes in Patents.
-EScientifc American. |

The Commissioner Of Patents estl-
mates that "from six to seven eighths
Of the entire manufacturing capital of
the United States, or six hundred mil
lions of dollars, is directly or indirectly
based upon patents" A calculation OF
the same kind in England, according to
our English contemporary, the London
Inventor, reveals still more. surpris-
ing result, the capital invested being
enormous. 1t has been computed that
Siemens' inventions have produced
more than five millions sterling.
There ISL says an eminent authori-
ty, scarcely an article OF human con-
venience or necessity in the market to-
day that has not been the subject Of a
patent in whole or in part. The sale
of every such article yields its inventor
profit five purchase box ofpape1
collars, portion of the price goes to
Z tie inventor; if we BUY sewing ma
: chine, the chances are that we pay a
royalty to as many as a dozen or fifteen
inventors at once
p Lord Brougham often said that he
would gladly have exchanged his
honors and emoluments for the profits
and fenown of the inventor of the
pesambulator or sewing machine.
The writer here states the profits an
nualiy divided by our several sewing
machine manufacturers, which are
phenomenal in amount, adding that
ssmore money has been, and always
can be, made out Of patented inven-
tons than by any other investment or
occupation" The telephone, the plan
ing machine, and the rubber patents
realized many millions, while the sim
pie idea of heating the blast in iron
smelling increased the wealth Of the
country by hundreds Of millions. The
patent for making the lower end Of
candles taper instead Of parallel, so as
to more easily fit the socket, made the
present enormous business of well
known firm of London chandlers. The
drive well was an idea Of Colonel
Green, whose troops, during the war,
were in want of water. He conceived
the notion OF driving two inch tube
iato the ground until water was @cach-
ed, and then attaching pump. This
simple cont:ivance was patented, and
the tens OF thousands of farmers who
have adopted it paid him royalty un-
til the recent decision Of the Supreme
Court, which was adverse to sustaining
the patent. a large fortune was realized
by the inventor who patented the idea
Of making umbrellas out of alpaca in
stead of gingham, and the patentee Of
the improved. paragon France Samuel
Fox lately left by will sl70,000 out Of
the profits Of his invention. The weav-
ing, dyeing, lace and ribbon making
trades originated and depend for their
existence upon ingenious Inachinery,
the result of an infnity Of inventive
efforts. Carpet beating, from being an
untold nuisance, has become a lucra-
tive trade through the same inventive
genius and mechanical contGivance.
Even natural curiosity has been turned
to account in the number Of automatic
boxes for the sale Of goods Of all kinds,
and fabulous dividends have been paid
by the public to companies owning the
patents. In fact, any one can be sue
cessfui inventor. Ii proof Of this. the
most profitable inventions. are the inn
provements in simple devices, things
Of every day use that everybody wants,
and which are in the power of every
body TO invent. y lady derived large
income for inventing a moving bel for
drying eggs, albumen, etc.