Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-08-01
PATENT OFFICE CRANKs.
The oueer Inventions That Are Sent to
30 Investigated.

To fully realize how many cranks live
among us one has only to visit the Pat
ent Office in Washington, says tho New
York Herald, and examine tho models
which fill tho shelves of that depart
mont and read the specifications, in
which are set forth in glowing terms
tho many benefits which thoy pro-
poso to donate to mankind. Every i'm
aginablc scheme is suggested and laid
before the patent examiners. The qucs-
ton of utility, of practicability, docs
not enter into the taking out of pat
cnt; it sufliccs that the invention has
tho feature of novelty and that the ap-
plicant pay tho legal fees.
So numerous arc the perpetual mo-
ton" cranks, who think they havo
discovered the long and vainly sought
enigma, that tho Office has prepared
circular which is mailed to any ono
who takes steps to enter an alleged per-
pctual motion invention. Tho circular
informs him that it is thought Dropcr
to advise him, in order to save him fur
ther expense and labor, that tho views
of tho Potent Office coincide with those
Of scientists in general in regard to mo-
chanical perpetual motions-that they
arc imposSibilitics. Should your entry
be taken, q working model will DO ro-
quircd, tho Office being aware that it
will be impossible for you to comply
with this requirement" Tho spncifica-
tiop and feo arc then returned. Docs
this damDcn their ardor? Doubtless
thousands Of them arc now trying to
compass the working model.
Of f1,o oil al,
up in tho fro OF 1877, and tradition ONLY
tells Of como OF tho queer contrivancc3
that had been gathered in.
One Of the most curious of these was
hens nest constructed with spring
trap at the bottom of tho nest Tho
weight of an egg was sufficient to press
down tho spring and allow tho cgg to
slip out. Tho theory Of this thoughtful
inventor was that as soon as the hen laid
an egg it would press down tho trap-door
and disappear. The hen. as is her GUS
tom after laying an egg, would riso and
caclllc, but finding no egg, would con-
cludo that sho had made y mistake and
would proceed Immediately to lay anoth-
er, and SO on ca fnf7o tum. On this prin-
cipIc tho owner Of hon would have o
great monopoly.
trip through tho model rooms re-
vcalcd many unique and curious invcn-
tions, somo Of tho moro unusual of
which l venture to describe and illus
trata.
Ono Of the most original is an ordnance
plow, patented by G. NJ. French and W.
ii. Fanchcr, Of Waterloo, n. Y, in June,
1862. Tho object Of tho invention was
to produce a plow equal in point Of
strength and lightncss to tho one ordi-
narily in uso and yot which would COM
binc the elements of o small sized cam
non, so that it could DO utilized by tho
frontier settler both for defensive pur.
poses as we'll as agricultural
The beam or tongue of tho plow to
which tho horses or oxen arc yolSed is
In fact gun oarrcl Or p1cco OF light
ordnance capable of throwing proiec-
tilo of one to threo pounds weight With
out rendering it cumbersome as plow.
Tho plowshare takes tho -placc Of o
gun carriage and serves to anchor tho
tmprovised cannon firmly in Tho ground
and enablo it to resist tho recoil, whilo
tho handles furnish means Of giving tho
plow or gun, as tho case may DO, diroc-
tion or aim. To use tho language Of tho
inventors: "as means Of dofensc in re.
polling surprises and attacks on those
engaged in q peaceful avocation It is
unrivalcd, as it can DO instantly brought
into action by disengaging tho team,
and in timo of danger may bo used
charged with deadly grupo. This COM
bination enables those in agricultural
pursuits to havo at hand an efficient
weapon of defense atslight expense, in
addition to common. and indispensable
implement, and ono hardly inferior to
expensive light ordnance on wheels"
With due deforenco to tho originality OF
tho conception OF tho inventors, it does
not appear that tho "plough gun" or
''gun plough" has como into very gcn-