The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-07-08
INVENTIONS THAT PAY
MINTS OF MONEY MADE OUT OF
BRIGHT IDEAS.
One Million Dollars Realized from the
Baby's Tin Rattle and Several Millions
from the Cotton Tie.

Baby's Tin Rattle and Several Millions
from the Cotton Tie.
In reply to the question: "What is
patentp" the Yankee inventor once
said: 1T is the right to sue somebody"
And the answer really embodies the
most comprehensive definition of the
word that could be found, says the N.
Y. World. The patent office annually
issues "a, 900 patents. and it is safe to
say that out of them not less than half
that number of lawsuits are evolved.
The great building at Washington
could supply fund of humor, of
pathos, of romance, and tragedy
which might well furnish the novelists
of the world with plots for lifetime.
As a rule the little inventions-that
is. those which seemed really insignifi-
cant-have brought forth the greatest
fortunes.
The man who invented the tin rattle
for babies retired with 1000, 900 to
the good.
The return ball, which consisted of
an ordinary rubber or wooden ball
to which was attached long
elastic cord, was invented by shoe
maker in New York. 1t met with
universal favor and the man who
originated the idea found that it
profited him to the extent of $4,000
per annum. 1t is said by those who
are supposed to know that he never
secured patent on the device. but in
stead bought up all the rubber balls in
the market, attached to them the
elastic cords, and reaped his fortune
while others were hustling around to
find enough rubber with which to COM
pete for the prize. The wire bottle
stopper is a very simple contrivance
and yet it has earned an immense for
tune. 1t was invented and patented
by a man named Charles Quilfelt, who
subsequently sold it for $1,000 to one
Carl Huter.
In the meantime a man named Put
nam had invented another design of
the same thing, which was the detach-
able wire over the top of the cork. In
some way one infringed upon the
other and lawsuit was begun. But
the parties got together, consolidated
their interests, and coined money.
One of the remarkable simple" in
ventions is the cotton tie. Formerly
all cotton bales were tied with rope,
that process which hundreds of men
sought to overcome, and at last one by
the name of Cooms invented what was
known as the arrowhead tie for an
iron strap. The contrivance was so
simple that cottonmen far and near
quietly took their old pants from the
closet hooks and kicked them around
their rooms because they had not
thought of the device themselves. The
tie went into immediate use, thousands
of Improvements" were patented.
and millions of the straps were sold
and millions of dollars were realized.
The man who at present controls the
patent and the numerous assignments
connected Herewith, made to him by
the various inventors of Improvements,
has purchased the famous Navarro
flats in Fifty-seventh street and is the
possessor of large fortune beside.
Everybody remembers the Fifteen
puzzlen Fifteen little blocks were
placed in square box. which was
made to hold sixteen. The sixteenth
space was left vacant, and block eff
teen" was placed between blocks 'thir-
teen" and fourteen" The problem
was to arrange them in order without
removing a block from the box. The
idea was originated by cripple. and
from it he is said to have amassed a
large fortune. The puzzle went every
wherein the homes of the rich and
poor alike.
'Pharaoh's serpent" was the inven-
tion of Brooklyn man. 1t consisted
of little pill, to which lighted
match was touched. when snake
crawled forth and writhed and twisted
after most serpentine and fascinating
fashion. The pills sold like wiidfire-
which, indeed, they were-and brought
the inventor between $4,000 and
800, 600. But it also cost him his life.
In working upon an Improvement
in his laboratory he inhaled the fumes
of the chemicals he was using and
died from the poisonous effects pro.
duced upon him.
Mr.. Mum of the Scientigc american
tells many interesting stories about
patents and inventors. He says the
gimlet-pointed screw has brought more
wealth to different men than many sill
yer and gold mines of the west. A
man named Walter Aiken was the first
toIthink of it and he realized hand.
some fortune. Aiken's father, by the
way, invented sawset which brought
him 500, 600 or more.
1t was a Yankee who first thought OF
putting copper tips on children's shoes
and his check became good for magni-
ficent sums.
Sometimes many years elapse before
the good qualities of an invention are
appreciated. The patent upon roller.
skates had nearly expired before ii
realized any profit. Then somebody
started a rink, and so made the skate
inventor worth 81, 100000
Who has seen the Dancing jim
CrowP" Who would believe that il
was worth $75,0 year to its in.
ventorP Yet it is true.
One of the largest fortunes ever
realized from patent was made by
the man who conceived the idea oi
putting emery powder on CLOTH and
the inverted glass bell to hang over
gas burners proved to be a veritable
lamp of Aladdin.
The rubber tip for lead-pencils made
800, 900. The pen for shading with
different colors brings an annual
stipend of $780, 900, and in the year
1887 alone, as proved by testimony in
recent legal aclioD, the inventor OF
metal plates for protection of the soles
and heels of shoes realized profit Of
81, 260, 900.
William Chandler Raymond has
written book entitled .'Curiosities of
the Patent Office" and he devotes
several pages to the whimsical and
comical things that have been in
vented.
There is mechanical sheetiron cat,
with steel claws, which runs by clock
work and is warranted to lick any
cat in Christendom. The cat is wound
up and placed on the roof. Old round
ers spy newcomer and tackle him.
Whewl When they light on his back
a spring is touched and the mechanism
works. There is small cyclone on
the roof incessant wells and-the old