The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-03-12
manitowof pilot.
BELLS TELEPHONE.
The Patent Expires in Two Years, When
Thert'ii lie Great improvements.


In about two years the original
patents of the Bell Telephone conf
pany on tie art of transmitting the
human voice over wires by electricity
will expire. says the St. Louis Il putttc.
Then ANYBODY who chooses can make
and use telephone without let or
iindrancc.
Desiring TO learn what would proGa-
blv be the result of the extinction of
opoly Il Republic reporter sought out
Leo Enrich. noted inventor of St.
Louis MIR Enrich was one of the
first inventors of the telephone in this
country. and with others contested in
the Supreme court of the United States
the Bell Telephone company's right TO
exclusive right of the invention, but
the Supreme court decided against
them and they were forced TO abandon
the use of their inventions. GA learn
ing the mission of the reporter Mr..
Enrich said:
Yes, the Bell Telephone company's
patent on the art of transmitting the
human voice over wires by electricity
expires in March, %, and then every
body can make and use n telephone.
As TO what the result will be | would
say that as matters now stand 1t will
affect the price of the telephone SER
vice but little. | am satisfied, how
ever, that at the expiration of their
patent the Bell Telephone company
will give lis much superior telephone
system to the present, and one where
the slightest whisper, five or ten feet
away from the phone, will be distinct
" transmitted for miles. They have
been preparing against the competition
that will spring up at the expiration OF
their patent by purchasing at nominal
figures from needy inventors all yalua-
bic improvements that have been made
to the telephone, and they are now the
owners of patents as superior TO the
present telephone rs 1t is TO the toy
phone.
From personal tests in Boston |
know they have practical instruments
that are 100 per cent better than those
in use now in transmitting the human
voice distinctly. They are keep
ing these Inventions on which the
patents will yet run for years, IN re-
serve and will bring them out if any
attempt is made in competition. SO
the net result, you may say will be
better service ut slightly reduced
rate The Western Union similarly
has a vast number of telegraph patents
stored away for future use, should
competition become more active.
There will be also another result on
the expiration of the patent, and that
t.la .,st-
cheap, and for s. or 81 80 any one can
purchase an efficient telephone. This
will have the effect to create an extern
sive use of them. and private telephone
lines and small exchanges will become
numerous. They will also generally
displacc speaking-tube and pu>h-but-
tons in buildings and hotels will sub
stitute them for anuuuciatOrS. so that
guests can communicate their wishes
to the office without the Intervention
of beli-bov."
AS rule, are the inventors fairly
treated and protected AZ the United
States?' asked lie reporter.
The inventor rs Il rule, | think
gets all he is entitled to, but not so
much rs he would like. for the simple
reason that 999 ont of J 900 inventions
are worthless. We hear Il good deal
about the impcCuuiouS inventor and
lis many hardshipS. but neither the
laws nor the public, but the poor in
ventionS are To blame. Take mp the
official gazette OF the patent Office and
| will guarantee that not twenty-five
in 100 of the patents are worth the
paper thev are written on. 70 sue
coed as IN inventor, rs in any other
calling, Il person must he content TO
patiently struggle along for years with
ont success, and never grow weary or
lose courage ut rcvrrSes. \ fortune is
now and then made by happy hit of
some genius. but it is very rare and
should not encourage any one to enter
the fed unless he has staying qualities
and great industry.
Il will tell You what makes the
money in this business. 1t is the
patent-solictor and the government
When man gets IN idea that he
thinks valuable he Immediately rushes
off aud pays some solicitor Il So fee
and the government $40 for Il patent,
and from the hundreds Of thousands Of
patents annually issued Won can see
what an enormous sun is paid solicit
ors and the government. really
doubt ii I'LL that has been made off
patents in the Unitci States since the
passage Of the patent law would equal
what has been paid by inventors in OBJ
tanning their patents.
Up 10 date the Inventors have paid
the government s.. 900 O0J more than
has been required to pay all the ex-
penses of the patent-oilice department.
This. | think, Is wrong and should be
changed by reduction of fees to
merely cover the expenses of the de-
DartmcGt.