The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-02-11

thone ss1breely On apticls Of human
convehianc0e Or necessity In the market
to-day that has not been the subject OF
O. patent In whole or In part. Howe,
the originator Of the sewing machine,
derived $4,000 year from 1t, and
from their mechanical improvements
the celebrated Wheeler & Wilson are
reputed to have divided for many years
an income OF e1,000,00 while the
author OF the Singer sewing machines
left at his deeease nearly &15, 900, 900.
The telephone, the planning machines
, and the rubber patents realized many
millions. while the simple idea OF heat
/ ing the blast In iron smelling increased
the wealth Of tho country by hundreds
OF millions. The patent for making
the lower ends of candles taper in
stead OF parallel, go as to more easily
fit the socket, make the present enor-
nous business of q well-known Lon
don chandler. 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 a
two-inch tube into the ground until
water WIS reached, and then attaching
pump:
This simple continuance was patent
cd, and the tens of thousands OF farm
efs who have adopted it have been
o liged to pay him royalty, .esti-
mated at Is, 000, 900. A large profit was
rallied by the inventor who patented
| the idea of making umbrellas out of
a'apaca instead Of Rlnghams, and the
palentee OF the improved paragon
frame" Samuel Fox, lately left by will
$3.50 600 out OF the profits of his inven-
ton. The wearing, dyeing, lace and
ribbon making trades originated and
depend for their existence upon ingeni-
GUS machinery, the result OF an inanity
of inventive efforts.
The discovery of the perforated sub
stance used for bottomlng chairs and
for other purposes has made lis inven-
tor millionaire, George Yeaton, the
Inventor in question, was a poor Yam
kee cene-Seater In Vermont. He first
| distinguished himself by inventing u
machine for weaving cane, but he made
no money out Of 1t, as some one stolo
his idea and had the process patented.
After number OF years experimenting,
Yeaton at last hit upon this invention,
which consists of nurnber OF thin
layers OF boards OF different degrees of
hardness glued together to give plf-
ability.
He formed a company, and to-day
he has plant valued at $500, coo, and
is in receipt of princely annual rev.
tuuo ucllNbu lIulH uIllS lHNelIlO1.
Carpet beating, from being an untold
nuisance, has become lucrative trade
through inventive genius and mechan-
ical contriyance. Even natural Curl
osity has been turned to account III the
number OF automatic boxes for the
sale OF goods of all kinds, and fabu-
lous dividends have been paid by the
companies owning the patents. The
most profitable inventions have been
The improvements in simple devices,
things OF every day use, that every
body wants. Among the number Of
patents for small things may be mem
TONED the photographic pen," and
pen shading III differedt colors, pro-
ducing 500, 600 per annum. A large
profit has been reaped by miner who
invented metal rivet or eyelet at
each end OF the mouth of coat and trou-
sers pocket to resist the strain caus-
ed by the carriage OF pieces OF ore and
heavy tools. III the recent legal action
it transpired in evidence that the in
ventor OF metal plates to protect soles
and heels of boots from wear, sold
upward OF 100000 plates i'll 1879, and
III 1887 the number reached 143, 900, 900,
producing realized profits Of quar-
ter OF million of money.
Another useful invention is the
'darning weaver, a device for repair
ing stockings, undergaiments, etc,
the sale OF which is very large and in
teresting. As large IA sum as was ever
obtained for any invention was on
joyed by the inventor OF the Inverted
glass-bell to hang over gas to protect
ceilings from being blackened, and a
scarcely less lucrative patent was that
ion simply putting emory powder on
cloth. Frequently time and circum-
stances are wanted before an inven-
ton is appreciated, but it will be seen
that patience will be rewarded, for the !
inventor of the roller skate made over |
$1,000 000, Notwithstanding the fact |
that his patent had nearly expired be- |
fore its value was ascertained,
The gimlet-pointed screw has pro- |
duced more wealth than most silver |
mines, aud the American who first |
thought of putting copper tips to |
childlen's shoes is us well OF as if his |
father had left him 81, DOC, 600 in United |
States bonds. Upwards of $4,000 a !
year was made by the inventor of the !
common needle-threader. 10 the fore /
going might be added thousands of |
trilling but useful articles from |
which handsome incomes are derived |
or; for which large sums have been
paid.