The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1891-01-08
PATENT R0MANCES.
HUGE FORTUNES REARED FROM
THRILLING INVENTIONS.
Hnnors and Emoluments for the
Originators of Valuable Ideas
The "Driye Well" Paid Its
Inventor So, 100000.

"There is" says an eminent author
ity, "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 a
profit. If we purchase box of paper
collars portion Of the price goes to the
inventor; if we buy sewing machinet the
probability is that we pay a royalty to
as many as q dozen or fifteen inventors
at once" Lord Brougham often said
that he would gladly have exchanged his
honors and emoluments for the profits and
renown of the inventor of the perambu-
lator or sewing machine. We are Lot
wishful to lead our readers to covet what
are termed ''large fortunes" as really
conducive to happiness or usefulness.
"Fortune" is itself heathen and not
Christian word. But "inventiou" is an
other thing, and the renumerative results
are Citing element for consideration in
these days. Howe, the originator of the
sewing machine, derived $500, ,0Ooa year
it, and from their mechanical improve
ments the celebrated Wheeler & Wilson
arc reputed to have divided for many
years on income of 81 900, 900, while the
author of the Singer sewing machine left
Mt his decease nearly SIS, 900, 900. The
telephone, the planning machine and the
rubber, patents realized many millions,
while the simple idea of heating the
blast in iron smelling increased the
wealth of the country by handreds OF
millions. The patent for making the
lower ends of candles taper instead OF
parallel, so as to more easily
fl the socket, made the present
enormous business of well.known
firm of London chambers. 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 was reached, aud
then attaching pump. This simple con-
trivance was patented, ,and the tens of thou'
sands of farmers who have adopted it have
been obliged to pay him royalty, esti-
mated at S3,000,0UO. A large profit
was realized by the inventor who
patented the idea of making umbrellas
out of alpaca instead of gingham. and
the pateatee of the improved "paragon
frame" Samuel Fox) lately left by will
$S5O,000 out of the profits OF his In
vention. The weaving, 'dyeing, lace and
ribbon making trades originated and Ge-
pend for their existence upon ingenious
machinery, the result of an ininity OF
inventive efforts.
The discovery of the perforated sub.
stance used for bottoming chairs and for
other purposes has made its inventor a
millionaire. George Yeaton, the inventor
in question, was poor Yankee cane.seater
in Vermont. He first distinguished him,
self by inventing machine for weaving
cane, but he made no money out of it,
ss some one stole his idea and had the
process patented. After number OF
years experimenting Yeaton at last hit
upon this invention, which consists of o
number of thin layers of boards of diff
ferent degrees of hardness glued together
to give pliability. He formed COM
pany. and to-day he has plant valued
at $500, 900, and is in the receipt OF a
princely annual revenue derived from
this invention. Carpet beating, from
being an untold nuisance, has become q
| lucrative trade through inventive genius
and mechanical contrivance. Even natural
curiosity has been turned to account in
the number of automatic boxes for the
sale of goods of all kinds, aud fabulous
dividends have been paid by the CON-
panies owning the patents. The most
profitable inventions have been the i'm
,, provements in simple devices, things Of
everyday use, that everybody wants.
Among the number of patents for small
things may be mentioned the "stylo-
| graphic pen," and pen for shading
in different colors, producing $500, 900
per annum. A large profit has been
reaped by a miner who invented a metal
rivet or eyelet at each end of the mouth
of coat and trousers pocket to resist the
strain caused by the carriage of pieces
! of ore and heavy tools. In recent legal
action it transpired in evidence that the
, inventor of metal plates used to protect
soles and heels of boots from wear sold
upward of $4,000, QUO plates in 1879,
aud in 1887 the number reached 143,-
900, 900 producing realized profits of q
: quarter of million of money. Another
! useful invention is the "darning weaver,
a device for repairing stockings, under
garments, etc., the sale OF which
| is very large and increasing. AS
large a sum rs was ever obtained for
ANY invention was enjoyed by the inven-
tor of the inverted & ,s-bell to hang
over gas to protect ceilings from being
''blackened, and n scarcely less lucrative
patent was that for simply putting emery
powder on cloth. Frequently time and
circumstances are wanted before an in
ivention is appreciated, but it will be
seen that patience will be we'll rewarded, +,
for the inventor of the roller skate made
over S1,0O0,0O0, Notwithstanding the
fact that his patent had nearly expired
before its value was ascertained. The
gimlet-pointcd screw has produced more
wealth than most silver mines, and the
American who first thought of putting
copper tips % children's shoes is as we'll
off as if his father had left him 50, O0O.-
900 in United States bonds. Upward
of $4,000 IL year was made by the in-
ventor OF the common needle -threader.
10 the foregoing might be added thou
sands of trifing but useful articles from