San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-09-12
why Inventors Fail.
Inventive Age.

Inventive Age.
The fact that a very large proportion
Of paten ted inventions are disappoint-
ment to their originators because of
their failure to yield profitable return
for time and money expended on them
is q subject often discussed by inveu-
tors and those who are directly inter
ested in their work. 1t is probable
that in no other field of human effort
are there so many bitter disappoint-
ments, so many crushed hopes and so
much of genuine heartache as among
inventors. Although thousands OF
them annually achieve success and
enter on a career of prosperity other
thousands find little or no reward;
the devices from which they conf
IDENTIFY expected atfluence have only
added to their poverty. Many an
Intelligent man tolls for years, deny
ing himself all the luxuries aud most
of the comforts Of life to bring out an
invent ion seemingly full of promise,
but destined to utter failure. The
reasons for this extended area of disa-
ppointment are not very numerous
nor hard to fluid. First among them
is insufficiency Of practical knowledge
on the part OF the inventor. For ex-
ample, man who knows nothing of
the practical work of steam engineer
ing may invent and patent q device
in that line which will appear to him
and other professionals, to be q
great advance on existing methods
for generating or utilizing steam, but
which will be condemned by the most
competent judges. In all kinds of
machinery the same cause is prolific
source of disappointment. The thing
invented may be very ingenious, may
have cost vast deal of mental labor
and may attest the intellectual superb
GRITTY of the inventor; but if it be de-
'ficient in practical utility, If its intro
duction will not be profitable to those
for whom it is intended, 1t goes to the
lumber yard of oblivion. Persons
who are utterly ignorant of gunnery
frequently invent something In that
line, but they very rarely attain suc-
cess. The same rule holds good in
all the industrial arts, including
agriculture, mining, manufactures,
ship-buildipg and rsilroading. Brill
ancy of intellect and original
ity in conception are offset
by lack of practical know
ledge. Another reason why fall
ure is 80 frequently encountered Is
lack of capital to yerfeet, construct
and demonstrate. Many inveD tions
of great value are lying dormant be-
cause good deal of money would be
required to show the world what they
are and what advantages they pos
sess. This is especially true of
inventions that menace great
interests. When a patent threatens
humiliation of vast values, when
it proposes to sweep away plants that
Represents millions of dollars, capital
hesitates to develop it, for its intro.
duction means a fight to the death
between gigantic conflicting inter-
ests. In catering to the damands OF
fashion, elegance and luxury, there
are many ventions brought out that
do not pay, because there ia not and
can not be large demand for them.
The best element of success In q patent
is adaptation to universal or general
want To do some simple thing that
is done by the masses, and to do it
cheaper and better than before, is to
succeed. To furnish healthful and
innocent amusement in new
and attractive way, and to do
it at small cost, is to put money In your
purse. Anything that the people will
recognize as meeting want tasteful
ly and chesply will find purchasers.
some of the most profitable patents
paying the best in proportion to the
time and money eXpended-have been
the simplest things, so simple that
almost everybody, on seeing one of
them. wonders why he or she dld not
think of it long ago.