The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-02-07
PATENT ROMANCES.
Huge Fortunes Reared from TrIning IN
yentiOns.

scarcely an article of human convenience
or necessity in the market to-day that
has not been the subject of patent in
whole or in part. The sale of every such
article yields its Inventor profit. If we
purchase box of paper collars portion
of the price goes to the inventor; il we buy
a sewing machine the probability is that
we pay a royalty TO as many as a dozen
or fifteen inventors al once" Lord
Brougham often said that he would glad
ly have exchanged his hcnors and emolu-
ments for the profits and renown of the
perambulator of sowing machines. We
are not wishful to lead our readers to
covet what are ter ned Large fortunes"
as really conducive to happiness OF use
fulness "Fortune'' is itself heather
aud not christian VOID. But "inven-
ton" is another thing, aud the remune
rative results are a fitting element fox
consideration IN these days, Howe, The
originator OF the sewing machine, derived
$50, 600 year from it, and from their
mechanical improvements the celebrated
Wheeler 81 Wilson are reputed to have
divided for many years an income of 81,
600, 900, while the author of the Singer
sewing machines left al his oecease
nearly $15, 900, 900. The telephone, the
planning machines and the rubber pate uts
realized many millions, while The simple
idea of heating the blast in iron smelling
increased the wealth of the country by
hundreds of millions. The patent for
making the lower ends of candles taper
| instead of parallel, so as to more easily
fit the socket, make the present enor-
nous business of well-known London
chandler. The 'drive well'' was an idea
of Colonel Green, whose troops during
| the war were in want of water. He con-
| celved the notion OF driving two-inch
| tube into the ground until water IVES
| reached, and then attaching a pump.
This simple contrivance was patented,
| and the tens OF thousands of farmers
who have adopted it have been Obliged
to pay him royalty, estimated at 50,
100000 A large profit was realized by
the inventor who patented the idea of
making mbrellas out Of ALPACA instead
Of ginghamS, aud the patentee of the I'M
proved paragon frame" (Samuel Fox }
lately left by will $3.50, 600 out Of the
profits OF his invention. The weaving,
dyeing, lace and ribbon making trades
originated and depend foI their exist
ence upon ingenious machinery, the re-
suit of an infinity of inventive efforts.
The discovery of the perforated sub
stance used for bottoming chairs and for
other purposes has made its inventor {
millionaire. George Yeaton, the inyen
tor in question, was poor ankee, cane
scatter in Vermont. He first distinguished
himself by inventing a machine for weav
ing cane, but he made no money out oil
| it, as some one stole his idea and haC
the process patented. After a number
of years experimenting, Ieaton at las
hit upon this invention, which consists
of a number of thin layers of boards O
different degrees of hardness glued toget
her to give pllability. He formed {
company, aud to day he has plant
valued at $500, 900, and is in receipt OF {
princely annual revenue derived from
this invention. Carpet beating, from
being an untold nuisance, has become
a lucrative trade through inventive
genius aud mechanical Continuance
Even natural curiosity has beeu turned
to account in the humber OF automatic
boxes for tho sale Of goods of all kinds,
and fabulous dividends have been paid
by the companies owning the patents
The most profitable inventions have
been the improvements i'll simple devices
things of every day use, tha5 everybody
wants. Among the number of patents
for small things my be mentioned tie
"sty Geographic pen, and a pen shading
in different colors, producing 500, 0OC
per annum. A large profit has been
reapcd by miner who invented meta
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 the recent lega
action it trauspired in evidence that the
inventor of metal plates to protect soles
and heels of boots from wear, sold up.
ward of II, 900, 600 plates in 1879, and il
1887 the number reached 143, 900, 000
producing realized profits of quarter Of
million of money. Another useful in
v3ntion is the "darning weaver" de-
vice for repairing stockings, under gar
ments, ETC., the sale OF which is very
large and interesting. AS large a sum
as was ever obtained tor any invention
was enjoyed by the inventor Of the in
vert,d glass-bell to hang over gas to
protect ceilings from seiug blackened
and scarcely less lucrative patent was
that for simply putting emery powder
on cloth. Frequently time and circum.
stances are wanted before an invention
is appreciated, but it will be seen that
patience will be rewarded, for tho inven-
tor Of the roller skate made over $1,000,
900, notwithstanding the fac, THAI his
patent had nearly expired before its
| value was ascertained.
The gimlet- pointed screw has produced
more wealth than most silver mines, and
the American who first thought of put
ting copper tips to chiIdren's shoes is as
| L. 30. ln,, L. r.. 40
| 600, 600 in United States bonds. Upwards
| of $40. 900 year was made by the in
ventor of the common needle-throader.
To the foregoing might be added thou
sands of tritiing but useful articles from
which handsome incomes are derived or
for which large sums have been paid.