Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-01-15
ROMANCE OF PATENTS.
HOW THE INVENTORS ARE RE-
WARDED FOR GENIUS.
lIOnors and Emoluments for the Originators OF
Valuable keas-SOme Of the Singul.a
Articles from Which Fortunes
Have Been Made.

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
patent in whole or in part. The sale
OF every such article yields its inventor
profit If we purchase box of paper
collars a portion of the price goes to
the inventor: If we buy II sewing ma
| chine the probability is that we pay n
royalty to as many as Il dozen or fifteen
| inventors ut once Lord Brougham
often said that he would gladly have
exchanged his honors and emolume nts
for the profits and renown OF the in
ventor OF the peramblator or sewing
machine. We are not wishful to lead
our readers to covct what are termed
large fortunes" as really conducive
to happiness or usefulness. "Fortune'
is itself Il heather and not a christian
word. But ''invention" is another
thing, and the remunerative results
are Il fitting element for consideration
in these days. Howe, the originator
of the sewing machine, derived ElOO.-
900 II year from it, and from their
mechanic improvements the celebrated
Wheeler 4 Wilson are reputed to
have divided for many years an
income of t20c. 900, while the author
OF the Singer sewing machine left at
his decease nearly 100000 900. The
telephone, the planning machine and
the rubber patents realized many mil
lions, 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 tit the
socket. made the present enormous
business of a well-known firm of Lon
don 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 Il
two-inch tube into the ground until
water was reached, and then attaching
apump. This simple contrivance was
patented, and the tens of thousands Of
farmers VINO have adopted it have been
obliged to pay him a royalty, estimated
at 100000. A large profit was real
lied by the Inventor who patented the
idea of making umbrellas out of al
paca instead of gingham, and the
patentee of the improved paragon
frame" Samuel Foxy lately left by
will f170, 600 out Of the profits of his
invention. The weaving, dyeing, lace
and ribbon making trades originated
and depend for their existence upon
ingenious machinery, the result of an
inIinity OF inventive efforts.
, The discovery of the perforated SUBJ
stance used for bottoming chairs and
for other purposes has made its invent
or IL millionaire. George Yeaton, the
inventor in question. was poor Yam
; kee cane-seater in Vermont. He frs1
distinguished himself by inventing a
machine for weaving cane, but he
made no money out of it, as some one
u stole his idea and had the process.
). patented. After number of years
experimenting Yeaton at last hit upor
u this invention, which consists of ;
number OF thin layers OF boards o
. different degrees OF hardness glued
o together to give pliability. He formed
company, and to-day he has Il plan
II valued al $500. 900. and is in the receip
u Of q princely annual revenue derived
p rom this inven ton. Carpet beating
from being ar untold nuisance, has be
come a lucrative trade through inven
tive genius and mechanical contriv
IL ance Even natural curiosity has beef
II turned to account in the number o
70 automatic boxes for the sale OF good
= of all kinds, and fabulous dividend
Q have been paid by the companies own
n ing the patents. The most profitable
t. inventions have been the improvement
in simple devices, things Of every-da
IL use. that every body wants. Anon
)" the number OF patents for small thing
3 may be mentioned the ''stylographi
e. pen." and pen for shading in differ
ent colors. producing $4,000 pc
L. annum. A large profit has bee
IN reaped by a miner who invented
20 metal rivet or eyeIet at each end I
" the mouth OF coat and trOuse
" pocket to resist the stra
X caused by the carriage of pieces OF OF
- and heavy tools. In recent leg
~ action it TRANSFERRED in evidence TIL
the inventor Of metal plates used
protect soles and heels Uf boots frol
- wear sold upward Of 100000 plate
~ n 1879. and in 1887 the number reacl
80 ed 143.OOO.OOo. producing realize
" profits OF quarter OF million I
=. money. Another useful invention
49, the charming weaver" device for I
ho pairing stockings. uudergarments. etc
=. the sale Of which is very large and i
creasiug. As large a sum as was CIV,