The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-04
INVENTOR HENRY GOEBEL
THE MAN wEO SAYS Hs IS THE
PIONEER OF ELEC cRIC LIG aTING.

But Thought There Was No Money
In It-He Will Not Fight Edison,
Whom He Respec.s-Now an Inmate
Of a Charitable Institution.
From the Nelo York sun.
Henry Goebel, the man for whom is
claimed the invention OF the incaudescent
lamp, and whose lamps, manufactured
thirty-fve years ago, are about to be used
In a legal attempt to wrest the exclusive
right of manufacture from the General
Edison Company, has been for the last two
years an inmate of the German Masonic
home in the village of Tappan, n. Y. This
is a charitable institution for old men, sup
ported by the Masonic fraternity.
The aged inventor, who. though poor and
unfortunate, is still erect and manly and in
the possession of his full mental faculties,
occupies tiny room on the second floor,
which, according to the announcement
painted on the door, was furnished by the
INLAND lodge. Goebel was a matchmaker
and worked at bis trade until January, 1891,
when, on the death or his wife, he retired
81 this retreat.
The story which this old MAJ tells is des-
tined before long to re tested in court pro-
ceediDgs involving more millions even than
El6 famous aCblOuS which resulted last De-
cember in the victory Of the Edison people
over competitors who claimed the patent.
Upon the truth OF this story rests the ex-
istence of every company which has been
manufacturing incandescent lamps in de-
fance OF Edison interests. Already Mr.
Goebel is in the hands Of lawyerF for these
rival companies, who are keeping a sharp
eye upon hun. II here is proof for what he
says, this attack on the Edison patents may
DrOVe succeSsfui
The old inventor was not to be found at
the institution in Tappan yesterday, having
come to this city last Friday at the request
of lawyers who expect to make him ex-
ceedingly valued to their clients. While in
the city he is staying with his daughter
Mrs. Joseph Opry, in the tenement house at
2O5 East Fortyeeighth street. and there he
was found last evening, working at tenn
porary bench impro Wished upon the station
airy washtubs in the kitchen. He was in
his shirt sleeves, with a black cloth cap
crowning his flowing white hair, an erect
and dignified old man, whose smiling and
expressive face was lighted by very bright
graceful, and, at times, impressive. He
spoke rapidly, with strong German &C.
cent.
mo" he said smilingly. 81 do not ex-
pect 90 make anything out Of this. There
Is no money IN electric lighting. There are
too many stockholders, you know. But
there gentlemen want me to prove that
invented the incandescent lamp, and, as
did, what is the harm Of my proving it (?
They tell me that unless l do prove it their
clients will lose $500, 900, 900 through the
Edison people closing up their factories.
Now, | don't want anybody to lose any
money If can help it, especially since all |
have to do is to prove that l invented the
incandeScent lamp. 50 am perfectly will
ing TO oblige them. Now, don't think l am
fighting Mr.. Edison, for Pm not. l bear
him no i'll will.
''It don't make any difference to me
whether he owns the patent or whether
somebody else does, for there's no money in
it for me anyway. l tell you there Isn't
any money in electric lighting. 1t has to
be divided up among so many stock
holders"
Show did you come to invent the mean
descent lamp, Mr.. GoebeiP asked the re-
porter.
when was young man in Hanover,
where | was born i'll 1918. | learned the
matchmaking trade. had a natural taste
for science and was always experimenting.
invented new tools and made them myself,
and made all kinds of inventions in the
mechanism of watches and clocks. was
an optician. too, and made lenses and optical
instruments. THIS was not my fathers
trade. He was a manufacturer OF choco-
lAJ6s 1l6 Was COuhul TO NEW OK once.
well. my work took me to the Technical
school in Hanover, and there l got inter-
ested in electricity. Prof Morighausen
and l made a number of experiments to-
getner, and between US we made some arc
lamps which we worked with batteries
did great deal of experimenting OF home
with batteries. l did not care for money.
l only worked at my trade enough to make
q living, and all the rest Of the time ex-
perimented.
1.-The revolution of AS decided me to come
to America. Things were bad over there.
and it was hard to get along. So my wife
and | came over with little child. We
were seventy-one days on the water. Think
of that these times. When l got here
hired room on Monroe street, and set to
repairing watches.
THAT was on Feb. 2, 1S49 I've always
had watch shop since up to two years ago.
just as soon as | got little ahead went to
experimenting again, and pVe kept that up
ever since, too"
Indeed he has," put in Mrs. Opry, who
wGs watching her father with a proud look
In her face. Father has done nothing all
his life but tinker with things, and he's in
vented o so many things
Yes" snid the old man, musingly. 81
did invent good many things, but l didn't
patent them. / didn't care to do that All
wanted was to experiment. But that was
very expensive when you came TO dahble In
electricity, for batteries cost a great deal to
keep up. We did not have dynamos in
those days. l only worked at watches and
clicks enough to make living for myself
and family. I've had fourteen children =,
but only seven of them are alive now. The
rest Of my time l devoted pretty much to
electricity. l went in for the arc light
first, following up my experiments on the
other side. At last made big one, and
one night, to have little fun, l set it on
top Of the house. Well, then there was a
time
MIR. Goebel laughed till the tears came,
and bis daughter joined In merrily.
Why, they thought it was a fire and
they brought out the engine. And when
they found it wasn't a fire they got mad
and arrested me. In the court l could do
nothing but laugh, and then they all got to
laughing and the judge sent me off. o, |
used to have lots of fun with my electricity.
l put an electric bell in the LIQUOR store
'9und the corner where boys played cards,
A9d had the wire II my shop. IL WAS when
the liquor laws first came up, and when
"a see the roundsmen coming would touch
the button in my shop and give the boys
warning. You know, electricity was just
play to me. l never did anything with it
Out amuse myself.
Well, along about 80 began to expert
nent with incandescent lamps. There had
Deen some experiments in that line some