The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-08-31
A REDUCTION oE- PRICES.
The Advantage That Accrues to Manufac-
turer and User In Low Prices.


turer and User In Low Prices.
Il is time that in certain cases sweeping
reduction should be made. 1t is proper-it
is needful to stimulate research and inven-
ton, that the man who makes desirable
machine should profit largely by IL. True,
our patent Office confers no protection be-
yond the mere issuance of paper, and any
thief who wants to steal an idea can take
It If he has money enough to embroil the
inventor in a suit, for the patent office,
whose decision should be final, will do
nothing to sustain him against his adver-
sary, but even allowing this patent usu-
ally insures success to an inventor who has
made anything that the public really wants.
There are two considerations, however,
in the singleness of right that Is implied in
patent. One is that the inventor shall
profit by his work, and the other is that the
public shall likewise profit by 1t. The one
gains money; the other pays It to him in
exchange for his new convenience. II he
does not intend to use his right of sole
manufacture, he might as we'll have kept
still about his discovery and saved the
money that the process of securing pat
cnt must cost him. Formerly it seems TO
have been customary among inventors to
satisfy themselves with q moderate return
Of prosperity for their work, but latterly
they are disposed to regard the public as
made for their enrichment. In most COM
mercial or speculative essays IL is thought
to be we'll IL q gain of or per cent O year
Is realized, which would imply an increase
Of that degree in the selling price over the
cost price of the articles or securities that
are dealt in, but some of the manufactur-
ers, rs of typewriters and bicycles, appear
10 think that profit anything short of 200
per cent is little enough on each machine.
A typewriter that costs 800 In the mar
ket Is made for about S15. Add to this
liberal estimate for Office rent, the employ
of agents, advertising and so on, and 1t Is
still difficult to see the justice of charging
such o sum. Moreover, the machine Is
made expensive to its owner after he gets
II. Every rod, bolt, screw, wheel or what
not that has to be replaced in the natural
wear of the instrument is sold for twice the
amount of money that would be charged
for similar bit of mechanism devoted to
any other purpose. Even bit of ribbon
charged with ink costs 81 It Is plain that
those who make typewriters want to be
rich and want 70 be rich quick This Is not
the case alone with the makers Of type
writer's. 1t is whispered that bicycles that
sell for 800 and moro cost less than S25 TO
put together, and to look at them one would
be inclined TO admit that as quite possible
There areother mechanisms, used in certain
trades and less known TO the general public,
where the profits are held TO approach the
impossible.
The effect4of the expiration of patents on
things for which there is a popular demand
has been to cause On immediate 'slump"
IN prices. because the ideason which money
has been made then become free to rivals
Pianos-tbough they ere still exorbitant-
ly high-organs, sewing machines and
watches have thus come within the power
of purchase by people Of moderate means,
and we believe in no case has disaster
come to the manufacturers In consequence
of this popularization of prices The re-
duction Of market value has been Offset by
an increase In the volume of material sold.
Eagle