The record-union., 1899-08-01
WOMEN AS INVENTORS.
They Enter Every Field Where
Men Have Been Successful.

They Enter Every Field Where
Men Have Been Successful.
Prior to 1860 there were scarcely half
a dozen patents taken out by women.
and of the several hundred models now
on exhibition at the Patent Office nine
last twenty years.
At, the Atlanta exposition the first
display of strictly womens inventions
ever made in this country was arranged
by the Patent Office in the Government
exhibit, says a writer in the 'Independ-
ent." Not less than 125 models, show
ing the achievements by women in the
field of invention, were shown, and
many of these were as great surprise
to the women of the country as to the
men. A great amount of ignorance of
the inventive genius of women has been
current in the past, owing partly to the
lack Of interest shown by women in
patents early in the present century,
and partly to the suddenness of wo-
mans development as an inventor.
One New England woman has made
herself wealthy by her inventions, one
alone earning $4,000 a year.
A patent on building blocks, with
beveled ends and alternate rows of ton
CUES and grooves for locking them to-
gether was taken out by Julia E. Mey-
enberg Of Chicago recently. Abbey s.
Vose of Providence, r. l., patented
during the same month an improved
buttonhole cutting machine, by which
the distance between the buttOnholes IS
automatically measured. An improved
and quite intricate washing machine,
with the washboard at the bottom, was
patented by Cecilia A. Brewer, and a
water filter by Minerva r. Buckley; a
portiere rope by Bertha Cronenberg,
and a friction hinge by Emmeline w.
Philbrook
The official organ of the Patent Of
flee publishes the list of patents grant
ed every week. and the names of sew
eral women inventors appear upon
nearly every page. Ten years ago it
was impossible to find a woman inven.
tor in the lists more often than two or
three times a year.
Patents are now taken out by women
on agricultural implements, mining ma
chinery, electrical contrivances and
even general railroad and mill machin-
cry.
The value of the patents invented by
women depends upon how one looks at
the question. A number of women in
ventors are making large royalties
upon their simple inventions and others
nave acquired fortunes upon more in
tr1cate products of their genius. Scores
OF simple household and dress articles
have been invented by women and,
besides bringing in money to them they
are lessening the labor of thousands OF
women throughout the country. A
woman knows intuitively what is need
ed in house, and her genius has made
modern conveniences that are bringing
in rich royalties every year.
There are over one hundred valuab BILE
patents taken out by women, which
yield good fortunes to them annually.
and many others which are destined to
sell we'll when they have been put upon
the market. One woman inventor IS
drawing about $1,000 a year for a sim.
pie glove buttoner. and another has
coined money from an adjustable waist
supporter There are many health de,
vices patented by women, such as water
filters, dress supporters. shoulder braces
and exercising machines
In the matter of small inventions for
simplifying women's wardrobe men
have generally led the way, and even
to-day they take out far more patents
OF this nature than the women do. The
latter, however, are fruitful in invent
ing toys, puzzles and games for young
people, and some of our most sucress-
ful ones are placed to their credit The
demand for new games and toys is be-
coming so great in our cities that a
number of women inventors make H.
big income in contriving something new
IN TINS line every season. Many of
their inventions are not patented in
their names, but firms and dealers in
toys and games buy the thing outright
from them and secure the patent. Con-
sequently the real inventors do not re-
ceive the credit due to them. and the
official record does not tell the whole
story.
There are naturally many patents ap-
piled for by women that are rejected
because the ideas have already been
covered by others. \ considerable
number of the applications contain
ideas that are of no value whatever,
and they are often rejected on the
score of absurdity. But in this respect
the women inventors do not differ from
the men. More silly aud irrational in
ventions are sent to the Patent Office
than can be imagined. Many are ac-
companied by elaborate models and
drawings, but, through the ignorance
OF the inventors. some vital principle of
mechanics is neglected which stamps
the whole creation as absurd.
one or two women have even sent in
models for machines claiming to solve
the mystery of perpetual motion. but
as ruling of the Patent Office has ex-
cluded all patents of this nature from
consideration, the applications were
naturally rejected. York Tribune.
Color of Summer C1othinp.