The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-28
WOMEN AS INVENTORS.
They Enter Every Field Where Men
Have Been Successful.
New York Tribune

New York Tribune.
Prior to 1860 there were scarcely half
dozen patents taken out by women, and of
the several hundred models now on exhibi-
ton at the Patent Office nine-tenths have
been Invented within the last twenty years.
AT the Atlanta exposition the frs. display
this country was arranged by the Patent
Office in the government exhibit, says
writer In the Independent. Not less than 125
in the field of invention, were shown, and
many OF these were as great a 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
ness or woman's development as an in
ventor.
One New England woman has made her.
earning $40, 900 a year.
A patent on building blocks, with beveed
ends and. alternate rows of tongues and
taken out by Julia E. Meyenberg, Of Chi
cago, recently. Abby s. Vose, of Provi-
d I,eantb r. l., patented during the sam
chlne, by which the distance between the
Duttonhoies is automatically measured. An
improved nhln a.. and quite intricate washing ma
was patented by Cecilia A. Brewer. and =
water filter by Minerva r. Buckley: a nor.
f f,ere rope by Bertha Cronenberg, and a
Inc omciai organ of the Patent Office
puoilshes the list of patents granted every
wentors anu ar the names OF several women in,
ventors appear upon nearly every page. Ten
years ago II was impossible to find a woma -
inventor IN the lists more often than two
or three times a year. wv
PATENTS are now taken out nv u,or,o., -.
agricultural implements, mining machinerv
electrical contrivances, and even genera /
raIiroad and mill machinery
The value of the patents invantaa 49,
women depends upon how one looks az Thy by
question number of women inventors
;nvent;ars large royalties upon their simple
tunes upon more intricate products of their
genus. scores of simple household and dress
beside bringing in money to them thew ara
iessenlng the labors of thousands of women
ithroughout the country. a woman knows
ihtuitlvely what is needed i'm house. and
her genius has made modern convenience
year. every
ents taken out by women, which WELD good
fortunes 10 them annually. and many Others
h Mneh hare are de destined 70 sell well when they
inventor Is drawing about 5000 a year for
a simple glove buttoner, and another ha :
coined money from an adjustable waist e,,n
porter. There are many health devices
patented by women, such as water filters
dress supporters. shoulder braces and exer
cising machines.
In the matter of small inventions for sim
pnfylng woman's wardrobe. men have GEN
erally led the way. and even to-day thew
take out far more patents of this nat,'rs
than the women do. The latter. however
are fruitful in inventing toys puzzles and
games Tor young people. and some OF our
most successful ones are placed TO their
credit. The demand for new games and TOYS
Is becoming so great in our cities that a
hunter OF women inventors make big in
come In continuing something new in this
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
Consequently the real inventors do not re-
ceive the credit due 10 them and the official
record does not tell the whole story