Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-23
CLEVER WOMEN INVENTORS.
More md More Patents Taken Ont by
Them of Late.

More md More Patents Taken Ont by
| Them of Late.
| From the New York Sun.
| Men acquainted with the field say that
| fully IS per cent of the patents taken out
| by women in the last FIVE years are yield
| ing profitable returns. The woman who in
vented satchel-bottomed paper bags, for in
| stance, had an offer of $4,000 for the pat
| ent before she left Washington. A simple
| glove buttoner is bringing to the woman
| inventor an income of 5000 year. A wo-
| man clerk in a department store invented
| a parcel delivery system which netted sub
stantia! returns. One New England mill
| liner. herself an inventor enjoys the right
| to several patents that represent the in
| genuity of the women operatives in her
| employ. She shares profits with the invent
| ors. and one of the devices first put in op-
| GRAFTON in this factory brings in $4,000 a
| year.
| 1t often happens that a woman employer,
| from familiarity with the machinery or
business methods in use. thinks out some
time ana labor saving machine. She shows
| the model to the manager of her depart
ment. He tells the firm of its merits and
| they arrange with the employee for the
| exclusive use OF the invention. The en-
| p,oye goes on quietly with her work in the
store or mill. The public never hears of
| her, put success has been a stimulus and
she keeps on the lookout for further in
VentiVe opportunity.
Much of womans present activity in in
Ventions is ascribed to the better educa-
uonal facilities now obtainabie. The college
standard In high and popular courses in
manual training have taught women to
use their hands well as brains Not
understanding this large proportion of
the more successful women inventors are
those who nave had only medium or limited
educational advantages, but have beep
daily toilers in the various lines of in.
dustry. A Rhode Island woman invented
an Improved button hole-cutting machine
that measures the distance between the
button holes automatically, with much
pront ana convenience to garment makers
"A lock with 1890 combinations is a wo-
man invention, also d letter box for the
OUTSIDE of homes that shows signal when
there is a letter inside for the postman to
coiect an invention now in constant use
A woman has just perfected valuable an
paratus for removing wool skins by cleo
| tricity, showing that women are quick to
adopt the modern facilities of the age to
practical purpose.
The woman inventor must never IoSa
slght of practicality if she would succeed
other women brain workers may at times
indulge in dreaming and theorizng, but
me woman inventor however high her
nights of fancy, must always come back
TO the practical. Many women's inventions
are submitted to the patent office. accom-
panied by elaborate models, but SO con-
splcuouSly lacking in some vital principle
as 10 be unavailng. \ good many are re-
Jected on the score of absurdity bur ac-
cordlng to official testimony the women as
pirants do not differ from the men in this
respect Many women submit practical
Specifications and fail to score success not
ircm lack of originality, but because the
inventor was ignorant of previous patents
covering the same point. No matter how
brilliant an inventors idea NAV seem he
Is advised to search thoroughly the patent
office records before making a model Some
women have taken out five and six patents
woman whose first invention in early youth
was corset has lately patented several
inventions relative to reservoirs and irri-
cation.
The northwest, the middle and the east
ern states have produced the most active
women inventors. The south has yielded
the feWest number, but the southern wo-
i:eh VINO nave entel ed the field at all have
been financially successful Two jmportant
AIDS to agriculture were the inventions of
an AZ ALahama woman. A working woman in
t>ortn carolina succeeded with a culinary
invention. Florida matron natented 9
useful car heating apparatus Texas
woman invented novel folding tent and
anotner southern woman a fnger-exercis-
ing device of value to musicians 4 west
erh widow patented method of desul-
pnurlzing ores; another invented compo-
si1ion solder of use to metal workers.
Women inventors from the big cities have
almost invariably patented articles ner
tanning to the elegance of dress and house
furnishings Those from the country dis
active no
way OF dress-drafting patterns novel de-
vices Tor adjusting portieres and curtains
ana patents useful in the manufacture of
artistic goods. Many facilities for clerical
use nave been patented by city women
such as safety envelopes improved tvpa,
writing appliances copy holders letter
openers, &c. Most Of these women were
employed at some time as clerks in busi |
ness offices and felt the lack of convent
ences which they afterward supplied.
a hulnoef OF women school teachers are
successful inventors and have patented
educational systems and devices also kim
dergarten Implements erasers school hays
and book rests. Women from the small
towns III Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota and
limos nave been prolific in inventing
household conveniences, washing and clean. |
ING apparatus, facilities for sanitation gar
ifleht bindings, shields, fastenings and dress
improvements. New England women have
brought out attachments and improvements
that have TO do with saddles harnesses
and vehicles, also the needs of barn and
garden They have invented butter work
e s' Plumbing appliances. brushes for clean
ing ana hre hnding compositions TOYS
games, puzzles and amusement knick-
knacks. A considerable proportion of the
Iakirs goods, novelties and trick pastimes
sold on the streets originated nv women
they sell the patent right PROMPTLY to the
propreitors of news agencies who incInde
sucn small gear in their stationers' and
GO oSi the supplies A fair proportion
CT the speciality goods inventors and MAX
ers are women. Many whose trade marks
are registered at the patent office have
made fortunes. either through shrewdness
In putting their wares on the market ar
because of the articles worth. These in |
Vehtlons include patent medicines, cou1plex-
ION soaps and waters. hair ointments and
restorers and an infinty of health and
toilet knick-knacks found at the drug
shops AUS
me first woman to take out a patent I'm |
america was Mrs. Mary Kies, who in 1863,
invented process for weaving straw with
SIX or thread During the next twenty-dve
years only fifteen patents were granted TO |
women IN the next TWENTY-FIVE wears
tnirty-nVe patents were granted and ii was |
not until after the civil war that there
was any marked increase in the number of |
women inventors. There were l52 models |
OF Women's inventions exhibited at the At |
ianta exposition, and since then the pat
ent office has had a specially classified list |
OF "omen's Inventions prepared for public |
inspection.