New-York tribune., 1907-01-27
Il PRIEST INVENTOR.
Many Mechanical D6Uices Credited
to His Skill.

Father John Milo. OF ST. Roch's Church. is an
inventor. and in a little room adjoining the
church. at No. 93O East 15Oth street. which he
has fitted up a workshop. he spends what
spare time ne can get from his pastoral duties
hard at work on a mechanical contrivanoe from
which he expects startling results but which
he will not explain or describe until IL is pat
ented
How many patents have 1 taken out?" he
said. In answer TO q question Really. can't
remember. have been inventing things ever
since came to this country. twenty years ago.
As boy was Of n mechanical turn OF mind
and shortly before I left Italy I patented a
mechanical mouse. which when wound up
would run about IN "a nfelike manner sold
1t 10 Frenchman for 1000 lire. In five years
he made n fortune out OF It, but + was satisfied
1t is not often that the inventor reaps the bene-
fit OF his invention. but this thing am working
on now I expect to make lot Of money out Of
Will be more careful this time. I will get the
patent myself"
Father Milo showed models and drawings OF
several inventions he has patented. One was
slot machine IN the form OF pig. If it's tail
Is pulled. IL sQueals, while at the same time a
dial registers the strength OF the pull II a.
plunger on the pigs back Is pushed after put
ting penny in the slot, the pig opens his mouth
and out drops piece OF chewing gum. Press
converted into musician. and instead OF
squealing plays tunes.
Il was offered $4,000 for that pig seven years
ago by a pepsn chewing gum company" saws
Father Milo a little regretfully but I re-
fused it on the advice Of friends II was the
first offer received and was willing to take
it, but they said: Wait: you will get more
Soon after that a bill was passed classifying
slot machines as gambling devices. and did not
try 70 do anything with II after that Nov
the market Is flooded with them, and I don't
suppose could get $500 for mine Il could
make them In the shape of any animal. made
goat Tor a friend Of mine in Fordharn''
Among other things Father Milo has Invented
are self-wtndinB watch. no larger than the
ordinary watch that requires winding every
night; pedometer. which registers accurately
the number of miles walked from one to q tbors
sand and automatically resets itself. yvatch
makers tools. which greatly simplify the arr or
matchmaking; a machine for binding pamphIets
on loose sheets or any kind by the simple orsss-
ure or handle, and numerous other devices OF a
mechanical nature.
In addition TO being an inventor Father Milo
is expert plumber and stearnftter All ths
plumbing and steamfitting In ST Roch's Church
of which he is pastor, was done by him and
with the assistance OF some of his parishioners
he put in the boilers and connected them The
church was completed. little over a wear ago
Father Milo is proud of his church and parish
and would rather talk of them than OF his inyan-
lions. In fact. he was reluctant 10 talk about
the latter at all. 1T does not look we'll FOR n
priest to be advertised in the nevspapars as an
inventor he said
He has patented a set of electric chimes which
ne hopes to install shortly in the beIfry of his
church He has also invented a new shaft for
cent less waste or power than the one now In
"