The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-12
MANY OLD INVENTIONS !
Some of the Freak Devices Received at
the Patent Office

From the New York Times
Labor saving devices are always In de-
mand; the thousands of inventors of this
country are all devoting 80 per cent of
their time to producing such things, each
in the hope of winning for himself fame
and fortune, cash and credit" said a
patent attorney the other day
''One of the strangest of these schemes
to tighten the worlds work is a patent
recently obtained by an ingenious person
in Des Moines Ia. It is called the self
tipping hat, and is designed to save the
popular person from the fatiguing labor
Of removing his hat every time he meets
one of the fair sex with whom he is ac-
quainted
Much valuable energy is utilized in
tipping the hat repeatedly says the in
ventor. and my device will relieve one
of 1t and at once cause the hat to be
lifted from the head in natural man
ner' 1t Is novel device. In other words,
for effecting polite salutations by eleva-
ton and rotation of the hat on the head
of the saluting party, when said person
bows to the person saluted, the actuation
of the hat being produced by mechanism
within 1t and without the use of the hands
In any manner MI
No truly rural person ever could have
been responsible for the invention of eve
glasses for chickens, which was protected
by United States patents recently. The
glasses are modelled much after the fash
lon of grandpa's Specs the nose rest
being enlarged to go over the chickens
head while the ear hooks are Joined In
the back.
| mo claim Is made that the chickens
eyesight Is poor. OF that magnifers ever
are needed that It may the better discover
the reluctant worm or the elusive bug,
but the inventor does say that the glasses
| are designed to prevent chickens pecking
| out each others eyes The inventors at
tempt to force all chickens to wear the
device by legislative action In Kansas did
not succeed, I may say.
Members of secret societies. who some-
times may be put to much trouble to Sc
cure sufficiently irascible goat, for the
purpose of initiating new members in
| their respective lodges, will be glad to
learn that the inventive genius of Amer
lea has come to their assistance. The de-
vice Is a mocha meal goat, which can be
put In the closet when not needed that
requires no feeding and practically no
care. Also IT may be handled by its keep
er without FEAR OF consequences. This
mechanical goat is mounted on a tripod
which runs on three wheels, the front one
being loosely pivoted A handle In the
rear Is for the purpose of pushing 1t.
The candidate, blindfolded, Is led to the
side of the animal, and on It he takes his
seat, placing his feet IN stirrups on either
side. AS the goat is pushed about the
lodge room a series of wheels and rods
geared to the wheels on which 1t runs
causes the animal to buck and rear in a
fearful manner. keeping the candidate In
continual danger Of being shaken of
Residents Of Kansas and other states
| in the cyclone belt, who are forced to re-
tire frequently to cyclone cellars, and
| then organize searching parties to find
their home when the storm Ia passed, will
be pleased with the invention of a lorna
do-proof house. This is built in the shape
of a submarine. or a dirigible balloon.
From one end there is vane. or tall
which Is designed to keep the other point
| ing In the direction of the wind, the house
being mounted on a pivot at its center
and turns freely on circular track.
Tails are common enough on windmills
and weather vanes but here Is probably
the first time that the idea has been
adapted to residences. The Withdrawing
end of the house, the inventor says, is re-
inforced and windowless, and the door
opens on flight of steps. wheeled at the
bottom, which follow circular path that
tenants may always have place upon
which to descend. The inventor says his
idea is particularly applicable to hospitals.
and that by anchoring It It can be ar
ranged to permit of continuous sunlight"