The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-01-23
G.. T. RITCHEL,
REAL GENIUS,
PASSES AWAY
Bridgeport Man Contributed
Much to the Progress Of
the World

author playwright. musician or paint
er generally achieves fames but it il
often the lot Of tho mechanical gen.
ius. the type OF man who has done
more than any other class to make
modern civilization possible, TO pass
laaa life In undsservsd obsourity. Such
was the fate Of Charles y. Rttchel.
inventor. who passed away at the
bridgeport Hospital Saturday night.
The creator Of hundreds Of mar
velious mechanical devices OF the
greatest utility, It was his lot 10 OBJ
tain only q passing fame from the
more spectacular Of the children OF
his brain, and to obtain neither fame
nor fortune from many devices In.
vented by him, which have brought
wealth to others.
years ago in Portland. Ne. Thirty
years ago he took up his residencs
In this city and while cit1xen OF
Bridgeport, brought out most OF his
useful patents A slave to his own
S Els MIND worked with youthful keen
ness UP to the very day Of his death,
and even the last few weeks OF his
life Witnessed the production OF many
Mr.. Ritchel was the hrst man in
dirisibie balloon, the forerunner of
the modern flying machine. True.
his craft was comparatively crude.
and was operated only by hand pow
er; nevertheless it was actually the
was in the control of the passenger.
aud not at the mercy OF the passing
breezes. This invention electrified
the country and for time made Mr..
Ritchel famous Great things were
sxpeftHd Of r nis s asu1a w Vssf sxhSt
ed in Inventions, while not so spec
tacular. were OF great worth and
practical utility.
He revolutionised the manufacture
Of .bristle brushes. for instance, by
chinery which bores all the holes for
the bristies and shapes. the brush.
block in one action, saving hours or
the old fashioned way.
One of the Ritchel machines will turn
out $4,000 brush blocks Gay. This
cheap brushes Of today, and as
brushes are q household necessity,
every housewife owes not q little to
the mechanical genius Of this 1nven-
tor.
Another of Mr., Ritchel's inventions
made possible one of the greatest Of
modern sports and amusements-rOll-l
er skating. The first and most sue
cessful type of roller !; skate was
brought out by him. As was the case
with many other OF Mr.; -. Rit : n.
hands Of other men before 1t became
successful. and the |
money which should have accrued to
the inventor swas claimed by others.
During his busy and useful life. Mr..
Some of the better known Of these are
the .1afograf'. or concave and convex
mirrors. now a. popular feature OF all
amusement parks; a. trolley pole
which will not jump the wire under |
any conditions. and which makes pos
toys without number. tn
GLIDING some OF the most ingenious
and popular: an economical method OF
puttingl down inlaid floors: a lawn |
mower: submarine boat: substitute |
for door knobs; a Jewel box that gives |
an alarm when touched by anyone but |
the owner: and many other inven-
tons.
The Jewel box ie a/narveiious con-
trivance and Is nov .ssins successfully a
Two Of Mr.. Ritchels latest Inventions
are a can-opener. and an improved
suspender buckle designed for the
Warner Corset Co.
Mr.. Ritchel lived a very busy. life
would take many pages to chronicle |
his interesting inventions. He was
wrapped up in his work and lived
quietly at his home in Bridgeport,
making his residence with his son.
Frederick J. Ritchel. 30 Poplar street.
His death was brought about by a
weeks illness Of pneumonia and was
d great shock to his friends. who
hoped to see him measure out many
years more OF good work in this
world,
Surviving him are four sons. Fred
erick J.. Charles f.. Jr.. and Eugene,
" this city and William OF Chisholm.
MINI. Mr. Ritchel was a widowsr.