The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-06-11
BRASS BALLS FOR
HORNS OLD IDEA
Asa kenney Of West Millbury, Mass,
Invented Knobs a Hundred and
Twenty Years Ago, After
He Discovered Need.
NOVELTY WAS SUCCESS
kenney Made the Balls to Make a
Rival Sit Up and Take Notice
and Incidentally Made Him
self Very Wealthy.

Nearly 120 years ago, according to
legends that are still audible in the
region known as West Millbury,
Mass, Asa Kenney, a busy and
worthy resident of that section OF
the town, was roughly tossed over a
stone wall by an irate bull, says the
Worcester Telegram.
AS result of that sudden and
successful flight through the deli
cious air of West Millbury SO long
ago. there was developed an industry
that was Millbury's boast for many
years. In fact, it was Millbury s
pride for the entire century that the
Industry lasted, and it was for quite
a spell Millbury's monopoly 1t was
the famous industry Of manufacture
ing brass balls for the tip end OF the
horns of bulls, cows and such.
The invention was that Of Asa
Kenney. He invented the useful
little novelty just as soon as he was
able to be out Of bed, and the first
creature to receive brass decora-
ton on the tips of his wicked horns
was the same frisky bull that sent
the inventor flying. as
Up to that time Asa Kenney was a
peaceful and prosperous manufac.
turer of clocks, gold beads, surgeons
lancets. silver spoons and other use
full articles, and he had a brass foun'
dry in West Millbury that was an
important factory in its day.
He was also interested in the in
vention of the eccentric lathe, which
was the ingenious machine that turns
gunstocks and rifle butts and other
oddly shaped articles.
Thomas Blanchard, another one OF
MiIlbury's legion of inventors, claim
ed to be the inventor Of the eccentric
lathe, and so did Kenney. Rather
than take their dispute into court,
which they felt might be expensive,
tedious and exasperating, they
agreed to settle the fuss through a
court of arbitration that convened
later on the old common
Kenney closed down his foundry
one evening, ate supper and strolled
over to where Tom Blanchard. the
prize inventor Of Mi11bury, lived.
After an exchange Of greetings.
Asa nut the matter up to Tom and
suggested that. instead OF hiring
LAWYERS to tap their tills, they each
choose a man. and the two choose
another and the tribunal sit in judg.
ment on the case, publicly and at
ease. on the old common.
Tom Blanchard was a terrible man
TO stutter, and it took him some time
TO assent to the proposition, and
then the two inventors cemented the
truce in a quart or so OF fermented
ample Juice, and Asa went home, and
presumably to bed.
The court Of arbitration was called
70 order in due time and the chair.
man called Tom and Asa up before
him to agree to the decision OF the
court and that there should be no
appeal and the decision should be
binding. Each party agreed and. they
all shook hands and ruined the looks
of several gills Of strong watersA .
Asa told his story; Tom, told ms.
They called in witnesses galore. SHOP
workmen, helpers and friends, ana
the court listened with due solemnity
to the evidence. Half of Millbury
and nearly all of Sutton were on
hand to hear the peculiar trial.
!