The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-07-26

r XPERT in wireless telegraphy
X and telephony. writer, printer
- and binder, expert in photog-
raphy, engineer, clockmaker, sculptor,
PAINTER, inventor and dentist, such
are the attributes of DR.. Felix Fran
Ghetto, the wonder man of Paris.
His fat in Paris IS full of marvel
Gus inventions which he has discov-
cred and constructed, and of which he
is proud and jealous. While he per-
mits any one to look at them, he at
present objects to any one taking pic
lures, and until his patents are Off
cially recognized the secret of con-
struction must remain his.
DR.. Franchette is a modest man, but
nevertheless is more proud of his title
of doctor than any of his inventions
The title was conferred upon him
many years ago during a trip to Can
ada, where he gave a series of lee
lures at Montreal University on dem
tai surgery. Before he left and after
he regretfully declined an invitation
to remain at the university as chief
of the dentistry section he was made
doctor honoris causa.
In a long conversation with a re-
porter of THE NEW YORK HERALD DR.
Franchette expressed regrets that he
is now getting old, although, despite
his 65 years, he appears remarkably
alert, and that he did not stay in Can
ada or even cross the border into
America.
America is the country Of prog
ross" he remarked. with my inven-
tions I might have possibly furthered
the cause of science. Here in France
great interest is always shown toward
an inventor and his work, but that is
all. Little encouragement is given.
Not that l seek Encouragement, for l
have worked hard all my life, and my
inventions have in reality been my
hobby"
DR.. F'ranchette to-day, apart from
his dentistry institution, is president
of a society of study of wireless in
it's various forms and director Of the
School of Dentistry in Paris, a post
he has occupied for thirty-tWo years.
He began life as an apprentice in
school for clockmaking. He passed
out of the school with the highest
honors obtainable in 1874 and then
learned dentistry, obtaining all his de-
grees very rapidly. He took up his
profession with clockworll as a side
lire and hobby. His establishment
soon became known, and the success
he attained as a dentist enabled him
to devote more money and energy to
the ingenious inventions terminating
in his mind and which to-day have
made him q DR.. Faust.
His first invention was the ''mys-
terious clock" To an outsider it
merely looks like a plain and trans
parent piece of glass on which figures
in Roman style from one to twelve
have been. gilded, while two gilded
hands have been placed in the center
of the glass face. There is no pendu-
lum and no machinery is visible. The
works are contained in an inclosed
boxlilxe arrangement joining the two
hands. NThe clock keeps perfect time.
81 just did that for bit of fun" said
Franchette, and the few clocks [
made like this one L gave to friends
as presents"
Franchette's one great point is that
he has never bought parts for any of
his inventions. He has made every
thing himself in a model mechanical
plant in 81 disuSed kitchen in the fiat.
He has built two wireless sets in an
other part of the flat, with one of
which he is able to get flashes sent
out from Arlington. Franchette has
made his own camera, his motion pic
ture machine and fixed the installa-
ton of the latter himself He has
never had to call in outside aid or buy
any part of the machines he has made.
OF course he has had to purchase raw
materials but everything from a screw
to dynamo he has me- Re himself
His dentists room S probably the
most modern in Paris with it's yards
and yards of concealed electric wires.
The first thing Franchette shows
visitors is an especially adapted disin-
fecting machine electrically controlled
and driven. This is placed high in his
surgical room and resembles an cleo
trio fan with an electric bulb attached.
The ian is fixed on to a bottle, and by
the mere pressing of a button the bot
tie revolves while the fan spreads a
disinfecting liquid about the room. The
lamp merely shows if enough LIQUID is
feeding the fan. After a given length
of time the bottle automatically stops
turning and goes back into it's original
place. Clockwork controls it.