INVENTIVE WOMEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22934, 12 January 1938, Page 4

INVENTIVE WOMEN

PLACE IN MODERN WORLD PRINCESS AND GAS STOVE FIRST PAPER DRESS PATTERNS A large percentage of modern patents are in respect of devices intended to help women, and it is often remarked that, considering this, the percentage of women inventors is very low. But, when women do invent something, that something is usually worth while, and becomes a success, whereas hundreds of the patents among the thousands applied for annually come to nothing. It is comparatively easy to compile a long list of important inventions standing to the credit of women, states an overseas writer. Machines and Hairpins The first washing machine, for instance, was invented by an American woman in 1867, although it has frequently been improved upon by male inventors since that date. Four later another woman invented the kink in the hairpin which keeps it in the hair. The romantic story of the woman who invented paper dress patterns wan revealed by an inquiry in the correspondence columns of a newspaper some 15 years ago. The inventor was ft Mrs. Ellis, of England, who was then 96 years of age. She could not recall exactly in what year she invented the paper patterns, but in 1866 she had a flourishing business. The idea arose when one day she cut out a paper dress for a customer. There followed an order from a Liverpool dressmaker, and then regular visits to Paris to see the latest fashions. The patterns were sold at five guineas a set, which included a coloured model that could be dressed and displayed on a dummy, and a number of flat patterns for cutting out. -To-day, paper patterns enable thousands of women to make their own dresses at home. Crinkly Hair Becomes Straight One of the most extraordinary inventions ever made by man or woman was that of Madame Walker, an American woman, who discovered a special lotion for making negroes' hair straight. Madame Walker was a charwoman, when she had a dream in which she was told that she could make a fortune by putting her lotion on the market. -The dream came true, and she made £1,000,000 out of her invention, going to live eventually in a £50,000 £ouse

on the Hudson River, amongst the white millionaires.

The majority of patents taken out every year by women naturally concern the home, but it is not only with houso-

hold inventions that women have succeeded. The daughter of Sir John Thorneycroft invented a new design for motor engines. A special covering for the bottom of ships to prevent barnacles adhering was another invention to the credit of a woman. Women inventors, like other inventors, come from aIL classes, and are of all ages. A famous patent agent told me that he had been surprised at times by the ingenuity and practicability of inventions brought to him by women who had not had the advantage of more tban a very ordinary education. At least two Princesses have turned inventor. One of them was Princess Stephanie of Belgium, who invented a novel and practical gas stove for use in cottages. The name of tfos other Princess is unknown, but the patent was taken out in 1912, and deal! with a device for making bunks more comfortable.

One of the most interesting of modern women inventors is Mrs. Kalmus, the wife of Dr. Kalmus, inventor of the colour process by which "Becky Sharp" was made. Mrs. Kalmus acted in the first film made by her husband's colour process as long ago as 1921, and it was after this that she became interested in the technical side. She undertook an intense study of optical science, and lias played a part in the innumerable technical improvements that have been made in each of the 14 films made since 1921. The process is now approaching perfection, but this is only the result of scores of separate inventions, each designed to overcome some difficulty.