PROFITABLE PATENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11957, 2 February 1901, Page 8

PROFITABLE PATENTS.

ABOUT ONE INVENTION IN 25 PAYS,

An article by the late E. V. Smalley, in the January "Century," tells how patents are taken out at Washington, what they cost, and what some of them yield to the inventors!

The progressive development of inventive genius in this country, as indicated by ..he number of patents issued each year, Ims been by successive waves rather than by a regular and continuous advance. Taking the first year of each decennial'period, we find that in 1600 the number of patents granted was 4-1; in 1810, 223; in 1820, 155; in 1830. 554; 'in, 1840, 473; in 1850, 995; in 1860, 4538. Tha great increase in inventions during the decennial period 1850-60 is a remarkable feature in Patent Office history. Thi6- period was one of rapid national development; and was characterised by the great extension of steam-transportation, the general introduction, of the' telegraph, and the perfection of the . sewingmachine, the reaper, the and many other valuable devices. During the Civil War the production of patents fell off, but no sooner had the volunteer troops returned to their homes than a wonderful fertility of invention was displayed. Ideas thathad been developing in the minds of the soldiers during their life in the camps wete put into models by the thousand and sent to Washington. In 1665 the liumbei of patents granted was 6616, and in 1867 it had run up to 13,026. It remained for a time at about that' annual figure, being, in 1870,13,947; but in 1876. the year of the Centennial Exhibition, which powerfully stimulated inventive' genius,' it reached the highest number yet attained— 17,026. Then there was a, steady recession, and by 1860 the patent crop had fallen back to 13,947. Since 1883 the number of patents annually issued has exceeded 20,000. During the calendar year 1899 there were issued 25.527 patents.

One of the old examiners in the Patent Office estimates that about one invention in 25 repays the cost, of taking out a patent. Yet inventor? as a class are sanguine men, and no knowledge of the enormous percentage of chances against them will deter them from multiplying ingenious devices. Every one expects a fortune from his particular piece of mechanism. Every one has heard not only of the enormous sums realised from the great inventions of the last- half-century, but also of the large returns yielded by things apparently trifling which have struck the publio fancy or met the public need. The toy called tho return ball, a small ball attached to an elastio string, is said to havo produced a profit of 50,000d0l a year; the rubber tip on lead pencils Has yielded a competence to the inventor; more than 1,000,000d0l has been earned by tho gimlet-pointed 6crew, the inventor of which was fio nooi that he trudged on foot from Philadelphia to Washington to get his patent: the roller 3kato has yielded 1.000.00M01, after the patentee spent 125,000 dol in England fighting infringements; the (lancing Jim-Crow is set down for 75,000d01, and the copper-tip for children's shoes at 2.000,OOOtlol; the spring window roller pays 100,000dol a year, the needle-threader 10.000 dol a year; from the drive-well 3,000,000d0l have been realised; the stylographic pen is credited with 100,000dol a year; and the eggbeater, the rubber stamp, and the markingpan for shading different colours, with large' sums, Thesa are only a few examples among hundreds that might be cited. No wonder, inventors are hopeful when they reflect .that comfort for life and fortune for their children may come from a single fortunate idea.