How to Succeed as an Inventor / Showing the Wonderful Possibilities in the Field of Invention; the Dangers to Be Avoided; the Inventions Needed; How to Perfect and Develop New Ideas to the Money Making Stage

Terse Suggestions

This is the day of short cuts. If you take the long way 'round, you will never "arrive." Cuts, to be short, need not be poorly done with a blunt knife. The cleverest surgeon is he who can perform the biggest operation in the shortest time. Learn to do things quickly, but do them well.

In this hustling world we must "get there," and "get there quick," not only in our conversation but in all our work. We must avoid non-essentials.

Spend your time and money on money-savers rather than on frills. Do your work under a system, and stick to it. Do not have a too elaborate system, however.

With the machine work of the Twentieth Century method, fine hand work is now considered a luxury.

Don't beat about the bush. Get right down to the point. The swiftest road to success has the fewest curves.

"Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of."—Franklin.

  CHAPTER VIII.

SOUNDING THE MARKET

"People are always to be found who think anything with which they are not familiar cannot be good."

If the average inventor goes out among his friends with his invention and asks them their opinion of it, he will hear some such expressions as this: "Old man, you are a marvel!"; "You will be a millionaire some day, sure thing!"; "That looks a big winner!"; "Beats anything I ever saw!" and so on. But such comments are absolutely worthless. Many an inventor's head has been turned by just such praise. It is all well-meant, best-intentioned, and highly gratifying, but as an indication of what will be likely to happen to your invention it is worse than valueless. It is grossly misleading. Your friends want to encourage you, help you. They see only your invention's good points, not its vital weaknesses. They are not "skilled in the art,"—are not in a position to judge competently at all. Do not depend on any such opinions. Go to a specialist in such lines. Will a stranger to you buy your invention in preference to the ones already on the market? If so, he exacts a lower price or a better article, which amount to the same thing. Can you manufacture your invention and sell it at a good profit in competition with others? Will the wholesalers handle it? Can they do so at a good profit? Has it good selling and talking points, or do you need to make excuses for it? Is the field now over-crowded? In this connection, remember the "Six Cardinal Patent Tests," especially the fifth and sixth. Is there a large, constant, public demand for my invention or its product? And is there killing competition in the class to which my invention belongs? Get the advice of a specialist.

  CHAPTER IX.

PRACTICAL DEVELOPMENT

"Everything in this world is a development. Nothing happens by chance."

Can my invention be made to do better work by putting in gears in place of that sprocket chain? Would canvas be cheaper and better than leather in that belt? Won't a cotter pin be cheaper and better in place of that nut? Won't a steel casting be cheaper and better than that expensive machined steel bearing? Would not my machine do better work and cost less if I stuck to just this one operation?

Questions such as this you must ask yourself. The successful inventor is not a "one-idea" man. He must be on the watch for "something better" all the time, until he and his expert advisers are convinced by actual tests in actual service that it is absolutely right in every way. No invention is complete and perfect when it is first conceived. Its successful development is a series of changes, substitutions, alterations, rearrangements, until finally it attains marketable shape.

At a meeting of mechanical experts in Philadelphia one evening, six men were asked the very best way to make a certain piece of machine work. There were six different answers.—"Many men of many minds."—Which was the best way, and why? If you take your own ideas you will possibly have but one way to do it, and your way may not prove the best way in the end. The successful invention of today dominates its particular field. Why? Because it is better than others.

Successful development of any invention requires a great degree of patience, unlimited hard work, belief in ultimate success, and competent theoretical and practical knowledge of mechanics, physics, mathematics, salesmanship, shop practice and the like. It is a science in itself.

"Whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do well; whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself to completely; in great aims and small I have always been thoroughly in earnest."—Charles Dickens.

  CHAPTER X.

LOWER COST SUPERIOR MERIT

"An idea of itself may be good, but still not of itself be of any value."

Patents, to meet with even moderate commercial success, must be on a "human necessity" or "luxury"—must cost less and be better than the ones already on the market. That is this whole chapter in a nutshell. Lines upon lines could be said about it, but the reader will grasp the point.

  CHAPTER XI.

APPLICATION

FOR PATENTS, DESIGN PATENTS, TRADE-MARKS LABELS AND COPYRIGHTS

"The man who does things is the man who is doing things. The busiest man in the city is the man who is always ready for new business."

"To postpone action generally means an attempt to kill by time."—John Timothy Stone.

What is Patentable.

• An art or process,
• Machines or mechanisms,
• Manufactured articles,
• Compositions of matter,
• Improvements on any of the above,

if the art, machine, manufactured article, composition of matter, or improvement thereof, for which a Patent is desired, was not known or used by others, in this country, and has not been patented or described in any printed publication in this or any foreign country, before the applicant's invention or discovery thereof, and has not been in public use or on sale for more than two years prior to his application, unless the same is proved to have been abandoned.

Usual Cost

The cost of taking out a patent varies with different cases. In a simple case such as, for instance, an improvement in potato mashers, it is, ordinarily, $65. Some attorneys charge $5 less, and some $10 more, according to their schedules. This amount is made up as follows:

Complicated machines and processes that require a large number of sheets of drawings and contain a great deal of detail work cost often times, especially if interferences develop, as much as $1000. Elsewhere in this volume is quoted the opinion of the Supreme Court as regards the importance of having the specification and claims carefully drawn. Have your work done well, and expect to pay a fair price for good service.

Note.—Patents run for seventeen years, and cannot be renewed. Design Patents run for 3½, 7 or 14 years, as the case may be. Trademarks run for thirty years, and longer, if desired. Label Patents run for 28 years, and may be renewed for fourteen years longer, if desired. Copyrights run for 28 years, and may be renewed for fourteen years longer, if desired. Special rates and terms are payable on "Interferences," Infringements, Appeals and Assignments.

Foreign Patents can be procured in all civilized countries, but should be applied for only after the most careful study as to whether they are likely to prove profitable to the inventor. We are inclined to say it is the exception when they do.

"Rules of Practice" issued by the United States Patent Office contain the following in regard to the importance of care in the selection of an attorney:

"As the value of Patents depends largely upon the careful preparation of the Specification and Claims, the assistance of competent counsel will, in most instances, be of advantage to the applicant; but the value of their services will be proportionate to their skill and honesty, and too much care cannot be exercised in their selection."

"Before you spend much money, either your own or any one's else, be sure (1) that your invention will work; (2) that no one else has patented it; (3) that there is an opportunity for its sale; (4) that there is not too much competition. Many a man starts off and orders a fancy nickel-plated model, and applies for his patent, only to find that the idea will not work even the least little bit. In this matter the advice of some one else well up in the theory, added to that of some one else well up in the practice, would be valuable."

"Many an application done up in all the bravery of typewriting, notarial seal, and all that, has been rejected like a bad penny for the very simple reason that some one else had before patented the idea, or something enough like it to bar out the newcomer. It is cheaper to have the ground gone over first by a preliminary search by a competent person even before the application is written out."

"Don't be unduly suspicious. Don't fear that any one who takes more than a passing interest in your invention is going to steal it. All business is based more or less on trust. You trust some one every day. So does every one else. There is no use in your showing every Tom, Dick and Harry what you have, or expect to have; but if you show a man anything at all, do it with trust. If he is not trustworthy, do not show him anything."—Dr. Grimshaw.

  CHAPTER XII.

MARKETING

"Anybody can slide down hill, but it takes good legs and good wind to go up."—Silent Partner.

The brightest minds of the business world are endeavoring to solve the problem of how best to market an article. Of course, unlimited capital, and a good article greatly lessen the problem. But to start with little or no money, build up a business, equip the plant, buy raw materials, hire help, manage a factory, establish credit, advertise, fill orders, collect accounts, and do the thousand and one other things necessary to make success of a business requires a good, virile mind, and plenty of hard work and close attention to detail, and should be a steady, gradual development. With honesty of purpose, quality of product, absolute fair-dealing, push and untiring energy as guides, any man or woman given good health, common sense and a fairly meritorious patented article can unquestionably succeed in profitably marketing it. A steady climb with unflagging zeal and singleness of purpose always win out. The motto should be, "This one thing I do."

It has been found from experience that it is usually well to get the best expert advice in connection with the establishment of a new business before making plans for spending much money. There are specialists in all business lines today, and as a rule it proves to be wise economy to spend money in payment of their services.

Some of the largest industrial establishments in the world are the direct outgrowth of a very small plant judiciously handled and energetically developed. Of course, in marketing a product, one must know exactly what the product costs. Allow proper margin for management expenses, fixed charges, depreciation, selling expenses and the like. It is usually safe to add one hundred per cent. to the manufacturing cost for the purpose of covering administrative and fixed charges. Wholesale selling prices should always conform to the list put out by other manufacturers. In other words,

The gross prices are approximately as follows:

It is usually customary to give a discount of from 5 per cent. to 10 per cent., if ordered in gross lots. Terms of settlement show considerable variation in different lines, and range anywhere from 1 per cent. to 8 per cent. for cash in ten days, with extension of credit of from thirty days net to ninety days "extra dating." There are some splendid books advertised and published along these lines which can be had from the various publishers. There are also weekly and monthly periodicals that will prove of great benefit to anyone engaging in a new business.

Carefully prepared catalogues, stationery, printed matters, follow-up letters, etc., should be used. Consult a specialist about these matters.

"The world always listens to a man with a will in him."

  CHAPTER XIII.

DISCOURAGEMENTS AND DANGERS

When to-day's difficulties overshadow yesterday's triumphs and obscure the bright visions of tomorrow—

When plans upset, and whole years of effort seem to crystallize into a single hour of concentrated bitterness—

When little annoyances eat into the mind's very quick, and corrode the power to view things calmly—

When the jolts of misfortune threaten to jar loose the judgment from its moorings—

Remember that in every business, in every career, there are valleys to cross, as well as hills to scale, that every mountain range of hope is broken by chasms of discouragement through which run torrent streams of despair!

To quit in the chasms is to fail. See always in your mind's eye those sunny summits of success!

Don't quit in the chasm! Keep on!"—System.

A careful study of the histories of great inventors and inventions impresses the student most forcibly with the glaring fact that while the field of invention offers, and has paid, fabulously large rewards to the fortunate genius who invents or discovers some really new device or idea, it also is a field full of discouragements, dangers and heart-breaking delays, disappointments and unfulfilled hopes, to say nothing of time and energy utterly wasted by misguided zeal and misdirected effort. We need to look at the matter from all angles, and study to avoid the pitfalls and dangers history unerringly points out to us, as well as learn thoroughly the lesson so dearly bought for us by the noble men and women in the army of inventors who have gone before.

The following table shows the startlingly large totals of Patents and Re-issues issued by the United States Government since the year 1837, up to last year, 1908:

The United States Government has issued, approximately, 900,000 PATENTS. When we compare the number of patents that have proven to be commercial successes (in other words, money-makers), how pitifully small the list is by comparison! How many "blasted hopes," vanishing "air castles"; how much poverty, how many wrecked homes, how many suicides (but why prolong this list?) are represented by those Letters Patent that did not win! Why did they fail? The seal was just as red, the ribbon just as blue, they cost just as much, the drawings were just as clear—then why did they fail?

For one, any or all of the following reasons:

• 1. The claims were weak.
• 2. The invention would not work.
• 3. The cost of manufacture was too great.
• 4. The idea was feebly patentable, but not sufficiently new or novel.
• 5. There was no demand for it.
• 6. The big fellows froze it out!

Or, to be exact, they failed to stand the SIX CARDINAL TESTS given elsewhere.

Don't intend to "take up inventing," as some men say, and expect to make a success of it, without any preparation, with little practical education, much less diligent study. You can't do it, unless it be by merest accident! Look at history. She tells the story so that all can hear and heed it. Think of Edison's perseverance, his all-night experiments, without food or drink, his life-long hard and unremitting effort. Picture George Stephenson's disappointments; the silly opposition he met; his constant "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again!" spirit! Think of John Fitch and his steamboat; Ottmar Mergenthaler and his linotype,—years of trial and study; remember Fulton and his "Clermont"; the Wright Brothers, Wilbur and Orville, working year after year, planning, perfecting, always at it! Success in invention is not "easy money."—It does not consist of "thinking out an idea," picking up a magazine or paper and reading a Patent advertisement "Free Report as to Patentability,"—"No Patent No Pay,"—"Send sketch," etc., etc.; drawing a rough pencil sketch and forwarding it to the attorneys the inventor picked out; getting back a mysterious looking certificate done up in purple ink, seals, etc., purporting to guarantee that the idea is a patentable one, or he doesn't pay a cent. Next he forwards from $40 to $50 and gets back the specification and claims (the claims "claiming" every thing above the earth, and numbering possibly twenty to fifty) for his oath and signature. Then the case is filed with the Patent Office. After waiting anywhere from six months to several years the attorney notifies him that his case is "allowed" (sometimes it is rejected, and he has thrown his money away), and will be issued upon payment of the final Government fee of $20, that is, of course, provided it has not run into an "interference." If it has, it is to be regretted, as it may mean the loss of all the inventor's money in fees and expenses, and the loss of his case in the end. But for the sake of the story we'll say he gets his patent in a big, official looking envelope. He sees his name on it, the seal, the ribbon, the picture of the Patent Office, and his heart and head naturally swell with pride. But if he looks at it carefully, he will find the claims (and they are what count) consist of one big long paragraph of several hundred words, without a period in it, describing the exact or fancied construction, the protection in the claim being so restricted and limited in scope that a poor chauffeur could drive a sight-seeing auto through the alleged Patent without touching sides, top or bottom! The twenty to fifty claims were all rejected. Then what happens? He shows it to his family, friends, neighbors. He gets his name in the town paper. He is spoken of as an "Inventor." Then he begins to wonder what he is going to do with it. He is dreaming possibly of millions, when it is not worth cents.

When his name appears in the Official Gazette he will begin getting circulars, cunningly worded letters, postal cards, etc., mentioning his wonderful (?) invention (it may be a new paring knife!) and saying that for any amount ranging from $1.00 to $30.00 the writer will be glad to sell the patent for any amount their fertile imagination may conjure up, always more than ample, but after the money is sent for "advertising," "printing," or what not, all signs of a sale absolutely disappear. (Don't send any money to a firm to sell your patent unless they are known to be reliable and trustworthy, and don't guarantee to do anything but treat you fairly and make an honest effort to sell it.) The safe and rational way is to test your idea thoroughly in advance of having it patented, and then you are practically sure of a sale.

Here is the moral: Some day he will wake up and find he might better have painted the house with the $65, or given it to his wife for a new dress. He will give up the idea of fame and fortune so alluringly set forth in the circulars sent out by some attorneys.

This is an every-day case one in the business meets with all the time. It is all wrong, but is only too true. Authorities state that 90 per cent. of the patents issued today are worthless from a commercial standpoint! Statistics appear to prove it, although it is hard to get at the real facts. The reader may feel that the author is trying to discourage inventors from entering the field. No. All that is intended is to show and point out the rational course to pursue in applying for Patents and endeavoring to be a success as an inventor. Volumes could be written on this subject, but the above will serve as an average example of blasted hopes and misdirected effort.

"Failure is only endeavor temporarily off the track. How foolish it would be to abandon it in the ditch."

BRIGHT SIDE

The output of all the gold, silver and diamond mines in the world does not equal in value the profits earned from American inventions.

Probably between fifty and sixty millions of dollars have been, spent in procuring patents issued by the United States Government, on the basis that the average patent costs from $60 to $65, and there have been 900,000 issued. To show that patents are profitable, we need only recall the fact that almost twice this amount has been received in profits from several of them, namely, the Bell Telephone, for instance, or the Harvester, Sewing Machine, Telegraph, Phonograph, etc. Authorities on the subject are of the opinion that there are almost two hundred patents in force in the United States today that return profits of over one million dollars per year; several hundred that return half-a-million dollars profit; five or six hundred that return from $250,000 to $500,000 in profits; and an enormous number which return incomes of from $5,000 to $100,000 annually.

Inventive genius can exact the highest possible price, for its labor in the markets of the world. If you are a genius you cannot employ your time to better advantage than in endeavoring to improve methods at present in use, or invent combinations that will cheapen production, or discover new elements or combinations that will effect economic results. The history of inventions, poets, past and present, tell us that success is possible, if persistently pursued. Do not allow the dangers and discouragements that we must all meet with to dishearten you. As Longfellow so beautifully puts it:

  CHAPTER XIV.

SELLING PATENTS

It is not so much how you sell your patent. It is what you get for it.

Patents can be disposed of in various ways. We are sorry to say that the majority of patents issued today, for reasons already stated, are disposed of on the scrap heap, or the waste basket. However, if you have a patent that possesses commercial value, it can possibly be disposed of in one of the following manners:

First, by selling it outright for a cash consideration.

Second, by selling state, county or shop rights for the use of your invention.

Third, by placing it with an already established concern on a royalty basis.

Fourth, by the organization of a company or partnership for its production and marketing.

Taking up each one of the methods in order, the following explanations will possibly be of interest:

It has often been said that an inventor rarely underestimates the value of his patent. Associating with and meeting large numbers of inventors from time to time has convinced the writer that no one individual can give a reliable estimate of the value of anyone's invention. If an inventor desires to sell his invention outright, he should take into consideration, in fixing the price, just how much he spent on the development of the idea; how much money he actually spent in procuring the patent, building the models, and getting the invention into marketable shape. He should add a certain modest percentage for good will, and if he desires to sell outright, base his figures on some such estimates. For instance, a small, simple patent could be estimated as being worth, say $2500 cash, as follows:

The man that buys the patent will be entitled to a great deal more profit than the inventor who conceived it, and by the time he has it on the market and has the sale established, he will be entitled to everything he earns. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but the writer is not speaking of exceptions now.

Another very profitable way to dispose of a patent is the selling of state, county and shop rights. This has brought many inventors very large returns, although it involves a good deal of selling expense, and salesmanship of the highest order.

The placing of a patent on a royalty basis, and the payment of a nominal cash "quid pro quo" we consider the best method of disposing of an invention, and the one most likely to prove profitable, provided, of course, that the firm with which the patent is placed is thoroughly reliable, and can energetically push its sale. Elsewhere in this volume you have read of the enormous sums in royalties that have been received on various successful inventions. One particular illustration at this time may not be in-apropos.

Oscar Hammerstein, the New York theatre proprietor, sold his first cigar-making machine for $6,000 cash. The next one he invented he placed on a royalty, and made $250,000. This is almost a typical case.

When the patent or its product has a sufficiently large public demand it is oftentimes better to organize a new company for its development and sale. This is done by applying for a charter under some favorable State laws, (it is usually expedient to apply in the State in which it is intended to manufacture,) and give the inventor a reasonable stock interest in the company, together with an executive position if he is capable of filling it.

"You must bear some of the burden of introduction yourself. A capitalist may be willing to bet his hard dollars that your idea will work, if you have secured a patent; or he may be induced to bet that it is patentable, if you show him that it will work; but moneyed men who will bet that your invention is both patentable and practicable are few and far between. If they make such a bet, it will be with very heavy odds against the inventor."—Grimshaw.

Do not forget that some men have made millions out of a single patent. Do not forget that others have lost all they could make and borrow.

"Victories that are easy are cheap. Those only are worth having which come as a result of hard fighting."

  CHAPTER XV.

CONCLUSION

The old adage, "Be sure you are right and then go ahead," is especially apropos advice to inventors. But how can you be SURE you are right? Only by investigation that is strictly impersonal and unprejudiced in every sense. You can have this work of investigation done for you—you can buy advice of this kind just as you can buy legal or medical advice from specialists. Better disburse $25 or $50 in procuring sound expert advice than spend weeks, months and years chasing a mirage or will-o'-wisp. You are not compelled to accept the advice if it differs from your ideas, but you will most likely learn a great deal that will pay you handsomely.

The writer is fully aware that this line of talk is opposed to the "don't hesitate," "send at once," "delays are dangerous," "the other fellow will get ahead of you" arguments so generally used by individuals who "have an axe to grind." BE SURE you are right, and then go ahead—don't THINK you are sure—BE SURE!

The author feels that a careful weighing of all statements and facts in this volume will be of great value to anyone considering the application for a patent. History has undoubtedly proven that good patents are possibly more profitable than any other investment that can be made. If you have an idea, or have made a discovery that you think will prove of benefit to mankind, the wise and prudent course is to have it thoroughly investigated, in all points as relate to its success. The small cost of a reliable investigation would be money well spent as it is possible your idea or discovery may be the means of bringing you in enormous wealth.

  CHAPTER XVI.

STATISTICS OF THE COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD

POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES.

Population Continental United States (including Alaska), 76,149,386 (1900); Philippines, 8,000,000; Porto Rico, 953,233; Hawaii, 154,001; Guam, 8,661; American Samoa, 5,800; Total population, 85,271,093. Population, 1904, estimating Continental United States, about 90,000,000.

 1

These estimates of the population and area include the recently acquired great possessions in Africa.

 2

Census of 1900.

 3

Estimated for January 1st, 1904.

  CHAPTER XVII.

MECHANICAL MOVEMENTS

In deciding upon the construction of models and the development of an idea, the proper mechanical movements should always be very carefully taken into consideration. In other words, movements which simplify the invention, minimize friction, and add power, are always to be preferred to clumsy and inefficient means or methods. Every inventor, and all students of the mechanical arts and sciences, should arrange any mechanism which they may desire to produce with the least number of parts possible, and embracing the greatest amount of simplicity of action.

On the following pages you will find a large number of mechanical movements with suitable description thereof which will undoubtedly assist inventors in developing and constructing their models of ideas. Most of the movements embraced in the following pages have appeared in various scientific journals and publications devoted to scientific and mechanical art. Study all the various movements applicable to your invention before deciding upon any particular one.