Inventors & Inventions

If the inventor is unfortunate enough to be compelled to attend to his own office work, he will probably find it advantageous to observe the following rules:

Answer all letters promptly, briefly, and politely, and don't write what you feel like, as that will often get you into trouble. Don't forget to make a copy, and keep it, of every letter you send out, and file carefully all letters you receive.

If the inventor has to be his own purchasing agent, he should remember that the lowest price is not always the cheapest, and the highest price doesn't indicate that you couldn't get it any cheaper elsewhere, and as good, if not better.

Whenever possible, arrange for everything to be delivered at your place, as that throws the transit responsibility on the contractor until the goods are delivered, and your credit is also longer.

Order your goods as much ahead of time as possible as goods are very rarely delivered on the time they are promised.

Examine all goods delivered in your place as to quality and weight, and keep a careful memorandum of the same, and don't forget to check off the bills you receive for the same.

Don't be afraid to complain of unfair treatment, even at the risk of being called a "kicker."

Remember that the faithful performance of your duties for the firm that trusts and depends upon you, is more important than the catering to anybody, especially if it has to be done at the expense of the firm you represent.

Don't expect "perfection" from people you are dealing with, as they have also a good many things to contend with, and when once you have O. K.'d the bills, pay for them as soon as possible if you want to maintain your credit and your self-respect.

Honesty and straight dealings will materially increase your chances of staying in the market, once you get there.

Cultivating a good name with the people you are dealing with, is better than "kowtowing" to "Rating Agencies," as well as being the cheapest and very best kind of advertising. Never misrepresent your financial condition when furnishing a statement to your bank, for you may do it once too often, and then you will wish "you hadn't." You will travel more easily and further by telling the truth.

Having advanced his invention to the stage of having obtained a footing in the market, the inventor has reached the "Parting of the Ways," and now is the time for him to decide whether he is to sell his invention, or to keep it.

If he decides to sell, his likely buyers are those who are in that line of business, and who are generally willing to add to their established business some patented novelty in their own line, that will give them exclusive use, and special advertising facilities, thereby increasing their profits, and enhancing their prestige; or some capitalist on the alert for a profitable investment, and congenial occupation.

The decision of the inventor must depend upon the nature of the invention, its profitableness, his own financial resources, his health, his energies, temperament, and the likelihood of his invention being imitated, and his mechanical and financial ability to protect it.

Generally speaking the proverb about "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," is very applicable to inventions, and the inventor who is blessed with a grain of prudence in his make-up, will think carefully, and his best, before he refuses a fair offer.

If he desires to sell, a sum of money outright is better than a royalty.

Should it not be practical or desirable to dispose of it, he must make preparations to supply the market in constantly increased proportions.

Owing to the various kinds of skilled labor, numerous expensive tools, machinery, high rents for suitable manufacturing places necessary for the building of machinery, requiring the investment of large capital, and the devotion of a great deal of time for organization and supervision, many inventors find it convenient, even profitable, to have their machines built under contract by some established manufacturing concern which is properly equipped for that special kind of work. This in many cases is a very wise business-like course to pursue, as it eliminates the necessity of a large investment, and leaves the inventor free to devote himself to improving and enlarging the field for his invention, and to attend to the business end to better advantage.

Should it, however, be decided to manufacture his invention, it will be found that a proper system for regular routine will be required to produce the articles within reasonable cost.

If the inventor has no special experience in manufacturing, it will be greatly to his advantage to procure information, by inspection, and carefully noting the methods employed in up-to-date manufacturing establishments, making similar articles.

Manufacturing must be carried out from "THE TOP DOWNWARDS," not from "THE BOTTOM UPWARDS." That is, the brain work in the office must be carefully planned and carried out first, and recorded in assembly and detail drawings and carefully written-up specifications.

Next a double set of metal patterns should be made to be kept in two separate places to guard against fire.

To do everything should not be attempted in the beginning, as many parts requiring special equipment and special skill, such as foundry work, drop forging, gear making, and wood work, can very often be contracted for with persons especially equipped to do that work, at less than the price it would cost to produce them by a firm which has to do a little of everything. Elimination of that much of the work permits better concentration and increased facilities for the other work, resulting in a maximum of production with a minimum of investment.

The work in the factory should be carefully divided up, and localized.

If the quantities of complete manufactured articles to be made are large, or there is a fair prospect that they will be so, and their sale is not localized, a duplicate, interchangeable system of manufacture is indispensable, and should be employed from the very beginning. In spite of the initial expenses for tools, it will be found to be a great saver of worry, annoyance, trouble, and money. Also the labor cost for duplicate parts in the making and assembling is very considerably less than if made in the "GOOD OLD WAY." This makes it possible to supply parts that will fit the machine which will be required in the course of usage, in any part of the world where it may happen to be, and which often forms a considerable part of the profits. Indeed it may be truly said that it sometimes pays to give machines away for nothing, if assured a monopoly of its repairs at one's own prices.

The "gang-boss" system in the shop will be found a material aid in producing and maintaining a desired standard of quality and quantity. It will also lessen the necessary supervision and worry in tracing, and eliminate deficient and jarring elements in production.

A healthy, accessible location, and a clean, comfortable shop are indispensable. Fair, just and considerate treatment, with an apparent ready appreciation 30 by the management, of the merits of their employees, will be duly rewarded by the willing and faithful co-operation of those on whom in a great measure the success or failure of manufacturing depends; also enhancing the value of the profits by the addition of the goodwill, and wellwishes of those who help to create it, as the want of it often mars the enjoyment of the money when earned.

By a careful perusal of what has been said, it will be seen that the undertaking of a successful invention is no easy task, and that it cannot fall to one's lot by mere chance.

It is quite true that, like the diamond, the inventor, the general, orator, or writer is born. But be it also remembered that even a diamond has to be cut, ground, and polished before it attains its lustre, and the inventor or general, writer and orator are no exceptions to the rule.

The general could not conquer a valiant foe if he did not master the science of war, or if he failed to familiarize himself with most of the conspicuous experiences of others in the same profession.

The writer and orator would have no audience if they failed to fertilize their brains with rich stores of knowledge to draw upon, and with proper means of expressing themselves.

And the inventor is generally doomed to failure if he fails to earnestly apply himself to the acquisition and mastery of that knowledge which is potent to successful invention in the mechanical line, and to get his just or fair share of its value.

Numerous and deep are the pitfalls that the would-be-successful inventor must avoid. Rich and powerful are the members of the fraternity who thrive and fatten on him, through his short-comings of "Omission or Commission." At every stage of his progress he has to combat a new set and different kinds of vampires, each attacking him with different weapons, and in different 32 33 34 ways, who consider the unlucky inventor their natural and legitimate prey. These men respectively garb their duplicity with the respectable name of a "profession," and justify the means of robbing him of his just and hard earnings, with the all-condoning name of "Modern Business Methods."

What and how to invent, is very often asked and variously answered. On the nature of the answer to the honest inquirer often depends whether he is to be discouraged in a good undertaking, or sent on a fool's errand, or directed rightly to the avenue of success.

The various answers to what and how to invent may be divided into three different kinds. The stupid, the misleading, and the intelligent. The remark is often made by certain people, "Oh, there used to be lots of chances to make fortunes out of inventions YEARS AGO, but not NOW." This is as stupid as it is untrue.

Never in the history of the world, have the opportunities been as numerous and the rewards as great as they are now for any and every kind of meritorious invention. Our advanced civilization, the complex intricacies of our social fabric, the enormous general increase in wealth and the consequent general ability, to greater or less extent, to gratify our numerous and various desires, has created an unlimited field of opportunity for the ingenious, fertile and enterprising brain. Not only for the improvements upon methods of "doing things," for which there is no man capable of setting a limit, but even for the invention and creation of entirely new means of gratification and utility.

The inventor of steam locomotion created for mankind a new means of providing for certain phases of its existence. Yet THOSE who successively contributed their ingenuity and made the MODERN locomotive possible have filled a want, served a useful purpose, conferred a benefit and justly earned and merited reward. The existence of the perfected steam locomotive did not deter human ingenuity and enterprise from developing electric traction. The inventors of wireless telegraphy, were not deterred or discouraged in their efforts by the existence of telegraph wires. The fact that, in all the unknown thousands of years of human existence, speech was considered only a human prerogative did not prevent "THE SAGE OF LLEWELLYN" from giving to the world the phonograph.

Every human brain is different from every other; endowed with its own special marvellous capacity, making it possible for it to succeed in new directions.

Who can fathom, or set a limit to the ingenuity of that divine creation, THE HUMAN BRAIN? None but its Creator. Our ordinary every-day mechanical utilities would be considered MAGIC by him who wrote, "There is nothing new under the Sun."

Happily the world is not apt to suffer from the foolish slogan of "IN GOOD OLD TIMES," as generally the possessor of extraordinary abilities will not be deterred by it from using them. And a SIGH for PAST opportunities is but a true indication of the unfitness of its unfortunate emitter for any opportunity.

The "MISLEADING ANSWER" to "WHAT AND HOW TO INVENT" is that which tells everybody and anybody, to invent ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.

Human abilities and environments vary, and it necessarily follows that every individual cannot be successful in that undertaking which requires for its successful accomplishment that which manifestly his Creator did not endow him with. Nor is the capable man apt to be as successful in a direction where, through his environments, he is a stranger, as he would in that field of operation that he has been most active in. It is better and cheaper for a person to first determine his possession of the abilities for doing certain things, than to find out the want of them by the failure of his undertaking. The gifted individual will also find success easier to attain if his efforts are directed in experienced channels, than if prospecting on what is to him, "unexplored wilds."

And to the "MISLEADING ANSWER" OF "WHAT AND HOW TO INVENT," can be, in a great measure, attributed the product of the inventive weeds that choke up the patent offices as well as the elimination of numerous individuals from ordinary but useful occupations for which their Creator evidently intended them. Their wasted substances furnishes a fat living to them who make a profession to give out this "misleading" advice broadcast.

To "ANSWER INTELLIGENTLY WHAT AND HOW TO INVENT." It is first necessary to analyze most carefully the various phases of invention of various natures.

It will be observed that inventions in general may be divided into several divisions, as follows:

First:—Fundamental physical principles, which are very rare and purely scientific.

Second:—Basic mechanical adaptation to and for the first division which generally comes into existence soon after the discovery of the first.

Third:—Basic mechanical adaptation to a well-defined production, substituting human or animal exertions; which comes by degrees, and none too often.

Fourth:—Improved mechanical applications.

Fifth:—Diverse or varied mechanical applications.

The last two are the most prolific or numerous classes. The first division includes our physical sciences. The second is the first mechanical harness for utilizing a new discovery in the laws of physics for different purposes. The third includes the first mechanical appliances receiving impulse from some other body for doing to greater advantage that which is done by direct human or animal exertions, and are commonly termed labor-saving machines.

The fourth are the continuous improvements on the third, and may include basic mechanical contrivances.

The fifth is for accomplishing the same ends as the Second, Third and Fourth, but also for the greater adaptability for certain specific purposes, and for popularizing its production; that is to prevent the exclusive monopolizing of certain advantages gained through and by the Second and Third.

Great and glorious are the opportunities for the lucky individual possessing the required high standard of intelligence, education, taste, and means of devoting himself to scientific investigations and experiments, 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 discovering and giving to the world new scientific truths, and means of harnessing them to various human usefulness, coming within range of different dynamic forces, such as: steam, gas, electricity, hydraulics, etc. The gates of the treasuries of rapturous joy are ajar to him, all his life, and an honored memory afterwards, as enduring as the civilization that made his triumphs possible. The products of his genius are his monuments, and are of greater beauty than any sculptor could produce. More enduring than the Pyramids, always noted by admiring and grateful humanity, to whom it gives comfort and inspiration.

How to invent? Invention is a problem and a solution. It necessarily follows that the first thing to do is to thoroughly comprehend the problem and then contrive mechanical means to solve it. Work from the centre outwardly; that is, build up your machine around your object of accomplishment. Do not try to design a machine and insert it afterwards.

There are many men so extraordinarily gifted that it is possible for them to succeed in diverse directions, even in those for which they have not been especially equipped by training. That is conspicuously true in invention.

Useful inventions have been invented, and fortunes made by the inventors who were not engineers so far as training was concerned, nor were they even machinists, yet their extraordinary gifts have out-balanced the disadvantage of the lack of training for mechanical creation; but they all had to enlist, more or less, the services of others to make up for their own deficiencies. No doubt there will be many more inventors from outside the ranks of mechanical engineers, and they will find the following suggestions useful.

Understand thoroughly what you have to accomplish, first of all. After conceiving your ideas of a mechanical contrivance to do it with, try and make some kind of a sketch of the whole and the part respectively.

The fact that you are not a draftsman or have even no idea of how drawings are made, need not deter you from making sketches that will be understood. A sketch or drawing is a representation more or less correct of the imaginary object in your brain. Drawings or sketches are the easiest kind of writing. They are picture writing, usually the first mode of writing employed by primitive people, and any man who has the intelligence to invent, no doubt has sufficient ability to make some kind of sketches with pencil on paper of the pictures he conceives in his brain.

In making your sketch, remember that nearly every object has many sides to it, and your sketch is to impart a conception of the shape and form of that object to somebody else who has no knowledge of it, and must necessarily get his ideas from your sketches as he cannot look inside of your brain; therefore make as many sketches of your object as there are sides to it, and mark them, front, side, back, top and bottom, and every separate piece, 1, 2, 3, etc.

Write up explanations or specifications of the same. You can learn how to do that by reading standard works on applied mechanics.

Having done that much, now do not make a "bee line" for the Patent Office. Do not imagine that the goal of your ambition, or the end of your tribulations lies in the Patent Office, that the obtaining of some kind of a patent places an "Aladdin's Lamp" at your disposal. You have not got anything positive as yet to get a patent on—the fact is you only think you have something—but your judgment may not be the very best on the subject for your own good. Take your sketches and your specifications and consult a competent, reputable engineer, and he will tell you what are the prospects and probabilities of your invention. If your invention is a valuable one, engage his services to re-design it for you, and to make it practical. Don't think that because you are an inventor you are necessarily a "natural born engineer." They don't grow that way. But be wise enough "to know what you don't know," and to get the right services from the right man. After your engineer has incorporated your invented idea in a suitable body, try to get your protection in the Patent Office on the form in which you intend utilizing your idea. No patents are granted on ideas.

You will find the money spent on engineering your invention well spent, as very often large sums of money would be saved in making models and experimenting, and litigation would often be avoided if the inventor would have the practical "horse sense" to go to a competent engineer when in need of engineering skill.

In designing and inventing a machine for doing certain work on a certain article which is otherwise done by hand, it does not necessarily follow that the machine must imitate in its actions the method employed by hand in accomplishing the same ends. That is very often not the only or the best method of doing it. While it is desirable for the machine to accomplish as good, or better, results than is accomplished by hand process, it may be far from desirable for the machine to imitate in its action the HAND PROCESS in doing it. That may be a very roundabout way of doing it, and may not lend itself to simple and desirable mechanical manipulation. For that reason the inventor of a labor-saving machine may often have to first invent a new process for bringing about certain results on the substances on which his machine is to operate, that may be radically different from the method employed by hand.

While it is impossible to lay down fixed rules for the would-be successful inventor to follow, the following will be found useful:

Observe everything carefully. Try to remember everything you see. Acquire the habit of concentration. Reason logically. Do not overlook details. Be a hard worker. Keep your mouth shut. Don't count your chickens before they are hatched. Don't get inflated with your superiority, neglecting to avail yourself of the accumulated knowledge and experience of others. Don't imagine yourself a Solomon. Don't bite off more than you can swallow. (Read Æsop's fable about the "Eagle and the Jackdaw.") Don't set yourself a Quixotic task, and, on the other hand, don't think it is impossible for you to succeed where others have failed.

Remember that only a temperate abstemious régime of life can give you the healthy brain required for the successful accomplishment of anything worth doing. Don't fail to give credit to others when it is due. Don't forget to repay those who have helped to make your success possible, and, lastly, gain your success in such a manner that your enjoyment of its 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 reward will not be marred by the remorse of your conscience.

The protection of an invention implies the dual problem of how to prevent others from stealing the product of one's mental labor, and of how to insure a fair share of its value to the inventor.

To solve that problem absolutely is of course no more possible than the absolute prevention of the pilfering of anything else of value in the world, but it may be made as secure as the present circumstances in the case will permit if the inventor, to use a slang expression, will be "on to the game." To be that, he first has to know with whom he has to reckon, and how the stealing is done, and the best way to checkmate it.

While it is impossible to enumerate all of the different methods employed in bringing about the proverbial slip between the cup and the inventor's lip, a few of the usual means, and those generally adopted, in fact so general, that they have come to be looked upon as almost legitimate, established precedents, are as follows:

If the inventor is in the employ of a company manufacturing goods, to which his invention is a valuable addition, the company simply "takes it," and applies for a patent on the same, as being the original inventor. In most cases the inventor is not even informed of the patent application, and generally some high official in the company's employ claims and gets the credit and reward for inventing it. Should that invention be very valuable, or the inventor commits the indiscretion of making other inventions, he will be promptly discharged on one pretense or another, to be rid of his presence, so as to "nip any possible trouble in the bud," and the poor inventor has to "drift" for a while until he strikes something again and probably has a similar experience in the course of time, if he did not get "wise" by his last experience.

Another pet practice is for a concern to boldly take another man's invention that is valuable to it, and work it as if it were its own, of course making money out of it, and very often doing so undisturbed. This may be possible for a variety of reasons, such as, being at a distance from the inventor and his having no means of finding it out; or, again, he may be dead, and his rightful heirs may have no knowledge of the patent, its value or its infringement. But should even the inventor be alive and find them out and attempt to call them to account, he will promptly be informed to "go and see their lawyers," which is only another way of telling him, "well, what are you going to do about it?" For if he goes to see their lawyers, they will most condescendingly and patronizingly inform him that that patent is not "valid," and advise him not to bother his head about it, as it would do him no good. And unless he has the means to engage lawyers, who require fat "retainers," he is absolutely helpless, and the exploiters of his invention can enjoy their ill-gotten gains with impunity.