Part 1

LEARN TO INVENT

FIRST STEPS FOR BEGINNERS YOUNG AND OLD

PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION

VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS

TO

LEARN TO INVENT

We should apprentice ourselves as it were to the

INVENTOR

Study the original lines of his thoughts

As

The young artist studies the master work.

Copyright 1907 by S. E. Clark

S. E. CLARK

PHILADELPHIA PENNA.

By mail 25 cents Estb. 1883

PREFACE.

The booklets "Mental Nuts" and "A Book of Maxims" have met with so much favor I have decided to try again. I submit this little effort to those young and old who desire information and suggestions on the subject, in the form of a "first step" or introduction, for those who would learn to invent.

Though it is entirely a subject for the deepest study, I favor a personal talk, digressing at times in an effort to interest and instruct, to enliven and cheer. I see little hope for the casual reader. "As ye sow so shall ye also reap." My faith rests in the careful, persevering student. I sincerely hope that as a whole the effort may prove helpful to many. As to the future, may you all realize.

"Full many a pupil has become more famous than his master."

S. E. C.

Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 3, 1907.

INTRODUCTION.

Invention is the fountain source of material progress. It would indeed be a fruitless effort to try to express in adequate language its wondrous possibilities and practical worth to mankind. Its field of action surpasses all others. It is most apparent in our daily walks of life. Every human effort owes it homage. The fame of many inventors has encircled the earth. They have been feted and honored in many ways, their names indelibly inscribed on the roll of the earth's greatest men. Fortune and fame have been showered on them with a lavish hand, and yet little or no effort is made to direct thought into this vast and unlimited field for study, that people may learn to invent. The whole subject is left quite in the dark. It is on the go-as-you-please, hit-and-miss plan. People become inventors by mere chance, and are viewed as possessing a special gift of nature. I hold that invention is just as tangible as any of the sciences and can just as well be taught. The human mind is naturally inventive. The trend will improve and grow or it will wilt and die, according to the attention it receives. To learn to invent we should apprentice ourselves, as it were, to the inventor, take up his invention and study the original lines of his thought, as the young artist studies the master work. First learn to imitate, and the creative thought will follow and develop. I shall be content to confine my effort to the simplest forms of devices I can call to mind, a first step. But don't mistake nor be discouraged. To the average man and the particular people to whom I hope this pamphlet will appeal the small and simple devices are the cream of the field. They are easily handled, quickly turned, and many pay fabulous sums. Oftentimes the idea will flit before the mind like a will-o'-the-wisp or its zephyr-like touch is not realized. I believe many people have experienced a semi-consciousness of the presence of opportunity and allowed it to pass unheeded by, that had they taken it up intelligently and properly studied and developed it they would have become famous.

We should inform and prepare ourselves. Be ready to act on the slightest intimation. "There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads to fortune; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries."

"The nearer to the practical men keep The less they deal in vague and abstract things The less they deal in huge mysterious words The mightier is their power,

* * * * *

The simple peasant who observes a truth, And from the fact deduces principle; Adds solid treasure to the public wealth, The theorist who dreams a rainbow dream And calls hypothesis philosophy, At best is but a paper financier Who palms his specious promises for gold, Facts are the basis of philosophy; Philosophy the harmony of facts." Thomas L. Harris, in "Lyrics of a Golden Age."

LEARN TO INVENT

SMALL TALK.

Since we will interest ourselves in the very small affairs that hang like a great cloud of fringe on the science of invention, I think it well to make a note of some of the bright little things that have been brought forth. Many of these little mites have proven to be veritable gold mines to the fortunate originator or patentee. They are too numerous to classify. They appear so very simple, embodying but a single thought, we naturally associate "'luck." Indeed, many did come to mind uninvited, but it was to an observing mind, a thinking mind. If we desire to participate in and avail ourselves of these wondrous opportunities we must observe and think.

The dents on the old tin tobacco boxes, one on the box, the other on the lid, placed to register with and thus secure it when closed, was certainly very simple.

It is said a man was sewing and the needle would often slip off the end of the thimble when he would attempt to push it through. He became vexed and struck the thimble a blow on the end with a hammer. It was first convex, but the blow from the hammer made it quite flat on the end. Upon renewing the sewing he found the thimble worked splendidly; the needle did not slip. He became interested and finally took out a patent for a thimble with a concave end.

Certainly, to any one who would attempt to get up a machine to do sewing it would appear as a mere matter of force of circumstance to use a needle with the eye in the point, since necessarily the other end would be attached to the machine.

The return ball, in homely language a wooden ball with a rubber string fastened to it, was certainly simple enough; also the metal toe cap formerly extensively used on children's shoes to prolong their wear.

The little wheels on the end of the pole on the trolley cars would have been a bonanza were it not that the introduction of the trolley system was so slow. The seventeen years for which patents are granted passed by before the system became in general use. This slowness to become general has ruined many grand opportunities. It is a fact to be reckoned with.

Many successful inventors have had their hopes blasted at times by the apathy of the people in adopting their inventions in time for them to reap their just reward. While the inventor naturally and perforce must lead, he should be discreet, and not go so far ahead that he cannot get the people to follow. Some matters must be approached gradually.

The little ball fastening so common on our money purses is a gem. It would be rare indeed to provide any other device to take its place, it is so convenient, simple and practical. A fastener, to be a success, must make a noise in closing; it becomes the signal to the mind that the work is properly done.

The hook and eye "see that hump" was simple enough, but I fancy it required a splendid campaign of advertising and business push to get it to the front and make it pay.

Many inventions are virtually lost because they are not properly pushed. My advice is, if you have an invention and are not situated properly to push it, sell it. Experience leads me to observe that we constantly change our views or see things differently. Some things look good to-day and later we do not think well of them, and vice versa, other things improve and grow in our estimation. When an idea of a device occurs, study it; think how it can best be made; make a drawing of it; take up every detail and material best suited. Try to get it in the most simple form. When, after careful consideration, you feel that you have perfected it in your mind, have a model made and see that it meets every requirement. If you do not sell the invention you can contract the manufacturing and go into the business of selling, or you can put it out on a royalty basis.

All inventors use certain mechanical principles. The same principle is often found in many different inventions; hence, it is well to study these principles, as the knowledge of them will help you to perfect and bring forth your invention. In this connection I would advise that you possess all the little novelties you can; study them; examine them closely and ask yourself why did he this and that. Take up each one and try to get a clear understanding of it; practice explaining it to others and impress the points on your mind; they may be of great service to you some day. Many times a good idea is poorly carried out, the mechanical arrangements are not well adapted either for performing the work or to effect lowest cost in construction. These defects give rise to improvements. It certainly would be a provoking experience to obtain a grand idea and get it up in a defective mechanical way and have someone make a simple improvement and reap the reward. If I could control the matter I would change the patent laws in this respect. I would foster improvement, but I would not allow the original inventor to be robbed of his just reward. I would not permit him to become arrogant and dictate impossible terms, but I would see to it that he at least got a part of his dues. If he came forward with an original invention he would get a patent; if another man made an improvement on his method I would give him a patent, subject to a small royalty to the original inventor, and to continue until the original patent expired. The matter could be judged just as well as law cases are judged. You must duly consider the subjects you attempt. Don't bother with perpetual motion; it would only be a toy at best. I have no faith in a non-refillable bottle: in all probability it would fill if it were submerged, and particularly if a hole were drilled in it. An idea in this line is to have a nickel or a dime blowed in the glass of the bottle; the goods would be sold for the amount more, and the buyer would break the bottle to get his money back. The idea seems practical, at least so far as the fact that the broken bottle would be a true non-refillable one. Ordinarily I do not interest in those inventions that require to be demonstrated, as they are too expensive to introduce. The people are generally skeptical, and they have been so for ages. The poets of the early centuries voiced public doubt in verse, referring to a gun, gotten up and promoted by a stock company, thus:

"A rare invention to destroy the crowd Of fools at home, instead of foes abroad; Fear not my friends, this terrible machine, They're only wounded who have shares therein."

Financial advices are all good before ten and after three. As a rule, don't buy stocks that are glaringly advertised; they are working hard to sell. Don't go in by the front door: stocks of such companies can generally be bought on the outside for less than the advertised price and are most always too high at that. Many, indeed, would be high at the price in counterfeit money. Vast sums and much time have been lost on various patents connected with railroads, etc. Once in a great while one may succeed.

You should have a book and record your ideas as they occur; write out enough about them to make the whole thought on the subject clear, and preserve it for future reference. It would be a splendid idea to write out descriptions of any little novelty you see. State all the particulars; make your notes so that you will clearly understand every detail at any time you refer to them: get all the patent papers of small or simple novelties, etc., that you can and read carefully what they say about the construction; note what the inventor claims. I would recommend the Patent Office Gazette. This, I am sure, will prove the most valuable exercise you can take. They will prove practical lessons of worth and you will gain many helpful ideas. I recently met a gentleman from the South, who had taken out a patent on a hoe that was used extensively in the cotton fields. The blade was extra large and the handle was secured to the middle or central portion in a way that when the edge of the blade in use became worn and battered it could be turned and virtually form a new hoe.

In the early days of the linotype or printing machines there were several machines being made and developed. One of the parties took out a patent on what they called an adjuster. It was simply a wedge, which was operated to spread the type and space the words; and though a very simple matter, it became a most important feature and compelled the other companies to pay a royalty for its use.

I think it will be found a very valuable point to carefully consider the subject before you rush into developing an invention. Many things can be done, viewed as a mere mechanical possibility, but circumstances may preclude their use. A party labored on the idea of a device to perforate postage stamps in the operation of canceling them. The thought finally occurred to him to use sand in the mucilage, so that when the stamp was struck in the usual canceling operation the sand would cut through it. I am informed that he wrote to the Postoffice Department at Washington. In their reply they stated that the sand would also cut the envelope. If I desired to work on that idea I would first aim to print the stamps with a color that would turn after it was canceled in the usual way, using, perhaps, some acid in the canceling ink, or I would work on the lines of a cancel to tear an embossed stamp, but I don't think the subject worth while. I prefer articles that sell to the many. "Little and often fills the purse."

All inventions originate in thought, which is often due to casual observance. We see a man stoop on the street, pick up a straw or splint and run it in the pipe stem. We begin to think. His pipe became clogged; it did not draw freely; he was lucky to find the straw; he might not always find one so readily. It is an idea to provide for such emergency so that he will not have to depend on the chance straw--something convenient; let me see--suppose we take a fine wire, double and twist it, leaving a small ring at one end. He could put it in the pipe-stem and leave it there; it would not be large enough to close the draft. If the stem became stopped he could pull the wire out, clean and replace it. Now, we observed, thought obtained an idea and constructed a device; can we improve it? We should study, ask ourselves the questions, Does it this? Will it that? Make a sample and test it, see that it meets the requirements, and you have an invention. Obtain a patent, have them manufactured, and put them on the market.

I do not smoke at present, and certainly do not recommend cigarettes, but simply as an illustration of an idea: we could gather up tobacco stems, etc., and make them into a paper to be used as a wrapper in making the cigarette. It would come pretty near being an all-tobacco cigarette. Why not fit the inside of the watch case with a thin sheet revolving calendar?

A hollow rubber ball or spring might be fitted in the heel of the shoe to make walking more comfortable.

An instrument to write with, fitted so that a ball passing over the paper would leave the mark or ink. It would not scratch and would wear longer than a gross of pens.

Bicycles may have seen their day; I often thought an automatic pump could be arranged to keep them in prime condition.

Possibly a leather paint could be made to paint the soles of one's shoes, to make them wear longer.

The governor on an engine is a simple idea; its function is to control--by its use the engine is regulated. If the latter is operating a dozen machines it is exerting a certain power; if, suddenly, ten of the machines were stopped, the power would run the engine at a terrific rate of speed; the governor rises and shuts off the power, and thus controls the engine.

The safety valve on the boiler is also very simple; it controls the steam pressure, allowing it to escape when it becomes too great.

The wood or cold handle sad iron is exceedingly simple and astonishingly profitable.

The Morse alphabet, used in telegraphing, was rather on the puzzle order, and quite easy at that.

Argand had gotten up his lamp with a circular wick, in a tube, the air thus supplying oxygen from within and without. It was a success; his child brother playfully set a broken flask over the flame, which was greatly improved thereby. The practical eye of the elder Argand enabled him to note the birth of lamp chimneys.

The four wire prongs to hold chimneys on lamps were crude, simple, and very profitable.

A good fender for trolley cars should be made so that it could be projected in front of the car, or drawn in within the line of the car, bow-shaped in front and governed by springs, so that it would yield when striking a person.

A mechanism might be arranged to show the next station or street on a sign in the car. It could be operated by power taken from the axle, though the slipping of the wheels would be bothersome.

The flying machine is a little too much of a wild fancy for me; it would do for some fellow who wants to get off the earth. "It's me for the simple life."

Men chew their cigars so much in smoking; it don't look a bit neat; an oiled paper end might be worked on under the wrapper to help the matter.

For cheap, machine made cigars, a toothpick might be worked in, to be pulled out before lighting, to improve the draft.

"Please shut the door" became a very common saying; finally it attracted the inventor's attention. A rope, pulley and weight may have been first; then springs ordinarily applied came, finally the spring was placed in the hinge and later still the spring and air cushion were combined. It closes the door and prevents it from slamming.

I believe in keeping fairly quiet about ideas I am working on. But don't spend your money for a patent too quickly. Many times patents are taken out, and instead of any danger of someone stealing them, they can't be coaxed to buy at mere cost. Unless it is really an important idea, it pays to get them made and see if they will sell before you take out a patent.

In your notebook where you keep a record of novelties and your ideas, from time to time, don't fail to record all costs you can learn of and where different things can be made--the more particular you are about these matters, the more you will improve your ideas and ability to properly promote them. Much vexation and lost time can be avoided in getting up inventions by being exact. "Slipshod" won't do. It defeats many perfectly practical ideas. The parts of a machine must be shaped and fitted to a nicety; "whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well."

It seems to me there is no end to improvement. I heard of a Yankee who was traveling in England. He was somewhat of a blower; no matter what he saw or heard of he claimed they had the same thing in America much more improved. The Englishmen could not stand it, so they thought they would get the best of the Yankee. They told him of a wonderful machine, the most complete ever built. A hog was driven in at one end and came out a cooked sausage at the other. The Yankee took it calmly and said yes, they had it in America, but it was a failure until a fellow-Yankee improved it. "Improve it? a complete machine like that? why, impossible." "Well," said the Yankee, "he put an attachment on so that if you did not like the sausage you simply reversed the machine and the hog walked out again."

Next to the simple or single idea patents: I think the improvements follow, and indeed many of them are exceedingly simple. It is all right to improve old patents and new ones, when the improvement has real merit. I want to take you over an improvement I had patented. I secured an old trick, in the form of a tin box three inches long, having a cap at each end. A cent would be dropped in through an opening in the top. The central portion was double, the outer sleeve was loose and could be pushed up and down; a slot in its side hid by the cap would register, when pushed up, with a slot in the inner part; by tilting the box the cent would drop through these slots into the hand. Then the loose sleeve had to be worked back into position so that the cap hid the slot. The operation was slow and somewhat difficult. It occurred to me to make the box of wood and provide it with a slanting bottom on the inside. This would lead the cent right up to the slot, and it would come out without tilting the box; also by using a spring it became automatic, i. e., the spring would push it back into position.

The trick can be done at least five times while it is done once with the tin box. It made an A1 trick box. It would be a good seller on the street, but in stores they would forget how to work it, and stores can't spare the time to demonstrate, so it did not go well in stores. The boxes were made complete for $4.50 per gross, sold to jobbers at $7 and to retailers at $9. They retailed at 10 cents. They were made on a lathe and nicely polished, packed one dozen in a box. I think in nine cases out of ten it is best to contract with some good firm to make the device. You will have plenty to do selling it. You can easily get some one to make the goods, but it is not so easy to get one who can sell them and push them properly. I tried manufacturing and don't like it.

Ideas are common and belong to all, The methods to the first should fall.

As a matter of fact, you can't patent an idea. You patent the method, or device. Some patents may perforce virtually cover the idea as a consequence of there being no alternative. A needle for machines with the eye in the point, the wedge adjuster in the linotype machines. Patents of that class, when good, are extra valuable, because they can't be improved. We also can sometimes make an article in common use by a patented machine and have a very secure thing. I think wire nails come under this head. Speaking of wire calls to mind the key ring; many millions have been sold.

Possibly a brake could be made in the form of a wedge suspended in front of the wheel by a chain in a way that it could be moved so that the wheel would run on it and thus stop the vehicle.

I don't know the particulars, and so I only speak in a general way. A patent was procured on a knife with an irregular or sawlike edge. It was recommended to cut bread, cake, etc.; could cut without much downward pressure, which made the bread, etc., soggy. Probably a good thing. A party patented an improvement, making his knife with a wave edge for the same purpose. Well, I would have compelled No. 2 to pay No. 1 a small royalty.

Have you ever seen the little tugboats doing their work, taking the big ships into dock? Do you know how they steer? They have a propeller close up to the stern; just beyond is the rudder. Both are in line with the centre. The turning of the propeller throws a strong current past both sides of the rudder and away from the tug. By turning the rudder so that the current strikes it the vessel is forced around; it acts as though pivoted in the centre, the ends going in opposite directions. In the early days they tried to move the vessel by blowing wind against the sails with a bellows stationed on the vessel. They overlooked the reaction, and were surprised that the vessel did not move.

Can you construct a box having a drawer so arranged that you could put an object in it, close and open it and have the object disappear?

I frequently meet the gentleman who got up the "Donkey Party." It certainly was amusing. The fifteen puzzle took the country by storm. Pigs in Clover was great, but too many imitations. The idea of printing animals on calico, so that they could be cut, sewed and stuffed at home was no doubt profitable.