Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1877 — Early Patents. [ARTICLE]

Early Patents.

The partial destruction by fire of the Patent Office has incited a correspondent to make some research into the history of patents in this country: “ The first patent issued by the Government was to Samuel H opkins, on July 31,1790, for making pot or pearl ashes. Patents were issued on modes of making caudles, flour and meal later in the same yeai-, and in 1791 Francis Bartly was granted. tetters for 41 punches for-type*. ” Also in that year patents were issued for driving piles, for bridges, machines for thrashing grain, for improvements in distilling, propelling boats by cattle,and improvements in steam engines. In 1792 was patented a canvas conductor to be used when houses are on fire, which may have been the original of the late patent fire-escape. Ah improved mode of turning a spit was patented in 1793; also a stove of cast iron. A machine for cutting nails was patented by Josiah G. Peerson oit March 23, 1794. A new mode of codling fish was patented in 1795, since which time innumerable laws have been enacted to compel people to catch them by the old process. Removing pains by metallic points was patented in 1796, and the first improvement in piano fortes is recorded in the same year; also stays for removing distortions in the . spine. A soapstone stove iras patented in 1797. .Bilious pills were fifst patented in 1796, effeminajte ropery for spinning rope yam in 1799, and a washing and wringing machine,’the Ckivwbar, in 1800. Ebenezer Whiting received a patent for a cotton gin on Jan. 22, 1801. An improvement for manufacturing paper from corn-husks was patented Dec. 30, 1802, and an apple-parer in 1802. A patent for finding salt water and metals was granted in 1803. In 1804 a patent was issued for an improvement in the bedstead, so constructed that it may be taken down and removed by one person in case of fire or on other occasions with much ease and expedition. In 1804 the Government felt the value of an improvement in gallows or suspenders for breeches, pantaloons or trousers.”