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.