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.