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That is what the Galena
Daily Gazette reported in its July 25, 1871 issue , as it
went on to comment regarding various inventions by Galena
residents.
Inventions have
always held the interest of the general public. There seems to
be a certain fascination for the wide variety of gadgets that
have been produced. A good many of these inventions have made
our lives easier and less complex.
While researching a
variety of subjects at the Galena Public Library, I have
compiled a list of inventions by Galena residents.
In June of 1859, the Galena
Daily Gazette reported: "There has perhaps been more
effort of inventive mind expended in contriving machines with
the view to save manual labor in washing clothes than on any
other class of machine."
It was also at that
time that Mrs. Charity Pendleton of Galena received a patent for
her Gymnasium Washing Machine. "It combines simplicity of
construction, ease of management, thoroughness of work and
cheapness of price. Its motions are in imitation of those of the
usual process of washing by the hands. Any person who can wash
in that way can use this with even less required judgement and
skill. It greatly facilitates the operation and can be afforded
at the low price of $8.00."
In 1869, Beri Tuttle of Galena received a patent for his idea
on an improved water wheel which "will effect an entire
revolution in the propelling of machinery by water power.
Without entering into the details of his device, his
improvements consist in regulating the size of the orifice or
bucket for the discharge of the water to the supply and amount
of power required-supporting the weight of the wheel so as to
obtain the greatest power". Mr. Tuttle was described
as "an ingenious original thinker and hard worker, and his
present invention is spoken of as one of great merit."
In 1873, the Galena Gazette reported that Jacob Lehner
of Galena received a patent for "a very ingenious
contrivance. With his invention, a person can sit in a rocking
chair, and by simply rocking, without using hands at all, one
can rock a cradle for the baby and brush away flies from the
face-all at the same time. Thus, a woman may knit or sew, and
also rock and fan the baby. The fan attachment may be removed
from the cradle and placed upon a bedstead, so that a person,
while sitting up with the sick, on a hot summer night, can lean
back in his rocking chair and fan the sick person by the motion
of his chair."
In 1874, the Galena Gazette reported that
"inventions relieving the drudgery of household labors
should be regarded as blessings, and every husband who
appreciates the love and services of a wife, if in his power,
should secure every appliance which will aid in lessening the
weight of the load of life’s duties the housewife is compelled
to carry."
In that year, Mrs. Mattie Crummer, wife of County Clerk Wil
Crummer, secured a patent on an improvement in cabinets for
ladies use. "The contrivance consists in the manner of
enlarging the top of a table, by means of adjustable doors and
rods, so that the top can be moved back and forth for the
purpose of greater space on the top of the table. The invention
consists of an ordinary bureau-like cabinet, which is provided
with any number of large and small drawers. The top, instead of
being permanently secured to the cabinet, is attached to it by
means of rods, and can be made larger and smaller at will. It
serves the double purpose of a cutting table and bureau, and may
also be converted into a handsome writing desk, by means of
movable panels and doors."
In 1888, R. J. Edwards of Galena received a patent in the
United States and Canada for his car coupler for trains. The Galena
Gazette reported: "With Mr. Edwards invention, cars may
be uncoupled, the air from both ends of the car cut off, and the
air coupler uncoupled with but two motions, and as quickly as
one can pull out a pin...Mr. Edwards claims that this is the
only coupler that can be made to work satisfactorily in
connection with the Westinghouse brake."
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| R.J.
Edwards of Galena invented a revolutionary new coupler
for railroad cars in 1888. |
In 1890, Arthur Porter received a patent on a lawn mower
which was an improvement over all previous inventions. "The
knives of his unit are so placed that they cannot be injured by
stones or other obstructions in their path. By a revolving fan
above the knife, the grass is thrown into a receptacle for that
purpose, which carries it until such time as convenience makes
the emptying of the receptacle desirable. Thus, while cutting a
clean swath, it also sweeps it clean. The cutter may be gauged
to cut grass at any length."
In 1863, Leopold Schneider of Galena secured a patent on a
permutation lock, represented to be a perfect safeguard against
housebreakers. The idea of the inventor was to produce a lock
that would be a security against lock pickers and burglars. The Galena
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Gazette described the invention: "Its fundamental
principle is the ratchet pulsation of the ordinary combination
lock. The outer knob, corresponding exactly to the common
door-knob, is also the key to the combination. Having set the
combination, the door is as fast as an adamant wall against all
but him who knows the combination. Attached to the lock on the
inside is a gong, and when the knob turns, the gong sounds. The
gong having sounded, the knob is turned any number of times,
from one to a million, according to the combination that has
been set, each pulsation being recognized by the accompanying
click,, and when the proper number is reached, the shaft of the
knob is pushed forward and the door swings open." The Gazette
also noted that if "anyone tampers with the knob, the
gong sounds and continues its vibrations until the hands on the
knob is released. Thus the lock possesses the double merit of a
burglar alarm by night and a call bell by day." The lock
also had a bolt device on the interior that was fastened by
pushing forward on a slide which served as a dead bolt for added
security. "It required no key, no clumsy implement of brass
to bore holes in your trouser pockets, no elusive night key with
a penchant for hiding itself in the most remote corner of the
last pocket in which it occurs to you to look for it."
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