Proceedings of the Polytechnic Association. 807 



undertaking almost any branch of business. Of such, Mr. Corliss, of 

 " the Corliss Steam Engine Company ;" Mr. Hotchkiss, of Kifle Can- 

 non Projectiles; Col. Hoe, and a few others, are examples; but, 

 usually, the inventor is not the best man to take either of the three 

 steps. 



It may seem a bold proposition to say that the inventor is not the 

 best man to work out and experiment on his own invention ; in other 

 words, to reduce it to practice ; but, as a general proposition, it is 

 true. 



The capital and skill possessed by established manufacturers, are 

 essential to the success of new inventions. Inventors over-rate the 

 value of their novel ideas when they imagine that they will more than 

 compensate for the absence of experience. An inventor, who takes a 

 patent in an art with which he is not familiar, and undertakes alone 

 to work it in competition with established manufacturers operating on 

 the old plan, is in purgatory, if not a shade lower. Inventions must 

 be worked with capital and skill. 



A partnership between an inventor and a good business man is a desir- 

 able arrangement sometimes. But when the invention alone is wanted, 

 it is generally inexpedient to make the inveiitor an active partner. 



As a general fact, an inventor — a man, of whom nothing else is 

 known than that he has made a valuable invention — will make a poor 

 superintendent, or foreman, for the same reason, that, as a general 

 fact, any individual selected at random, will make a poor superinten- 

 dent or foreman. The possession of an inventive mind does not make 

 a man more qualified to fill positions of trust. Desirable superinten- 

 dents, foremen, presidents, treasurers, directors, general or special 

 agents, buyers, salesmen, travelers ; these are not ordinary pro- 

 ductions. They are rare men. The value of their services is due to 

 qualifications independent of invention which are rarely found, and 

 they must often be selected without reference to the possession of the 

 additional quality of invention. 



When, however, it is possible to secure a man otherwise valuable, 

 who has a talent for invention, and the still more rare talent of 

 controlling it, so that it will not run away with him, secure him as a 

 prize and make liberal arrangements with him. Pay him for his 

 inventions either separately or by a good salary. Make it an object 

 for him to come to you and stay with you. Occasionally it will pay 

 to hire a man on purpose to invent. 



In many instances, inventions, or an interest therein are sold by 



