Proceedings of the Polytechnic Association. 809 



cause, does not recognize success when he lias develo])ed it. The 

 world waited thirty years after the locomotive had been built, while 

 inventors exj^erimented with cog-wheels and racks to prevent the 

 driving-wheels from slipping. 



The true relation of manufacturers to inventions obviously lies in 

 mutually aiding each other ; capital and skill on the one hand, and 

 inventions on the other, must assist each other, and mutually pay 

 each other. The slowness of manufacturers in appreciating the " situ- 

 ation " creates a necessity for middlemen, who perform a useful work, 

 but usually at a very high price, and often with a disregard for com- 

 mon honesty, which does much to defeat the success of conscientious 

 operators. 



With some inventors, a license fee proportionate to the use made of 

 the invention is most satisfactory, and develops the invention with 

 the highest benefit to the parties and to the world ; with others, and 

 particularly with inventors, who are very bad business men, a com- 

 plete transfer of the entire invention is almost unavoidable. 



Giving an inventor an interest in the future working in some man- 

 ner either by stock, license fee, or Contingent payments, is so far 

 preferable to clear cash payments in the infancy of an invention as to 

 require no argument. It is a suspicious circumstance when an 

 inventor insists on receiving cash for the whole amount accruing to 

 him. On the other hand, it is in most cases reasonable that an inven- 

 tor shall receive a fourth, or some other portion of his pay in cash, 

 as an assurance that the associates, to whom he gives up the whole or 

 a large part of his invention, are in earnest and will proceed to 

 develop it in good faith. 



The purchase of an undivided portion of a patent involves a kind 

 of partnership with the inventor which may lead to difficulties in case 

 of infringement. The purchase of a license may lead to fault finding 

 in the same event. The purchase of an exclusive license is open to 

 less objection, but usually a complete purchase af the entire patent 

 is preferable. 



In conclusion, gentlemen, manufacturers use inventions and give 

 them attention, but not to the neglect of the regular manufacture. 

 Keep the broad line always clear between experience and conjecture. 

 If necessary, establish a separate department to make and test inven- 

 tions. Pay the inventor, but buy wisely. Count the purchase of 

 inventions, or rights in them, as legitimate an expense as the insur- 

 ance on your buildings. 



