Chapter 208: Genius Inventor

Liang Yao intends to award the third place of Liang Yao Invention Award to Erickson and Clover. Google Search Reading

Erickson and Clover have the most propeller patents and are top experts in propellers.

Although paddle steamers were advanced at that time, they were only a flash in the pan in the 19th century when shipbuilding technology was changing with each passing day.

The bulky paddle wheels not only took up a lot of space, but also affected the maneuverability of the ship, and would soon be eliminated. The propeller-driven dark steamer is the future.

Liang Yao's subsequent shipbuilding will also focus on dark steamers, and he will hire Erickson and Clover as experts at the California Shipyard.

Liang Yao intends to award the second place to the engineering team headed by Ward of the California Railway Company.

Under his guidance, these outstanding engineers invented the Pioneer locomotive and the supporting railway tracks that made Americans proud. Ward's engineering team deserves this honor and reward.

Liang Yao intends to award the first place to Walter.

As for what Walter should be awarded for inventing, Liang Yao was puzzled for a while.

Because this guy has so many inventions, no matter how many, each of his inventions is very meaningful and commercially valuable in Liang Yao's eyes.

For example: hemp spinning machine, knife sharpening machine, nail making machine, writing desk lamp, self-sealing ink bottle, safety pin, thread twisting machine, lock single needle sewing machine, small icebreaker, street sweeper, universal wheel, spherical coal stove, etc. Even the nib of the fountain pen in Liang Yao's pocket uses Walter's patented technology for improving the fountain pen nib.

Liang Yao went to the Patent Office to check Walter's patented technologies filed in the Patent Office. This guy has more than 200 registered patents in the Patent Office.

In addition to patents in the civilian field, Walter also has patents in the military field, such as lever-action rifles and lever-action revolvers, which have brought more reliable continuous-fire firearms onto the stage of history.

Such a genius is simply a big treasure, and Liang Yao cannot let it go.

It's a pity that although Walter is an invention genius, he has hundreds of patents.

But he was a pure inventor, good at inventing and creating, but not good at realizing his inventions.

This great genius inventor still lives a relatively poor life in New York.

Little did he know that if any of his patents were successfully realized, he could achieve financial freedom and easily become a millionaire or even a multi-millionaire.

For example, a company that obtained the patent technology of spherical coal stoves could make millions of dollars in profit from the spherical coal stoves sold in New York every year.

William Grace bought out Walter's safety paper clip patent for $400 in 1849.

Now, at the age of 22, Grace has made more than $2 million through safety paper clips and founded Grace Chemical Company. This chemical company is still an industry giant in the 21st century.

Don't underestimate the small paper clip. Before the zipper was invented, both Americans and Europeans used pins to close pockets and fix accessories on clothes. It is an indispensable necessity in life.

In addition, paper clips can also be used to fix baby clothes and diapers.

Since babies grow very fast, parents often buy clothes that are too big for their babies to save money, and use paper clips to fix the loose parts of the clothes, so that they can save a lot of money on sewing and buying clothes.

Ironically, Liang Yao only spent $68,550 to buy all of Walter's patented technology and drawings from the Patent Office.

More than $60,000 is undoubtedly a huge sum of money, but it is too cheap for the invention of this genius inventor.

After thinking about it, Liang Yao finally decided to award Walter the first prize of the Liang Yao Award in the name of the inventor of the lock-type single-needle sewing machine and the improver and main inventor of sewing machine technology.

In the sewing machine competition in 1850, it was not Walter who made the greatest contribution to the improvement of sewing machines, but Elias Howe and Yinsak Singh, two businessmen, who rose to fame.

Elias Howe and Yinsak Singh not only made profits from it, but also competed for the honorary title of "main inventor of sewing machines".

Walter was currently embroiled in a lawsuit with Elias Howe and Yinsak Singh over the patent technology of sewing machines.

Liang Yao publicly awarded the first prize to Walter, which was not only a material support for Walter, but also a public platform for Walter.

Liang Yao was led by Connie to Walter's residence on Washington Street.

"Walter's residence is here."

Connie pointed to the four-story sloping roof tile house in front of him after seeing the house number clearly.

Connie was about to knock on the door, but Liang Yao signaled Connie to step back first, and he personally went forward and knocked on Walter's door.

The person who opened the door for Liang Yao was a middle-aged woman holding a child in her arms, and behind the middle-aged woman were two three or four-year-old children grabbing her skirt and playing.

The middle-aged woman saw that Liang Yao was well-dressed and looked like a very respectable person, so she asked politely.

"Excuse me, who are you?"

While being polite, the middle-aged woman looked at Liang Yao with a hint of vigilance, worried that Liang Yao was here to collect debts.

"I am Liang Yao. Is this Mr. Walter's home?" Liang Yao asked with a smile.

"Ah? You are Mr. Liang. Come in, come in. This is our home. I am Walter's wife."

Mrs. Walter’s attitude towards Liang Yao was very enthusiastic, and Liang Yao recently purchased all of Walter’s patents in the patent office.

As a result, Walter received a very considerable patent fee and his living conditions were greatly improved.

At least Walter could now afford a draftsman specifically to draw pictures for him.

If you want to apply for a patent at the Patent Office and prepare it, you need a detailed patent drawing and specification.

Walter's own knowledge level was that he had not graduated from elementary school, and his drawing and writing abilities were limited. He needed to hire a draftsman to help him draw and write the patent specification, which was a huge expense.

Since arriving in New York, Walter has often been unable to pay the draftsman and has been chased by the draftsman for debts.

Of course, this is only part of the cost of applying for a patent. In addition to the draftsman's remuneration, Walter also needs to pay the patent office application fees, registration fees, filing fees and other miscellaneous fees.

Because the patent office of the federal government now supports hundreds of people, and the federal government’s allocation to the patent office is limited, the patent office must find a way to support itself.

By the way, the Patent Office and Trademark Office in the mid-19th century were not in New York, but in Pennsylvania next door. If Walter wanted to apply for a patent, he had to go to Pennsylvania, and the round trip expenses were also a considerable expense.

Liang Yao walked into Walter's home. Walter's home was not small, but considering that Walter had twelve children and as many grandchildren as his children, Walter's home seemed quite crowded.

Liang Yao finally understood why Walter had so many patented technologies but still lived in such poverty and poverty.

Love is like raising a bunch of four-legged gold-eating beasts in New York. There are no maternity subsidies in America in this era.

You can imagine the pressure that ordinary people face raising more than two dozen children and grandchildren in one of the most expensive cities in the United States.

"Hello Mr. Liang, I heard that you bought all my patents. Thank you very much."

A tall middle-aged man about 195 centimeters tall with scarred hands put down his work and stretched out his calloused hands to Liang Yao.

"Hello, Mr. Walter."

Liang Yao shook Walter’s rough hand.

Walter's rugged image is more likely to be associated with the image of a farmer than an inventor.

In fact, Walter did come from a poor farmer, and a life of poverty accompanied Walter throughout his life.

"I have ridden on the Pioneer you invented. It was very comfortable. Unfortunately, I have no money. Otherwise, I would have spent $5 to buy a first-class ticket to experience it." Walter said with regret.

"The Pioneer and those carriages are very remarkable inventions, and the ore washing tank you invented is also a very simple and practical invention."

Liang Yao also has several technologies in the patent office, but Liang Yao is more famous than Walter in the invention world. This is not because Liang Yao has many inventions in the invention world.

It's because Liang Yao has the bonus of being the richest man in the United States and the Speaker of the California State Assembly.

Of course, it is an indisputable fact that Liang Yao is one of the very few politicians who has his own patented technology.

"I designed those carriages, and I tinkered with the ore washing tank. As for the Pioneer locomotive, I didn't invent it. I just made some trivial suggestions to my team of engineers."

Liang Yao said very calmly.

"You are such a humble person. You bought all my patented technology, and I received US$27,400. In the days to come, I finally don't have to worry about my livelihood anymore and can concentrate on my inventions."

Walter said very happily.

"27,400 US dollars?" Liang Yao was very surprised after hearing this number.

"I spent $68,550 to buy your patent. How little did you get?"

"Damn the Patent Office!"

Walter also felt very angry after hearing the figure of more than 60,000 US dollars.

"It's okay not to mention the money. I'm here to tell you that you are the winner of the first Liang Yao Invention Award. I will announce the news soon." Liang Yao brought good news to Walter.

"I also heard the news that you established this award. This is good news for the invention world. On behalf of my colleagues in the invention world, I thank you!" Walter said excitedly, but he quickly added.

"Mr. Liang, can I win next year's Liang Yao Invention Award?"

"Why?"

Liang Yao was very confused by Walter's strange request and didn't understand what kind of medicine Walter was selling in his gourd.

"According to what I read in the newspaper, the prize money for the winner of the Liang Yao Award is the income of the Liang Yao Award Foundation that year, and more than half a year has passed this year, and the prize money is definitely not as big as the winners of the second session." Walter was very Said honestly.