Handbook N-P - Fulton County Public Library

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O. L. Roberts, of Macy, and well known in this city, was in Peru Wednesday consulting
with his attorneys, Cox & Andrews, in regard to a continuous rail joint which he had patented at
Washington, D.C., Dec. 12, 1911. The number of the patent is 1,011,492. Expert railroad men
have no small amount of praise for the patent which, if taken up by the railroads, will mean much
to Mr. Roberts. Mr. Roberts got a patent on a street railroad tie in 1909. Mr. Roberts is a jeweler
by trade.
[Rochester Sentinel, Thursday, March 28, 1912]
LOY’S IDEA MEETS WITH APPROVAL
William Loy, the well-known inventor and general repairer of this city, came into
additional fame as an inventor last month, when he sent in an article to the Popular Mechanics
magazine, which dealt with a new invention. The particular idea advanced by the Rochester man
was a device by which even a blind person could thread a sewing machine needle. It is made of a
small piece of tin bent double, which holds a fine wire, with a hook on the end. The ends of the
tin, which come almost together at one end slips over the needle and when it comes even with the
needle opening the hook slips through. The thread is then placed in the hook and drawn back
through. The simpleness of the device appealed to the Popular Mechanics people and they
notified Mr. Loy that his article had been accepted. This meant that he got a dollar for his trouble
and the next surprise came when he received a check for $5, accompanied by a letter telling him
that he received second prize.
The honor attached to his receiving this recognition is made greater when the fact is
known that the magazine has a circulation of 315,000, and that there are thousands of contributors
to that section.
[Rochester Sentinel, Thursday, September 5, 1912]
CARRIED OFF ANOTHER PRIZE
Will Loy, the Rochester inventive genius and safe lock expert who has gained statewide
fame in the past by his work along those lines and who several months ago sent in a simple device
for threading a needle in the dark to the Popular Mechanics prize department for which he
received first prize of $10, has just received word that he has been successful again. The latest
thing to spring from his fertile brain was an easy way to make a twine holder. The device as
explained by Mr. Loy is to take a funnel, which is to be suspended in the air and the ball placed in
it with the end protruding through the spout. The Popular Mechanics thought so much of his idea
that they awarded him second prize of $5. This is quite an honor as several thousand persons over
the United States compete for these prizes every month.
[Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday, December 3, 1912]
FULTON COUNTY BOY INVENTS
Geo. V. Dawson has installed a new electric humidor for his cigar case, which is the
invention of a former Fulton county man, son of Amos Madary, who formerly lived seven miles
south of the city. The son is now living in Traverse City, Mich., where his device, which is
making him a fortune, is manufactured.
It consists of a bath of water to which an ordinary electric bulb is immersed. The heat
generated by the light evaporates the water, thus dampening the cigars. The adaptability of the
humidor lies in the fact that it is automatic; that is, the light is turned on when a certain amount of
vapor has been released. This is controlled by a sensitive double expansive brass disc, which cuts
the current when the heat reaches a certain point, and which turns it on again when the temerature
grows low. A thermometer attachment permits an adjustment from 65 to 110 degrees, depending
upon the amount of water needed. The device is most ingenious and reflects credit upon the
inventor, who will be remembered by many local people.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, March 14, 1913]
CITY LOSES BIG R.R. TIE FACTORY