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"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 102
of 154
rather to quit their power than their principle.
In order of time, I should have mentioned before, that having, in 1742, invented
an open stove for the better warming of rooms, and at the same time saving fuel,
as the fresh air admitted was warmed in entering, I made a present of the model
to Mr. Robert Grace, one of my early friends, who, having an iron-furnace, found
the casting of the plates for these stoves a profitable thing, as they were
growing in demand. To promote that demand, I wrote and published a pamphlet,
entitled "An Account of the new-invented Pennsylvania Fireplaces; wherein their
Construction and Manner of Operation is particularly explained; their Advantages
above every other Method of warming Rooms demonstrated; and all Objections that
have been raised against the Use of them answered and obviated," etc. This
pamphlet had a good effect. Gov'r. Thomas was so pleas'd with the construction
of this stove, as described in it, that he offered to give me a patent for the
sole vending of them for a term of years; but I declin'd it from a principle
which has ever weighed with me on such occasions, viz., That, as we enjoy great
advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to
serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and
generously.
An ironmonger in London however, assuming a good deal of my pamphlet, and
working it up into his own, and making some small changes in the machine, which
rather hurt its operation, got a patent for it there, and made, as I was told, a
little fortune by it. And this is not the only instance of patents taken out for
my inventions by others, tho' not always with the same success, which I never
contested, as having no desire of profiting by patents myself, and hating
disputes. The use of these fireplaces in very many houses, both of this and the
neighbouring colonies, has been, and is, a great saving of wood to the
inhabitants.
Peace being concluded, and the association business therefore at an end, I
turn'd my thoughts again to the affair of establishing an academy. The first
step I took was to associate in the design a number of active friends, of whom
the Junto furnished a good part; the next was to write and publish a pamphlet,
entitled Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania. This I
distributed among the principal inhabitants gratis; and as soonas I could
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