War causes a decline in the number of inventions

London, 29 January 1915 - The number of inventions applied for in 1914 is down by more than 5,000, according to figures released by the British Patent Office.

The fall off in inventions is rooted in the inevitable interference with trade that is the consequence of the Great War and the fact that applications from hostile countries are no longer being made. For several years patents awarded to German inventions were a considerable item in the United Kingdom.

Amongst the most interesting inventions that were awarded a patent this year was a motor car that does not run on wheels, but instead operates on three parallel pairs of runners. Another involves a telephone system in an aeroplane, which would facilitate communication between pilot and passenger, overcoming the great difficulty in holding a conversation due to the noise of the engine.

However, it is undeniable that 1914 was a disappointment with regard to innovation, and this serves as an example that the popular sentiment that the country is conducting 'business as usual' doesn't extend to all facets of life.

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]