Kodiak’s “Williwaws” Cause Inventor
Lewis Lyle To Birth New Invention
By Karl Armstrong
“Necessity is the Mother of In
vention”—so goes the old saying—
and it is certainly true insofar as
Lewis Lyle of Kodiak is concerned.
Like every Kodiak resident, Lyle
learned that Kodiak’s gusty “willi
waws” have a peculiar infinity for
garbage cans and generally whisk
them off into the horizon during
every blow.
But Lewis Lyle quickly tired of
the neighborhood game of “Chase
the Garbage Can.” He set out to
do something about it . . . and what
he did out of sheer annoyed neces
sity, has already attracted the at
tention of manufacturers of house
hold equipment.
For Lewis Lyle invented an ex
tremely simple but sure-fire effi
cient “Garbage €an Holder.” His
garbage can holder comprises a
clamp including a pair of generally
“U” shaped resilient clips for re
ceiving cans and other objects, un
der tension and frictionally grip
ping such objects, thus anchoring
them by means of a stake in the
center. It holds the garbage cans
above the ground to prevent rust
ing. The stake in the center of the
device, which is easily assembled
with no special tools, prevents the
can from tipping over from force
of wind or other strong forces.
With patent pending, Lyle’s de
vice is now in the hands of Kessler
Sales Corporation, Invention Brok
ers, of Ohio.
Vice President T. E. Blair of the
Kessler firm has been more than
encouraging about the device and
about Lyle as well.
“The inventor has done a very
good job of anticipating production
methods. He has considered econ
omy of manufacturing and though
CAMPAIGN
COMMENTS
I will devote this column to
discussing the fiscal facts of life,
Alaska style, a style all its own.
This could be called Egan-nom
ics; the art of taxation consist
ing of so plucking the goose as
to obtain all the feathers with
out hearing the squawking.
This administration has failed
to face the realities of life. They
(and this includes two of my
Republican opponents in the
state senate) will vote for any
spending program that comes
before them. In 1958 the cost of
government in Alaska was less
than $20 million. The legislature
of 1962 appropriated over $80
million. Alaska is now a state
and the needs of state govern
ment are more than the needs
of territorial government. But
those increases do not justify
the outrageous increase in cost.
There is no possibility of a
rapid increase in state revenues
unless taxes are raised. And
while it may be easy for the cur
rent administration to remain
buttoned up in its impenetrable
little coat of complacency, it is
not so easy for our citizens to
face continued tax jumps. Econ
omy in government is a virtue
rarely practiced and certainly
unknown in this year 1962. As
Governor of Alaska, I will prac
tice the virtue of economy and
will eliminate waste and graft
wherever it may be found.
(Pol. Ad written and paid
for by Verne O. Martin)
we are aware that a manufacturer
would make changes, the basic idea
is presented by the inventor in
about as simple and straightfor
ward a manner as possible,” said
Blair.
“The drawings contained in the
patent application papers covering
this invention indicate that it rep
resents a piece of equipment that
should be readily accepted by the
trade once it is made available,” he
said, adding, “This device would
completely eliminate the possibil
ity of a garbage can being upset,
and chain is provided to be at
tached to the lid of the can to pre
vent its being lost. Here is an in
vention which fills a real need
while at the same time provides the
novelty necessary in the promotion
of any generally new idea. It
would appear that the sales poten
tial is large. It presents no prob
lem in its distribution that we
foresee, and the item is such that
it lends itself to a strong sales
presentation.”
“I’ve had this item in mind now
for about ten years,” said Inventor
Lyle—and that is just about the
length of time he has lived in Ko
diak incidentally. He came to Ko
diak from Anchorage in 1950 and
is now married to a charming local
girl. He and his wife Marilyn have
one child and regard Kodiak as
their home. Lyle did one hitch in
the U.S. Navy as a “fleet sailor”
but was never stationed here. He
has been on the city police force
for four years and presently is self
employed.
Possessing an obviously agile and
inquisitive mind, Lyle is a born
tinkerer and for a number of years
has busied himself during spare
moments with experimenting and
perfecting various new ideas of his
own. The range of his inventive
efforts is wide but practical. For
instance, he is presently putting
the finishing touches on the in
volved patent processing of an
other invention—this one being a
children’s “kiddie kicking block
game.” This idea, which also is at
tracting manufacturers’ interest,
came to him shortly after he be
came a father. At the present time
Lyle is working on five items of in
vention.
The 38-year-old Lewiston, Idaho,
born Lyle admits that he has had
to take a considerable amount of
joshing and razzing from many of
his skeptical-minded acquaintances
who look askance at the idea of
anyone trying to be so bold as to
suggest a possible new idea of in
vention. We can only point out that
this seems to be the usual fate of
those, including even Edison and
Einstein, who pursue the role of
Inventor.” But further we might
well suggest that in short time,
Lyle will be able to recall those
who laughed “back when” — and
laugh out loud himself — all the
way to the bank!
Read the classifieds for profit,
use them for results.
MECCA WRECKER SERVICE
Insured Service
24 hours
Ph. 486—5637 or 486—2255
There are several ways that a man can pay the price
of a new Cadillac car—and find himself in possession
of an automobile of far less stature.
Because there are many motorists currently con
sidering the purchase of their next car, we would
like to enumerate these ways of going astray.
1. Assume that the purchase price of a new
Cadillac car is higher than it actually is. (There are
eleven models of other makes that this year cost
more than the lowest-priced Cadillac model.)
2. Fail to appreciate that the basic price of a new
Cadillac includes important things that are extra
on many other cars. (Including automatic trans
mission, power steering and power braking.)
3. Neglect to find out from a Cadillac dealer what
your present car is worth in trade. (He is especially
anxious this spring to welcome new owners.)
And if you take one of these detours, think of all
the unique pleasures you could be missing.
There is Cadillac’s styling—so majestic that it
attracts attention wherever it goes.
There is Cadillac’s comfort—so wonderful that
every journey becomes a brief vacation.
And there is Cadillac’s performance—so great
that it is without rival on the world’s highways.
So we suggest that you play it safe—and get all
the facts from your dealer soon.
You might be closer to a Cadillac than you think.
VISIT YOUR LOCAL AUTHORIZED CADILLAC DEALER
DONNELLEY & ACHESON MOTOR COMPANY
Box 1157 Foot of Main Kodiak, Alaska
. SEE THE GENERAL MOTORS EXHIBIT AT THE 1962 SEATTLE WORLD’S FAIR • APRIL 21 - OCT. 21 —