Having advanced his invention to the stage of having obtained a footing in the market, the inventor has reached the "Parting of the Ways," and now is the time for him to decide whether he is to sell his invention, or to keep it.

If he decides to sell, his likely buyers are those who are in that line of business, and who are generally willing to add to their established business some patented novelty in their own line, that will give them exclusive use, and special advertising facilities, thereby increasing their profits, and enhancing their prestige; or some capitalist on the alert for a profitable investment, and congenial occupation.

The decision of the inventor must depend upon the nature of the invention, its profitableness, his own financial resources, his health, his energies, temperament, and the likelihood of his invention being imitated, and his mechanical and financial ability to protect it.

Generally speaking the proverb about "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," is very applicable to inventions, and the inventor who is blessed with a grain of prudence in his make-up, will think carefully, and his best, before he refuses a fair offer.

If he desires to sell, a sum of money outright is better than a royalty.

Should it not be practical or desirable to dispose of it, he must make preparations to supply the market in constantly increased proportions.

Owing to the various kinds of skilled labor, numerous expensive tools, machinery, high rents for suitable manufacturing places necessary for the building of machinery, requiring the investment of large capital, and the devotion of a great deal of time for organization and supervision, many inventors find it convenient, even profitable, to have their machines built under contract by some established manufacturing concern which is properly equipped for that special kind of work. This in many cases is a very wise business-like course to pursue, as it eliminates the necessity of a large investment, and leaves the inventor free to devote himself to improving and enlarging the field for his invention, and to attend to the business end to better advantage.