"KEEPING IT DARK."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 75, 24 April 1909, Page 3

"KEEPING IT DARK."

TRADE SECRETS WHICH iKE WORTH -MILLIONS. The death of Mr. Horatio U. Powell, the inventor of a secret prow" of enamelling, recalls the story of the ex traordinan' precautions taken to maintain W secrecy of the inventor's recipe. Until Mr. l'oweli's discovery, workers in the enamel trade ran the risk of catchi„„ several noxious diseases, and when the inventor produced what he proved to he a harmless, improved process, lie knew that his secret was priceless. Rival firms wished to get an inkling of the secret, but the specially-selected workmen were incorruptible. As a result, Mr. Powell amassed a huge fortune. The invention was confined to Wolverhampton, and the -Midland town became famous for its enamelling work. THE LIQUEUR OF MYSTERY.

It is only natural that every precaution should be taken to guard costly trade secrets. There is a certain firm of sauce makers which guards night and day the recipe which hat made it famous and wealthy. No one workman knows the whole of it, for it is divided up between certain departments, and only the head of the film can tell what makes up the whole. The secret remained inviolable for one hundred years. The oldest trade secret in the world belongs to the famous monks of Chartreuse. They have specialised in wines, brandies, and liqueurs for more than six hundred years, and there are records proving that the famous liqueurs were made by them in the sixteenth century. Their history makes interesting reading. They have been attacked by robbers, anxious to get the secret, which is still with them.' Rivals have publicly proclaimed that they have solved the mystery at last, but all such claims are false.

The method adopted to keep the secret is simple. Only two persons know it—the head of the order and his deputy. But one cannot work without the other, for each knows only one-half of the secret, which, in case of death, is passed on.

More legal battles Jiave rageil round the recipe for "Kail de Cologne" than round any other half-dozen trade eve-rets. One firm owns it, and that firm alone knows it. Astounding efforts have been made to get at it, but without success. The many months spent on the preparation of the Budget result in< several persons having to be trusted with secrets for which many a speculator •Would pay a big sum. The cRtJk are sworn to secrecy; hut, needless to say, as little important information iis allowed to reach them as possible, a tremendous amount of spade-work being done by tie higher officials.

HOW IS BANKNOTE PAPER MADE? The Government small-arm factories offer workmen temptations which are not realised by the public. Every yvar these factories test many pattern guns and rifles, the object being, of course, to find the perfect weapon. Foreign Governments are engaged in a similar task, and it behoves the British nation to keep its. tests secret. Telegraph officials are another class of Government servant jvho must not talk "shop," and more nan one dismissal has resulted from Hlure to remember this. Hoie secrecy adopted in the matter of is fairly well kno\|n. of the great note foQeries of the years have been detected of the poorness, of the paper Xo thief has yet succeeded- hi manufacturing similar paper to that used for Bank of England notes. When the Dreadnought was in course of building numerous attempts were made by the emissaries of foreign powers to obtain particulars of the newest things in battleships. But .the Admiraltyhad organised the" dockworkers splendidly, and where conlmon patriotism was found wanting a system of supervising the men was adopted that kept at bay all danger. Recently the Professor of Metallurgy at Sheffield University announced the discovery of a process for making an improved steel that would be twice as good as that in use. This will, of course, further enhance the reputation of British steel, and we may be sure nothing will be left to chance in the guarding of the secret—"Answei*."