Popular Mechanics 1920-03: Vol 33 Iss 3

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POPULAR MECHANICS MAGAZINE WRITTEN SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND IT BIS PU mm P ~~ See Page 349

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Kei vewsvce ar0 Tractor Business Earn $150 to $400 a Month Opportunities Everywhere Never before _ . were there so many opportunities for earning big money or starting a business of your own as exist today in the automobile and tractorindustry. Factories are in full production, yet far behind on orders. It is estimated 1,000,000 ; new cars will be sold to users this year. Competent Motor Mechanics are needed Y everywhere — opportunities unlimited. Rahe 3° Trained men are in demand. Learn in g to 8 Weeks Any man, 16 years and older, who will come here and apply himself, can learn easily and quickly, under guidance of numerous Master .Mechanic Instructors who help you make rapid progress. The most complete equipment ever used—up-to-date Autos, Tractors, block-mounted Motors, Electric Apparatus and all equipment necessary to train you quickly and thoroughly in all branches of the business. We refer you to thousands of Rahe graduates who are earning up to $400 a month, many from your own section—those owning garages make much more. Rahe Auto = Tractor School No previous experience or special talent required You learn by the same method we used to train thousands of Soldier Mechanics in 60 days’ time. Only additional cost to be trained here is difference in carfare. Pleasant living quarters in reputable private home close to school, under daily suvervision of the Rahe Welfare Department. Plenty of opportunities to earn part living expenses while here. Special Tuition Rate Now! To help meet the unprecedented demand for gobs linn sans deine at Rahe Trained Motor Mechanics, we are ee ttt opportunities and > maaing special inducement to those who come Pee oy bg 68 page, iilus- within the next few weeks. No limited scholar- REE ,¢ trated — ships here—you get complete training. (No colored applications). WRITE AT ONCE. ” aemmiaie i Mail This Coupon Today for our Specie! NEE diced benebbednesteesennedeensss d6e0ee Rahe Auto and Tractor School i ~ Dept. 2895 KANSAS CITY, moO. Pa FAUGGTESS «cece eee eee O Peete eee a eS eseeeses o ABE. occ cc cece e CCUPAIION, .ccccccccccescccccsccscesce aA ee "ee he he lh “i he he ee ee he es ee 00 Ee ee Ee ee Oe Ee ie et, “Ee “Ee Oe > ht "te “he Tatatetat.t_tT + 4 bed be

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H.H. WINDSOR, EDITOR London: Hachette & Cie, 16, King William Street, Charing Cross, W.C.2 Paris: Hachette & Cie, 111 Rue Reaumur ISSUED MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION: In United States, and its possessions, Cuba, Mexico, and aarens per year, ae - To all other countries in the Postal Union All subscriptions are discontinued at expiration. $3.00 3.50 Please examine the date printed on your wrapper. Entered as Second Class Matter Sept. 15, 1903, at the Post Office at Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 8rd, 1879. Entered as Second Class Matter at the Post Office Department, Canada. Published monthly by POPULAR MECHANICS CO, Copyright, 1920, by H. H. Warpsor, Copyright in Australia. Popular Mechanics Magazine 6 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, U.S. A. Melbourne, Australia: The Australasian News Co. SINGLE COPY, 25 CENTS Vol. 33 Contents Accident—Dining Car Overturned by Freight Car... Accident—Exploding Boiler Falls in Bunkhouse... Advertising—Tent as Truck Body Shows Wares... Aeronautics—Aerial Tournaments Predicted Aeronautics—Hobo Beats His Way on Airplane Undercarriage 56459406 C600 RSS DORE SOARES EOE R Aeronautics “Shroud” Increases Propeller Efficiency for March, 1920 Acroplane, Lar e Passenger, Sumptuously Appointed 368 Aeroplane, Ne-4 Marooned in Deserted Village 346 Aeroplane Parachute, Best, Prize Contest for...... 480 Aeroplane Power Units Made Interchangeable.... 347 Aeroplane Service Links Murman Coast to Finland. 334 Aeroplanes, DH-4’s, Remodeled ....-+-+..++++00- 345 Aeroplanes, Mail, Keep Admiral in Touch with Fleet 357 Acroplanes, Separate Sheds for, Decrease Fire Risk. 361 Aeroplanes, Wings Fold Up like Tongs.......... 373 Agricul lture—University Campus Has Oldest Experi- Me DO ac vvdecssn 40ers beds eRES se rGRS KES 15 Airman Hit by Goose Falls 3,000 Feet..........-..- 359 Airships, Preventing Electric Charges on.......... 394 Alloy, Secret Copper-Zinc, Stronger Than Steel.... 420 Anvil, Transmission Band, Resembles Wheel....... 432 Aquarium for Chicago Park, Plans for............. 385 Astronomers Seek Planet Believed near Eanenee. » 352 Astronomy, Einstein’s Theories Remain Mystery.. 372 Automobile, Broken, Wrecking Truck for...... 350 Automobile Chassis, Six, Shipped on One Flat Car. 390 Automobile Engine, Device Locates Trouble in.... 362 Automobile, Gear Attachment Gives Different Speeds 442 Automobile “Hot Spot’ Manifold Has Adustable PRION: cnc palmitate anes oe ne ae areal eee 373 Automobile, Indicating Mirror Measures Distance ie eo ee rn ae err 438 Automobile Inner Tubes, Scales for Testing....... 436 Automobile Lock, Whole Steering Post Fastened by 406 Automobile Signal, Whirling, ives Warning.... 421 Automobile Supplies, New Device for Carrying..... 332 Automobile Thief, Ingenuities of, by Paul H. Wood- ee ee EE A a ae ee 386 Automobile Wins Close Race with Ice Boat....... 352 Automobiles, Tap Street Circuit to Warm Radiators 337 Aviary Lattice Cut to Form Sidewalk Display...... 422 Axle, Motor Truck, Carries Gears in Wheels....... 405 Baki ing Industry, Institute will Make ‘Scientific..... 370 “Barometer,” Factory, Records Production of Sales 442 Barrow, Two Wheeled, Carries Heavy Loads....... 381 Bathtub on Wheels, New Device for Hospital...... 361 Bean Plants, Blight Free, from Aged Seed......... 358 Bees Kept on Roof of Office Building............. 384 Belts, Old, Chemical Baths Rejuvenate............ 416 Bird Pests, Fireworks Rids - 7 eer 433 Blood Tests, Racial, Suggest Dual Origin of Man.. 358 Boiler, High Pressure, Has Rotating Water Tubes. 338 Break. water Mooring Devices of Strong Construction 344 Bridge, “Suicide,” in Chicago Park Torn Down. 391 Bu inkhouse, Carpenters Erect in Short Time. 400 Cairo, Old and New, Photograph Shows Union of.. 428 Canal, Jersey, to Form Last Link in Chain........ 399 Capital, Brazilian, May Move to High Plateau... 357 Cars, Electric, Many Doors and No Straps on.. 332 Casting, Centrifugal, Hollow Steel Objects Made by 404 Census Taken by Motorboat among Florida Keys.. 335 Census, Unique, Automobile Men Take............ 330 Centennial, Nebraskans Reénact History at........ 408 Channel for Warships at San Francisco.... 438 Chemist, Joseph Priestley, College Campus to have ic ers trtianngs Ryn ane soma naaEe 347 No. 3 eo BO a eee TT . 440 Chuck, Air Hose, Locks on Valve Stem........... 338 City, Thousand Year Old, being Restored, vd Fran- CO TORE 6-46.06. 60005 004.05 ene Negeeneseeteenhaee 423 Clamp Registers Cloth on Tailor’s Table.......,.... 360 Coal Car Dumper, Huge, Built for Railroad...... 389 Coffee Urn, New, Has Felt Filters...........++6- 384 Coke Mine, Commuters Find on Trolley Line...... 380 Coke Oven, Modern, By-Products Recovered by... 430 Comment and Review, by H. H. Windsor......... 353 Concrete, Electric Generator Parts Made of........ 368 Concrete Front Beautifies Frame Residence........ 370 Corn, South American Industries Use as Fuel.... 382 Cornstalk Cutter Makes Silage in Field............ 346 Cotton Bales, Made by Three Ram Process........ 356 Cotton Plants, Weevily, Engine Blows Poison on... 336 Crematory in Western City, by Allen P. Child..... 393 Cruiser, “Leonardo da Vinci,” Placed in Dry Dock. 329 Curios on Doorn Estate, Ex-Kaiser’s Wall Hides.. 416 Dam, Tennessee’s Greatest, Taller Than Niagara... 323 Delivery Car, New, Resembles Auto and Motorcycle 346 Dentist—Electric Sterilizing Bath for Instruments. 438 Desert, Sahara, Ice Manufactured by Nature in.... 331 Diamond Drill Work, Survey with Sound Instruments 384 Diet, Satisfactory, Analyzed by Biochemical Method 395 Directories Show Denver’s Increase............+++ 367 Dye, Old Gold, Manufactured from Chimney Soot.. 395 Electric Light Set, Engine and Dynamo Unit in. 437 Electric Plant, Germany Builds in Lignite District. 402 Elephants, Wild, Using Motorcycle to Hunt, by H. RR ee Peer rr ere 349 Elevator Explosion Danger Model Building Shows 410 Envelopes, Automatic Machines for Manufacture of. 352 Ermine Caught by Eskimos in Simple Trap........ 415 Explosives, Sensitiveness of Determined by Tests.. 407 Exports, Nation’s, American Ships Carry Half of.. 420 Fan, Electric, Windmill Driven, Deodorizer for. 377 Farming in Death Valley, by John Edwin Hogg.. .- 339 Fires, Forest, Fighting by Bombs Impractical...... 360 Flag, Altered American, Riot Caused by........-... 404 Flax Rippling Machine, Straw Not Damaged by... 348 Forest Preserve, Chicago’s, Has Utilitarian Side 322 Fountain, Drinking, Nozzle Protected by Guards.. 406 Fountains, Drinking, for Miners.................. 395 Freight Trains, + ll of the ppd by ee ee cea kt bcuseae bGhbae due vane 363 Fuel “Hamburger” Aids in Coal Famine.......... 335 Furnace, Self-Contained Oil, for Riveters.......... 388 Garment Industry in New York ovany a ee 438 Ss Oe Oar 411 Gasoline, Electric Heater Tests by Distillation 421 Gauge, Circumference, Piston Ring Diameter Finds 419 Gauge, Rain, Region in Hawaii to Get Largest.... 345 Geologists Great Aid during World War........... 322 Glass, Bullet Proof, Shots Stopped by............. 415 Glass, Drinking, for Recumbent Persons........... 439 Glass, Optical, Best Quality Made in America..... 401 Golf Prize, Booby, Made of Cast Iron............. 384 Grave Markers Contain Relics of Dead............ 406 Gun, Life Line, Waterproof Shell Used in.. 429 Guns, Old Naval, Dynamite Used to Wreck, by ‘John RD PES re a ene 419 Hair Clipper, European Barber Makes 329 Hairbrush with Dynamo, New Invention : 322 Health Board’s Car Has Theater and Laboratory 395 Helmet, Trench, Becomes Part of Wall Clock . 381 Hemp Growing, Improved Machinery for.......... 333 [Continued on Page 4]

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Highways, Modern, for Island of Oahu, Hawaii... (4) [Contents—Continued ] ' 362 Silo Door, Mounting Forms Slide Lock and Ladder ose, Air Dispensing, Has Flexible Joint.......... 380 Sirup, Malt, Substitute for High Priced Sugar... Houses, Unfinished, Warm Air Chamber for.....-- 362 Skirt Marker, Bulb Operated, for Home Dressmaker Household Devices Lvcpenet nah beeen sep ebb lee ds ge Sleigh Races, German Sportsmen Patronize........ Huller, Green Pea, Crank Operated.............+. 415 Smokestack, Broken, Shooting Down.............. Human Body, Electric Finder Detects Heat from.. 328 Soap Bubbles, Surface Tension Study of........ Hydroelectric Plant, Argentina Plans...........++. 427 Soldiers, Blind, Instructed in Core Making........ Ice Cream Tray for Automobile Parties............ 358 Song, College, May Win Fifty Dollar Prize..... Ice Jams, Springtime, Boards in Canal Prevent.... 361 Spark Plug Tool, Shente, Has Three Purposes.. Incubator, Giant, Compact and Convenient........ 367 Stacker, ay, Heavy Loads Handled by......... Induction Coil, Audience Made Merry by.......... 437 Stadium, Athletic, Chicago Plans Largest...... Islands, Juan Fernandez, Thought Relic of Lost Steel Mill, Ohio’s, Wholly Electrical,...... EPRI es ANS REECE i Re A Rea eS 436 Stove, Kerosene, Prevents Radiator Freezing. nob, Lateral Movement of, Locks Door.......... 362 Street Lamps, Duplex, Cost of City Lighting Cut by Landmark, New York, Commercial School Buys... 410 Sugar Makes Model of Mt. Wilson, California Lead Burning Outfits, Inexpensive, Now on Market 351 Nerves, Animals’, Grafted to Soldiers’ Limbs. Letter, Best Business, Trophy for Writer of....... 480 Swamp Land, Missouri’s, Drainage to Reclaim. Letter Copying Machine Has Self-Feeding Device.. 359 Sword, General Pershing Presented with...... Level and Protractor for Use with Drill........... 336 Tank, Concrete, Carbolic Acid Stored in........... Library, Public, Advertises in Unusual Manner.... 436 Tar Depot, North Russia, Fire Destroys...... Lighthouse, Legendary, at Scituate Harbor........ 371 Telegraph Sender Works like Typewriter........ Lighthouse, The (Pcem), by Lydia M. D. O’Neil.. 365 Telephone Exchanges, Toll Message Timer for. . Locomotive Has Gas and Electric Motors.......... 359 Telephones, Automatic, for Big City Exchanges Magnets, Rectangular, for Lifting Metal Plates.... 385 Telephones, Radio, Electric Light System Installs Mail, Aerial, Nonstop Delivery of Possible...... . 392 Thermometer Case, Clinical, Has Unlosable Cap Mail to be Carried by Larger Cargo Planes...... 404 Time Recorder, Electric, Operated by Door Locks Map Makers in France, Work of............... -. 420 Been Dente GEE POCUNET. é oc cecccencneceons: Mask, Fiber, Welder’s Face Protected by........ . 391 Tongs of Fiber and Wood for Removing Fuses Masks, Gas, for Workmen in Ammonia Fumes.... 390 Tool, Combination, Adjustable to Many Uses... Masts, Folding, on Motorboats.................. 90 Torpedo, Aerial, First Authentic News of........ edal, Victory, Government Accepts Design of.... 345 Tractor Clears Away Tangled Hedge......... Melting Pot, Electrically Heated, for Compounds... 345 Trains, Armored, in Siberian Warfare............ Memorial, Soldier, City Plans Greek Theater as... 407 Truck, Hand, Tells Weight of Load Carried..... Mines, Analysis Detects Blown Out Shots in...... 426 Tunnel through Hill Is House Entrance...... Motor Cars of War, Shops of India Produce....... 382 Turntable, Garage, on Ball Bearings........... Motor, Electric, Mounted on Tripod.............. 370 Turtles, Frozen, Heated Cabin on Ship for.... Motor Trucks, First Consideration of Montana’s Vacuum Cleaner, Socket for Protects Fixtures. ST actwindcsGaceRheNs bbe0eckbeeaeee 391 Vise Bench, Pistons Handled Quickly in..... Moving Pictures—Automobile Falls in Leaping Walking, Old Notions of Upset by Tests...... REE SSE EE Ee er ee er eee, ae emit 397 Wall, Sea, at Galveston, Extending, by Stanley W Moving Pictures—Film Reveals Blood Movement... 328 . ae RRC Er ee ae Moving Pictures—Five Hundred Films Exposed a Waste Basket, Street, Made of Heavy Steel... RE Sh a A eo aS SA alee ae 383 Water Meter Box, Oval, Curb Cock in...... Moving Pictures—Translucent Screen Permits Day- Water, Purification of, Texas School Gives Course Pt ES Salmon with Second Mouth, Accident Causes...... 432 Floors Built to Keep Out Cold...............055: School, Unique, in Greenhouse, by Paul A. Jenkins.. 413 Funnel with Breather Tubes...............-.00055 Schools, Traveling, Teach Farmers Grain Standards 338 Gauge for Gear Setting............-...---:- eeeeee Schooner, “James Slater,” Wrecked by Waves.... 350 Grindstone Frame Made from Part of Old Bicycle. Schooner Rescues Trappers from Arctic Island..... 412 Hacksaw, Power, Stock Support for............-- Shields for Motorcyclists Are Leather Disks....... 335 Ice and Milk House, Combined, for Farm......... Ship, Has Power Plant in Detachable Stern........ 321 ack Made from Old Monkey Wrench....... aeeeee Signaling, Invisible Rays of Light Used for........ 405 adder Hinged Part Makes Inaccessible to Children. Signs on Car Ceiling Flash Names of Stations..... 336 Ladle for Soldering Wire qoints a ee Pee Signs, Railroad, Function When Danger is Great.. 350 Lathe, Improved ge EE errr eee Silk, Spider Web Substitute for.................. 336 Manhole Form, Concrete, Dishpan Makes......... (Contents Continued on Page 6! 433 . 348 428 330 328 °° ra . 411 48 361 405 332 433

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rain vmE-nweeNeue eS Ye ne oro Popular Mechanics Magazine REGISTERED ih U. 6. PATENT OFFICE WRITTEN SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND IT Vi |. 33 T* O-PART freight vessels, comprising interchangeable hulls and sterns, the r equipped with boilers, engines, and pellers, and the former provided with rgo holds, in addition to coal bunkers - oil tanks, depending upon the fuel re- irements of the craft, have been sug- MARCH, 1920 No. 3 Detachable Stern Serves as Power Plant for Several Freighters opening in the rear end of the hull. A series of T-head bolts, which protrude from the vertical forward edge of the power unit, and engage with a slot in the cargo unit, are used to fasten the two parts of the vessel rigidly together. Only. a few minutes are required to assemble or disassemble the stern and hull; and ted by a French maritime expert as eans of lowering the cost of trans- yrting goods by water. this, says the inventor of the craft, can be done with safety even in mid-sea. According to the originator of the ovel boats, this form of construction kes it possible to employ a singie er plant with three bottoms—two in erent ports, loading and unloading, a third in transit—besides rendering unnecessary for the driving mechan- m to remain idle while fuel is placed board. When oil is burned, the fluid is sferred to the stern portion by means a siphon. In case coal is utilized as el, the material is moved from one unit » another through a chute. The after portion of the proposed ship in the form of a wedge, and is de- ened to fit snugly in a similarly shaped Bee wn, “Se OG Hike ge pate Od iat iS sh ar oa The Upper Picture Shows Clearly How the Detachable Stern of the Two-Part Freight Vessel is Shifted from One Hull to Another, While the Lower View Shows the Power Plant Steaming into the Wedge-Shaped Opening 321

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322 WIRELESS MUSIC SENDS JOY IN ALL DIRECTIONS \ phonographic concert was played in Chicago the other day for the pleasure of convalescent soldiers at Fort Sheridan, POPULAR MECHANICS OP YRIGHT Rwe & UNDERWOOC? Phonograph and Wireless-Telephone Set That Trans- mitted a Musical Program Hundreds of Miles in All Directions 30 miles away to the north. Without special preparation, a large audience at Rockford, Ill., 80 miles west, managed to enjoy the same entertainment, while more than 100 long-distance eavesdroppers at Detroit, on the east, heard the widely distributed harmony through some 230 miles of space. The success of the trans- mission over such an unpremeditatedly wide radius marked another step in the delicate art of sending music by wire- less. The apparatus used at the govern- ment station has a radius of 400 miles, and was designed by officers at the station. As a damped wave of 700-meter length was used, it is probable that many ama- teur stations also received the music. GEOLOGISTS AIDED ARMIES IN WORLD WAR The geologists’ little-known contribu- tion to the allied victory over Germany was the theme of a recent address by a colonel who was formerly in charge of the geologists attached to the American Expeditionary Force. He revealed that the scientists were of particular value in supervising the more ground operations. extensive Furnished ports from these experts, on stratification, under- with re extent of subterranean water, etc., the military miners were able to push thei: galleries with a success that often baffled the Hun. An incidental service was th location of sources of water supply. CHICAGO’S FOREST PLAYGROUND HAS UTILITARIAN SIDE That Chicago's belt of beauty, the for- est preserve which incloses the city in 15,000-acre natural park, has utilitari as well as zxsthetic value, is revealed |) recent reports. The sale of wood and hay hides and wool, and discarded fence wir together with the rental of lands, broug in $13,814 in 1919, and county institutio: were provided with food in the shape 291 sheep and lambs. The herd of shee; now in the preserve numbers 375, and is proposed that a herd of goats be add for the especial purpose of furnishing mi to babies and tubercular patients. MINIATURE DYNAMO MOUNTED ON BACK OF HAIRBRUSH It is now possible to brush one’s h: with a dynamo. Mounted on the back « a steel-bristled hairbrush, the little m chine is activated by a reciprocating n tion of the thumb. The muscular ener so expended is transformed into elk tricity, which flows down the bristles int the scalp, and returns by way of ¢! eantdiint. deanna us trenren Ot Mounted.on the Back of the Hairbrush Is a Littl Dynamo, Seen at the Right with Case Removed Motion of the Thumb Spins the Armature arm. The tingling sensation produced is of supposed tonic value to the hair follicles. A facial- massage attachment may be bought with the brush. :

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ey TENNESSEE’S HIGHEST DAM OVERTOPS NIAGARA —er~7 ‘ | | | i 4 ii Mf uy ‘if if | / CROSS the Little Tennessee River, in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains below the North Carolina boundary, a hydroelectric plant of remarkable character has just been completed. The crest of the great overflow dam is 210 ft. high and 725 ft. long, its base being 350 ft. long and 80 ft. thick. Erection of this 330,000-ton concrete structure occupied more than 1,200 men over three years. The dam is surmounted by 20 floodgates. Three 25,000-hp. turbines are operated, cur- rent being transmitted at 160,000 volts to Maryville, Tenn. The line over the mountains crosses the Little Ten- nessee River four times, at one point jumping a gorge in a sheer span of 5,010 ft.—nearly a mile—with four 10,000-lb. cables composed of 30 alue minum wires wound on a core of 150 plow-steel wires. One of the chuting towers used in building the dam, and seen in the lower picture, was 366 ft, high.

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ROCKETS MAY Noted Scientist’s Invention Conditions beyond “Shooting to Moon” Idea of reasonable speculation, if any- thing were to be gained by so spec- tacular an effort. However glibly students may speak of astronomical distances, actual human experience, so far, has practically been debarred from the vertical plane. The “farthest up” of physical attainmenf is a bare six miles, and that only for a brief and breathless period. The highest altitude

THIRD dimension, an_ entirely new direction, has just been added to man’s range of exploration. Now it is going to be possible to establish physi- cal contact with whatever it may be that lies straight up, in the highest strata of ever ex- earth’s atmospheric ocean and beyond. plored, with Any radial line of the globe may become’ an ingenious ar- the pathway to new scientific records— rangement of re- a pathway continued as far as the inves- cording instruments on tigator cares to pursue it. So powerful, a free balloon, does not indeed, is the new instrument of ascen- exceed 24 miles—a sion, that its projection to the very disk mere commuters morning of the moon is declared within the limits jaunt. The upper reaches of the atmosphere remain today unexplored, ac- tually less known than the deepest soundings of the seas. The science of meteorology, and all the other sciences that wait upon it, are limited to a mere film upon the earth's surface. Whether or not the time will ever come when man can travel as iar straight up as he may go horizontally in a day’s journey, is a question that has now become im- material. All of the POWDER facts a traveler in that strange direction could

The Upper Illustration Gives a Clear Idea of the Appearance and Size of ave Cc » i the Miniature Steel Rocket Adopted for the Tests. The Lower Sectional gather have be = sud View Indicates the Interior Shape of Chamber and Nozzle, and How the denly available. The in- Powder Charge of .8 Ounce is Placed struments for recording

== oo 324

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i ee a | y EXPLORE ETHER | Intended to Investigate Earth’s Atmosphere Altogether Speculative Watching for the Flash 1 these facts may be sent up to very point where air dis- olves in space. They may go en farther than that, farther than the influence of gravita- tion extends, if there were any vy of getting them back. The instrument by which this wonder is to be accomplished is nothing more mysterious than a rocket; a rocket scientifically designed, of course, extraordi- narily efficient mechanically, but till intimately related to the familiar paper cartridge that wishes its cometlike tail of parks through the night air of Independence Day. Upon this imple mechanism, Prof. Robert H. Goddard, of Clark College, Worcester, Mass., has turned the engineering care that might be devoted to the design of a steam turbine. Working under the auspices ———————— \ Purely Speculative Anplication of the New ket: The Suggestion 's to Load It with Bril- int Flash Powder and Direct It toward the Dark Side of the Moon, RP | through Telescopes The Inventor and His Rocket-Testing Equipment: The Rocket is Set in the Lower End of the Weighted Iron Pipe at the Top of the Stand, and the Recoil Lifts the Pipe 325

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326 POPULAR of the Smithsonian Institution, and con- ducting his experiments at Mount Wilson Observatory, in California, he has fitted 4% steel combustion chamber with 4 math- ematically computed form of discharge MECHANICS cally 35 miles; 5.1 lb. would carry it up over 70 miles; 6.4 lb., 115 miles; 9.8 Ib., over 230 miles; and 12.3 Ib., nearly 438 miles. While these distances may not seem ex- | ‘i _._+traordinary as compared with the surface and mass of the earth, it must be remembered that the atmosphere _itse! ceases to exist some 2() miles up. Of course th¢ ocean of air has no defi nite surface; it merel) becomes more and mor attenuated until it disay pears altogether in th mystery of space. It apparent that one of th new rockets, weighin; less than ten pounds wit its recording equipment will be able to explore the atmosphere to its e: treme limits, while a 12 lb. rocket will go far hb: Equipment for Photographing the Discharge of Gases from the Rocket: The . 22m; . ‘ _— The Card Indicates the Serial Number of the Test The 230-mile altitude nozzle that has produced extraordinary results. When the powder charge is ig- nited, the discharge gases issue from this special nozzle at the tremendous velocity of nearly 8,000 ft. a second, the highest speed ever attained by any _ tangible thing. With this performance goes a record, regarding the rocket as a heat en- gine, of 64-per-cent efficiency, a figure yet to be attained by any power engine. The ordinary ship rocket, used for signaling, discharges its gases at only 1,000 ft. a second, and its efficiency is not over two per cent. lo design so remarkable a machine its in itself a noteworthy accomplishment. Sut the reallv startling feature of the new rocket is still more ingenious. The per- fected instrument will be a _ repeating rocket. It will contain a series of powder charges that will explode in relay, each ig- nited in turn just as the preceding charge is exhausted. Then the height which the whole machine can reach is found by sim- ply adding the altitudes to which each charge will carry it from the point of the explosion. There is no guesswork about this computation. Figuring a_ fixed weight of one pound for the. recording instruments carried, it is calculated that an initial weight of only 3.6 Ib., including rocket shell and charges, will lift the whole equipment to a height of practi- yond, out into the ethe: reached in less than 6 minutes, a speed of over 35 miles a minut: There appears no scientific reason w! any definite limit should be set on tl possible range of such a mechanism. S far as figures go, it is already comput that a repeating rocket with an initi weight of 1,274 lb. would actually p beyond the influence of earth’s gravita tion, whence it would journey on by own momentum until it came within tl influence of some other body. Aimed the dark side of the moon, and provid with a heavy charge of flash powder whose explosion could be observ: through powerful telescopes, it might even serve to establish earth’s first cor tact with its satellite. The only real val in that speculative suggestion, of cours: is in emphasizing the enormous power ot the relay rocket. The practical and very great value of the machine lies in its ability to bring back, from the upper atmosphere, all the information that science may desire ot that region. Accurate measurements of temperature, electrical. conditions, rela tive density and chemical constituency at all levels, will readily be obtained ; Even photographic records may easily | ‘ made, and the whole apparatus, accu rately aimed, will return within a rea sonable distance of the point of its de parture. That quality in itself gives it

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POPULAR MECHANICS B27 Four Consecutive Photographic Tests: The Burning are Photographed against a Plain Background, it advantage over the free-balloon tem of observation now used. °Con- 1 of the speed of descent calls for only imple arrangement of tiny parachutes, ) ling practically nothing to the weight irried. e The tests of the mechanism so far de- h loped are interesting. Trials of various i. rms of chamber and nozzle were made, tt only in air but in vacuum, equivalent, pre sumably, to that of interstellar space, he experiments were conducted with a mber of nickel steel having a tensile trength of 115,000 lb. The long, trumpet ped nozzle was made separately and screwed in place, the whole test instru- f ment being less than a foot in length. : Charged with powder, the little rocket in this form was fixed by setscrews in the Livia wer end of a vertical 2-in. pipe, 3% ft. long, weighted above the rocket with a ‘ length of steel bar. \s, in the explosion, the powder gases discharged at the bottom, the recoil was allowed to lift the mass of metal, record- ing its movement by tracing a _ pencil Gases Discharging from the Rocket Nozzle at the Right and the Distance of Each Flash from the Nozzle, Gauged by the Pointers Above, Is an Index of the Velocity at Which the Gases Issue point on a chart. Further tests were made by photographing the discharge as it crossed a graduated background. With the figures established by this means as a guide, the repeating mechanism for fir- ing successive charges in relay is now being developed and tested. As regards the charges themselves, they will have to be calculated and graded carefully, since will have a lighter load to propel than the preceding one, as +1 1 , each consecutive one e weight of powder dissipates in gas \s already seen in the hypothetical bombardment of the moon, the new a paratus lends itself to speculation. The inventor himself has mentioned, merely as a distant possibility, its use for taking photographs in light- But there is little need to invent future uses t , . space, emplioving sensitive cells to actuate the shutter for the equipment, for its power to familiarize science with atmospheric con- ditions, not only in the remote altitudes but at all levels, high and low, is suffi- ciently important to place meteorology upon an entirely new footing.

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Picture Camera Fitted with a Powerful Microscope: Even in This Short Series, Which Represents Less Than a Second of Time, the Variation of Flow in the Veins Is Quite Apparent Progressive Views Showing the Circulation of the Blood, Taken by Means of a Motion- PICTURE FILM REVEALS BLOOD MOVEMENT By fittinga powerful miucro- scope to a mo- t i o n- picture camera, a Mich- igan_ physician has succeeded in throwing on the screen detailed pictures of the circulation of the blood. The complete film presents a view of a chicken’s heart in action, demonstrates the reaction between nerves and heart, depicts the causes and results of ob- structed flow, and makes clear the operation of the electrocar- diograph in studying the heart. Condi- tions of poor circulation are revealed, afford- ing means for determining proper treat- ment. The films are to be. used as the basis of public lectures on health sub- @ Italy’s first fishing school has just opened at Naples with an attendance of SO) boy s from the villages along the coast. Trips to the fishing grounds are made in a motor- boat presented by an American society. POPULAR MECHANICS SHOOTING DOWN A BROKEN SMOKESTACK During a severe windstorm some tim: ago, the top section, 10 ft. in length, oi an 80-ft. iron smokestack buckled and toppled over, at a steel mill near Chicago Only a small sector of the broken sectio: held it to the stack. The workmen in the plant immediate], became fearful that the high wind woul loosen the section and blow it dow upon the roof of the mill, possibly breal ing the roof, which was lightly built « corrugated-iron sheeting. They refuss to work until the section of the smok stack had been taken down. As it was a very busy season, “knoc} ing off” work while a scaffolding w erected to protect the roof, was out « the question. So the manager, recallin that one of the employes was an expert marksman, decided upon the bold plan oi shooting down the’ troublesome sectio He explained the situation to the ma: and sent him home in an automobile fo: his rifle. The marksman returned, and, i: a few minutes and in ten shots from tl ground, neatly spaced ten holes in th unbroken bit of iron that still held th: wrecked top of the stack. In a fey minutes it broke off, fell to the roof, and rolled harmlessly to the ground. The employes were told to vacate th: building while this was going on, an the mill did not lose over 15 minutes’ production. ELECTRIC SENTINEL DETECTS HEAT FROM ENEMY’S BODY During the next war American soldi will listen for the enemy’s night patr in no man’s land, if reports are cor rect, by means of sensitive instrument which will detect the heat from hum bodies 200 yd. away. In the present e perimental apparatus the thermal 1 impinge against a thermoelectric cell, o1 couple, located at the focus of a parabol silvered mirror, 14 in. wide. Consecue: change in the current from the cel! fects a galvanometer and warns tl watcher. The enemy will find it imp sible to hide himself from this mecha: watchdog, as his body will always be at higher temperature than the surrow ing air. Lying in a shell hole he will b: safe: on raising his head above the su face, however, he will be detected if wit! in 130 yd. An instrument of this ty; ? has detected an airplane 3,500 ft. overhead. 1

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POPULAR MECHANICS @Y COURTESY OF L*ILLUSTRATION WRECKED ITALIAN CRUISER PLACED IN DRY DOCK FOR REPAIRS RESTING upside down in a dry dock at Taranto, southern Italy, the cruiser ‘“‘Leonardo da Vinci,” which was sunk late in the summer of 1916 near that seaport, is being re-covered, and soon will be floated in its normal position, thoroughly repaired, and eventually restored to the Italian navy. The vessel went down in 40 ft. of water, following an explosion, and turned completely over as it sank. When the wreck was sal- vaged, sections of the hull were sealed, and the water in them removed with pumps. Rendered buoyant by this means, the ship rose to the surface. Eight cylindrical pontoons were attached as stabilizers to the resurrected war craft, which was then towed to port, keel uppermost, and placed in the dock. The cruiser is 550 ft. long, and has a displacement of 26,400 tons. Two hundred and forty-two lives were lost in the disaster EUROPEAN BARBER MAKES OWN ELECTRIC HAIR CLIPPER The motor-driven hair clipper, popular in up-to-the-minute barber shops on this side of the Atlantic, has now found its way into one, at least, of Europe's quaintly medieval establishments. In this case the apparatus was put together by the barber himself. The little motor, attached to the back of the clipper, takes power directly from the shaft. Current is drawn from two formidable dry cells which are ranged ostentatiously on the shelf before the customer. @uHauling a rubber-tired vehicle on good pavement, and a steel-wheeled v: hicle on a track, require practically the same power, on the authority of an Eng lish scientist, who questions the street ~ : car’s right to continued existence because Bein Something of a Mechanic, This European Barber e : “a Ses “er has Made His Own Electric Hair Clipper. Cur- of the inflexibility of its course. rent is Supplied by the Cells on the Shelf

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330 POPULAR PICTURE WARNS CHINESE AT GRADE CROSSINGS Amusing proof of the illiteracy prev- alent in China is offered by the warning signs often seen at railroad crossings. On 7 This Graphic Warning is Displayed at Many Chinese Grade Crossings. The Inscription at the Left Is for the Benefit of the Occasional Scholar the left of the signboard is a Chinese in- scription, for the learned, corresponding to the familiar “Stop, Look, Listen.” At the right, and occupying most of the space, however, is a flamboyant portrayal of the end that awaits the careless. Struck by a locomotive, a hapless Chinaman has been knocked off his feet, and is about to fall back upon the track in front of the oncoming train. A companion has already been injured by the encounter. GERMAN SPORTSMEN PATRONIZE NUMEROUS SLEIGH RACES Sleigh races were frequent and popu- lar sporting events in Germany last win- ter, due to the fact that protracted cold weather provided an abundance of ice- covered courses. Some peculiar vehicles were used in the contests. These in- MECHANICS cluded both horse-drawn and man-pro- pelled sleds. A common type of the former is equipped with very short run- ners, and has an extremely high driver's seat, located several inches above the level of the shafts. Many entrants rode on homemade sledges, which were pushed with spiked sticks. AUTOMOBILE MEN TAKE UNIQUE CENSUS Standing on 20 busy street corners throughout the United States, between the hours of four and six on a specified Saturday afternoon, 20 employes of a well-known automobile concern recently gathered for their president a mass of in- teresting and vital data. Collating their reports, a few days later, he learned that, of 37,424 automobiles observed, 23,380, or about two-thirds, carried only one or two passengers. Thus, of 2,464 cars pass- ing Fifth Avenue and _ Forty-Second Street, New York, 651 carried one pas- senger, 626 two, 345 three, 337 four, 280 five, and 225 more than five. The Chi- cago enumerator, stationed on Michigan Avenue, counted 2,269 cars, which were grouped by a similar classification, as fol- lows: 616, 594, 313, 305, 248, and 193. Sim- ilar proportions were approximated with remarkable regularity by all the other re- ports. It was remarked in each case, also, that more than five persons were habit- ually carried by only the cheapest cars. @Jerusalem now has its first English newspaper. The sheet is a daily called the “Jerusalem News,” and is under American management. German Sleds: WIDE WORLD PHOTOS On the Right Is a Horse-Drawn Vehicle, Constructed Especially for Racing on the Ice. The Unusual Conveyance at the Left, Which is Propelled by Spiked Sticks, was Made from Scrap Material

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As the Fever-Stricken Man Looked Helplessly On, His Friends Busied Themselves with Spades and Buckets. Through the Hot, Loose Sand of the Surface They Dug Down to-a Cooler, Denser Stratum. They Leveled the Bottom of Their Pit, Spread a Blanket to Exclude Ground Heat, Covered This with Straw and Water, and Finally Sat Anxiously around Their Extemporized Ice Plant Waiting Results NATURE FORCED TO MAKE ICE IN SANDS OF SAHARA DESERT By ROBERT Mac MILLAN LAW | is seldom that fate grants toa humble We knew that the sick man, to be saved, refrigerating engineer the chance to must be packed in ice. save a comrade’s life by the application I will admit, at this point, that our sub- of his technical knowledge. But the op- sequent efforts would have been fruitless portunity did but for the very present itself, favorable con- several years ditions then ago, and was f§ = . tv ’ mi existing in improved. ies a ‘3 ae eee «6 hat «part of \ group of us, : on aé_e protes- sional errand bent, had _ rid- den camel-back across the Sa- hara Desert for many days with- out a mishap. But at last, 300 miles from civ- ilization, and while travers- the waste. Our thermometer at noon had

morning it had as often sunk to 55° F. Mo important, th air was dry even beyond : : . the usual dr aA sagt - Here, in Cross Section and Purposely Exaggerated, is Seen the r+} ing a tract Of Construction of the Desert Ice Plant. Excessive Evaporation ness otthe burning sand, and Concentration of the Coldest Air Combined, about Mid- desert. Watet : night, to Freeze the Water around the Straw ° : one of our for the camels number was stricken down by a malignant and our personal needs we had already fever. Our little caravan was haltéd. drawn from an oasis, half a mile awa\ \ 331

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332 At seven that evening we shoveled down through the hot sand of the surface, to a cooler, denser stratum underneath, forming a pit about 6 by 9 ft., and 18 in. deep. The waste sand we banked around the sides. On the level bottom of our de- pression we spread a blanket measuring about 5 by 8 ft. Drawing on our sup- ply of camel fodder, we obtained a quan- tity of straw, which we chopped fine and scattered over the blanket. From the friendly oasis we drew many buckets of water, finally covering the blanket to a depth of half an inch. As the night closed down upon us, the temperature fell, the cold air sank into NOVEL AUTOMOBILE ACCESSORY CARRIES VARIOUS SUPPLIES Compartments for carrying extra sup- plies of gasoline, oil, and water are com- Numerous Supplies for a Motor Food, Gasoline, Lubricating Oil, Tools, and Water, can be Carried in This Novel Automobile Accessory Trip, Including bined with a refrigerator and a tool chest in a recently patented automobile acces- sory. Similar in appearance to a rear- end fuel tank, the contrivance is intended to be attached to a motor car in the same manner. Heat-insulating material is packed between the double walls of the case, in the center of which are the tool chest and refrigerator. At one end there is a gasoline container, and at the other separate receptacles for holding oil and water. MANY DOORS AND NO STRAPS FOUND ON NEW COACHES To facilitate unloading and loading at station platforms, the new passenger coaches’in service on an electric suburban line running into London are provided with five. sliding doors on each side. This is notable, therefore, as one of the first large-scale applications of a scheme that POPULAR MECHANICS our little cooling pocket, and evaporation into the parched air went on. Soon after midnight the temperature dropped ab- ruptly, and we were delighted to see frost crystallizing about our floating straw. The water was freezing itself! vaporation was proceeding so rapidly that the consequent cooling of the water was more than counterbalancing the combined effects of heat filtering down through the pit’s cold, dense air, and ground heat struggling through the in- sulating blanket. At three o'clock, lan- tern light showed the straw imbedded in a continuous sheet of ice. Our comrade’s life was safe. has had many advocates. In addition to avoiding rush-hour jams in this way, the designers of the new coach have done away with strap hanging, by doing away with the straps. Instead, they provide brass rails along the length of the car. One wonders if the rails came from America, where they once may have had a lowlier function. CANVAS SAILS REPLACE VANES IN ODD GEARLESS WINDMILL Sails like those of a boat, that can be spread or furled, take the place of the conventional vanes of wood or iron, on a windmill now operating in southern California with entire satisfaction to its owner. The shaft is vertical, and works the pump without gears. The sails one side of the shaft are shielded on by an iron guard, which is attached to the rudder and swings around to the most efficient position with every wind. shift of the Windmill with Folding Canvas Vanes, Seen Furled in the Center: The Semicircular Shield Operated by a Rudder Permits Wind to Strike the Vanes Only at One Side of the Shaft

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POPULAR MECHANICS The Hemp-Harvesting Machine, Lat- est of Mechanical Aids to Agriculture, is Drawn by a Tractor. It Cuts the Stalks Close to the Ground in a Seven-Foot Swath, Passes Them over : == a Table to the Opposite Side, and 2 The Harvester Leaves the Cut Hemp Lying in ==" —> Spreads Them Evenly on the Ground Windrows, Where It is Allowed to Ret, by the Action of the Weather, for Several Weeks before Gathering The Cut Hemp, as It Lies in the Field, is Gathered by the Teeth of the Rake Projecting below the Gather- ing and Binding Machine, Passes Upward and Back through the Conveyor, and is Tied in Bundles with Evenly Butted Stalks, Ready to be Loosely Shocked for the “‘Sweating’’ Process HEMP-HANDLING MACHINES CREATE NEW INDUSTRY ae | Though hemp has been grown for its coarser scale. The stalks, cut cleanly fiber for many years in this country, its laid in windrow yy the new hat cultivation on a large scale is practically are left for four to ten weel new domestic industry. The stimula-_ retting effect of the weather, tl tion has been provided by the develop- may more ment of new and efficient machinery for _ rind. harvesting, braking, and scutching the The retted stalks are fed into long stems of the useful annual. As a machine containing 12 pairs of rollers crop, the action of hemp on the soil is crushing the rind, the first pair havit reported as especially kindly, as it returns shallow corrugations, the next four coarse some 60 per cent of the mineral values, ribs and grooves, and the balance ribs its roots penetrate deeply, and it is a that grow finer until the last pair is natural weed eradicator. The process of smooth. \ scraper prevents wrapping handling resembles that of flax, on a around the rollers, and the feed tables at

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POPULAR MECHANICS The Scutching Machine, Which Separates the Hemp Fiber from Its Rind, Has Two Cylinders Eight Feet Long, Eight Scutching Bars with 20 Reversible Combing Disks Each, and Four Beater Bars the ends operate automatically. The final separation of the fiber is accomplished by a huge scutching machine, with two cylinders, 5 ft. 5 in. in diameter and 8 ft. long, mounted on a wood frame and truck for portability. Each of the eight scutch- ing bars carries 20 reversible combing disks, graduated from wide to close spac- ing toward the rear. A two-inch shaft, with three sets of spokes on three hubs, carries the substantial beater bars. Though not yet in standard form, the new machines are already at work, some 42,000 acres are sown to hemp, and other ma- chinery is being designed for converting the 20,000-ton crop into twine and cord- age to meet the increasing demand. AIRPLANE LINKS ICE-BOUND MURMAN COAST TO FINLAND The airplane has broken, at last, the ice-bound isolation which each year has shackled the Murman Coast of Russia Such, at any rate, is the hope aroused by the recent establishment of an aerial mail and passenger service between Sordavala in southern Finland, to the Russian coast, 500 miles to the north. The inaugural trip was made several weeks ago, the plane carrying mail bags and a single pas senger. In Helsingfors it is believed that the enterprise has the sanction and sup port of the Murman as well as the Finnish authorities. The Roller Braking Machine Crushes the Rind of the Hemp for Easy Removal: It Has 12 Pairs of Rollers, Ranging from Coarsely Corrugated to Smooth, with a Conveyor Feed at Each End, and Scrapers to Prevent Adhesion of the Fibers to the Rolls

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POPULAR TAKE CENSUS BY MOTORBOAT AMONG FLORIDA KEYS \mong the unusual features of the gov- ernment census just being completed ts the record of one hard- MECHANICS 335 EXPLODING BOILER FALLS INTO BUNKHOUSE The late afternoon quiet of a camp in the Big Muddy oil field of Wyoming was working enumerator who covered his whole terri- tory, containing thou- sands of square miles, in a motorboat. An entire county on the _ south- ernmost point of Florida, including the 150-mile chain of keys on the gulf side, composed the extraordinarily extensive assignment of this off- cial collector of names, who was selected for his familiarity with the curious mazes of that semiaquatic district. He and his helper slept in their boat. Water craft were also used in taking the Everglades which was never census, before enu merated. “HAMBURGER” FUEL AIDS IN COAL FAMINE “Hamburger” fuel is the nickname ap- plied to hogged, or ground-up, slab wood and mill refuse, which proved of great value to the Northwest during the recent coal shortage. Down-town _ business houses, stores, and other buildings which had been using coal or oil, tried it out and immediately adopted it as more eco- nomical than either coal or oil. One unit of 200 cu. ft. of hamburger fuel, selling at the lumber mills for $2, will evaporate 10,000 Ib. of water, ac- while a barrel of evaporates only engineers, $1.85, cording to fuel oil, costing 3,600 Ib. of water. A ton of coal, costing $11, evaporates from 8,000 to 20,000 Ib., depending on the quality of the coal. “Hogs,” the huge grinders of mill waste, have been in use for many but heretofore have only been preparing fuel for the mills themselves, the larger part of the product being conveyed the mills and consumed by burners to get it out of the way. One of Seattle’s largest stores adopted hogged wood as fuel a year and a half ago and reports a saving of several hundred dollars a month over oil or coal. years, outside department Torn from Its Base by Explosion, through Camp for 200 Feet, the Big Boiler Leaped and Rolled Finally Burying Itself in This Bunkhouse shattered, some weeks ago, by a roaring explosion and subsequent crashing that brought workers, running, from the near- by wells. They found that a big boiler had torn itself from its foundations; had flown, bounded, and rolled for more than 200 ft., and finally come to rest square in the middle of As the bunks hour, no one a large bunkhouse. were all empty at that hurt. Was LEATHER DISKS SHIELD HANDS OF MOTORCYCLE RIDER Shields for protectin ge the hands of mo- torcycle riders in cold d weather are the invention of an eastern city policeman. Hand Shields for Motorcyclists These Devices, Which Are the Invention of a Policeman, are Placed on the Handlebars of the Machine in Front of the Rider’s Hands - The of two devices are ry simple, consisting stiff leather disks, intended to be | i machine slipped on the handlebars of a in front of the grips.

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336 LEVEL AND PROTRACTOR MADE FOR USE WITH DRILL Of decided convenience to the mechanic or carpenter is a little spirit level, with protractor mounting, that may be clamped to a hand or electric ) drill. With the level attached to the drill it becomes possible to bore a hole accurate- ly at any desired angle. If a carpenter wishes to drill into a baseboard at The Spirit Level, with Protractor Scale, is Seen Just below the Upper Hand. A Special Block Mounting is Required for Attachment to an Electric Drill 45°, he sets the level tube at that figure on the protractor scale plate. He then bores the hole, holding the brace steady, and in such position that the bubble is continuously centered. SIGNS ON CAR CEILING FLASH NAMES OF STATIONS ON ROUTE Electric station annunciators of a novel type are being installed on the passenger coaches operating over one braach of London’s subway system. The names of the various stations are painted, in proper order, on glass panels set into the car POPULAR MECHANICS ceiling. Behind the panels are electric lights, which are turned on and off in ro- tation as a projecting arm is tripped by strikers on the track between stations. Thus, at any given time, all the plates are dark except the one displaying the name of the next station. EXPERIMENT WITH SPIDER WEB AS SUBSTITUTE FOR SILK Spider webs are commonly regarded as worthless, but if experiments now in progress on the island of Madagascar re- sult in the discovery of a method for util- izing the material in a commercial way, many articles at present made from silk are likely to be manufactured from this insect product. According to recent re- ports, excellent progress has been made by those in charge of the tests. The thread produced by spiders is declared to be finer in quality, stronger, and more beautifully colored than that obtained from silkworms. ENGINE BLOWS POISON POWDER ON WEEVILY COTTON PLANTS Killing boll weevils in an infected cot- ton field is usually a tedious task. But a new horse-drawn machine makes short work of it, blowing calcium-arsenate powder onto the plants at the rate of 60 to 70 acres a day. The blower fan is driven at 2,500 r.p.m. by a gasoline en- gine, and there are five nozzles which throw the powder on from two to five rows of plants at a time. For smaller plantations, a model is being developed with its blower driven from the wheels. coe ime ; Machine for Treating Weevil-Infested Cotton Plants with Calcium-Arsenate Powder: The Apparatus is Horse- Drawn, but the Blower Itself is Driven by an Engine. Five Nozzles Blow the Poisonous Powder on Two to Five Rows of Plants at One Time, and 60 Acres or More can be Covered in a Day

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POPULAR Left: Locked Elec- tric Switch Boxes Mounted on Street Poles. Right: Auto Using Current to Prevent Freezing of Radiator TAP STREET CIRCUIT TO KEEP AUTO RADIATORS WARM Keeping the radiator of his parked cat rom treezing is the least of troubles to e autoist of London, Ont. By paying lat fee for the season, he obtains a key vhich unlocks the covers of electric sock- ittached to terminal boxes, mounted at frequent intervals along the reets of the city. A small electric heater th a long cord is carried in the car, and nected to the street box by simply posts serting a plug. Not only ts the car's rculatory system safeguarded, but its terior is kept comfortable during the vners absence. The electric power used yes from Niagara Falls, more than 100 iles away. AERIAL HOBO BEATS HIS WAY ON AIRPLANE UNDERCARRIAGE first observed J The airplane hobo was Bliss airdrome, 1en soldiers at the Fort lexas, bent their heads back for a fare- ell glimpse of the “Round-the-Rim” bomber, whose remarkable tour was ¢Ce- cribed in the February number of this magazine. Feet dangling, arms twined bout the bracing wires, he was perched on an undercarriage axle of the big plane. \ scout plane was ordered into the air it once. Overtaking the bomber, the ursuing pilot revealed the presence of the stowaway, and both planes landed at MECHANICS 337 the first convenient field. The adventur ing soldier was transferred, and returned explained, in to his station. There. he When the **Round-the-Rim" Bomber Left the Air drome at Fort Bliss, Texas, This Soldier Went Alon; as a Stowaway#in the Fashion He is Demonstrating ere on Another Airplane extenuation of his offense, that he ha simply grown “homesick for east Texas. CA British torpedo-boat destroyer is de clared to have made a speed of 45 mile an hour in a recent trial run of ‘fou: hours. This figure. if verified, probably is a world record for that class of ship

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TRAVELING SCHOOLS TEACH FARMERS GRAIN STANDARDS Back to the country schoolhouse, after absences of many years, are going farm- ers, millers, and grain dealers as the gov- The Farmers, Millers, and Grain Dealers, All Pupils at the Government’s Traveling School, are Here Classify- ing Miscellaneous Samples ernment attempts to popularize [*ederal grain standards and grading methods. In courses that vary in length from a few hours to a few days, thousands of ambi tious men are learning to conduct all the tests common in the inspection office of the large markets. Government instruc- tors acquaint them with grain weighing, moisture determination, separation of foreign material, and a dozen other stand- ard opgrations. Most of the work ts practical; involving actual classification and appraisal of samples provided. NONLEAKING AIR-HOSE CHUCK LOCKS ON VALVE STEM Compressed air is conserved, when automobile tires are inflated, if a new nonleaking hose chuck is em- ployed, according to the manufac- turers of the device. The con- trivance slips over a valve stem, and is locked in place by moving a conveniently located thumb lever. This operation causes a replace- able rubber cylinder, with which the ap- pliance is lined, to grip the stem tightly, forming an air-tight joint. 338 POPULAR MECHANICS FAR EAST WRESTS RUBBER TRADE FROM BRAZIL The story of Brazil’s loss of the world’s rubber trade, in the last decade, to the countries of the Far East, is tire story. of : some seeds that 40 years ago were shipped from South Amer ica to England. Then, and for many years after, though pro duction methods were unbeliev- aoly crude and working condi tions in the fever-breeding jungle almost intolerable, the inex haustible forests of the Amazon supplied the world’s demand Meanwhile the seeds in England had produced several thousan: nurslings which were trans planted to Ceylon, Java, Burma and the vicinity of Singapor Here model plantations, owne: by business men and operated b scientists, grew great. When i: 1910 came the tremendous de mand for rubber, the pioneering planters were rewarded for their industry. Their high-grade rul ber, grown by scientific method gradually crowded the slipshod Brazilia product out of the market. Now it i figured that despite Brazil’s still limitle supply, the Fér East will supply 320,00 of the 380,000 tons of crude rubber t be produced in 1920. NOVEL HIGH-PRESSURE BOILER HAS ROTATING WATER TUBES The curious idea of rotating the tubes of a water-tube boiler, thereby keeping the water in contact with all sides of the hot passage, and the steam in the center, has been put into practice by a Swedish engineer with interesting results. Such a boiler, constructed for a sugar refining plant, has 11 water tubes, each about 12 in. in diameter, with .42-in. walls, which are rotated at 375 r.p.m. With total heating surface of 295.8 sq. ft., this boiler delivers 13,200 ib. of steam an hour at over 700-lb. pressure, with a tempera- ture of 618° F., opérating a 600-hp. tut bine. Where the system is installed in existing boiler plants, the old water tubes act as preheaters for the water entering the new. It is declared wholly to over- come the usual troubles of high-pressure installations, and the inventor is con- structing a boiler to generate steam at nearly 1,500-Ib. pressure, which will allow a very high temperature. ;

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eer ee ae ert ZARMING IN DEATH VALLEY By j John Ldwin Ho 28 Death Valley from the Funeral Mountains: The Location of Furnace Creek Ranch is Indicated by the Arrow—It is Just under the Brow of the Hill. The Floor of the Valley, Seen in the Distance, Is 280 Feet below Sea Level, While the Snow-Clad Mountains in the Background Tower Up to 11,045 Feet 1)’ \TH VALLEY—the most horrible borax mines in the Funeral Mountains, 18 ] desert on the face of the earth, miles away. of weird mysteries and innumer Furnace Creek Ranch, as the Death Val tragedies, where the temperaturt ley farm is known, enjoys many distinc- as high as 160°, and above whose tions. Its 65 acres of cultivated land mmering wastes dance shifting mirages constitutes the most isolated farm in th green fields and cool streams that world, producing food in the midst of a d thirst-tortured souls to their doom desert inferno, where temperature and vielded to the hand of man to make itmospheric pressure are almost beyond rden therein. This miracle—often the limits of plant and animal endurance taken for a mirage—has been brought It is situated 178 ft. below sea level on the ut by a commercial corporation as_ floor of the greatest depression on thi only possible means of securing a_ face of the western hemisphere, within rece of food supply convenient to its pistol shot of. ind only about LOO ft Some of the Farm Buildings at Furnace Creek Ranch: The House Is the Dwelling of the White Overseer, Who has Endured Seven Summers in Death Valley

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340 POPULAR MECHANICS higher than the greatest depth of Death Valley, which is the very bottom of the United States. Yet, in spite of its peculiar location, the ranch is within the shadow The Ranch Foreman has Obtained a Degree of Relief from the Summer Heat by Building Himself a Water- power Fan. The Four One-Foot Blades Revolve at about 1,000 Revolutions per Minute, being Driven by an Overshot Wheel within the Wooden Housing of Mt. Whitney, whose eternal snows tower into the heavens to a height of nearly three miles, the highest point of land in the continental limits of the nation. Furthermore, Furnace Creek Ranch js probably the only farm in the world where weeds are unknown. As it is en . tirely artificial and surrounded by a desert ; barrrer, the seeds of noxious weeds hav: had no way of getting there, and unles they be imported by man, the ranch wil undoubtedly always remain free from them. Obviously the introduction of an abu dant water supply was the prime requisit: to make the ranch possible. This is ob tained from two large springs far bac! in the Funeral Mountains, which pou: their streams upon the burned-out Deat! Valley soil through two great aqueduct one of steel and one of masonry. Part of the water is diverted along the rout. to freshen a heavy growth of willow planted to give shade to the watercours: But in spite of this, the loss of water fro: evaporation is very great, and in summer the water emerges from the aqueduct temperatures up to 110°. Men and li stock, of course, cannot drink it so h Cooling is therefore effected by mea: of large evaporation “ollas,” and th ? drinking water is quickly reduced to 7! : in the hottest weather. The humidity of Death Valley’s atmos phere varies like that of other places, b according to analysis made by the Unit: States Weather Bureau, its air is t! driest known. Its average moisture co: ees tent is less than .01 per cent. Water thu Us becomes as volatile as gasoline and evap ration cooling is accomplished with gr rapidity. It is this speedy evaporatio that has largely made Furnace Cre: Ranch possible. The ranch is primaril a hay farm, the principal crop being falfa, which is fed to cattle and hog After being dressed, the meat is sent ' the mining camps. Tl live stock could not liv through the = scorchin; summer if it were not { the cooling influence o! shower baths with whic! their corrals ar equipped. The cattle horses, and mules ar further protected from the blistering winds by having the sides of thei: pens covered with sheet metal. The hogs have an irrigation-ditch wallow in the shade of some cottonwood trees, and when the hot weather sweeps the valley, about all that is to be seen of In ee yr Up to 160 Degrees, Tilling the Soil with Animals Is Almost ut of the Question. Hence the Tractor has Made Possible the Cultivation of Death Valley Acreage

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ote POPULAR MECHANICS o4l Te ae — eT Fag oe ns Four Cuttings per Year of Excellent-Quality Alfalfa are Harvested on the Death Valley Farm, in Addition to Letting the Live Stock Graze on the Land. The Grazing of the Cattle Eliminates Much Harvest Labor m above the surface is their snouts. work about the ranch is done by Indians ven the hens, whose aversion to bathing of the Piute and Shoshone tribes under proverbial, have little hesitancy about the direction of an educated foreman. ntering the poultry yard to be “hosed The average life of a white man in Death ff.” All manner of vegetables grow well Valley is very short. Three white fore in the irrigated soil, but are not cultivated men employed on the ranch lasted two to any great extent because of the petty- summers each, and perished during the thieving instincts of the Indians. Water- third. Two oth ers went insane, melons and cantaloupes attain large size and attempted to flee out of the nd excellent quality. valley on foot. Neither of them White men cannot live long in the lived to get out of the maz ral Mountain can- vithering heat. Consequently all the of Fune Left: Due to the Rapidity of Evaporation, Lateral Trenches are Not Used for Irrigation at the. Ranch. Instead the Water is Run into the Ground by Means of Deep Canals Fitted with Numerous Floodgates by Which the Water is Regulated. Right: Dressed Meat Is the Chief Product of Furnace Creek Ranch

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342 POPULAR MECHANICS ons. The present foreman has survived seven summers, and is soon entering upon his eighth. He attributes his ability to resist the heat to his superb constitution, temperate habits, and hygienic living. He has attained a degree of comfort by con- structing a large fan driven by water power. During the hottest days of the summer he makes his bed in front of the fan after sprinkling the floor and wetting his blankets. For all work is then done at night, when the temperature over the valley floor descends to about 120°. The men work in the fields clad only in breech- cloths and shoes. In addition to being a sort of miracle ; —— To Keep His Stock of Canned Goods from Blowin Heat, the Ranch Foreman has Prowided Ht a Deep Dugout Storehouse “— at. Sheet-Metal Corrals Protect the Ranch Cattle from the Summer Winds That would Otherwise Burn Thei Hides Off. The Metal Gets So Hot That One cannot Stand within Several Feet of It farm, Furnace Creek Ranch is also traveler's relief station, serving the barr« blazing wastes of Death Valley and th Funeral Mountain country much _ th: same as St. Bernard hospice does th high Alps of Switzerland. Its very exist- ence has saved the life of many a lost traveler or prospector who staggered within its boundaries’ with parched throat and speechless swollen tongu¢ \ssistance under such circumstances 1 never refused. If the victim of the desert has money with which to pay for hi rescue, well and good; if not, he receives it gratis. Ona hill just back of the ranch are a number of mounds—the graves of thirst-tortured souls who tottered into the ranch too late to be saved by water. In many instance heat-stricken men marshes, have recovered at the ranch, to be late: sent out of the valley on muleback or in wagons in charge of Indiat guides who are inured to the conditions. The United States Weather Bureau has es- tablished an observation station on the floor of Death Valley, near the Up in the Summer . FAM es ranch, and a part of the ranch foreman’s duty is dragged out of the salt

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RS POPULAR MECHANICS 343 taking of daily observations for shington. Reports on these are taken of the valley once each. week by an lian runner, and go into the mail at in, which is connected to the trans- ntinental railroad by ture down to prevent their being cooked. The birds, of course, nest in the shade of the trees and shrubs, but even there the eggs are ruined if a hen deserts her nest for more than about two hours. eans of a narrow-gauge Tie Some favorite demon- tions of Death Val- heat are even more resting than the gov- nent figures. When writer made his first into the valley the mperature stood at 142° upon his arrival at Furnace Creek Ranch. This Salt Marsh within a Pistol Shot of Furnace Creek Ranch Is the Lowest Spot on the Western Hemisphere. being 280 Feet below Sea Level way of avoiding another mound in he local cemetery, he was advised by the nch foreman to get into the water, lothes and all. This suggestion was fol- lowed by rolling in an irrigation ditch, ith only the removal of watch, compass, | other trinkets, from the pockets. hirty minutes after emerging from the iter every thread of clothing was as dry again as if it had never been wet. Of ourse, the rapid evaporation had mean- vhile had the desired cooling effect. T ranch foreman later took two fresh eg; ind buried them in the sand in the sun. Ten minutes later he removed the eggs, cracked the shells, and handed over thie meats. They were thoroughly baked, and ready to eat. Fresh beef cut in strips and hung in the sun becomes jerked meat in ‘few hours. Alfalfa cut in the field be- ‘omes cured hay in an hour and a half, and vegetables, even including potatoes, shrivel up and become bulletlike if ex- posed to the sun’s heat for a single after- noon. The hens sit on their eggs, not to incubate them, but to keep the tempera- ( Furnace Creek Ranch Maintains Its Own Cemetery for the Interment of Thirst-Tortured Travelers and Prospectors Who Have Staggered Out of the Death Valley Heat Too Late for Its Water and Shade to Save Them The Stygian tempera- ture of Death Valley lasts for about five months of the year, usu- ally from the first of May until October; the other months are cool and pleasant. Rain is virtu ally unknown. Cons quently the irrigation ot Furnace Creek Ranch is continuous. There are marvelous scenic attractions for travelers in Death Valley and the surrounding mountain country, but here $$$ _ The Government has Established a Weather-Obser- vation Station on the Floor of Death Valley near the Ranch, and a Part of the Foreman’s Duty Is the Taking of Daily Data tor Reports to Washington tofore few tourists have looked upon its wonders because of the hazards and

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344 hardships of making the journey. The possibilities of the district for tourist ex- ploitation have been recognized by the railroads and the owners of the borax mines, with the result that a definite plan is about to be launched by which this wild, picturesque region is to be thrown open to travelers. This calls for an im- proved passenger and guide service into the valley from one of the transcontinen- tal main lines, and the erection of a first- class tourist hotel at Furnace Creek POPULAR MECHANICS Ranch. With this plan in operation, and backed by an extensive advertising cam paign, Death Valley with its weird and fantastic mirages, its snow-clad back grounds, and its marvelous rainbow colorings, is destined to become one oi the scenic wonders of the nation. Th maintenance of Furnace Creek Ranch and the success of its cultivation, ha been largely experimental work, leading up to the bigger and broader project th is outlined for the future. BREAKWATER MOORING DEVICES OF STRONG CONSTRUCTION exceedingly stable mooring devices for securing ships to a masonry breakwater, One of the Contrivances Recently Installed on a Western Coast Harbor Breakwater for Mooring Ships located outside a west-coast harbor, have been installed to supplant hawser posts, which were sometimes uprooted during storms. The new contrivance comprise a heavy chain, one end of which is im hedded in a block of concrete. To tl opposite end is attached a large ring. Th chain passes through a short section iron pipe, also set in the concrete bloc! the purpose of this being to prevent t links from becoming worn by rubbing the stone. The device is declared to strong enough to hold the largest vess« under all conditions. ARMORED TRAINS FIGURE IN SIBERIAN WARFARE In contrast to the siegelike operation along the western front during the Wor! War, comes news of the guerrilla war fare now being waged in half a doze: Russian battle areas. For months r ports have indicated a general use o cavalry, sure symptom of a “war oi movement.’ Now comes photographi evidence that armored trains are playin their part in this old- fashione: warfare. The picture herewit! shows one unit of a train mu used against the Bolshevists 1 Once a Peaceful Gondola, the Camouflaged Car Above has been Transformed by Russian Counter-Revolutionists into a Traveling “Strong Point.” The Turrets at Either End Hide Eight Machine Guns

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on a Siberian front. Once an ordinary vondola, the car has been transformed by the heightening of the sides, machine- un turrets rising from either end, while loopholes along the sides and ends pro- vide for the fire of 20 rifles. DESIGN FOR VICTORY MEDAL ACCEPTED BY GOVERNMENT Although the nations bearing arms against Germany agreed, in the spring of 1918, to adopt a service medal that would be the same for all, they later decided to award uniform ribbons, but allow each country to design its own medal. Just a few specifications were drawn up: The medal was to be of bronze, 1.4 in. in diameter, was to bear on one side a “winged victory,” and on the reverse the words “The Great War for Civilization,” and the names of the allied nations. The authorized design medal has now been The artist has been guided for the American completed. t : BA SIAPAY Woe hie AU » G¥ COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE This Medal will be Distributed to All American Veterans—Some 4,500,000—of the World War. The Other Nations Lately Allied against Germany will Award Medals Almost Identical hy the specification, but has made the winged victory an interesting variation of the familiar Goddess of Liberty. GAS TANK AND PILOT CHANGE PLACES IN REMODELED DH-4S The American army’s few DH-4B ob- servation airplanes have proved so satis- factory that all DH-4’s now on hand will eventually be reconstructed along the same lines. The biggest part of the re- modeling is the transfer of gasoline tank and pilot’s cockpit, putting the tank di- rectly behind the engine. This arrange- ment makes communication between pilot and observer easier, and affords the pilot a measure of safety in a nose-on crash. A fire wall between tank and engine, and improved instrument board and con- trols are other items. POPULAR MECHANICS 345 MELTING POT FOR COMPOUNDS IS ELECTRICALLY HEATED The safety, reliability, and ease of con- trol peculiar to electric heating are es- pecially desirable in the work of melting x - a | Electric Melting Pot That Solves the Problem of Heating Compounds: The Inner Flange Keeps It from Boiling Over, and Serves to Scrape the Ladle the inflammable compounds used in bat- tery making and repair. A new 4-qt. melting pot for this use has a three-heat cartridge heating element in the bottom, and maintains the proper temperature in- definitely. A flange at the top provides a scraping edge, and prevents pdoiling over. WETTEST REGION IN HAWAII TO GET BIGGEST RAIN GAUGE Use of the largest rain gauge ever made has been found necessary on the lofty head of Mt. Wai- aleale, Kauai, Ha- waii, called’ the wettest place in the world. Here the U. S. Geo- fogical Survey has previously kept a_ seasonal- type precipitation gauge with a ca- pacity of 300 cu. in.; but local rainfall is so heavy, averaging =~ 1.30 in. per day, that inspectors on their frequent visits have often found the gauge full to over- flowing. The huge, barrellike container in the photograph has been made, in consequence, to replace the inadequate instrument.

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346 POPULAR MECHANICS NEW DELIVERY CAR RESEMBLES “NC-4” MAROONED OVERNIGHT BOTH AUTO AND CYCLE AT “DESERTED VILLAGE” While a new three-wheeled delivery car Although the “tale of the ‘NC-4+'” will is neither an automobile nor a motorcycle, always mean the story of the first trans it combines features of both machines. atlantic flight. Commander Read has lat —— lv written into his log book some stirring epi logues. \n interesting incident marked the re cent flight from Galves ton, ‘| exX., £0 Mobil m \la. When just west of the Mississippi Delta, the plane was caught in an impenetrable fog, that four times drove it to the water, and finally forced it to anchor off the gult “town” of Grand _ Isle. rhe town exists only on the map, however, so the crew spent the night with the surprised lighthouse —$$_$__—_—_—_—— __ keeper. Meanwhile, wor Some Parts of This Unusual Delivery Car, Which Looks Like a Motor- ried naval official cycle, Are Identical with Those Used in an Automobile ; - : searched the vicinity in \ four-cylinder motor propels the vehicle, vain with sub-chasers and seaplanes. But power being transmitted to the rear axle as the “NC-4's” radio is almost impotent through sliding gears, which are shifted when the plane is on the water, the mys by a hand lever.. Attached to the handle- tery went unsolved until late the fol bars is an instrument board, while back lowing morning, when the big seaplan of the driver's seat is a commodious body. resumed its journey. CORNSTALK CUTTER MAKES SILAGE IN FIELD From the cornstalks standing in the sas farmer, who has invented a machin field to the filled silo in two automatic for cutting the silage in the field. Weigh operations is the achievement of a Kan-_ ing less than 2,000 Ib., the whole machin is easily drawn by two horses, and operated by a 4-hp. gasoline engine \s it is driven down a row of stalks, endles chains armed with spur draw them in, and they are cut off and carried top first, on a canva conveyor to the cutting knives. Bent stalks ot tangled weeds are un tangled by a beating mechanism. The cut silage goes by way of an other conveyor into the wagon that takes it to the silo, where a small engine and blower load it in as it arrives. The machine thus effects a great saving of time. and. Machine That Cuts Cornstalks and Immediately Converts Them into Silage: It is Operated by an Engine, but Drawn by Horses man power.

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POPULAR MECHANICS a4% ’ ' To Remove One of the Power Units, the Hangar Men Swing Back the Hinged Wing Sections, and Take Bolts from the Apexes of the Diamond Frames. Wheeled to the Repair Shop. The Unit is Then Lashed to a Supporting Cradle and Equipped with These Units, the Commercial Airplane of Tomorrow will Never be Withdrawn from Service Because of Engine or Propeller Trouble AIRPLANE POWER UNITS MADE QUICKLY INTERCHANGEABLE Transcontinental, multimotored air- planes that change power plants as the ‘Twentieth Century Limited” changes locomotives at division points, are fore- shadowed by a patent granted a few weeks ago to an Englishman, famous the world over for his construction of mammoth airplanes. In brief, his invention consists of an engine which is inclosed, with the fuel tanks if desired, in a streamlined nacelle, and is mounted between two nar- row dtamond frames. Between the bases of these frames is fixed a single landing wheel. Propeller, motor, fuel tanks, and one landing wheel thus form a self-con- tained power unit. To fit one of these power plants into the airplane, the outer sections of upper ind lower wing are swung back on their hinges, and the unit wheeled into place. Che apexes of the diamond frames are bolted into slots in the upper wing; then the hinged wing.sections are swung hack, and bolted into place again. The recess for the landing wheel, and the sleeves which receive the ends of the diamond frames, are contained half by the fixed portion, and half by the movable portion of the lower wing. Thus, in flight, the detachable power plant hangs from the upper wing; on touching earth, the land- ing wheel supports the unit, slight vertical play of the lower wing being .permitted by the sleeves in the lower spars. For wheeling the units to and from the repair shops, the airdromes will have several cra- dies, on which the units will be over- hauled, then held for further service. FAMOUS CHEMIST’S HOME TO BE MOVED TO COLLEGE CAMPUS It is little known that, in 1794, Joseph Priestley, clergyman, chemist, and famous discoverer of oxygen, left his native tng land to spend his declining years in Amet ica. Choosing Northumberland, Pa., for his new home, he established his family in a dignified frame dwelling. This house still stands. {t has now been purchased, how- ever, by graduate chemists of the Pennsy!] vania State College, to be dismantled This Frame House, in Which Dwelt Joseph Priestley, Discoverer of Oxygen, will Soon be Moved to the Campus of the Pennsylvania State College shortly and moved to the college campus, 6) miles away. Here it will be recon structed as a memorial to the famous Englishman @German railway signal lamps which smoked badly, because of the poor grade of petroleum availabie during the war, were cured by soaking the wicks before use in a 20-per-cent solution of nitrate of potash, and allowing them to dry This resulted in great improvement.

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POPULAR MECHANICS Flax-Rippling Machine: Close View, at the Left, of Independently Mounted Rollers and Large Cylindcr At the Right, Conveyor Belts for the Flax Straws between Which the Berries are Crushed. NEW MACHINE RIPPLES FLAX WITHOUT DAMAGING STRAW Rippling flax is different ing grain, because the straw is. the important part of the flax crop, and its fibers must not be damaged. For this reason it is customarily done by hand, but a new machine, just tested by the Canadian government, gives promise of from thresh- superseding the manual process. The stalks are placed parallel on conveyor belts which carry them around a large rotating cylinder. As they pass, a number of independently mounted small iron rollers crush the seed berries. The seeds ire then shaken out by a vibrating grat- ing, and the straws, still held parallel by the grip of the conveyor belts on their root ends, go ¢ to a bundler, 3 Complete Flax-Rippling Machine, Which Strips the Flax Straws of Their Seeds without Damaging Them, and Then Ties Them in Bundles which ties them in sheaves. Flax, now grown only for seed in western Canada, is expected to supply great stores of material for cordage and bagging, with the help of this machine, considerably in- creasing the value of the crop. MALT SIRUP TO TAKE PLACE OF HIGH-PRICED SUGAR With a little additional equipment, mostly evaporating pans, any now out of a job can manufacture malt sugar sirup, a palatable, economical, and satisfactory substitute for cane or beet sugar in all their uses. This sweetener, long known to chemists but commercially new, has the approval of government sci- entists. Barley, formerly used for beer, is one reliable source, but corn, potatoes or any starchy plant, can be used. Th sirup, which does not readily crystallize has a flavor similar to honey. brews ry IMMENSE CARBOLIC-ACID TANK MADE FROM CONCRETE Previous to the construction of a 10,000-gal. concrete tank recently in the Canal Zone, where the enormous con- tainer is used for the storage of carbolic acid employed by local tary officials in ufacture of lar disclose | Salil the mat poise careful tests that the stonelike mat rial is not affected the chemical. Quant ties of the forced into crete blocks, made from mixtures containing varying amounts of ce ment and aggregate, and allowed to remain, under pressure, for several months. The blocks were then cut in two, and the pieces closely exam ined to ascertain the extent of penetra tion and disintegration. Practically damage was done to the concrete. acid were hollow con

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MOTORIZING THE DOMESTIC ELEPHANT TO HUNT WILD ELEPHANTS By H. E. JOHNS UNTING wild elephants. in the veldt of South Africa from the saddle of speeding motorcycle carried into the vilderness on the back swivel-mounted rifle on the handlebars of the machine. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of a domesticated ele- phant—this is the plan for the production of motion-picture thrillers to be carried out by a famous big-game hunter, who left Los Angeles re- cently for India and \frica, with a corps of motion-picture actors and photographers. Much of the elephant pasture of South Africa iccording to the hunter, is smooth, open grass land where the motor- cycle-mounted hunter would find little difficulty in driving at full speed. This fact alone, he de- clares, will not only enable one to run down his quarry, but will make wild-ele- phant hunting infinitely safer by providing a means of flight at a greater speed than that of the “wildest” of wild elephants. To get to the hunting grounds, he pro- poses to journey into the wilderness by elephant, but with a light-weight motor- cycle slung over the side of his big pachy- derm. Once in the veldt, and after hav- ing sighted a herd of wild elephants, the motorcycle will be lowered to the ground. Then the hunter will go after them across The Domesticated Elephant, Prepared to Carry the Motorcycle to a Point in the Jungle Where It can be Used to Advantage for Pursuing the Wild Animals of the plan, some interesting experiments were conducted recently near Lankershim, Calif., “Charles Bullephant,” the biggest pachyderm in the zodlogical collection of a film company, was taken into the Te- junga Valley, which closely resembles the South African veldt, with the motorcycle slung on his side. After the big beast had conveyed the little machine through the tangle of brush and vegetation with which part of the valley is overgrown, the motor- cycle was lowered to the ground. Mount- ing it, the hunter sped across the grassy meadows with a number: of cowboys on fast horses as hunting quarry for practice purposes He had little difficulty in overtaking the horses and taking several shots at them with blank cartridges. Several amusing inci- dents in connection with the mounting of the mo toreycle on ‘‘Charles Bullephant’s” back oc curred. The weight of the machine was a mere The Heavy Motorcycle Is an Insignificant Burden to the Huge Beast, Whose Qbjection to It, Based on Purely Temperamental Grounds, was he Finally Appeased with Peanuts and Liberal Applications of the Goad larly fond of motorcycles anyway, and objected to having it slung the grass land with the speedy little ma- chine, bringing down the big game with a trifle compared with the big beast’s streneth, but never was particu- on his side. Fimally his objections were 249

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350 POPULAR overcome by his trainer, but no sooner did Mr. Bullephant get on his feet before he let out an elephantine snort, figura- tively “kicked up his heels,” and was on his way! He succeeded in shakin oft the motorcycle before he was recaptured. In the second attempt “Charles” adopted lew tactics, and attempted to eliminate the motorcycle by rolling upon it. In this le was unsuccessful, but after his 1,750 pounds had massaged the machine three or four times, the little vehicle was pretty thoroughly flattened out. After another SIMPLE DANGER SIGNS APPEAR TO BE ELECTRICAL DEVICES Nonmechanical warning signs along a southern California inter- urban railroad ap- pear to be elec- LOOK OUT trically operated FORCARS devices, which an Other Track function only a when danger is , SO creat, and as a re- sult, are heeded more than other- wise would be the case. tlowever the contrivances simply consist of a wooden block. bearing the word “stop,” supported by two 1ron-pipe a cautionary placard, and are in no way changing. standards over BROKEN AUTO’S TRIP TO SHOP MADE EASY BY SMALL TRUCK Jury rigs of various sorts are no longer needed for getting an auto with a Little Wrecking: Truck with Patented Saddle’ and Clamp Which Fit Either Axle of Any Auto MECHANICS motorcycle had been procured, peanuts and a liberal application of the goad ef- fected Charles’ good behavior, and the ex- periments were carried out without fur- ther objection on his part. For use in Africa, the big-game hunter will have made a special howdah with block and tackle davits for handling the motorcycle on the elephant’s back. This howdah will have a compartment on the other side for carrying an amount of lug gage that will counterbalance the weight of the motorcycle. smashed wheel to the repair shop. A pair of cast-steel wheels, a foot or so in diameter, with 3-in. solid-rubber tires, on a short axle with a long tubular draft bar, make up a new form of wrecking truck that is always ready. Its feature is a patented four-arm saddle and clamp that fit the front or rear axle of any car MULTIPLEX RADIO-TELEPHONY GUIDED BY SINGLE WIRE Wireless telephony over a_ wire, a scientific paradox, becomes a_ practical achievement of immense value with the recent completion of a series of experi ments conducted by Maj.-Gen. Georg: Squier, chief of the U. S. Signal Corps. The most remarkable feature of the new system is its ability to carry ten or more simultaneous conversations along a route consisting of a single conductor. The original conception, revealed in 1911 by patents assigned to public use, was de scribed in Popular Mechanics for March of that vear. The war inter rupted its development, but now such progress has been made that preparations are under way to install the first line be tween New York and Albany. The secret of the process is the use of high frequency vibrations as vehicles for the lower voice frequencies, the wire function ing as a nucleus for the waves and guid ing them to their destination. Speech overt greater distances than any yet achieved is believed possible by the new method. Magazin WRECKED VESSEL DEMOLISHED BY STORM-DRIVEN WAVES Seven hours after the four-masted schooner “James Slater” stranded on a bar off Cape Cod recently during a ter- rific winter gale, practically all that re- mained of the vessel were small bits of

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2 ¥ POPULAR MECHANICS 351 Wreck of the “James Slater: The Four-Masted Schooner was Stranded by a Gale, and Torn to Pieces by the Waves. Bales of Wood Pulp, with Which the Vessel was Loaded, and Other Wreckage were Strewn along the Beach for Miles vreckage, scattered for miles along the heach near the scene of the disaster. (he ship went aground at two o'clock in the morning, when the steering apparatus was rendered useless by ice. A blinding snowstorm and inky darkness impeded life-savers who went to the rescue of the six men on board, and it was not until a few minutes before the boat went to pieces that the captain and crew were brought ashore in a 13-ft. dory, which was pulled back and forth between the wreck and the land by means of a line. lhe latter was shot across the interven- ing water by a life-saving mortar. The schooner was en route to New York from a Nova Scotia port with a cargo of wood pulp. ANIMALS’ NERVES GRAFTED TO SOLDIERS’ LIMBS An interesting phase of the reconstruc ttve surgery practiced at army hospitals ts the grafting of animals’ nerves on shell- torn, paralyzed soldiers. Usually, when a nerve has been severed by a shell frag- ment, the ends can be sewed together. But often a considerable length of t)x nerve is missing. In treating such a case, the surgeon takes a proper nerve from cold storage or chemical preserv: tive, sews it into the gap, and after a few months, the patient regains control of the “dead” limb. In one typical case, full sen- sation is reported to have returned in six months, INEXPENSIVE LEAD-BURNING OUTFITS NOW ON MARKET \lanufacturers and users of acid tanks hemical apparatus, and other head work that must be autogenously welded, will he interested in the appearance of thre« ompact and inexpensive lead-burning outfits. Each comprises a lead-burner’s torch, bench control block, hose, pres- sure regulator, and gauge. The buyer has a choice of three outfits, equipped for burning different gases. One set, popular for storage-battery connection work, is fitted for city Vas. rhe others are adapted for acetylene and hydroget This Outfit, Including Torch, Bench Control Block, and Accessories, is Meant for Use with New | Gas. Cylinders are Ostained From the Regular Gas-Service sStatrons

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352 POPULAR MECHANICS ENVELOPES MADE IN MILLIONS BY MODERN MACHINERY It seldom occurs to the careless user ot the modern letter envelope, sold almost as “st ASTRONOMERS SEEK PLANET BELIEVED NEAR NEPTUNE \ supposed planet, near Neptune, and 5 times as far from the sun as is the earth, is the object of a ‘. {8 search now being con- ducted by American astronomers. Perturba- tions of near-by planets have long convinéed thi profession of its exist- ence, and since 1877 many observers have tried to locate it. As it is thought to be of the hfteenth magnitude, ind several thousand times too faint to be seen by the naked eye, thes« latest investigations are being carried out by means of the camera. Taking repeated telescop ic photographs of a cet tain small area of the Automatic Machines Which Manufacture Paper Envelopes Literally by the Million, Turning Out Their Product in an Endless Stream of the cheaply as the sheet of paper from which it is made, that it is a machine product, requiring complicated equipment for its manufacture. The highly developed en- velope machines, operating automatically, literally complete their product in a con- tinuous stream, with their flaps gummed and creased, and all neatly arranged ready for packing by thre carriers vhich feed them out heavens, the astronomer places one plate on top other. Relative motion thus apparent at It is now reported that the probable posi tion of the new planet has been plotted by this method. am ery becomes once @ Enlisted men of the army will soon be wearing a new all-purpose shoe, fit for field, marching, or dress purposes. It is really the well-known “field shoe” im proved AUTOMOBILE WINS CLOSE RACE WITH ICE BOAT FP YRIGHT, UNDERWOOD @ UNDE THE exciting finish of a recent race between ice boat and automobile has been caught above by a high-speed camera. It will be seen that, for all the ice boat’s speed on the straightaway, the superior maneuverability of the automobile has brought it across the line a few feet in the lead. The scene of the novel competition was the mouth of the Navesink River, near Red Bank, N. J. The steamer at the right is locked in place for the winter by the ice.

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= == aU ' COMMENT AN» REVIEW | [These pages were printed Jan. 24, 1920] 11] 6 te progress toward the restoration of pre-war conditions which Belgium | \ | has already accomplished is little less than marvelous. In less than a year, her coal production—the basis of modern industry—reached 90 per cent; sugar refineries, 100 per cent; cotton looms, 60 per cent; wool products, a What 75 per cent, and shoes, 70 per cent. Even steel production which a suffered most, reached 30 per cent. | Belgium When Germany seized and carried away the machinery of | has Belgian factories, the confident expectation was to so crush Done out industrial production as to leave the Belgians reduced to agriculture. But the tide which ebbed so fiercely has been flow- ing back, until of 9,797 machines of which a record was kept, there had, by the end of 1919, been returned 5,069 machines, and the remainder was still coming back at the rate of 30 carloads a day. During the war 1,366 miles of railroad track and 1,419 bridges were destroyed, and already these have been reconstructed. We are accustomed to think of China and Japan as densely settled countries, but in 1913 Belgium was the most densely populated and intensively cultivated country in the world. Its 11,373 square miles make it about the size of Maryland, with one man in every six a land owner. To such perfection had agriculture been developed that three-fifths of the total area was under cultivation, pro- ducing an average of $100 per acre—a record equaled by no other country. A 60-mile pipe line for pumping beet juice from 14 gathering stations to the sugar refineries, illustrates the advanced development of its agricultural industries. In devastated farm lands Belgium was fortunate in losing only 70,000 acres—less than one per cent of its total area. Freedom from general strikes and a national determination to restore normal exports, on which the country so largely depends, are hastening a return to prosperity; and wages have been materially increased, but are still low compared with other countries, as pre-war standards were maintained up to the time of the armistice. Instead of the spirit of extravagance which prevails in some other countries, the Belgians preserve that same national thrift which for so many years made it famous as affording the best livimg for the least money of any country maintaining modern conditions. Another year or two will almost restore pre- war production in most lines. == A MONTH ago these pages chronicled what was in many respects the most extraordinary event in the entire history of this country—the banishment and deportation of a considerable body of arch traitors. A feeling of approval and satisfaction swept across the entire country; even those few who disapproved, for personal reasons, dared not do it openly. Keep What all loyal Americans had long hoped and prayed for was at last an accomplished fact, and the promise that the good Them work so successfully begun was to be at once repeated, and then Going maintained until we were rid of the red menace, was accepted as evidence that a long-suffering and over-patient Government had at last really awakened from its sloth and lethargy and exerted its right and might. Each day millions read their daily papers in the hope of seeing the promise fulfilled. And each day for a month we have looked in vain. A nation-wide “raid” which gathered in hundreds of the undesirables was made, but as yet no second ark has sailed. Instead those who yesterday were calling down anathema upon our courts and laws, are today using every advantage of legal technicalities in a frantic effort to avoid the sentence which their very acts should pronounce upon themselves. We are too thin-skinned, or there is too much politics being employed, when a traitor who has shouted his infidelity from the housetops, can get his “case” juggled into the ordinary processes of law, and dragged out indefi- nitely. It is almost enough to make one even wish for that autocratic and hair- trigger efficiency of a monarch or a czar, which, with all its faults, did have the advantage of making short shrift of traitors. A happy medium with us would be } } —— 4+ 353

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sufficient, but it might well err toward the side of a court-martial, which is noted for action, rather than the canal-boat speed to which we often limit ourselves. When a man has taken deadly poison, has all the symptoms of being poisoned, himself declares he is poisoned, his physician does not take his case under advise- ment for a month or two, does not continue his case from week to week, nor does he permit the patient to engage experts to prove he isn’t poisoned. He gets busy right away; he doesn’t waste a moment, and he gets the poison out of the patient and administers the antidote. What we need is to get the red poison out of our country, by prompt deportation, and for each one who goes out that way the antidote will be efficacious for a hundred who are left. But to be effective the treatment must be prompt. When a man is found merely watching a band of counterfeiters at work, the secret-service agents have a right to assume he is one, too; if the man declares he is, and believes in counterfeiting, he is entitled to be taken at his word. The man or woman who declares, or writes or prints, a desire to overthrow our Government, by that act pleads guilty to being a traitor, and should be given a traitor’s deserts; and instead of waiting for a soviet condition here, be hurried to the place where he belongs, and where that condition already exists. Ships are leaving our shores by hundreds every week; the sailing is good now, and we hope to chronicle the departure of, not a well-filled, but an over- crowded “ark” next month. =o=> A JUDGE, occupying a bench in our own state, we regret to admit, in a recent address takes the almost solitary position among thinking people, that the radical reds should not be deported, but instead educated in the ethics of true Americanism. To which another judge voices the sensible and

practically unanimous opinion, that “You may as well try to Reforming teach a rattlesnake to sleep in a cradle with a baby as to try the to educate an anarchistic radical.” __ ‘ : In brief, the question of education is by no means being Radicals neglected in the opposite direction. In many of our large cities the children of the radical element are being taught disloyalty

in their so-called Sunday schools. To counteract this effort either with the individual child, or a group, is not easy on account of the opposi- tion of the parents. Hence we find children at that most impressionable age, and before they are sufficiently mature to weigh and balance ideas on their own account, guided along a path of prejudice and error, from which it may be hard to turn them in later years. The dyed-in-the-wool adult radical is about as sus- ceptible to argument, reason, and history as a duck’s back to a drop of water. He “knows,” or thinks he does, and this type of stony mentality is precisely like the horse who will not drink. Probably we have counted too much on the uneducated foreigner compre- hending and appreciating the freedom and opportunities of America. In hostility to this idea is the constant harangue of the soap-box orator who in his vehement utterances transforms ant hills into mountains. No rose ever bloomed and no sunset ever spread its gorgeous tints, that some one could not declare contained a flaw, and find followers to agree with him. Has it ever occurred to you that in all the propaganda, spoken or written, the radical never finds words to mention the good and generous things of American life? Its free day and night schools; its hospitals and clinics; the libraries, art galleries, and museums; lectures both educational and entertaining; parks and bathing beaches; summer places for sick babies; country trips for city children; free ice and milk for the very poor, and the innumerable private, sahilie. and city organizations constantly doing charitable work of every kind throughout the year. As for those radicals on whom all tivis is lost, it is a hopeless task to work a reformation in time. Accustomed im the place whence they came to respect only the strong arm, it is futile to hold out olive branches here. The only remedy is to weed them out, and in self- respect and self-preservation apply unrelentingly that only appeal they recognize or seem to understand. We have doubtless been sadly remiss in our public schools, teaching German, for instance, where we should have taught patriotism. The adult foreigner does not largely attend the public school, but his children do, and it would seem easier to reach the parent through the children than in any other way. It would be no sacrilege, but rather a pious devotion if, on the opening of every public and

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POPULAR MECHANICS 355 CSs—— =—<44

* private school each morning throughout the land, teacher and pupils should rise iM and facing the flag repeat a sort of Apostles’ Creed of American patriotism. The “I believe,” stretching unbrokenly from kindergarten to last-year High, might easily be worth as much as all the studies of the 10 years’ course. == TS good ship “Buford,” after an uneventful voyage, which was also our most notable maritime event since the “Mayflower,” finally made port at Hango— gruesomely suggestive name—and safely debarked its passengers. The Finland skies and climate of Hango, in January, has little in common with the home port of the original ark which is reported to The have landed on a beautiful spring day under the eternal promise of a rainbow, while hope and joy filled every living heart. For Ark reasons not stated in the cables, the Hango Silver Cornet Band Lands was conspicuous by its absence. Neither did the burgomaster deliver the usual and tiresome platitudes tendered arrivals of quality, or present the key to the city gate, nor offer its free- dom. Indeed, the only freedom was that of occupying—under guard—the perfectly good box cars in which were temporary tables, benches, and bunks of plank. The whole setting was suggestive of a lack of appreciation on the part of the Hangoans of the importance to the world of these whiskerites, who had undertaken to revolutionize and reform a mere hundred million. Then followed a tedious delay of many hours, during which the master of ceremonies is said to have incurred gray hairs for fear the gate to Russia might refuse to open. With a hard winter coming on, the Finlanders seemed to dis- courage immigration. Finally the box-car special moved slowly eastward only to incur another long delay at Viborg, 50 miles from the boundary. At last, however, this per- sonally conducted tour came to a halt at the border, where the visitors crossed a large bridge—a Bridge of Sighs, as it were—and entered Russia. Here also was displayed a lamentable lack of hospitality, instead of which the excursionists were submitted to a rigid process of personal examination which was really annoying, and quite unexpected. Neither Lenine nor the prime minister was there with the glad hand, but what mattered that—they were at last in that haven of rest and promise, Dear Old Russia; or the Reds in Redland. We may now reasonably hope that the national lassitude and reluctance to take part in government affairs which has characterized the past two years there, may find some improvement. When Emma addresses the populace from the front steps of the Winter Palace, maybe she can put a little American pep into things. Speaking of Emma, her last words before crossing the boundary, are probably sincere: “I am anxious about what is ahead in Russia, but naturally I am leaving very much behind in America.” And this at the end of only 30 days. Fie! fie! Emma. 1/0} e) DURING the past five months the wholesale prices of beef at the Chicago packing houses have declined 35 per cent. At last reports the retail markets had not hung out any extras announcing a similar reduction on their part. One » large packer declares the explanation is found in the almost universal demand to have only the choicest parts, of which there A Packing- are not enough to go around. As to hams, and pork chops, and House loins, he declares nothing short of an eight-legged porker could r meet requirements, and if the increased demand of the past Discovery year continues long, a pig will need as many legs as a centi- pede. Everybody wants the choicest cuts of beef, of which only a limited amount can be carved out of any one animal. The meat business is the only very large industry which has no middlemen, being delivered direct to the retailer in all parts of the country by packing-house employes. The dressed meat is actually sold to the retailer for less than it cost on the hoof, the long list of by-products, in which nothing is lost, absorbing the difference, and leaving the packers a margin of one-half cent per pound. And still the consumer continues to pay a high price for both best and less desirable cuts alike.

H. H. WINDSOR "

CS Sa

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356 POPULAR MECHANICS SIMPLE TOLL-MESSAGE TIMER FOR TELEPHONE EXCHANGES Equipment for keeping track of long- distance messages handled by telephone exchanges usually requires a com- plex clock-oper- ated stamp for marking the toll ticket. An inex- pensive arrange- ment now on the market, particu- larly suitable for small exchanges, consists merely of a clock with dial numbered in min- utes, a counter, a dating stamp, and a set of toll tick- ets. The base, which serves as a writing board, fastens at the side of the_ switch- board position. The operator eas- ily reads the exact time of the start and finish of each call, and marks them on the ticket, the counter registering the number of calls. DENSE COTTON BALES MADE BY THREE-RAM COMPRESS Cotton bales of high density and uni- form dimensions are turned out by a new electric compress, which, unlike the old- style, one-ram machine, applies pressure simultaneously from five sides. Placed on the bottom platen of this improved press, the bulky bale from the gin is squeezed, by two heavy steel doors, to the desired width. At the same time two horizontal hydraulic rams compress it to the desired length. A pull on a second control lever then elevates the bottom ram until the proper thickness is reached. All these operations are accomplished in 16 seconds. The two side doors being swung open, wires are passed through slots in the upper and lower platens, and the bale bound for final shipment. Uniform com pression, in this way, to an average siz« of 24 by 54 by 21 in. permits the loading of fully 60 per cent more in freight ca: or ship’s hold. VALUABLE PINE RESIN MINED FROM NEW ZEALAND SWAMPS The gum, or resin, from the kauri pin tree of New Zealand, used in the manu facttfre of varnishes, paints, oils, and tur pentine, is now worth about $1,000 a ton World-wide interest attaches, therefore, to the recent discovery that the great peat) swamps north of Auckland are richly sown, to a depth of at least six feet, with loose particles of the substance. One small mill is already in operation about 100 miles from Auckland. Here the peat i excavated and retorted, finally yielding up to 70 gal. of crude oil to the ton of soil. It is noteworthy, also, that deeper: excavation in one part of the swamp has uncovered a large forest of prehistoric kauri trees. Submerged thousands of years ago, probably by some seismic dis turbance, the trees are still in good con dition. Many of the logs have been taken out, sent to the sawmill, and worked into lumber. @ American exporters are advised by the Forest Products Laboratory to attach handles of webbing to heavy boxes and crates. Webbing is more easily attached to the container and occupies less spac¢ than the usual rope handle. x SR. TE RY, The Steel Doors are Shut upon the Shapeless Bale, at the Left, and Rams Close upon It from Sides and Bottom. Compressed, the Bale is Then Held, as in the Center, While Wires are Passed through the Platen Slots. The Finished Bale is Seen at the Right Fact PERS Als tare Re TE eed

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ee POPULAR MECHANICS 357 oa ———— oe ; — ———Ss = —~ . — - 4 ~ — Celie og, > ti hie I MAIL PLANES KEEP ADMIRAL IN TOUCH WITH HIS FLEET LOADED with official communications from the Pacific fleet at San Diego, Calif., the big navy flying boat has just come to rest in San Pedro Bay. Gone out to receive the mail sacks is seen the motor launch from the admiral’s flagship, the U. S. S. ‘New Mexico,” moored 150 yd. distant. This aerial mail service for the fleet is now well established. Each morning this and another twin-engined boat make the 100 miles between the two anchorages in an average time of 70 minutes. The return trip is made in the afternoon. MAY MOVE BRAZILIAN CAPITAL NEW RECEPTACLE FOR STREET TO HIGH LAND OF INTERIOR \ remarkable plan for the wholesale transfer of the Brazilian capital within the next five or six years WASTE MADE OF HEAVY STEEL Unusual street-corner “waste baskets” that are easily emptied, hard to knock from Rio de Janeiro to a high plateau in the in- nd state of Goyaz, is now agitating the fed- ral senate. If the bill becomes law, the proj- ect will be advertised throughout the world for two months; then, for half a year, the govern- ment will receive com- petitive proposals from irchitects and contract- ors. Five years after the igning of the contract the ‘made-to-order cap- tal is to be completed in every detail, including great legislative and i.dministrative buildings, The Heavy-Steel Waste-Paper Receptacle at the Left is Undergoing Trial schools, libraries, thea- ters, a penitentiary, hos- pital, barracks, markets, post offices, tele- graph and telephone offices, etc. It is also stipulated that the successful bidder shall enjoy for 20 years an absolute monopoly of water, drainage, lighting, telephone. and urban traffic services in this city of his creation. For the construction of necessary railways, however, the govern- ment is to be directly responsible. at Philadelphia. D be Removed, Making Collection of the Contents Easy At the Right is Shown How the Burlap Bag may over, and able to withstand the roughest sort of usage, are now being tried out in Philadelphia. The case, or frame, is made of thick steel, riveted, square in cross sec- tion, and stands about four feet high. The receptacle proper is a burlap bag that hangs from a removable collar. Cover- ing the bag is a semicylindrical sheet of steel, which is hinged at one side.

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358 POPULAR MECHANICS MODEL OF MT. WILSON MADE OF SUGAR BY PASTRY CHEF Two hundred pounds of sugar were transformed into a remarkable model of Mt. Wilson, Calif., by a skillful eastern

Sugar Model of Mount Wilson: On Top of the Miniature Peak Is an Observatory, While on Its Sides Are Tiny People, Buildings, Bridges; and Flowers pastry chef, who spent his spare time during two months on the task, which he completed recently. Surmounting the confectionery peak is a miniature astro- nomical observatory, made from sugar, while on the sides of the eminence are tiny people, buildings, bridges, flowers, and butterflies, fashioned from the same material. Electric lights are installed on the diminutive mountain, which is 5 ft. in height and 7 ft. through at the base. RACIAL BLOOD TESTS SUGGEST DUAL ORIGIN OF MAN That the Asiatic and African peoples originated independently of the European, is the startling suggestion recently put forward by two Swiss serologists, who made extensive blood tests of the many nationalities brought together in Mesopo- tamia during the world war. Examining and classifying the blood elements of the native population, of Jewish refugees, and of soldiers assembled from every corner of the earth, they were surprised to find the nationalities dividing, of them- selves, into three distinct classes. A first group included the soldiers from England, France, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia. An intermediate group contained Arabs, Turks, Russians, and Jews. In the third group were Negroes, East Indians, and natives of Indo-China and Madagascar. Reason for their suggest ing the dual origin of man is obvious: th intermediate group represents, of course a fusion of the two archetypes. BLIGHT-FREE BEANS PRODUCED BY PLANTING AGED SEED Bean plants grown from old seed ar unlikely to be affected by bacterial blight according to horticulturists who have bee: conducting tests at the Oklahoma Agri cultural Experiment Station. The expert obtained the most satisfactory results with seed gathered two or three years previou to the time of their planting. Older seed produced blight-free plants, but in many cases failed to germinate. All of the age seed was planted on uninfected land, lo cated at a distance from infected patche REFRESHMENT TRAY ON AUTO ADDS TO SODA-WATER JOY When there are ladies in the aut party, stops at sundry soda fountain along the way are inevitable. To cap th: climax of their comfort, when the bever ages are “brought out,” a Nebraska in ventor has designed a tray with a clam; that holds it firmly on the edge of th car and adjusts it to the level of a tabl Ownership of this addition to motoring joys is intended to rest not with auto ists, but with the proprietors of ice-crean parlors.

Refreshment Tray That Clamps on the Edge of the Auto: The Ice-Cream Man Sends It Out with the Sodas

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POPULAR MECHANICS INTERNATIONAL PARCEL POST IS GREATLY EXTENDED International parcel-post service n greatly extended. Parcels within the has 309 COMBINATION LOCOMOTIVE HAS GAS AND ELECTRIC MOTORS Running from an electrified section of railroad to a steam section and back again lb. limit may now be t to Siam, Iceland, lestine, Mesopotamia, mm of South Africa, xembourg, Paraguay, eria, Corsica, Tunis, tt, British India, ria, British East Af- 1. Uganda, Malta, in, Falearic Islands, nary islands, North- Africa, Trentino, Belgian Congo, of Zanzibar and Roumania 1s o 22-lb. shipments. Somaliland (Be- Krythrea, and ya (Tripolitania and renaica) are handled + ¥ — , ler conditions apply- ng to Italy. Service to lgium, Chile, Den- rk, Germany, German Austria, Czecho- Slovakia, Greece, Liberia, the Nether- nds, Norway, and Sweden has been re- umed. To Brazil, British Honduras, hina, Colombia, Guatemala, Republic of ynduras, Nicaragua, Peru, and Argen- Republic, 22 lb. is now the limit. KNOCKED SENSELESS BY GOOSE, AIRMAN FALLS 3,000 FEET While flying at 4,000 ft., en route to iirdrome at Portland, N. D., some weeks ago, an airplane pilot encountered large flock of Canadian “honkers,” and tempted to clear them by a steep dive. hree of the big birds were caught be- en the upper and lower wings, how- ever. One of them collided with the ilot’s head, and fluttered into the cock- it, as the pilot sagged forward, uncon- cious. Ignorant of the mishap, the mechanic in the other cockpit was larmed, next moment, to feel the plane pass out of control, and into a tailspin. ihree thousand feet the men fell this way, a crash seeming inevitable. Luckily, it 1,000 ft., the pilot came to and righted his ship. €A flying boat recently landed on the ice at Raritan Bay, N. J., then took the air again without mishap. The stunt was repeated several times. Though It Looks like a Conventional Type of Electric Locomotive, This Big Tractor Carries Gasoline Engines Also, Enabling It to Change from Steam Tracks to Electric without a Stop embarrassments for an electric locomotive lately placed in service to meet special conditions in southern California. A powerful auxiliary gasoline engine is a feature of the big machine’s equipment, and when the trolley quits, the cylinders are started into action. With this com- bination of power it is capable of trans- ferring 20 to 30-car trains from the steam- line tracks to the electric. has no NEW LETTER-COPYING MACHINE HAS SELF-FEEDING DEVICE Rapid production is new gelatin-roll letter cording to the manu cause of the dps device with possible with a duplicator, ac- facturers, be- self - feedi: g which the machine is provid- ed. This novel is a metal tray, pivoted over the bed of the con trivance. The master copy and blank sheets are transferred from this receptacle to the roll by pushing down the free end of the tray, and pressing on a spring. This causes one end of the bottom sheet to adhere to the roll. When the tray is raised, the sheet is spread on the dupli- cating surface.

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360 CLAMP HOLDS AND REGISTERS CLOTH ON TAILOR’S TABLE lo replace the iron bars and miscel- laneous weights that were formerly used in tailoring establishments to hold layers The Tailor is Saved Many Mistakes and Much Tire- some Lifting of Weights in Laying Out Cloth, When the Cutting Table is Equipped with This Combination Clamp and Counter of cloth upon the cutting table, there has now been developed a simple clamp with counting attachment. Attached across one end of the table top, the clamp consists essentially of two arms, which are pivoted to upright brackets and con- nected by an iron crosspiece, or blade. When cloth is to be laid out, one end is POPULAR MECHANICS placed before the clamp; the crosspiece is pressed upon the cloth, and a cam lever is thrown to lock the blade in place. Che last operation actuates the little re- cording instrument attached to one of the upright brackets, where it is easily seen by the tailor. FIGHTING FOREST FIRES BY BOMBS IMPRACTICAL So many persons have lately propos: the use of gas bombs, dropped from air planes, as extinguishers for forest fir that the U. S. Department of Agricultur: has been moved to official pronouncement that the scheme is impractical. It pointed out that a forest fire is not to be poisoned; rather it must be smother by a thick blanket of some inert gas lik nitrogen or carbon dioxide. Doubt one part of virulent poison gas to 1,000 000 parts of air will effectively kill sol diers; but 750,000 parts of inert gas to 1,000,000 parts of, air would probably fail to extinguish a blaze. The difficulty. oi dropping the bombs accurately, the di- luting effects of air currents, and many other complications, unite to make such a concentration, even in a most limited area, quite impossible of achievement. The aeroplane, however, will continue to play its part in the forest-patrol work. PRESS PRINTS, ADDRESSES, AND SIGNS LETTERS Believing that “filled-in”- circular let- ters receive scant attention from the average business man, ge a manu facturer is now > produc ing an automatic press that not only prints At the Rate of One Letter Every Second, Blank Paper from the Roll at the Right is Converted into Typewritten Letters with Uniform Head and Signature, and with Names and Addresses That Match the Body the colored letterhead and signature, but more important, actually “typewrites” the name and address in a color and pos! tion that “match up” with the body of the letter. When in operation, paper from a roll, 8% in. wide, is fed into th: press, 11 in. at a time. The body of th letter is first imprinted by means of a type bed, inked ribbon, and movin: a roller. The name and address, on a small zin« plate, having fallen int place meanwhile, the rib- bon and roller then print the “fill-in” in ex actly the right place and color. The paper strip passes next into a cylin- der press, where it takes impressions from two electrotype plates, one for the letterhead and one for the signature. A knife then cuts the L paper to size, and the i

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ped cease = POPULAR MECHANICS 361 letter is ready for mailing. The machine mav be used, also, as an ordinary press, as an envelope and wrapper machine, or for ruling and cross-ruling order blanks. BOARDS IN CANALS PREVENT SPRINGTIME ICE JAMS “Reinforced ice” will never attain the industrial importance of reinforced con- crete; yet it is seen increasingly each winter in the water-power areas of New England. With the approach of cold weather, inch boards are fastened, checkerboard fashion, along the surface of the canals which feed the turbine wheels. At the first cold snap these boards are frozen into the ice. When thaw comes they hold the ice in place, preventing a general break-up, and ‘so Frozen into the Surface of This Canal are Seen Nu- merous Boards. In the Springtime These Prevent a General Break-Up, with Consequent Loss of Power at the Turbine Wheels doing away with the risks of local floods, broken wheel gates, and diminution of water supply to the turbine wheels. THREE-PURPOSE SPARK PLUG TOOL IS SIMPLE DEVICE Spark plugs can be tested, cleaned, and adjusted with a simple tool now on the market. Ignition-system trouble is lo- cated by means of a variable spark gap, provided between a metal-tipped lever and a slotted connector, both of which are mounted on the wooden handle of the This Single-Handled Tool Serves to Test, Clean, and Adjust Spark Plugs device. A socket in one end of the con- trivance holds a combined steel-wire brush and scraper. The latter also serves as a gauge for setting spark-plug points. PLANES HOUSED IN SEPARATE SHEDS TO CUT FIRE RISK Great fireproof hangars, with rolling partitions that quickly isolate a burning airplane, are far too expensive for the Each Airplane Owned by the Flying School is Housed in a Separate Hangar, like the One Above. A Single Fire will Thus Never Damage More Than One Plane ordinary individual or aero corporation. One flying school, however, has evolved a substitute that is “just as good.” For all of its planes it has built, around its airdrome, small individual hangars. Fach is of frame construction, and has been built at minimum cost by making it just large enough to shelter the plane. The ground plan resembles that of an airplane, a narrow shed extending rear- ward to receive the fuselage and tail group. BATHTUBS ROLLED ON WHEELS ABOUT HOSPITAL CORRIDORS \ bathtub on wheels is found decidedly convenient in the modern hospital. Filled in the bathroom, it is pulled to the pa- reer eee Having been Filled from the Swinging Spout, the Tub is Rolled down the Hospital Corridors to the Patient’s Room. It is Later Emptied through the Special Drain tient’s room, sparing him needless exertion. In answer to the demand for these tubs, the most satisfactory equip- ment is now being produced. The stand- ard tub, of the usual size and material, rolls smoothly on its rubber-tired wheels in response to a pull on the removable tongue.

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362 POPULAR MECHANICS SIMPLE CONTRIVANCE LOCATES AUTO-ENGINE TROUBLES Various automobile-motor troubles can be located with a new testing device, Automobile-Engine Testing Device in Operation: he Contrivance Locates Loose Pistons, Leaky Valves, and Other Troubles which consists of a. hand-operated air pump, provided with an outlet pipe that can be screwed into a spark-plug hole, and equipped with a dial pressure gauge. The latter is fastened to the handle of the contrivance, and connected with the hollow piston rod of the pump. Loose pistons and leaky intake or exhaust valves can be detected by adjusting the engine to different positions, and forcing air into the cylinders with the device. Compres- sion can be investigated by cranking the motor and observing the gauge, which indicates the pressure in the cylinder. WARM-AIR CHAMBER PROVIDED AROUND UNFINISHED HOMES Cold weather of concrete and of frame prey ented brick dwellings, the addition to a number erected recently in faces Around the Lower Portion of This House can be Seen the Warm-Air Chamber Which Prevents Building Material from Freezing a northern city for the employes of an automobile factory, until the construc- tion company in charge of the work devised a means for surrounding the unfinished buildings with warm air. This was accomplished by using high board walls, made in sections, and designed to be put in position around a few minutes. house in a \- canvas roof was placed over the space between the structure and the wall. Small installed in the chamber thus formed, furnished heat to prevent the material from freezing. stoves, LATERAL MOVEMENT OF KNOB LOCKS DOOR For the bolt, hook, or makeshift that has been used to fasten the bathroom door may now be substituted a tidy com- bination of knob and lock. The knob is of conventional appearance, and turns the bolt in the ordinary way. But to lock the door, it is carried an inch to the side, this motion being permitted by a slot in the piate. Once in this position, both knob and bolt are immovably fixed against To Lock the Door from Within, the Knob is Simply Moved Laterally to the Second Position, Shown Transparently at the Right coercion by a jimmy. The lock does not interfere with the accustomed use of a key from the outside of the door. MODERN HIGHWAYS PROJECTED FOR ISLAND OF OAHU The Federal government is considering plans for the construction of modern roads on Oahu, one of the Hawaiian Islands, it became known recently, when a report on the subject was sent to the national capital. Some of the proposed highways would be used only for military purposes, while others would benefit the civilian population, as well as the army. It has been suggested that the expense of the project be shared by the govern- ment and the inhabitants of the island.

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ee as eS —— FLOATING FREIGHT TRAINS. MY /2) 2) am The First Business Trip of the New Steel Barges down the Mississippi from St. Louis to New Orleans, with a Load of Wheat: The Towboat Is One of the Old Style, and has Been in Government Service for a Year ( N a certain morning not long ago the greatest inland waterway in the world, after drowsing along for years through all the din that a busy group of iver enthusiasts could make, awoke, like in aquatic Rip Van Winkle, to a sud- barges. Big as they were, modern to the last engineering detail, and interesting in themselves, their real significance lay in the fact that they were the advanced guard of a fleet of 40 similar barges, and of si» new, powerful towboats, the locomotives den realization of modern conditions. of these latest of floating freight trains. lhe oc casion for the quickening This $6,290,000 flotilla is the govern pulse that throbbed down ment’s convincing answer to the persist- f the Mississippi that day was ent prayers that have gone up for years Af relatively small; merely the out of the Mississippi Valley. It is the ff) arrival, at the St. Louis first official investment in floating stock f docks, of two new steel in any way commensurate with the enor- —_— / — . = ] One of the New Towboats in Process of Completion at Point Pleasant, West Virginia, Whence It will Travel down the Ohio River to Its Duties on the Mississippi: It is Driven by Twin Screws Instead of Wheels Popular Mechanics features will appear in moving pictures issued by Paramount Magazine, “OS >

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364 POPULAR MECHANICS mous sums that have been, and are being, spent for improving the great track on which these mammoth trains will run— the big rivers of the Mississippi basin. Delay has been encountered in the con- struction of the towboats, and some of the barges are making their early trips behind steamers of former days. The new water tractors are of the twin-screw type, driven by engines of 18,000 to 25,- 000 hp. The propellers operate in steel tunnels under the stern, and by an in- genious arrangement the screw, though it is seated so high that its upper blades are above water level, is always sub- merged. The siphon action of a higher part of the tunnel, over the propeller, ac- counts for this paradox. If the term “floating freight trains” brings up the familiar image of a railroad box car or gondola, perhaps perched on a raft, the idea may be promptly dis- missed. Each of these new all-steel barges holds 2,000 tons of freight—the equiva- lent of 20 to 100 cars. Each is 230 ft. long, 45 ft. in the beam, with a hold 10 ft. deep surmounted by a 9-ft. cargo box, giving a loading space 19 ft. deep, 184 ft. long, and 37 ft. wide. Transverse and wing bulkheads, the latter oil-tight, divide the hold into 18 compartments, and there are 16 hatches, 14 by 16 ft., and 16 double sliding doors, eight to a side. The scow- shaped hulls are designed to offer the least possible resistance to the water on the upstream tow, and their draft is small. Five of these barges and one towboat con- stitute a train, with a total capacity of 10,000 tons of freight. The schedule time for such a train from St. Louis to New Orleans is 4% days, which is actually Jess than rail freight schedules. While all these preparations for an or- ganized transportation on the lower river are in the making, the upper Mississippi has not been neglected. Up on the St. Croix River a steel barge even larger than those of the down-river fleet was launched —the nucleus of another flotilla of 24 freighters and four towboats, for trade between Minneapolis and St. Louis. These up-river barges are 300 ft. long and 48 ft. wide, with a capacity of 2,500 tons They are made of %-in. steel plate, weigh 500 tons empty, and draw 8 ft. loaded to capacity. Each has 20 compartments for oil, 250 tons of it in all, and a bin 250 ft. long, 38 ft. wide, and 6% ft. deep, for coal and ore. They cost $150,000 apiece. Their towboats are the same length, 58 ft. wide, and weigh about 600 tons. Friends of waterway transportation re gard the advent of this scientifically de- signed equipment as the first opportunity inland water has had to compete witi steel rails since the days of the early ’70s, and feel that government control of rail ways has accomplished at least one good deed in reconciling the two forms of transport. With the making of joint rates for rail-and-water service, on the basis of 80 per cent of the all-rail charge, success of water shipping seems assured, and in- creased flexibility as well as capacity per- manently bestowed upon the nation’s most vital activity, transportation. Antagonists of the waterway as a ma- jor carrier, however, point to the fact that the railroad administration has been operating freight barges on the Missis sippi for more than a year, with their to- tal receipts less than half their expenses, and with a relatively small saving to ship- pers. They argue that the cost of loading | re The Finished ~*~ of the New Towboats: They Have Engines of 18,000 to 25,000 Horsepower, and ropellers Operating in Tunnels under the Stern. The Insert Diagram Shows the Siphon Action of These Tunnels

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POPULAR MECHANICS Completing the First of the New Steel Barges Just before Launching It: the Cargo House, Visible above the Deck, are Duplicated on the Other Side. ind unloading and of transshipment will continue to absorb any advantage gained over the rails by the use of a natural rack. Water-level cargoes must always be unloaded to a higher level by power, hereas freight cars can dump their loads from above. Barge-unloading machinery must be flexible enough to conform to varying heights of water. Unless the barges are always loaded to capacity, both going and coming, economical operation cannot be expected. Freight trains, with their cars constituting small cargo units, can -be made up economically, where barge trains, of a few large units, ‘are constantly confronted by difficulties of inflexibility in meeting the shifting condi- tions of commerce. Though these criticisms embody some of the thought of skilled transportation engineers, it is obviously unfair to water traffic to demand that it meet, without opportunity for preparation, the dexteri- ties developed by years of scientific com- petitive railroading. The waterway ter- minal question is a big one, but it is being The Eight Double Side Doors of The Barge Is 230 Feet Long met, not only by the government, but notably by the municipalities interested In waterway success. The fine adjust- ment of railway traffic may be credited largely to the employment of expert rep- resentatives spending their time in con- tact with shippers, a form of activity for which no parallel yet exists in the water- way business. And last, not enough pub- licity has been given to the advantages of water shipment. If barge trains go from St. Louis to New Orleans and back again with inadequate loads, it is because not enough shippers have been “sold” on the new order of things; not enough even are aware that there is a new order. Perhaps it will take years to put the rivers in position to give railroad service to shippers, to pay reasonable returns on thetr investment, and to establish that 100-per-cent use of national facilities that must be demanded from now on. But that all of the obstacles to efficient opera- tion will ultimately be overcome by na- tive ingenuity and determination, cannot be seriously doubted. THE LIGHTHOUSE By LYDIA M. D. O'’NEIL The slow sea croons as a tiger tamed Full-fed, inclined for play; jut we know his mood, when the black clouds brood And the lightnings leap to slay. When wind and water combine for slaughter And torture the tossing ships, Then the sea’s wild whine is a cry malign From a loosened tiger’s lips! But however the winds of the world may roar, However the wild sea whines, Warning the danger that haunts the shore, The lamp in the lighthouse shines! Warning of danger, and promise of aid, And guide on a pathless way- This is the pharos that men have made For the’ ships on the sea astray. So tl waves may purr, or the winds may blow From the south of the earth or north; From Skerryvore to the Boston shore Tree Point to the Firth of Fort! Though Death rides high through the On the strength of the tempest’s wir Hour on hour the lamp in the tower Burns on, and the fog bell rings windy sky gs, So it hath been since the ancient When the priests of ancient fam« Kindled in Egypt a high red blaze For their fleets that homeward came Warning of danger, promise of aid, And guide on a pathless way- This is the pharos that men have For the ships on the sea astray! days made

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366 POPULAR MECHANICS By Different Assembling of the Seven Parts Shown in the Center, the Combination Tool is Made to Take These and Other Forms. Right Are Pinchers and a Pipe Wrench. NEW ELECTRIC TIME RECORDER OPERATED BY DOOR LOCKS Information regarding the opening of doors in shops, stores, or other places of business, is registered by a novel time recorder now on the market. Electricity operates the contrivance, while door locks serve as switches. Numbered keys are furnished for the locks, and when a cer- tain door is unlocked, a card is printed by the machine to indicate the time of the operation, the number of the lock, the number of the key used, and on which side of the door the key was inserted. Fight locks, each one provided with eight keys, can be connected to the recorder. The device can be used as a time clock by manipulating a lever on the side of the mechanism case. In this way, the deyice is caused to print a time card, on which an employe can write his signature. At the Upper Left Is a Pair of Pliers, Then a Chain Wrench, and a Staple Puller. Door Locks Serve as Switches for This Electrical Time Recorder, Which can be Used asa Time Clock for Employes At the In Addition, One Handle Is a Screwdriver, the Other a Tack Puller SIMPLE COMBINATION TOOL ADJUSTABLE TO MANY USES The happy thought of casting sep- arately the jaws and arms of a pinching tool is responsible for the recent appear- ance on the hardware market of a little instrument that is quickly changed to 16 familiar forms, and is hence of decided value to motorists, farmers, and house holders. Use is made of both ends of each jaw, one being formed as a corru gated pinching surface, the other as a transverse cutting edge. In _ addition, there is a pivotal and locking bolt with milled nut and a single washer. All of these parts are of drop-forged steel, tem- pered, and nickelplated. It is by their mutual adjustment, without the necessity, however, of screwing the nut completely off the bolt, that the mechanic such tools as_ pliers, pinchers, wrench, nail puller, and others. obt L1mns pipe AMMONIA BATH ADDS TO SPEED OF PHOTOGRAPHIC PLATES Photographic dry plates made sensitive to all colors by mixing certain dyes with the emulsion, known commercially as panchromatic plates, are made more rapid, but shorter-lived, if the dye is treated with ammonia. Now it is found that the speeding-up effect may be ob- tained by subjecting the commercial plate to an ammonia bath before using it. Pan- chromatic plates soaked for four hours in a solution of three parts strong ammonia water, 25 parts ethyl alcohol, and 75 parts water, and then dried, showed the remarkable increase in speed of 100 per cent to white light, and as much as 400

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POPULAR MECHANICS per cent to the red. Without the alcohol, the increase was even greater, but the had to be used at once. Plates other than panchromatic were not so affected. plates IMPROVED GIANT INCUBATOR COMPACT AND CONVENIENT Holding 10,500 eggs, and hatching 3,500 ch week, in a space 8'% ft. square, is feat performed by an improved in- ator with a growing record of success. ed, the big hatching machine re- bles a retailer’s refrigerator, and is plete in itself. Opening the outer doors reveals inner doors of glass, pecting the eggs without exposure. trays are compactly arranged, tiers high, at an angle, with three rs of chick boxes under them. lwo large oil heaters are installed at the rear, and a partitioned cross chamber lined with hot-water pipes, with electric ns at the top. The air is forced down ound the pipes and up through the egg -hambers, adjusted ventilators at the top keeping evaporation at a minimum. By special arrangement, all the eggs can be turned in five minutes. Each week, as the ggs in the lower trays hatch, the remain- ng trays are lowered, and fresh charges nserted at the top, resulting in a con- tinuous hatching process. smaller model, of 2,440-egg capacity, [J is also made in similar form. } 367 DIRECTORIES SHOW INCREASE IN SIZE OF WESTERN CITY Denver's first and latest directories graphically illustrate how the population of the western city has increased during - —____—___— These Two Directories, Denver’s First and Latest, Show How the Colorado City has Grown in 53 Years the last 53 years. The former was issued in 1866, and is a tiny volume, containing only 1,100 names, while the latter, printed in 1919, is a ponderous book, in which are listed 220,000 persons. An interest- ing fact is that the number of Smiths in the city last year was three times the entire popula- tion of the earlier date. Both the External Appearance and the Interior Arrangement of the Big Incubator are Revealed in This View, Which Shows the Inclined Egg Trays, the Chick Boxes Beneath, and the Heating Equipment. The Air is Forced Down around the Pipes and Up through the Egg Chambers by Electric Fans

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368 POPULAR PORTABLE RAIL-JOINT WELDER USES TROLLEY CURRENT Current is taken directly from the trol- ley wire to operate a new portable arc welder for rail joints and similar jobs, Portable Electric-Arc Welder: It Uses Direct Current from the Trolley through Resistance Grids, and Has Track Wheels and Folding Handles folding carry it has can which men handles whereby two easily. Using direct MECHANICS current, it cuts down the voltage by means of cast grids instead of a trans- former. A circuit breaker is mounted be- tween the grids, and conveniently located on the electrode handle is a switch for remote control. Small flanged wheels are provided for moving it on a track. ELECTRIC GENERATOR PARTS NOW MADE OF CONCRETE Adaptable as it has proved to a variety of strange uses, the application of con- crete to the construction of electrical machinery seems rather far-fetched. Such use is actually indorsed, however, by a large builder of hydroelectric plants. The stator frame and thrust-bearing sup- ports of vertical-shaft alternators may be built of concrete with considerable ad- vantage and economy, and the method appears to lend itself equally well to sim- ilar applications on horizontal-shaft gen- erators, @The popularity of Europe’s inter-city airplane routes has set all the fashionable tailors of Paris to designing and creating feminine flying apparel. Sartorial ex- hibits will in consequence occupy con- siderable space at future aeronautical shows. GREAT PASSENGER AIRPLANE IS RICHLY APPOINTED The cabin of every large passenger airplane exhibited at the recent French air show sounded the note of luxurious comfort, and none more so than the Caudron ex- hibit. The long fuselage interior of the big’ bi- plane resembles nothing so much sun parlor. Light pours through 12 curtained windows and three sky- lights. The furnishings include eight wicker armchairs, a wicker table, cretonne wall coverings, electric bracket lights, flower vases between the windows, and a great mirror at one end to give the illusion of depth. At spacious as a al The Dainty Safon at the Right Is the Cabin of a Great Passenger Biplane In the Lavatory, of Which is Seen at the Left, the Passengers Find Every Exhibited at the Recent Air Show in Paris. the opposite end is found a glistening lavatory with a Corner > every appointment. onvenience

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CHICAGO PLANS FOR LARGEST ATHLETIC STADIUM tZ eprtrrtir rT a we -— Ft us Ser tebatabe eb isfFt-1.1 fond j vas A ee op * ¢ ‘ ‘ " Py Etre ate ——— ; ig Le -_ t 7 ' - “ : - ve Is View of New Field Museum That will be Seen from Every Seat in the Great Stadium. The Museum, Facing the Open North End of the Stadium, Is the Detached Plot at Top of the Plan Below T FF modern be concentrat vorld’s ed 40,000 per- st and - manent seats. ps most . Another 20,000 umental - ; . will be built 1m is to along the two rected on northern arms ‘ago’ “ a : ees with space on - | the grassy tet aces behind them for 30,000 more, Chis to tal of 90,000 exceeds the capacity of the Yale Bowl, now America’s largest sta ress of _ = — dium. by 20,000 rching E ' : to 30.000 \ ,O ps, the : = _" = q great tower, northern : = “tas ' based on a pil will give - “Sie ; lared portico ry spectator Jin xe and with top iew of the we TTA reached by an Field Mu- = m of Nat- spring from the | History, inclosed = end uly com- , The entirs« elevator wili lL. At the structure end ot of concrete and e arena, marble vill h ich itself Vr ———- - = cost at le; isures 300 Plan of the Stadium: The North End, at the Top, is S$] 725(00: 100 F 1 Left Open for the View and for Military Maneuvers, and — «|, : — rt Will 40.000 Seats are Concen rated at the South End vith the con nt Elevation and Main Public Entrance to the Grand Stand: This Is the South End, Where Most of Permanent Seats are Located, Nearest to the Athletic Field

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360 POPULAR templated addition of heroic statuary and ornament, the cost will run to more than double that amount. These new plans supplant the more costly proposal con- sidered some months ago, and described m Popular Mechanics Magazine for August, 1919, CONCRETE FRONT BEAUTIFIES FRAME RESIDENCE Viewed from the street, a residence in a middle-western city appears to be an ex- pensive concrete building, though in real- wid An Artistic Concrete Front and Entrance Added Much to the Attractivness of This Home with- out Greatly Increasing Its Cost tty the structure is made almost entirely of wood, and was erected at a very mod- erate cost. This effect is obtained by means of an artistic concrete front and entrance, which add to the beauty of the dwelling, but represent only a small out- lay of cash. The entrance resembles a pergola, and includes two massive square columns, while the front is designed to harmonize. A small window 1s located on each side of the doorway. = cil Side View of the Dwelling: In This Picture can be Seen the Frame Portion of the Structure, Which Is Scarcely Visible from the Street MECHANICS INSTITUTE WILL MAKE BAKING INDUSTRY SCIENTIFIC Hoping to put the bread-making ; dustry on a scientific basis, the Americ: Association of the Baking Industry founded an Institute of Baking. 1 move is a radical one, as bread maki) has for centuries been a craft depe: on individual skill and knowledge of pirical formulas. Nevertheless, th« ciation stands ready to abandon th: practices as scientific processes ar vised. One large baking company suming annually more than 1,000,006 of flour, has in fact introduced sci nethods generally, with marked ymies resulting. Reports of th stitute’s experiments, carried on junction with the National Council and with the aid of nut experts, agricultural specialists, chen and physicists, will be placed at th: posal of bakers throughout the c HOUSEHOLD ELECTRIC MOTOR MOUNTED ON TRIPOD Power to operate small household hines is furnished by a new ek motor of unusual design. A metal tripod, equipped with rubber- tipped legs, sup- ports the device, which is inclosed in a dust-proot case and provided with a carrying handle. One end of the. shaft fitted with a srooved direct drive wheel, while the opposite ¢1 d 1S geared to a yraduated pulley. The contrivance ¢ attached to an ordinary lamp socket OHIO’S NEWEST STEEL MILL WHOLLY ELECTRICAL With its equipment entirely electri a new steel mill upon which construct has started in Ohio will be the first of kind in this country. It is to have tw smelters, and 10 and 16-in. rolling mil! for producing fine qualities of automobil locomotive, and cutlery steels, and begin with a force of 500 men.

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POPULAR MECHANICS DUPLEX STREET LAMPS TO CUT COST OF CITY ILLUMINATION (ity administrations anxious to cut ’ running expenses will find much terest in the proposal recently ad- ed by two illuminating engineers. A < electric street light is their sugges- the globe to contain two lamps id of one as at present. These lamps to be placed tip to tip; one is to f 000 to 1,000 cp., the other of 100 to cp. Krom sundown until midnight, rding to this scheme, the stronger would burn. At midnight the city nt would be momentarily ‘seduced, ig a small mercury cut-out in each to extinguish the big lamp and on the smaller. LEGENDARY LIGHTHOUSE STILL STANDS ON EASTERN COAST radition hangs thick about the ruined house that stands at the entrance te te Harbor, 20 miles southeast of ton. In the anxious days of 1812, the nd runs, the light was tended by Sim- who lived with his daughters, ceca and Abigail. One day, during the girls were alarmed Bates absence, the see a British frigate slip into the little ' \s redcoats crowded into the small sats and put over the side, they realized hat the destruction of the light was in- nded. Undismayed, they scurried to the ndward side of the tower; Rebecca ized a fife, Abigail a drum, and a martial lamor smote the ears of the ship’s com- der. A puff of smoke and the report the recall gun told the girls that the ise had succeeded. The redcoats put k. and the tower was saved. ther's DEVELOP, FIX, AND WASH FILMS QUICKLY WITH TUBULAR BATH Roll films are developed, fixed, and washed without a dark room by means of an interesting developing tank, just patented. It con- sists of one ofr more upright flat tubes, with a hol- low base and a special cap. The film roll is placed in the top, held by springs, and a flat brass weight is attached to the end of the film. The paper back- ing is then drawn out through a light-tight open- ing, forcing the film down into the developer. Seven minutes later, the solution is emp- tied through an opening in the base, which is then connected by hose with a water tap. After two minutes’ washing, “hypo” is substituted for 10 minutes, and further washing finishes the negatives. In mul tiple-tube tanks, each tube takes care of a film roll.

For Well over a Century This Little Lighthouse has Stood Guard over Scituate Harbor. Dark; but during the War of 1812 It Was the Scene of a Romantic Ouick-Witted Courage by Two American Girls It has Long Been Display of

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ie POPULAR EINSTEIN’S THEORIES WILL REMAIN POPULAR MYSTERY The epoch-marking report of the four British astronomers, mentioned in Popular Mechanics Magazine for January, has cre- ated in Albert Einstein’s theories a popu- lar interest that promises to go forever unsatisfied. The MECHANICS the phenomena of electricity, magnet; and .ligh:. [Einstein goes further: claims that there is not a single pl or chemical reaction that does not in some degree the influence of this jo; And his gravitation is not an instanta ous effect; rather it is a force that : lVSit

popular ex- planations in the daily press undoubt- edly leave the mind more confound- ed than before. lhe root of the difhculty seems LIGHT RAYS FROM STAR to be that Ein- stein has _ ar- rived at his eonclusions by means of math- ematical proc- esses so intri- cate that few living men are qualified to an- alyze them. His ideas of special and general relativity, qual- ifving all our conventions of time, space, and motion, are un- ates with a speed roughly comparal with the of light For all tical purp: THE RAYS ARE BENT however, } or ceaurenoy Tone ou a THE. COURSE OF A CANNON laws remai BALL woud BE

usually ab- whose pro struse. is the «¢ It is only frontie! the implica- science. tions of Ein- stein’s hypothe- PHOTOS ses as they FINISHED affect our con- IN RECORD ceptions of nat- FROM SPHERE, LONDON; COPYRIGHT ®@ ¥. HERALD a 7 ural phe : During the Eclipse of Last May, Four Astronomers Photo- TIME F phenom : - . graphed the Stars around the Darkened Sun. Comparison with . ena that can be Normal Photographs Later Showed an Apparent Shifting of the Hig! stated with any brevity. Thus his theory of the universe lutely no place to the ether conventional, all-pervading medium for the trans- mission of light and electromagnetic im- pulses. Even more revolutionary is his assertion, seemingly proved by the astron- omers’ report, that light rays are affected by the force of gravitation. This must be, for the lay mind, the kernel of Einstein’s thought. The phenomena of gravitation and imertia lose their Newtonian isola- tion; they become intimately related to abso- gives Stars; Hence Seemed to Prove That Light is Affected by Gravi- tation, as Indicated in This Highly Exaggerated Drawing suffici« approx tion to truth. O: dealing the highe:s locities, 1 observabl instance, radiation dium parti will Ni PTive wa Einstein. scientist com m <¢ cial laborat the nay on the sea safely Einstein’ s ories to photograp! finishing sequel to split-second exposure, wa ingly demonstrated by an Englishman a recent lecture. After hurried develo} ment and wash, the negative was fixed 30 seconds. Following a two-minute wa the hypo was eliminated by dilute p manganate solution, the plate bathed tw: minutes in formalin and rinsed, and th: lecturer's hot-air drying device turne upon it. Within 30 minutes after the exposure, a slide printed from it was pro- jected upon the screen.

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POPULAR MECHANICS

The Collapsible Airplane Wings, When Extended as Shown Above, Resemble the Ordinary Structures, with Their Struts and Bracing Wires. It will be Seen, However, That a Wire is Strung from the Upper Wing Tip to the Fuselage Retracting This Wire by Means of a Crank in His Cockpit, the Pilot Causes the Wings to Collapse, as Shown at the Right. Folding like Lazy Tongs, the Wings Flatten Themselves Until in the Position Illustrated at the Left

Lying Flat against the Fuselage, as at the Left, the Collapsible Airplane Wings would Occupy So Little Space That 50 Scout Planes So Equipped could be Sheltered by the Average Airplane Ship, or { Floating Airdrome ee ae ee —-

tructural AIRPLANE WINGS FOLD UP LIKE LAZY TONGS (he naval airplane of the future will btedly consist of a fuselage ped with wings that collapse to per- storage in the hold of ship or ersubmarine. The development of the re is still in the experimental stage, already inclining to rigid are hinged at the fuselage. On ntirely different principle, however sed a recent invention of this extension and_ retraction of th as demonstrated with the in model, are controlled by un to a crank in the pilot’s cockpit retract the wings he turns the crank: model) and all ( s\ yor 1s ys that sort. \\ ire < wing (on the breaks into + (J come to Test against the fuselage side. ch handling of the wings is, of course, possible with the spar-and-rib strue- res now used: it is to be taken for nted that the inventor has another scheme, as construction of an perimental plane is said to be in prog- ess at an airplane factory near Birming- m. England. nged pieces, snugly AUTO “HOT-SPOT” MANIFOLD HAS ADJUSTABLE BY-PASS Taking the ground that an automobile “hot-spot” manifold may at times be too hot. and therefore should be adjustable, a Michigan manufacturer has provided a manifold with a cold by-pass. A valve operated from the dash shifts the gaso- line intake from the carburetor to eithe: the hot or the cold pipe, or divides the Hot-Spot Manifold for Auto Engine, with By-Pass for Cold Air, and Adjusting Valve Especially Useful with Low-Grade Fuels mixture between them, at the driver's will. This adjustment is found to be tageous in the use of low-grade advan- fuels.

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ae _ —— CURIOUS AIDS TO RECREATION _ IN FACTORY ) eriritrs. To ee tj mnenel on ae OILER water, very essence of the sordid and wunromantic, was the original inspiration for a recently com pleted project as curious and fanciful as ever graced a large manufacturing plant. The idea was conceived when it occurred to the factory management that the feed water for its boiler room would lose nothing in quantity or “sw! YARD_, ‘ ' me | Swimming Pool Formed by Intercepting the Boiler-Feed Water of a Big Ohio Factory on Its Way from ¢ City Mains, Giving the Employes Exercise and Recreation. Note the Curious Cement Diving Platforn quality if put to recreational use befor it was turned to steam. So a landscape architect was emplo to lay out a pool that would serve at o: as a neighborhood beauty spot and a swimming and skating pond for ' factory employes. Familiar with little simulations of nature that give cd light to a picture, the architect open the water supply on a hillside above and made the inlet a miniat mountain stream, with pools and pool, f The Inlet of the Pool Resembles a Little Mountain Stream, So Beautified by Grasses and Lilies and an Interesting Bridge of Rough Cement That the Factory Becomes the Most Incongruous Part of the Picture 374

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POPULAR MECHANICS 375 d with grass and lilies. Quaint, this grotto of hoary image is as new as bridges of rock and cement, and’ the rest of the work, and made of that ng plat- SS _—S_S_—= - common- s in the place material, of simi- cement. The bstance process of al tificial anti- brought quing that cre- ated so bizarre uaint an effect is it self new, to man if not to nature, and like most et fective things a . ‘ : almost absurd room a ly simple. he bathers ’ Lhe mmer. secret lies in the uss eming- : Pe. * he of mud for ent be- ‘ ee molds, the kind ie reck- ‘ ‘de , of mud that man, : » 7 coher in wun cen- ay ‘ couth masses water 77% and is the _ ) is cavern t finally { ifttered to employes , a Ve this substance in timobdert = ee —_ = frames, the The Almost Startling Effect of Age and Erosion Which Char- acterizes the New Cavern Is Observable in This Picture. ; The Seats Formed at the Column Bases Are Interesting made for th molds were - Grotesque and Unconventional in the Extreme, the Rough-Looking Shelter Is Undeniably Beautiful, and Really Represents an Entirely New Form of the Art of Building with Cement

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376 POPI walls of pourmg and feet, olumns the cave, building up a tew the cement, and by wid LAR MECHANICS piled with masses of the mud, full of and humps and rough holes. On t strange, formless the cement was poure: Ten days later the t bers were removed mud broken and was! away, and the new ¢ 1 ern revealed in al grotesque beauty. ) stalactites hung from ceiling, queerer bei and goblin. chairs truded from its walls columns, and at on vawned a great firep \nd here and there a nturies morse a dd« d to its app: burden of years by tints of and red, cement. 1 hogs TOar C ¢ vellow, mixed into When flat in the big and strange shadow T Harmonizes Well with the Antique Appearance of the Cave Itself adding more mud. For the roof, a wood frame, covered with brush and straw, was he Medieval Door of Heavy Timber, with Hand-Wrought Bronze Hinges, across the mi walls, the archaic pict is complete, even to battered door of heavy timber with hinges of hand-wrought bronze. HUGE PORTABLE RADIO OUTFIT ON GIANT MOTOR TRUCK notorized wireless Station, ) ge iat only the power of a 13-ton army truck gives it portability, has just been onstructed at the eastern terminus of an aerial mail route. It is to be used for dis- patching and controlling the big new ombing anes ing into the mail service. The powertul as many fixed sets, has a sen radius of several hundred miles, and receiving range is practically unlin \ll ot the equipment, of the ern type, is included within n body of the truck, except his is of the coil type, 250 ft. in let ind strung between two 20-ft. pol irrangement found to the old 250-ft. high aerials wire can be set up, or most ! the he as ] Lhe pole packed on Tor bo» the ante ethcient ‘ The Box Body of the Big Truck at the Lift Is the Cabin cf the New Wireless Station, and One of the Antenna Poles Is Visible the Same View. Part of the Interior is Seen at the Right

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POPULAR MECHANICS truck, in a few minutes, ready for movmg. lhe truck engine develops 250 hp., and runs the wireless generator as well as the vheels of the vehicle. PLUNGER MEASURES ROAD WEAR TO THOUSANDTH OF AN INCH For measuring the annual wear of con crete and similar road surfaces, the Fed eral Bureau of Public Roads has devised micrometer which takes direct readings to one-thousandth of an inch. The in strument consists of two flat plates, each two inches in diameter, which are mount ed on universal joints at either end of a har, one foot long. The mid-portion of his bar bears a spirit level, and a verti al plunger whose motion is indicated hy a graduated dial. The apparatus is ised in conjunction with immovable brass plugs, which are Set into a road surtace t specified intervals. On the rounded road surface, the micrometer is plumbed by means of the spirit level; the plunger is low ered, and the read- ing isthen taken from the sraduated dial above.

To Measure the Wear of a Concrete Road, the Cir cular Plates are Placed upon the Surface; Then the Central Plunger is Dropped to a Permanent Brass Plug, and the Reading is Taken from the Dial WINDMILL-DRIVEN DEOQDORIZER FOR ELECTRIC FAN \ttached to the guard of an ordinary electric re cently invented device deodorizes the air at an extreme! rapid rate. A smal] windmill on th contrivances is turned by the breeze created by the fan, and when in operation drives a pump which forces ait through the contents of a cyl- indrical deodoriz- ing-liquid con- This fills the air with vapor from liquid. A vent in the top of the deodorizer tank allows the saturated air to mingle with the current created by the fan. lan

tainer. the JOB-TIMING MACHINE CARDS FACTORY OPERATIONS Production costs of any manufactured article can be determined only when the labor time of each factory operation is <<. \ wa Mzchine That Times and Numbers Factory Oper: tions on a Card, Shifting the Card Each Time known. ment, \n electrically operated imstru just brought out, records the time of starting and finishing each operation on a card, and stamps the serial number of the operation at the same time. Actu iting the finger dial that carries the num- bers, also automatically moves the card into place for the next record. PHONOGRAPH-NEEDLE CUTTER MADE IN FORM OF SCISSORS Owners of nterested in market of <implicity. disk phonographs will the appe a fiber-needle cutter of marked Built in general like a pair of blade contains the slot fo: the reception of the worn-out needle; the other contains a depression in which +} et the cutting his knife ee singie be arance on. the “<cissors, one knife of tem pe red steel, 1s | eld in place and adjusted by screw or thin

STEEL KNIFE FIBER NEEDLE pontine | |

J The Scissors at the Right Cut Fiber Phonograph Needles, as Shown. At the Left Is an Explanatory Cross Section, Showing the Knife, and a Needle in lace

shaving may be cut. With the knife set to cut the thinnest shaving, a needle may be used 40 times. With equal ease the knife may be removed for resharpening.

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FIRST AID TO A FREEZING RIVER By J. CECIL ALTER TW ENTY-SEV EN hydroelectric plants under one management, sup- plying practically all the electric light and power used in and around Salt Lake City, Ogden, and northern Utah and south- eastern Idaho generally, are dependent al- most entirely on the daily stream flow from mountain sources for their turbines, only*one plant having any reservoir or storage pro\ ision. These plants are widely has only a small outlet, and is not entigely, fresh. Bear River passes within 10 miles to the northeast of the lake, and during its nearest course falls from a few feet above the average lake level to a few feet below. Thus by a dam in the river, th stream is diverted into the lake at high water time. Later in the summer and autumn, the lake is then permitted to flow slowly by gravity through a canal into th separated over the district, being located lower Bear River, supplying the “Big principally near the four.’’ -Approx- canon mouths, con- imately $00,000 venient to the ma- cre-feet of water jor interests served ° | is thus doled out in Many Cases, ( l In winter, when though an inter ' there is greatest communicat- . | need for sustaining ing transmission m the life of the ' system allows the 7 | stream, an addi distribution of elec- . tional 930,000 acre- risheaes as needed, | Te , = | — becomes avail respective of its ) ° er ible through the origin. ] 2 | 2 same outlet by a ; J ~? > vs Ot these power P “wf IDAHO Pad Pe battery ot electric- > - 2 . plants, 23 have wa- 4 % \ N hig ally driven pumps ter for capacity | } Se at Lifton, on the . “ . F ea, \ ° production from \ ‘) | 2/ north end of the about March to ee TON J : lake. early June, when us Oo 6 | It is a 30-hour the streams on [3 S See ) co water journey, at . . 4 ‘\ - . — which they are situ- \ ¢ \ \ | / best, from Lifton to ° \ ated are running som . : the nearest plant at highest; but their | ey _} (;race, and mors, : ; TaN, UTAH ; : production is great- ' than twice as far to ly diminished dur- Ps x3 Wheelon; in win- ing the droughty YS / ter, when mush ice, period of late sum J | if anchor ice forming mer and early au- ' 1 on all protruding tumn, and in winter | objects and on the when the feeder . shore lines, and streams are closed Map of Bear River Region, Showing Dam, Diversion usually a number : a > ‘ an > » Ths ke te - wo . ° ier tow I; » large Canals, and Pumps That Make Bear Lake X ‘ct ry ice. our large a Great Reserve Basin of minor ice jam; plants, having a ca- impede the flow pacity equal to about 70 per cent of the load ordinarily required of the entire fam- ily of plants, are located on Bear River, the largest stream within the great basin. These “Big Four,’ situated at Grace, Cove, and Oneida, Ida., and Wheelon, Utah, have ample water for carrying the load assigned to them during the spring- time, and nearly so during the greater part of the winter season; but the river hbecomes- comatose with severe freezing weather, and would actually hibernate through the severest part of the winter were it not injected freely with water bor- rowed from beneath the ice on Bear Lake. This lake, about 5 by 18 miles in size, 2 3/8 the water requires as much as 48 hours ta make the journey to the turbines. Th the weather conditions and the need fo utilizing the plants must be calculated advance with fair accuracy. Ice jams of huge proportions are som times built up in very cold weather whe the injected water, back of the slush and loose ice, carries the floe slowly down thx canons, and in order to hasten its prog ress, and lighten the expense, blasting powder is freely used at such times. Hy draulic pressure, however, is depende on almost solely to keep the stream flow- ing despite the action of the frost. Thus it } *.4 is on mild winter days, with

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POPULAR MECHANICS This Fire Occurred at Ekaterinen Haven, on the Murman Coast of the Arctic Ocean, Not Far from Archange The Barrels Contained Tar. The Officials in the Middle Evidently Preferred Posing for the Camera to Rolling Tar Barrels undreds of feeder streams softening and FIRE DESTROYS GREAT TAR cist harging sufficient water to awaken the DEPOT IN NORTH RUSSIA nighty Bear from its slumber, and with ample water in sight for immediate pur- Russia is a land of tremendous dis poses, the giant Bear Lake pumps at tances, tremendous resources, and at thi Lifton are speeded up on advice of an ap-_ time, of tremendous disorganization. And proaching cold wave, still a day or so dis- n the sam cale \ the recent confla tant, in order to sustain the life of the at Ekaterinen Haven on the M er latter hoy 1 h ld n t, which destroyed thousands ecome at t ircnans ar, distilled tro If the river freezes over, a flume i ine forests of central and northe formed in the river bed, and the the dey requirement is to keep this flum: scharging to capacity, and little dithculty moke column rose miles into the is experienced. However, with alternat- Many bar were rolled to safety ng warm and cold, and wet and dry the lo ‘an into millions of rul eather, this requires engineering skill —-— —~ § the highest order, particularly wh TRANSLUCENT PICTURE SCREEN ubme rged mush-ice jams choke the ch: - PERMITS DAYLIGHT MOVIES iel and break the ice Therefore nurses” attending the “patient,” that 1s, By using highly translucent material fo: the corps of stream gaugers and pump making a motion-picture screen, Britis! men, and the “physicians in charge.” that inventors have achieved clear pictures the superintendent of power and his broad daylight, as well as in a brightly dispatchers, are kept extremely busy in illuminated theater. The films are pro winter to prevent the collapse of the “pa ected on one side of the screen while th: tient,” and maintain electricity for the audience views the other side. This fea homes, railways, mines, and manufactur- ture will permit the use of pictures for ers dependent upon its continuous supply educational purposes without darkening for all their activities. the classroom oked ] —i\ a pondero

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HsO POPULAR COMMUTERS FIND COKE General Survey of ‘Coke Mine,”’ in Which Some of the Larger Specimens Are Visible the By using shak- ings from the mechanical stok- power ers at its ballast, house in interurban trolley line com- _ pletely ruined a Connecticut beach that it traversed, the clinkers being washed into the with every high wind. About the time the line added insult to injury by raising its fare, a com- muter dwelling near by discovered that the black ballast was 30) per coke. The lumps, eaned bx waves, ranged as SCal about cent the than nicely c from a littl e larger Inflating a Motor-Bus Tire: The Air Hose is Attached to One of the New Flexible Supports, Which Pro- tects It from Damage by Holding It Upright One of the Amateur Miners Who Discovered the Coke Mine, and is Working It So Hard That He Buys No Coal MECHANICS MINE ON TROLLEY LINE The Finer Coke, Mixed with Seaweed, Sand,and Shells, but Making Very Good Fuel a pinhead to the of coal. size large-egg Though the smaller erades were rather badly) = mixed with sand seaweed, and shells, it prove dl no difficult task to separate the good fuel and the mixture was found to burn when half shells. Che discoverer of th remarkable mine made up for the in creased ot cost car riding by getting through the winter without buying am coal, a few minutes with shovel and basket sufficing for the day’s needs eve! SUPPORT FOR AIR-DISPENSING HOSE HAS FLEXIBLE JOINT The air-dispensing hose of the mode public garage usually serves only a shor time, due to the fact that by automobiles, which over it, and is worn result dragged about by users. \ contrivance now on the market is designed to prote the tube from these dangers, and at same time to hold it in a convenient po tion. In this device, the supply pipe i supported above a rigid standard b means of a flexible joint, which ) ( it is damage trequently ru asa of beit consists a spiral spring, inclosing a short length hose. The spring holds the pipe up right when the dispensing hose is not in use, but when tires are being inflated there is no obstacle to the free ment of the hose. f F ) move-

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POPULAR MECHANICS INTERESTING FACTS REVEALED BY STUDY OF RATTLESNAKE Rattlesnakes do not use their rattles to sound warnings before striking, as gen- erally believed, but employ them to terrify victims after striking, in the opimmion of a certain well-informed naturalist. This conclusion was reached by the scientist after he had carefully observed one of the reptiles for a considerable length of time. In no instance did this specimen shake its rattles previous to striking the first time, though it almost invariably did so between two strikes, particularly when the second was delivered soon after the first. Iixperiments were conducted to deter- mine the rate at which the snake’s tail vibrated to sound the rattles. Two differ- ent methods were used for this purpose, both involving the use of delicate elec- trical apparatus. One of the tests indi- cated that the reptile moved its tail back- vard and forward on the average of approximately 33 times per second, while the other disclosed an average of about 36 vibrations per second. The move- ment varied from 20 to 100 vibrations per ‘ econd. TONGS OF FIBER AND WOOD FOR REMOVING FUSES For the easy of cartridge fuses from electrical cut-out blocks, without danger of shock, a Connecticut imventor has designed a simple tool with a pair of fiber jaws that grip the fuse. A knob on the end of the wood handle rests in the palm of the hand, and a sliding shoulder, held by the fingers, draws the jaws against a wedge- shaped yoke that forces them together around the fuse, which is then extracted by a straight pull. removal @ Pitchbiende with a high content of ura- nium has been found in north central On- tario, Can. The government of the prov- ince offered $25,000 reward some time ago for the discovery of workable deposits of radium-bearing ores, and this is the sec- ond so far reported. . customary 381 NEW BARROW HAS TWO WHEELS ACTING AS ONE Greatly increased weight-carrying ca- pacity and ease of operation are advan- tages claimed for a novel wheelbarrow, Two-Wheeled Barrow, Designed to Carry Heavier Loads Than the Ordinary Device of Its Kind, and to be Easier to Operate recently invented by a western man. In- stead of being equipped with a single wheel, placed in front of the body in the manner, the new device is with two extra-large wheels, located underneath the tray, and cam- bered to such an extent that their rims nearly touch at a point directly unde: the bent axle on which ‘they revolve. Practically all of the load is borne by the wheels. : provided TRENCH HELMET BECOMES PART OF WALL CLOCK he discharged soldier's determination to find a household use for his trench hel- Having No Sword to Beat into a share, the Ex-Soldier Turned His atthe | Right, into a Wall Clock. Straw Hat | was Later Transformed ° Equal Success met has already borne fruit in flowe1 pots, washbowls, and _ lighting without number. The latest reported use is, however, the most ingenious Painting numerals around the brim. and cutting several the crown, the resourceful ex-soldier added clockwork, pendulum, and hands, and as a result dis- plays a novel wall clock. A last-season’s straw hat was later transformed in the same way, but with less difficulty, as the material was easier to work with. Plow- Helmet, The with fixtures holes in

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POPULAR MECHANICS In This East Indian Carriage Shop More Than 500 Auto Chassis were Fitted with Box Bodies and Made into Supply Trucks for the British Armies Operating in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Palestine SOUTH AMERICAN INDUSTRIES BURNED INDIAN CORN The railway and power companies of the Argentine Republic forced by the exigencies of the world war to a no- table fuel experiment. The ship short- age, which cut short her coal supply from England, resulted, too, in the accumula- tion of the vast tonnage of Indian corn, normally exported. The companies de cided to burn the corn as fuel. Tests showed that in the ordinary fire box, with the fire bars placed ¥% in. apart to prevent the grain from falling through, the corn burned freely and with the cal orific value of hard wood. were SHOPS OF INDIA PRODUCE MOTOR CARS OF WAR Of all the army motor cars used in the Mesopotamian campaign, and in Egypt and Palestine, a great share were contrib- uted by a country popularly regarded as among the least producers—India. . One S0-acre plant in the Bombay district turnedl more than 500 passenger cars into supply trucks by building box bodies fot them, finishing 300 in one month. Loco- motive repair shops north of Bombay produced a number of armored motor cars of highly efhecient form. An inter- esting railway tractor, made by equipping a light American auto with pair ot Autos and Trucks were Turned into Armored Motor Cars for the Army in a Locomotive Repair Shop Located a Few to the Needs of War When Its Services were Required, and Produced a Large Amount ot

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POPULAR MECHANICS Motor Workshop with Awning to Protect Workers from Sun flanged steel wheels in back and a four-wheel ar truck in front, was another product. Most curious of all, perhaps, was a motorized work- hop on a truck chassis, carrying lathe, drills, and grinder driven from the ‘ar engine, and furnished ith wide awnings to protect the workers from the dangerous tropical m. This useful vehicle equipped to the last ail, and ready for any A Curious Railway Auto Made in the Indian S! by Adding Flanged Driving Wheels at the R car and a Regular Railroad-Car Truck in Front a FIVE HUNDRED PER SECOND IS NEW FILM-EXPOSURE RECORD Motion-picture films exposed at the ex traordinary rate of 500 pictures a secon were recently made by French scientists using specially designed apparatus wit! clectric-spark illumination. Photograph- of a bullet in flight plainly showed th cone of gas leaving the barrel. The new iat SSA equipment, capable of recording an) Miles North of Bombay, India, Which was Quickly Adapted Ovement, is expected to be of great air Equipment for the British Army in the study of physiology.

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Sl POPULAR COFFEE FORCED THROUGH FELT FILTERS IN NEW URN Coffee drawn from the elaborate urn grounds For the grounds are all removed by a disk of heavy felt, which is placed on the bottom of a small cylinder in which the cof- fee is placed. this iction 1s obtained by forcing the hot water, at 25 pictured herewith provides no for complaint. lb. pressure, into the top of the cylinder. Here it descends througl the mound cot- fee, then through the filter, to emerge aS an an be r fluid abso- itely Ire Lroml solids lwo filter cylinders are provided so that they may be cleaned alternately with no inter- ruption to the flow of cotfee. \nothei interesting feature of the urn is that by turning a single valve, the supply of both water and gas is stopped, so that the generating checked. process 1s thus entirel\ BEES SPEND WINTER ON ROOF OF OFFICE BUILDING Housed in specially prepared hives, several swarms of bees are kept on the flat roof of a store building in a Michi gan city during the winter months, and despite the exposed position of their Apiary on the Roof of a Store Building in a Michigan City: The Bees are Provided with Special Hives, Which Protect Them from the Cold . MECHANICS homes, survive the extremely cold weather of that region. Protection fo: the honey gatherers is provided by plac- ing a filled honey frame on top of the inner hive, and covering this with a flour sack and squares of burlap, carpet, o1 quilt, cut to the correct size. Thess pieces are pushed down between the outer and inner walls of the hive. On top of this material are laid four thick nesses of corrugated pasteboard, while two thicknesses are applied on the side and ends. GOLFERS’ “BOOBY” PRIZE MADE OF CAST-IRON PIPE One of the most novel golf trophies ever awarded is the “booby” prize that went to the “low man” in a recent tournament. Lik the first prize, it took the form o1 a loving cup; th material, however: is not silver, but cast iron. Short pipe lengths ot many diameters were joined by a clever plumber until a laughable likeness was at tained. ' The “engraved” inscription wa cast with the body of the cup. BY COURTESY OF THE VALVE WORLO SURVEY DIAMOND-DRILL WORK WITH SOUND INSTRUMENTS Use of the delicate sound-ranging in- struments developed during the war, for checking up on the work of diamond drills in rock, is proposed by American engi- neers. The geophone, described in this magazine last July, and similar instru ments have been found accurate in locat ing the source of boring sounds through hundreds of feet of rock. By taking sound readings in three directions at every hur- dred feet of the drill’s progress, the course of the hole could be re adily pl tted with- out stopping the operation. @ Experimental installations of ball bear ings on railway cars in Sweden have de veloped a bearing of this kind of a wholly new type. Test made for five-ton loads successfully handled loads of 20 tons. per bearing, in trials equivalent to more than 30,000 miles. sets

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POPULAR MECHANICS se of the Single Type of Rectangular Lifting Magnet is Seen in the Left-Hand View, While at the Right the Arrangement of Magnets in Pairs is Observed to Be Effective for Handling Long Pie EMPLOY RECTANGULAR MAGNETS FOR LIFTING METAL PLATES umerous industries now use rectan- lifting magnets, instead of the more mmon circular type. for handling cer- steel and iron products, particularly plates of these materials. Ina very ficient device of this description, the coil inclosed in a boxlike steel case. the lore of serves as one pole of the ignet. A projection in the center of the se forms the other pole. This contri nee can be employed singly, or in pairs. he latter arrangement is suitable when long pieces are being transferred. Fifty tons of “4s6-in. steel plates, 6 ft. wide and 7'4 ft. long, were unloaded from a freight car in 50 minutes with one of the magnets. which PLAN BIG PUBLIC AQUARIUM FOR CHICAGO PARK Living fish from practically all parts of the world, including both fresh and salt- water specimens, will be exhibited in a mammoth public aquarium to be erected in Chicago, according to an announce- ment made recently in that city. The proposed building probably will be lo- cated in a park near the business district, and not far from the new Field Museum of Natural History, now nearing com- pletion. Plans for the aquarium have not been revealed, but it has been re- ported that approximately $200,000 will be expended for the structure. es AUTOMATIC TELEGRAPH SENDER WORKS LIKE TYPEWRITER \ typewriter that sends telegraph sages is a fair electrical levelopment has just rhe transmitting keyboard of writer arrangement, letters are omitted. keyboard makes a the finished transmitted by the writing is satisfactorily complet The machine has a capacity of 60 werd to a pattern, indicated may description of mechanism 7 complet machine has practically standard type except that capita Operation of thx pattern message 1s new from which automaticalls throwing a switch ' ¥2 a dial, but the be reiterated indefinitel by setting a repeating key. This feature commends it to wireless work, and mits the continuous sending of or other signals without message per- distress attention. Telegraph-Transmitting Machine: It Sends the Mes- sage, After It is Written, by the Throw of a Switch the Dial Indicating the Number of Words

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THE INGENUITIES OF THE AUTO THIELE ‘By Pau/] F.Woodrutf EST the impression go abroad that auto thieving is a clever craft, it may be said at the outset that having one’s car stolen ordinarily lacks the picturesque features which give relish to a common burglar story. In most cases the blame rests on the gross inefficiency of a mys- terious watchman, whose aid the owner invokes with a eryptic phrase. “If anyone touches it,” he says, “some- hbody'll be sure to see him! Then he turns his back, and the car disappears. Less optimistic owners, of course, lock their cars. It is astonishing how many of them seem satisfied when that rite has heen performed, and walk away leaving the key sticking in the lock. In Chi- cago’s great public parking space in Grant Park, six or eight plain-clothes policemen gather’ a harvest of keys every day, to keep less scrupulous gleaners from taking key, auto, and all. But this is not going to be a statistical story. The key leavers and the nonlockers take all the interest out of the figures. Nevertheless, plentiful as careless auto- ists are, the thief is bound, some time, to cncounter a puzzling situation. To meet it, he carries miscellaneous keys, a metal saw, powerful nippers, and a supply of audacity. The latter probably explains why he is a thief; for his superabundance of it would get him into trouble in no time on any honest job. Only a short time ago a slender trickster, trying vainly to crank a car he had never seen before, appealed for help to a burly policeman, and drove away expressing his thanks just as the real owner came onto the Another marauder, visiting in a smal! Michigan town last summer, called the local officer of the law and borrowed his keys to unlock a car that pleased his fancy: Lately the professional taker of auto- mobiles seems to have become a specialist, studying certain makes until he knows more about them than the most en- thusiastic “gasoline-allev” habitué. Be- sides the tools already listed, his pockets contain a “magneto pencil,” loose parts of a distributor or timer, and perhaps other fragments of machinery that the scene. 38h knowing autoists are wont to remove to “fool the robbers.” Then, also, he tak« a post-graduate course in locks. A lon worker in Chicago, following a car unt he had learned its habits, copied the num ber of its lock and ordered a new k from the factory to fit it, thus obtainin the coveted prize at the cost of a litt! patience and 35 cents. li the police h: not caught him, the owner with hi burglar-proof lock would still be puzzlin over the mystery. Hlowever, among astonished owner high honors are held by the man who car vanished entirely except for one wi wheel, which lay in the gutter, secure] chained to a telephone pole. He had co: ceived the original idea of locking up | property by passing a chilled-steel chai around one tire and rim, overlooking the fact that wire wheels come in sets of five, with the spare temptingly accessibk The alert thief simply carried the car owner's mental process a step farther, and changed wheels. Driving with the gear-shift lever locked in neutral seems impossible, yet it has been done. In some few cases, where the ends of the transmission shafts pro ject from their housing, a man under th car can shift them to any position he «: sires, while his driver-confederate hold the clutch out. This means either start ing in third, with the aid of a push, or running all the way in first or second \n enforced stop under such circum stances might prove rather awkward, but somehow such a contingency rarely seems to embarrass auto thieves. There is a law in some cities that parked cars must be movable, so they can be pushed out of the way in case of emergency, such as a fire. This somewhat narrows the variety of permissible locks Where the requirement is not too strict, however, a curious form of shackle has gained some favor. It consists merely of a substantial lug of metal locked around tire and rim, which gives the car a noticeable bump every time the wheel turns over, and leaves a distinct trail along the pavement if anyone is reckless enough to drive it in that con-

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The Owner Chained One Wheel of His Car to a Pole, but Wire Wheels Come in Sets The Auto Thief’s Audacity of Five, and the Thief Made Use of the Spare Reaches High Altitude When He Asks a Burly Policeman to Crank Somebody’s Car for Him Steering-Wheel Locks Which have been Broken or Upset by a Few Heavy Hammer Blows Delivered at Points Kncwn to the Prefessior ais If the Ingenious Auto Stezler Finds That the Ends of the Transmission Shafts Stick Out of Their Case, Locking the Shift Lever does Not Bother Him Autos Carefully Locked, and Then Left with the Key Stick- ing in the Lock, Help Keep the Police Busy Locking a Lug around the Rim, as in the Insert, Failed to Stop One Robber, Who Deflated Tire. At the Right Are a Magneto Pencil and a Distributor Part, Carried by Thieves

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388 dition. In one city, added effectiveness is given the device by a standing reward of $100 for any driver caught bumping with it. But one case, at least, 1s re- ported wherein the resourceful thief de- flated the tire, thus causing the obstruc- tion to lie closer to the hollow of the rim, bandaged it up to look like an emer- gency repair, and got away. Steering-post locks are highly popular with car owners, and deservedly so. The fault of some of them is that they may be broken or upset by a few heavy blows on the body of the lock. The well- equipped thief probably carries a short hammer for that purpose. But in one re- cent instance in Chicago, a piece of tim- her picked up in the garage and slammed down on the lock a few times the dexterous crook as well as a fitted key. “Cannot be unlocked with a ham- mer’ would be a valuable catch line for the auto-lock advertiser who could con- scientiously use it. When the ignition circuit or the feed pipe is locked, the professional auto stealer seldom fusses with it; he simply served SELF-CONTAINED OIL FURNACE FOR RIVETERS IS PORTABLE For the fabrication of structural steel, for heat treatment and “shrinking-on” processes, and for general forge work, there is now available a small, efficient, and self-contained oil furnace. As the kerosene fuel is drawn from a tank below This Self-Con- tained Furnace Burns Kerosene, and Is So Light cen | ' and Compact j That It is Easily Carried about the Shop, Shipyard, | or on a Girder | = the furnace box, and as no outside fuel or air connections are made, the furnace can be moved by two men at any time, POPULAR MECHANICS attaches a tow line and hauls the car away with another car or a truck. This method is decidedly common in the big cities, where towed cars attract little at- tention. It is true, however, that ignition locks which merely break a ground con- nection, or perform some such simple function, are rendered null and void with- out much waste of ingenuity, by shunting the lock with a bit of wire. It is gratifying, after this cynical dis- cussion of locks, to be able to say that a good many of them do successfully foil the villain, and to report one case where the latter was “hoist with his own petar,” or, rather, with that of his victim. In this visitation of poetic justice, the cul prit had gone as far as Raleigh, N. C., with a car stolen in New York. There a detective from the metropolis overtook him, handcuffed him, and chained th: “bracelets” to the footrail in the tonneau of the car. After 24 hours of continuous driving over about 500 miles of muddy road, the competent member of the auto squad delivered an extremely weary and penitent sinner to justice. even when operating. Operation is cheap too, as a temperature of 2,500 to 3,000 can be maintained during a 10-hour work ing day at a fuel cost of little over a dollar. The most obvious use for a fur- nace of this type is in multiple-story girder construction. The furnace is kept close to the riveters, and so delivers well-heated rivets without the necessity of danger- ously long throws. Its portability mak« its equally desirable for ship construction BIG ELECTRIC-LIGHT SYSTEM USES RADIO TELEPHONES Telephone lines used for the control of electric-power transmission systems ar born to trouble, mainly because of their high-voltage neighbors. A large service company operating in a central state has installed wireless telephones at two of its plants, 25 miles apart, as insurance agairist emergency. The radio has a range of 100 miles. @ Six-month policies on hogs are a rec- ognized form of insurance in Iowa, and quite popular among farmers. A vet erinarian first examines the whole herd, and makes provision for regular inspec- tion thereafter. On an average, one hog in every 16 dies of disease.

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POPULAR MECHANICS —— esigned to Unload 110-Ton Coal Cars, This Giant Dumper Is Capable of Emptying Two Ordinary Carriers at One Time. The Machine was Installed by a Railroad Company at an Eastern Seaport HUGE COAL-CAR DUMPER BUILT radiator, and returns through a_ hose FOR RAILROAD COMPANY slipped into the filling port. vo ordinary coal cars can be emptied ltaneously by a mammoth dumper, n operation at an eastern seaport, here it was erected for a railroad to un- load the enormous 110-ton carriers re- cently purchased by the company. I[-x- cept for its great size, the machine its practically identical with smaller devices used for the same purpose. Eight self il OW 111 djusting clamps hold cars of different dimensions on a rotating platform, which is turned by powerful electric motors. Th¢ new cars are declared to be the largest ever constructed, each one weighing ap- proximately 320,000 Ib.. when loaded to c ipacity KEROSENE HEATER PREVENTS FREEZING OF RADIATOR Half the difficulty of motoring in win- ter is removed when the private garage is equipped with a heater that keeps the radiator warm overnight. A new stove for the purpose burns kerosene, and main- tains constant circulation of hot water. Rising from the reservoir, the heated Water Heated in the Little Kerosene Stove Rises water passes through a rubber hose to into the Radiator through the Hose Seen at the , : . Right of the Chimney Base, Making a ‘Freeze-Up” the radiator drain cock, permeates the Impossible

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390 SIX AUTO CHASSIS SHIPPED ON ONE FLAT CAR Freight-car shortage has interfered seri- ously of late with the ambitions of auto- POPULAR MECHANICS GAS MASKS PROTECT WORKMEN FROM AMMONIA FUMES Gas masks for refrigeration-plant em- ployes, who are exposed to danger in the form of ammonia fumes. have been devised by government expert a After experimenting with several materials, the in- ventors decided that pumice stone, saturated with copper sulphate, served most efficiently i: the absorption caniste: of the contrivance, this combination does not become heated, nor do it corrode an ordinary vessel, as is the case wit! sulphuric acid and pum ice, used in some devic« of this kind. One of th« new appliances, supplied with 45 cu. in. of this Ingenious Method of Packing b Shipped on One Flat Supported Them on End mobile makers to give quick deliveries. One western manufacturer got around the difficulty, however, by shipping six complete chassis on One flat car, arranging to have the bodies built at the eastern destination. Five of the chassis were sup- ported in an inclined position, almost on end, on timber frames set on the car floor. The sixth was placed flat under the slope of the fifth, making a very compact ar- rangement. PUBLIC-SCHOOL NATURE ROOMS CONTAIN MANY EXHIBITS Children, attending the public schools in New York City, are able to study plant and animal life without visiting the coun- try. This has been made possible by the establishment, in four of the educational institutions, of nature rooms, in which are displayed numerous botanical and zoological specimens, including fruits, seeds, wild and _ cultivated flowers, mounted birds, birds’ nests, insects, and fish, besides other representative flora and fauna. Efforts are made to vary the ex- hibits according to the season of the year. For example, ripened farm products are shown in the fall; evergreens, in the win- ter, and budding twigs and frog spawn in the spring. The rooms are maintained particularly for pupils living in the more congested districts of the metropolis. Which Six Automobile Chassis were ar: A Light Timber Frame substance, will protect a man for five hours in an atmosphere containing two per cent of ammonia, or for half th time in air holding five per cent of am- monia. The device is not likely to become clogged, according to the inventors. FOLDING MAST ON MOTORBOAT SERVES IN EMERGENCY Motor-driven fishing boats that operat« on the west coast are not prevented from returning to port by engine trouble at sea. For employment in such emergen- cies, the vessels are equipped with folding masts, on which sails can be hoisted when the ordinary means of propulsion is out of commission. The mast is installed for- Emergency Folding Masts: These Devices Make It Possible for Fishermen’s Motorboats to Sail Back to Port When the Engines Fail ward of the wheelhouse, and consists ofa short spar, pivoted between two uprights.

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POPULAR MECHANICS The Process of Demolishing a Curious Old Steel Bridge in a Chicago Park, Just Started as It Appears the Left View, is being Completed in the Right Picture by Cutting Up the Steel with an Oxyacetylene Torch CHICAGO PARK’S ODD BRIDGE FINALLY TORN DOWN \ most curious bridge spanning a la- oon in Lincoln Park, Chicago, has just een dismantled because it had nsafe, after serving 26 years as a land- iark of more than local fame. With a pan of only 180 ft., its steel arch was 42 above the water, to allow the passing f pleasure craft below it. A 99-ft. ap- roach and a flight of stairs at each end ided in the ascent, of more than half s altitude, to the concrete-paved convex- € center floor. After its height id inspired certain misguided persons to ump off, the newspapers nicknamed it Suicide Neglect and lack of iint finally reduced the structure to such condition that repair would have cost a rohibitive sum. Meanwhile a_ better ridge had been built, and a good market ir scrap steel decided the question. become \ ot 1ts Bridge.” MONTANA'S BIG ROAD PROGRAM CONSIDERS TRUCKS FIRST With its vast stretches of unraiiroaded farming land, Montana is an enthusiastic convert to the “ship-by-truck” idea. Such industries as dairying, for which the state is eminently suited, depend upon trans- portation for their success, and the only adequate transportstion likely to be avail- able in the immediate future would be truck trains and hard roads. Agricul tural marketing rather than the conven- ience of: tourists, appears to be the thought that actuated the recent voting of $11,000,000 for new roads, and this year another $15,000,000 is to be passed upon, to smooth the mountain trails for truck lines from the rural districts to the cities. NEW FIBER MASK FOR WELDERS PROTECTS FACE AND EYES Protection for the faces, as t es, of oxyacetylene and electric welders provided by a | now on th market. The device is made from fir proof fiber, which is also a nonconductot of current, and is fitted with and a l well as t 1 nove Mask ° 7 tintes shaped hold the contri one passing around, the read. Che mask point where the bands can swung down to indows tic bands The New Fiber Welding Mask, Shown Ready Action at the Left, and Raised Out of the Way at the Right, Protects the User’s Whole Face not needed. One type, designed « speci for electric welders, has an_ extensior which covers the ears. Another is tended to be held before the fac: means of a handle. @ Inaccessible western mountains. swept bare by forest fires, will be seeded by air- plane, millions of being thr overboard in the hope of their findir fertile soil. if the sugges : congressman is adopted. seeds stion ot a west

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392 NONSTOP DELIVERY OF AERIAL MAIL IS PROBABLE The recent post-office purchase of six large airplanes fitted with trapdoors in —— the fuselage bot- toms, makes more noteworthy the invention of a successful _mail- pouch parachute. Designed to sup- port sacks weigh- ing about 125 Ib., the apparatus, folded.weighs 10% lb., and measures 13 in. long, 11 in. wide, ‘and 3% in. thick. A concep- tion of the rela- tive size is gained from the photo- graph. It was with the aid of this self-opening parachute that a dropped, without Re, gt crate of breakage, from a postal airplane 800 ft. eggs was above the ground. Such parachute per- fection will, of course, make possible the nonstop delivery of the most fragile par- cel-post packages. HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS BUILD ORE-PULVERIZING MACHINE Students constructed an efficient power ore pulverizer that is being used in the mining and metallurgical laboratory of a Los Angeles technical high school. The machine comprises a revolving pan, 10 in. in diameter and 5 in. deep, in which are placed two heavy rollers, attached to the ends of a horizontal axle. Inclosed in the base of the contrivance are bevel POPULAR MECHANICS gears for transmitting motion from a 6-in. pulley to the pan, which has an approx- imate speed of 60 r. p. m., when in opera- tion. About one and one-half hours are required to reduce an average sampice. Wet or dry material can be handled by the device, which is easily disassembled for cleaning. DRAINAGE SYSTEM TO RECLAIM MISSOURI SWAMP LAND A half-million acres, now covered with water, will be made available for farming purposes in southeastern Missouri by an extensive drainage system, comprising 65() miles of ditches and canals, which is ex pected to be in operation this year. Sinc« work was begun on the project in 1912 approximately $4,000,000 has been spent for labor and materials. Parts of th principal ditch are 11 ft. deep and 175 ft wide. The land was inundated in 1811 when an earthquake transformed the theretofore hilly region into a vast swamp PISTONS HANDLED QUICKLY IN NEW BENCH VISE For the garage workbench has been ck veloped a vise that will hold any pisto from 27% to 6 in. in diameter. To handk the first of a set the mechanic slips the connecting rod through th: central slot, the moves the jaw at the right into con tact, and locks it with a turn of th cap screw. To remove the repaired piston and permit the insertion of another, h« throws the clamp handle at the left Both right and left jaws are faced with heavy leather. —— Ore Pulverizer Made by High-School Students: The Revolving Pan, Gear-Box Base, and Pair of Rollers are Seen Dismantled at the Left, the Right View Presenting the Assembled Machine

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f ee a, nee) The Chaste but Comfortable Appointments of the Large Service Room of a Crematory in Kansas City, Missouri, and a Glimpse of the Private Family Room with Its Grotto Beyond —— _—— _____——— AN ULTRA-MODERN CREMATORY IN A WESTERN CITY By ALLEN P. CHILD kK ROM time immemorial man has’ upon the residences of living men. In cremated the bodies of his dead. Al- Kansas City, Mo., the very latest facilities though never a universal custom, this for cremation and storing of urns are of- method of disposing of the corpses has _ fered in a new undertak:ng establishment. been practiced Upon enter- in many coun- i“ ing the build- tries and in > a ing one would various man- hardly think he ners through . aE was in a fu- different eras é fe - neral estab- of civilization. _— lishment. The ancient 2a 4 , Ivory - toned Greeks gener- a ms at walls with a ally cremated § red-tiled floor their dead and . . give a decided preserved, in © ie y soothing ef splendidly 5 1 fect. Wicker carved and ; Dy oc. furniture, also decorated urns, 5 Y ia in ivory color, the ashes; only Seer = . be with oriental a law existed Zz rugs, afforda forbidding the #34 7 homelike ; | at- cremating of , mosphere. \ bodies of per- re d lar ge SseTVviIc sons who had The Receiving- Vault Entrance Is Far from Funereal. Its room furnished committed sui. Walle re Trory. des, Floors Bed Tile, and the Deormiye = in the same cide, unteethed style as the children, and persons struck by lightning. entrance hall cares for those attending In modern times the practice has the cremation. A small room at one gained ground for reasons of sanitation side is for the private use of the rel and the encroachment of burial places tives of the deceased, and on another Popular Mechanics features will appear in moving pictures issued by Paramount Magazine.

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S94 POPULAR MECHANICS built into the wall of the room. much as book shelves are made a part of the modern library, and here the simple but dignified urn. are stored for the contemplation of relatives and friends. @Two Egyptian tombs, erected about the year 2650 B. C., an therefore 4,570 years old have been acquired by the Field Museum in Chicago and will ly ready for exhibition by May. T) larger one measures 36 by 16 f; and its 3-ft. walls contain 2? blocks of stone, while the ot] is 20 by 12 ft. witha wall thickn: of about 30 in. Each has several chambers. some Structu The Modern System of Retorts, Using Oil Burners of the Latest Design side is a small music room for the accommo- dation of a simple orches- tra or a soloist. Hang- ings of dark-red plush add a touch of dignity to the openings into the irious rooms. Three rooms, called “columbaria,’ are pro- vided for the storing of urns. Fountain grottoes in both the main colum- barium and the private- family room give an at- mosphere far from funereal. Water is con- tihuously running in the grottoes, and playing around the many-colored stones are hundreds ot coldfish. Glass cases are and PREVENTING ELECTRIC \ very small spark discharge of static electricity is sufficient to ignite the hydro- gen gas commonly used to inflate air- ships, and it is possible for such craft to become charged in several ways. Rub- ber-impregnated silk rushed through the air at high speed accumulates a positive charge, while cotton similarly treated be- comes negative, the charge increasing at enormous ratio to the speed. At as low as 40 miles an hour the charge may gain rapidly if smoke or fog is present, the phenomenon being regarded as one of The Main Columbarium, with Its Fountain-Decorated Grotto on the Lef! Its Glass Cases on the Right, for the Storing of the Urns CHARGES ON AIRSHIPS impact rather than friction. Rush of gas may charge the rubber valve seat to the sparking point, or the whole body of the ship may discharge to earth on landing It is now recommended that the val\ seat be shunted by a well-connected wire. and the landing rope and other cordage, as well as the entire surface of the fabri be made conducting to a moderate degre: Sharp metal points on top of the craft form a safeguard against possible dis- charge to or from a passing cloud, dissi- pating the accumulated potential.

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POPULAR MECHANICS SATISFACTORY DIET ANALYZED BY BIOCHEMICAL METHOD \ satisfactory diet, according to a bio- zical chemist who has just completed a tudy of the subject, con- ists of carbohydrates sugars and _ starches), ts, proteins, mineral food or ash, and the two food hormones, “vita- ines fat-soluble A and ter-soluble B.” A hor- mone is a_ substance formed in one organ for e benefit of another, to hich it is carried by the circulation. Milk, eggs, nd leafy vegetables, be- ause of their content of fat-soluble A” and their high protein value, pro- tect the health if used in dequate quantities. Ab- sence of “water-soluble ” causes such diseases beri-beri, examples of which appear when the diet consists of rice or other grain robbed of its outer portion. \ satisfactory diet cannot be arranged without some of the “protective” foods named. DRINKING FOUNTAINS SUPPLY MINERS WITH PURE WATER Installed at frequent intervals in the subterranean passageways of certain east- ern iron mines are sanitary drinking foun- tains, which supply workmen with pure water. The devices are very popular with the underground laborers. In some cases, Drinking from a Sanitary Fountain, Located 500 Feet below the Surface of the Earth in an Eastern Iron Mine the fountains are located 500 ft. below the urface of the earth. 395 HEALTH BOARD’S CAR CARRIES THEATER AND LABORATORY A picture theater and a health labora- tory are two institutions that might rea- The Traveling Health Theater, Set Up for a Performance, with Its Sec- tional Screen at One End of the Roof and the Projector at the Other sonably be classed as immovable. Yet the health officials of an eastern state not only have made them mobile, but actually have combined both in the body of a sin- gle motor truck. The rear doors are hinged at top and bottom, and the lower half opens to make an extension floor while the upper half roofs it over. A sectional projection screen may be mounted on one end of the truck roof, and a motion-picture machine at the other end; an engine, generator, and storage battery, inside, supplying current for showing good pictures, even in remote districts. For infant welfare and general clinical work, all the necessary apparatus is easily carried, as well as a small but efficient X-ray outfit. OLD-GOLD DYE MANUFACTURED FROM CHIMNEY SOOT Dyes made from unusual material wer used in coloring a collection of home made woolen fabrics recently exhibited in London. Among them was one derived from chimney which produced a beautiful old-gold tint. Others were ob tained by utilizing various plants, includ ing ferns, privets, and certain grasses Leather goods, pottery, and jewelry, all hand-made, were cther features of the display. soot,

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POPULAR MECHANICS PEANUT BLANCHER REPLACES HUMAN LABOR Peanut-blanching machines, with a ca- icity of 1,000 Ib. a day, are now replac- the unskilled human bor which once han- d this work. As a ngle worker can re- ove the brown skin om only 60 to 85 lb. a y, the superiority of e machine method is dent. In a_ popular rm of this machine, the ts are thrown, after elling and _ roasting, to buckets, beneath bottom outlets rn two corrugated roll- Dropping from the illers, the nuts, now inched, fall with the own chaff upon a hori- ntal conveyor belt. In way they are carried eneath the mouths of vo suction pipes, hang- ng over the belt, which 1 ViLOSe FOREST LAND GIVEN AS SITE FOR CHICAGO ZOO GARDEN In consequence of an individual's gen- erous gift to Cook County, IIL, of uburban forest land worth $300,000, the city of Chicago may some day possess a -oOlogical garden equal to those in New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo. The \50-acre tract is easily reached from the city, and is pronounced ideal for such ise. Heavy timber, covering 60 acres, and traversed by a large creek, offers shelter to deer, buffalo, and similar animals. Other parts of the preserve seem intended by nature for use as bear pits, and kin- dred purposes. AUTO FAILS TO LEAP GORGE AND FALLS HUNDRED FEET The filming of an English movie thriller’ was punctuated recently by an unexpected incident that was fully as sat- isfying as anything called for by the sce- nario. The plot required the hero, imper- onated by a dummy, to leap a seaside chasm in a motor car. The car failed to attain sufficient momentum, however, and fell short of the opposite brink. The tumbling fall of a hundred feet, with the glorious smash-up at the end, were both suck away the chaff, but allow the nuts to travel on, until they fall into a container The Nuts and Chaff, Separated, Fall from the Huskers at the Left upon the Conveyor Belt. Center; Then before the Critical Eye of the Inspector; Next beneath the Second Suction Pipe, and Finally into the Barrel at the Right This Carries Them beneath the Suction Pipe in the filmed, for future use. Another car suc- ceeded in making the leap. bc cum COPYRIGHT, UNDERWOOD @ UNDERWOOD The Bridge having been Destroyed by the Villain, the Hero, Represented by a Dummy, was to have Leaped the Gorge in an Automobile. However, the Car Fell Short of the Opposite Brink

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EXTENDING ‘THE SEA WALL AT GALVESTON By STANLEY W. TODD HE famous sea wall at Galveston, The new addition extends 10,300 ft. from Tex., has so often saved the city from the easterly extremity of the present wall The county of Galveston is pay ing for 3,300 ft. and the Federal government for the remainde: To complete the protection to the big fort at Galveston, 10.800 mor. feet of wall will ultimately lx necessary. Army engineers have charge o the new work, which follows th same plan of construction when the wall was original! built, except that machinery being used more extensively. [t is built of solid concrete on wood piling, which is cut off about above low tide, the concrete nor tion being 16 ft. wide at the and 16 it. in height, bringing top elevation 17 ft. abov Foundation Con- water. Behi struction was Facilitated by Mov- the walla pay ing the Mixer along the Parallel Track

— surface ri

The Heavy Riprap was inland to ; . Handled Quickly by the . destruction by Movable Derrick, beneath crest elevatio tidal waves and Which were Run the Load of 19 ft , 100 - ed Gondolas hurricanestrom sa the Gulf ot Mexico, that a two - mile ad- dition to it is being made, through the combined ef - fort of the city, state, and Fed eral govern- ment. While under con struction, an- other great storm broke against the wall and inundated the city, but did no serious damage. The original wall, built by army engineers three years after the great hurricane of 1900. is 315 miles long and has stood intact for 15 vears. Subsequent exten- sions were made along the south side of the city, making it, in all, five miles long. In 1915, a great flood damaged the boulevard back of the wall, and turned many of the cottages topsy-turvy, but the wall saved the city from. seri- ous “encroachment. Since that time, there have been many ef- forts by the authorities to —_ No » > we : ; 9¢e As the Wall Hardened, the Steel Forms were Moved from One Ss Nf n Vi ri ( as stre gthe the wall and increase Position to Another by Means of This Steel Traveler, Which its length. Straddled the Wall and Moved on Tracks, as Shown from the fac Before th constructi was begun, double - tra railroad W built along th rear of the ne wall, with port able swit<« tracks in th rear. On thi all the necessa

308

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POPULAR MECHANICS 399 y machinery was moved, including pile front of the wall, as an additional protec- lrivers, concrete mixers, cranes, and _ tion against the violence of the sea. mixing plants on flat cars. (he steel forms used in build- rh ee. See Ee ng the wall were moved from ; et, Stir, one position to another as the Here an Intermediate Sec- vall hardened, by means of = Se oe travelers,” consisting of special- o Rear Moved on the designed steel frames which — ag. « traddle the wall and run on racks either side of the wall. Following the completion of he wall, comes the placing of prap on the outward side of the tructure, this being accomplished y an improved traveler on which erected a derrick. The flat cars, arrying the rock, run under- cath, and facilitate the operation f getting the stones, weighing rom 15 Ib. up to five tons, in JERSEY CANAL TO FORM LAST LINK IN CHAIN The present inadequacy of railroad the Delaware River a few miles below transport between Philadelphia and New’ Trenton, then cut straight northeast, York City has through the resulted in re- ) Jersey swamp newed pressure «\ lands, to Rari on congress for tan Bay. As a modern barge such a rout- canal across ing means easy New Jersey. digging, it is With such a advised, too, canal in opera- that the canal tion, the water be cut to sea route between level, only one the two cities a 7 lock being in- will measure Ye stalled at the about 85 miles : southern end instead of the 4 vn for protection present total of F ful PROPOSED NEW JERSEY against spring 274, which in- —— freshets. When clude the often completed, hazardous . such a_ water- course up the Tv way will form New Jersey ANAL os y the last link in coast. Probably G a sheltered because of its é ) barge route, military value, that will tray- the scheme has i erse the coast already re- A The Value of the Pro- from Virginia ceived the at- = — ee ae to Massachu- tention of the merce Is Evident from setts, and which U. S. Arm y. : the Map. Coal from Nor- already taps the folk will Go Up to New After careful York, Not ever the Rail- Great Lakes by »Y road, But in Capacious means 7 he survey, the ccats. tin tet Ob. ea ot at rT chief of engi- viousGain Is theShorten- Hudson River neers has rec- ing of the Water Route and the New between New York and , . ommended that Philadelphia \ k State the canal leave Barge Canal. BY COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK

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400 CARPENTERS ERECT BUNKHOUSE IN REMARKABLY SHORT TIME Eleven hours after work was started on the structure, a two-story frame bunk- house, furnishing accommodations for 108 men, recently was completed in every detail at Flint, Mich. This modern build- ing miracle was performed by a construc- tion company which is erecting 1,000 At Eight o’Clock, One and a Half Hours after Starting Work, the Frame of the Bunkhouse Was Well Up ByNoon,theSecondStory = was Framed, the Sheath- ™ POPULAR MECHANICS 5:30 o'clock that afternoon, the building was finished. Material was:hauled a quar- ter of a mile to the site by truck and other means. DISTILLATION OF WOOD WASTE AIDED BY ODD MACHINES Among the many industrial processes that the pressure of war brought forth improvements in the d's- tillation of wood are dis tinctly interesting. In stead of using goed seasoned timber, grees wood waste and sawdust now produce acetates, al cohol, oil, tar, and char coal of the highest grade. The secret of the proc ess, as operated in a larg: plant in the Tennessee forests, lies in the bri quetting of the finel divided wood in a spec press. This machine fit mechanically compresses its charge to five-in thickness. At this stage a charge of gas and air exploded behind a piston, as in a gas engine, and the force of the impact is directed upon th brick. The result is hard briquette two inch: thick, and heavier thai ing of the First Story Was Complete, and the Sashes had been Placed At Half Past Five That Night, When the Workmen Quit, the New Bunk- house Was Complete, and Ready to Receive Its 108 Tenants homes for the employes of a large manu- facturing concern in that city. Word came, late one afternoon, that 100 laborers would arrive the next day from the South. As no provision had been made to shelter these men, it was neces- sary to make great haste. Promptly at 6:30 o’clock the following morning, 40 skilled carpenters began operations. At water. These are auto matically loaded _ into tubular retorts, and heated under pressur for 214 hours, while the products of distillatio: are drawn off. Accurate control of the heat pro- duces bricks of unusual quality and reliability. QGreat difficulty has been found in construct ing an electric immersion heater that would w.th- stand the destructive ac tion of boiling acids. A quartz tube filled with an inert gas, and containing a heat- ing coil of nickel or alloy for low tempera tures, or of tungsten if greater heat is needed, is now being used with success by French scientists. Such an element of l-kw. size is approximately 16 in. long and % in. diameter, and is remarkably resistant to shocks of temperature chang:

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POPULAR MECHANICS SOLVE PROBLEM OF WEEVILS IN AUSTRALIAN WHEAT Of all the lesser battles against disease nd famine, that hung upon the great war e side shows around a satanic circus, the least serious was the fight to save elected food supplies from their biolog- | enemies. Millions of bushels of wheat Ingot of Optical Glass as It Comes from the Fur- nace: The Workman is Breaking Away the Clay Crucible with a Sledge Hammer 401 BEST-QUALITY OPTICAL GLASS NOW MADE IN AMERICA Only a few years ago practically all th high-grade optical glass used in this coun try was imported. In no industry has in dependence been more quickly achieved lkach application of glass to optical put requires a different composition hut these dozens of formulas and have been completely y the American work- men. No less difficult is the man- ufacture of the clay crucibles in which the glass is melted, the clay then being broken from the fin- ished product with hammers. The glass is cast in huge lumps, as much as two feet across, from which the blanks for cut. Automatic machines have poses processes n lastered by 1 iClses OP YRIGHT, INTERNATIONAL Some Typical Lumps of American Optical Glass, as Cast in the Furnace, are Seen at the Left. At the Right Is a View of the Automatic Lens-Grinding Machine, Which Finishes the Blanks Cut from the Large Lumps \ustralia, stacked in sacks under cover on the bare ground, became literally ve with weevils. An electrical poten- tial of 63,000 volts left the minute pests unharmed. Finally a special plant was built, and all the wheat subjected to heat t 140° F., and then the little beetles and their larve succumbed. The new crop was tacked on sleepers covered with cloth, laid on ground impregnated with tar oil, or dressed with lime and naphthalene. This system proved wholly successful, and the weevil army was routed—probably forever, for the effective warfare is to be continued. heen in use for some time which grind blanks finished lenses with a minimum of attention, and in many cases they are left to alone for hour They are quite simple mechanically, in spite of the remarkable work th« y accom- plish, and greatly accelerate the diffic process of lens making, as hand grinding is a long and tedious operation. ‘ : these into operate vaiit @An electric light inside the hood, set to throw its rays upon the side of the engine that carries all the accessory equipment, is a simple but highly feature in the latest model of a high-grade auto. convenient

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General View of the Great Plant: The Nine Smokestacks, Eight of Which Appear in This View, Are All 328 Feet High. The 64 Boilers, Housed in Four Buildings and Hav- ing a Total Heating Surface cf Some 86,000 Square Feet, Take about 5,000 Tons of Coal a Day, Which is Brought from the Adjacent ine by Automatic Cars. It Re- uires 750 Employes to Keep the uge Plant Gcing, and a Little Settlement of Pretty Cottages Near By Prevides for Them OW ees The Outgoing Side of the Plant, Where the High-Tension Cables, Supported by -y Heavy Strain Insulators, Carry Their 128,000 Kilowatts to the Distributing System Of This Berlin is Receiving Some 30,000, and the Amount is to be Increased as MDGS Soon as Additional Transmissior. Facilities can be Installed —_—— :

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404 POPULAR ALTERED AMERICAN FLAG CAUSES NEAR RIOT Some one in Washington, D. C., recently ruined many yards of bunting by marking and cutting it into variations of the Amer- COPYRIGHT, PRESS KL.LUSTRATING SERVICE This Variation of the American Flag Caused a Near Riot in the National Capital. Union Jacxs Replace the Red Stripes, While the Tricolor Forms a Field ican emblem, calling the resulting banners “Humanity Flags.” The conception was ingenious, at any rate. Rows of little Union Jacks replaced the red _ stripes, while the French tricolor formed the field for the stars. Shortly after the display MECHANICS of the flag in a local shop window a crowd gathered, and indicated that it preferred its patriotism “straight.” The police re- serves dispersed the gathering, and the district attorney stopped the sale. HOLLOW-STEEL OBJECTS MADE BY CENTRIFUGAL CASTING Experiments conducted by certain gov- ernmental bureaus promise to develop a practical method of making hollow cylin- drical steel objects by centrifugal casting, instead of forging. While the test pieces produced showed some separation of th: carbon, nickel, sulphur, and other con- stituents of the steel, the amount was in- considerable, and appeared almost entire ly on the inner surface, which also was the only area affected by blowholes. Th: casts were clean, of unusually good mi- croscopic structure, and after proper heat treatment were quite comparable in qual- ity with forgings. @Chicago’s viking ship, built in Norway years ago for the Columbian Exposition and sailed across the Atlantic in emula- tion of Leif Ericsson’s voyage, is now be ing overhauled and will soon be given a place of honor in a popular lakeside park. MAIL TO BE CARRIED BY LARGER CARGO PLANES Despite the wholesale scaling down of appropriations for the aerial mail, the Post Office Department is doing its best to equip itself with other than makeshift mail planes. In the search for a better Dlane, several This Airplane Is One of Six Recently Completed for the Postal Service. he Mail is Carried in Compartments Which are Provided with Trapdoors to Permit Nonstop Delivery of the Pouches types have already been evolved, all of them multi-motored and of much larger capacity than the DH-4’s now used. One of the new planes recently flew from Cleveland to New York City, and as rep resentative of a promising type is well worth description. It is fundamentally a revision of the familiar twin-engined bomber, with most change seen in the fuselage. In five large mail compartments, four of them with trapdoors that may be released from the pilot’s seat, are carried 1,500 Ib. of mail, more than four times as much as in the present plane. An endurance of six hours and a speed of 115 miles gives the plane a flight radius of nearly 700 miles. In addition to the plane illustrated, five others have since been completed, all of them believed to be meant for winter service on the New York-Chicago run.

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POPULAR MECHANICS - The Arrangement of Driving Gears inside the Truck Wheel, Where They Run in Oil, is Revealed in the Left View. At the Right Is the Complete Rear Axle smaller torque on the driving members, per- mit the use of lighter weight and _ reduced size for all parts of the drive. Kach rear wheel carries an inter nally toothed gear, en rage d by a pair of idl r gears on a fixed \ pinion on the axle end operates the two idlers. This whole ' Voke, Differential Case Open, Showing the Unit Mounting ot Bevel and Differential Gears on the Cover, Making Them Easily Removable INVISIBLE RAYS OF LIGHT USED FOR SIGNALING \ narrow beam of light from the ex- treme red end of the spectrum is invisibl to ordinary view, but becomes visible through a screen of the same color value hen other light is excluded. iple was successfully used for secret gnaling during the war. Ultray light was employed in somewhat different manner, Generated by a mercury are and filter, it was fluorescent creen, after concentration by a_ lens. Without any effort to direct the beam, this equipment had a range of about four miles. A curious effect was the fluorescing of teeth and eveballs in the received ray. This prin- _— wolet recei\ ed on ia IMPROVED MOTOR-TRUCK AXLE CARRIES GEARS IN WHEELS By placing the close as possible to the point where it is needed, the rim of the wheel, the makers reduction gearing as of an improved form of rear axle for notor trucks gain a number of advantages. The higher speed of the differential gear and floating axle, and the consequently planetary arrangement runs in oil, the closed wheel making a du The cover of the fer ntial case constitutes a carri which the bevel and differential are mounted as an easily removabl (one of the tight housing. advantages claimed for this drive is that reduction at the wheel dimin- ishes the danger of skidding It is as- serted also that tire and are effected. fuel economies LITTLE WIND INSTRUMENT PLAYED THROUGH NOSE The little wind instrument pictured on this page can be played with little or no practice. Plac -_— ine the V-shaped end of the tub against the and pressing the plate against the mouth, the per- former blow s through his trils. Passing a hole in the mouth plate, this air stream causes vibration of the air in t! mouth, and produces a corresponding toie nose nos-

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406 WHOLE STEERING POST LOCKED BY NEW AUTO FASTENER Designed to fasten the steering gear rigidly in any desired position, a new au- tomobile lock, mar- keted by a Wisconsin concern, extends its locking member the whole length of the steering column. The lock itself, just below the wheel, has 19 tumblers and _ hun- dreds of combina- tions. A long tube in- side the steering col- umn, raised and low- ered by a hand lever, carries at its lower end four dogs, which interlock with four keyways in a lug fixed to the worm-gear housing. It is readily built into any stand- ard steering post, or may be installed as a complete new wnit. ODD GRAVE MARKERS CONTAIN RELICS OF THE DEAD Scattered through a _ graveyard in southern Indiana are strange grave mark- ers which look from a distance like squat tombstones, but on closer view are seen to be painted boxes of galvanized iron. One side of each is a door, which swings open to disclose a collection of keepsakes and relics. A typical assemblage includes POPULAR MECHANICS a photograph of the dead, his childish playthings, a few religious images, and a Bible. The box is usually surmounted by an ornamental cornice with a little dome or steeple; the tight-fitting door is ordinarily padlocked against theft. DRINKING-FOUNTAIN NOZZLE PROTECTED BY GUARDS Ingeniously arranged guards prevent water that has touched the lips of per- sons using a new drinking fountain from contaminat- ing the nozzle of the device, which is declared to be germ-proof. A stream of water is thrown through the protective contrivances practically with out coming in contact with them. Two of th shields are in the form of perforat- ed hoods, the smaller placed within the larger, while a third, made from wire, is fastened to the outer hood. Waste water flows into a basin, and is carried away by a drain. PLAN AUTOMATIC TELEPHONES FOR BIG CITY EXCHANGES Mechanical telephones, which connect their users directly with the numbers they want by the turn of a dial, without the aid of any operator, are gaining ground rapidly. Two large exchanges in Chi- cago’s business district are to be made automatic as soon as the huge task of reconstruction can be accomplished. The nec- essary alterations will b« started next September, and it is thought the new system can be placed in full operation in the first part of 1922. A similar project is being consid ered in New York City, and Supplant the Conventional Markers of Stone. the Right is Surmounted by an Iron Cupola. the One at the Left The Glass Cylinder at Mest of the Boxes Resemble These Little Boxes of Glass and Galvanized Iron Contain Relics of the Dead, and the exchange at Nor- folk, Va., already has been cut over to automatic.

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POPULAR MECHANICS i. BUTaeae As a Lasting and Useful Memorial to Local Service Men, the City of Santa Monica, California, is Considering the Erection of This Open-Air Theater. It will Take the Conventional Grecian Form, with Seats Arranged in Concentric Tiers, Orchestral Area in the Center, and Pillared Stage at the Bottom of the Slope CITY PLANS GREEK THEATER AS SOLDIER MEMORIAL \ beautiful open-air theater, similar in plan and purpose to the one at Berkeley, ; the memorial to local soldiers now be- ng considered by the citizens of Santa lonica, Calif. As in the conventional heater of ancient Greece, the site will be a wooded hillside. Replacing the concen- tric tiers of stone benches at the slope sottom, will stand the stage, with pillared portico and traditional side wings. The level area in the center will be floored with mosaic stone-.work. EXTENSION GROOVE IN RECORD WORKS PHONOGRAPH STOP the automatic stop, with which many nrodern phonographs are equipped, need reset for each selection when the lisk record used is one of a new brand just placed on the market. A spiral ex- tension groove, running toward the cen- ter of the record, continues to move thi needle inward after the end of the play- ing groeve has been reached. The tone arm thus actuates the stop at a certain definite point at all times, regardless of the length of the selection. 7 not be @ Season checks in oak stock for furniture making can be prevented, government authorities state, by piling the stock with the quarter-sawed surfaces at top and bot- tom and the sides close together, thus retarding the rate of drying. SENSITIVENESS OF EXPLOSIVES DETERMINED BY TESTS Premature explosions caused by the ignition of blasting material through friction have injured many miners. To reduce the possibility of such accidents, the Bureau of Mines now carefully tests samples of commercial explosives, using an ingenious device for this purpose, and issues informative tables based on thes« trials. The contrivance includes a pendu- lum, suspended from a metal | equipped with a frame, and curved shoe, whic] swings over the steel anvil. When a test is made, an explosive is placed in three grooves in the latter, the pendulum released 1 allowed to swing over the surface prepared in this way. \ wood-fiber facing is att ti the shoe for some of the t face of a and and al Apparatus Employed by the Bureau of Mines in Testing Samples of Commercial Explosives to Ascertain Their Sensitiveness to Friction

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408 POPULAR MECHANICS Woodsmen and Trappers Reén- acted Century-Old Boones at the Centennial Celebration NEBRASKANS RE- ENACT HISTORY AT CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION One hundred years ago a clumsy _ side-wheel steamboat, the “Western Engineer,” plowed its way through the muddy waters of the Missouri River to a point near the present town of Calhoun, Neb., and landed a small party of soldiers. In this way was founded Fort Atkinson, one of the first white settlements in th« western state. Celebrat- ing the centennial of this event, the citizens of Cal- houn recently staged an elaborate pageant, a fea- ture of which was a real istic reenactment of the just-described historical occurrence. A huge painting, 12 ft. high and 78 ft. long, de- picting the vessel which carried the pioneers to their destination, wa employed as a back ground for the show Dressed in the military uniforms of another cen The Citizens Who Impersonated Colonel Atkinson and His Staff Appeared in the Ancient Regimentals of the Day When the Fort was Founded Trappers and Scouts of 1919, in the Picturesque Garb of 1819, Carried Out the Spirit of the Event and Aided the Stage Setting in Contributing Historic Color tury, and in the pictur esque habiliments ot early trappers and woods men, local men imper sonated members of the original expedition, whil women of the commu- nity, wearing old-fash ioned clothing, played suitable roles. Descend- ants of Indians who wit nessed the arrival of th« whites also took part in the exhibition. Thousands attended the affair, many coming from far-distant places Among the visitors was a grandson of the com- mander of the founders of the post, who traveled

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POPULAR MECHANICS halfway across the conti- ent to be present. The llage was appropriately decorated for the occa- . : i, , on. Many ofthedesigns aaa ‘ J Fyx , ,ere quite striking in ; 2 . their realism, a particu- irly noteworthy set be- er (kone NO ng a group of statuary - oo | » picting a meunted In- in hunter, armed with »w and arrow, about to dispatch a huge buffalo hich his horse had overtaken. Almost the only modern figure in idence was the de- cendant, already men- med, of the army leader ‘ : —. 1819 who built the eS mmmmeaesgpeauacrinamean sgacumasanan ace eemaas Weal maa f , ‘i . = Part of the Great Canvas, 78 Feet Long and 12 Feet High, ort. An officer of the .N That Depicted the Landing of the Good Ship “* Western Engineer,”’ at the Site of Fort Atkinson 05 Ge Ke $ at ire ty jo oe . ss United States Army himself, he appeared, of course, in the conven- tional khaki. The accuracy of the reproductions was made possible by careful records kept by a local historian of advanced age, who is custodian of a collection of relics of the old fort, and was the pro- A Group of Statuary in the Streets of Calhoun, One of the moter of the centennial celebra- Decorations Prepared Especially for the Event of the Centennial tion. “SHROUD” TO INCREASE PROPELLER EFFICIENCY As airplane flight is absolutely depend- the leading edge, the pilot will, it is hoped, ent upon speed, aeronautical engineers have fuller control of propeller perform- are constantly studying, and experiment- ance. Decreasing the “trailing diameter” ing with, the aerial pro- peller. Yet the present system of airplane pro- pulsion remains tremen- dously inefficient. It is accordingly worth noting that one investigator, leaving to others the per- fection of the propeller itself, is attempting to make its action more effi- cient by manipulating the air in which it operates. This he accomplishes by mounting, several feet in front of the fuselage, an annular “shroud” of oe diameter slightly greater On This Little Wind-Tunnel Airplane Model the Inventor has Mounted than that of the propeller His Annular Shroud Which is to Stabilize and Control itself. Able to vary in the Air “Fed” to the Propeller flight the diameter of the shroud’s trail- to a minimum, he will theoretically be ing edge, with respect to the diameter of able to make a landing within a few feet.

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410 POPULAR KINKS ALLOW IRON-PIPE LINE TO CONTRACT AND EXPAND Temperature variation in certain parts of a western state ranges from 18° F. above zero, in the winter, to 130° F. above the same point, in the sum- mer. For this rea- son, when an iron iqueduct was laid across one of these regions re- cently, it was nec- essary to ma ke provision for un- usual contraction and expansion of the conduit. This Was accomplished by kinking the intervals, forming are held in a= quarter-mile large U-shaped bends, which upright position by bracket-equipped posts along the right of way. pipe at MECHANICS NEW YORK COMMERCIAL SCHOOL BUYS WALL STREET LANDMARK The down-town classes of New York University’s School of Commerce will no longer be held in the offices, ex- changes, and restaurants of Wall Street. Che 2,000 students, drawn from the most important financial and industrial o1 ganizations in America, are shortly to receive their instruction in Trinity School Building, erected in 1871 for the boys school of Trinity Church, next The four floors of the old struc ture will contain, students’ clubroom door. classrooms restaurant. besides and a ELEVATOR-EXPLOSION DANGER SHOWN BY MODEL BUILDING For demonstrating the danger of grain dust explosions in improperly clevators, the Department of Agricultur cmploys a miniature sheet-iron build in an educational campaign, now in prox ress, which has for its object the prevel tion of such disasters. A tabk Op rate The Demonstrator Clamps a Paper Cap overthe Tower Roof. Then He Lights a Lamp, Below, to Simulate the Spark Which is to Wreck the “Building” spoonful of fine powde r, gat ered in a grain-handling plant is blown into the tiny structur with a bellows, and ignited a lamp, lighted and placed side before the introduction the dust. The result is a deto «es THT Tier ae me gE The “Building” Sealed, and the Lamp Lighted, the Demonstrator At- taches, Above, a Bellows Containing aTablespoon- ful of Grain Dust - ¢ —- The Bellows Compressed, as Seen at the Lower Right, the Grain Dust Permeates the Air within the “Grain Elevator,” is Exploded by the Lamp, and Bursts the Heavy-Paper Cap. The Demonstration Never Fails to Impress Grain Men with the Necessity of Keeping Their Buildings as Free from Dust as Possible

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POPULAR MECHANICS } Equipment with Which the Blind Students are Taught the Art of Core Making Some of the Patterns Made at the ..1 School by the Sightless Craftsmen Who have Finished the Course Flask and Other Foundry Implements of the Classroom are Seen at the Left; Materials Used Are at the Right, Including Pig Iron, Gray Cast Iron, Wrought Iron, and Soft Steel ation of considerable force. To pre- ent the biast from damaging the device, piece of heavy paper is fastened over the elevator head by means of an elastic band. When the charge is set off, the covering bursts. Cleanliness and the in- tallation of efficient ventilating apparatus vill reduce the peril of grain-dust ex- plosions, according to authorities. BIG TANK ERECTED TO ASSURE CITY UNFAILING GAS SUPPLY That it may handle without difficulty the peak loads imposed when cold or dark days force the city’s demand to abnor- mal, the local gas company has erect- d at Chicago the largest gas tank west of New York City. The giant container, when fully inflated, holds 10,000,000 cu. ft. of gas, adding 20 per cent to the com- pany’s former storage capacity. The en- tire structure, 228 ft. high and 273 ft. in diameter, contains 4,300 tons of steel, and is held together by 1,350,000 bolts and riv- ets. While the gas capacity is exceeded by everal holders in the eastern metropolis, the water tank, at the bottom, holding 16,000,000 gal., is the largest ever built of teel for such a purpose. The total cost vas about two million dollars. BLIND VETERANS INSTRUCTED IN CORE MAKING Sightless soldiers are useful trades in the Red Cross for the Blind, at Baltimore, Md. Among them is core making. In spite of their handicap, many of the veterans have de- veloped remarkable skill in this difficult work, and are able to produce results that are seldom equaled by persons who are aided by good eyes. The course in core making is divided into two parts. In the beginning, students are made fa- miliar with the operations of modern foundries, and instructed in the methods used in molding simple castings, such as washers, nuts, dumb-bells, drip cups, and other articles. After this somewhat ele- mentary training, the apprentices study more complicated phases of the subject, and learn how to use the various devices employed in the trade. Practical core- making exercises are part of the course. learning many Institute @The famous Krupp armament factories at Essen, Germany, are now silent, or converted to the manufacture of railroad rolling stock, and repair work. The test- ing grounds near-by are being used fer agricultural experiments.

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412 SCHOONER RESCUES TRAPPERS FROM ARCTIC ISLAND After a long and perilous cruise in far northern waters, the gasoline-driven schooner “Ilerman” returned to San Fran- The Gasoline-Driven Schooner ‘*Herman,’’ Which Rescued a Party of Trappers from an Arctic Island, as It Appeared at the End of the Voyage recently, carrying a party of ners, who were rescued by the vessel from Land, a barren island, where they had been isolated for two years. Others on board were two survivors of the Stet- cisco trap- Banks POPULAR MECHANICS fansson expedition, which went into the arctic regions six years ago to chart ocean currents. Incidentally, the ship brought to this country one of the most valuabk fur cargoes ever landed on the coast. lo reach the marooned men, the craft had to blast a passage of many mik through an ice floe, which was at first thought impenetrable. When the vessel reached them, the trappers had exhausted their supply of ammunition, with whic] they had obtained food by hunting, and the band was facing death from starva tion. During the eventful voyage, tl schooner’s engines consumed nearly 35 western VOO gal. of gasoline, and when port was reached, only 50 gal. remained in the fu tanks. CONCRETE GRADE CROSSINGS REPLACE UNSAFE PLANKS Better in appearance than planks, be- sides being much safer, the railroad grad crossings recently installed in Wayne County, Mich., are unusual public im provements. A solid block of concret extending 1 ft. below the bottom of th ties. and to a level with the upper eds of the rails, forms a smooth, practical indestructible roadway across the tracl Consideration is being given a propos to substitute premolded reinforced-co1 crete slabs, 6 ft. long, slightly over 1 ft. wide, and as thick as the height the rails, for the solid block, these to laid between and at the sides of the rai and bound together with tar. Whi necessary, the can be remove permitting repairs to be made to track, and are re placed with little difficul: or loss of time. slabs j } SPACING BARS h ~~ i -— = REINFORCING BARS At the Left Is the Old-Fashioned, Unpleasant Plank Crossing. and at the Right, the —g oer Inter-Rail Surface of Concrete, a Installed along Grade Crossings in Wayne County, onstruction is Indicated in the Inserted Diagram An Alternative ichigan.

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= == i — = | GREENHOUSE. SHELTERS UNIQUE SCHOOL Py Daul A. Jenkins \ ~- [his Greenhouse Shelters the Moraine Park School, Where Several Score Children are being Prepared Life in a Manner Altogether Unconventional. The Interior of the Odd Schoolhouse is Partitioned into Classrooms, Offices, Workshops, and Other Rooms Adapted to the Requirements of the Strange Curriculum k RAMED trees and fer- ile fields, at the end of a 20-minute trolley run from Dayton, Ohio, there stands a large reenhouse, the unlit interior par- titioned into class- rooms, offices, vorkshops, library, playroom, gymna- ium, and a large study hall. Once the greenhouse was the showplace of a country estate; now it houses the Moraine Park School, one of the most pregnant ex- periments in_ the history of Ameri- can pedagogy. Under this broad glass roof are being educated four- score children, of ages ranging from 6 to 17 years, from the homes of Day- ton’s engineers. Many of these men are of na- tional reputa- tion; eight of them consti- tute the Board of Directors. As might be expected from by QUALITIES ABOUT THE HOME Unsatisfactory Excellent Very Good _COURTESY _ _SPIRIT OF HELPFULNESS LCHEERFULNESS PROMPTNESS FE eee _GBEDIENCE _ a _RIGHT USE OF SPARE TIME _CARE OF HEALTH IMPROVEMENT OVER LAST MONTH + | | — ——EE 4 u —___| LIST IN BLANK SPACES ANY QUALITIES YOU CARE TO ADD The Pupil’s Life at Home is Considered a Vital Part of His Education. In Consequence, the Parents Send This Report to the School, Each Month, Just as the School Sends One to the Home This Is the Study Hall and Assembly Room. The Pupils are Assigned in Pairs to the Stalls, and Are Responsible for Their Care an exterior usual, the curricu- lum of Moraine Park School is also unusual to the n-th degree. Believing that education should be a prep- aration f life, so un- tor rather than a clois- tered prelude, the directors, teaching staff, and student body, working to- gether, have evolved a program which assigns con- ventional to They means “studies” second place. become a and not an end. First place goes to nine so- called “occupa- tions,” proficiency in which fits the child for the fullest physical, men tal, and spirit ual life. Thus the “Occupa tion of Creat- ing,” develop- ing habits of independence and resource fulness, is taught by means of voca- tional work and English com position, among other 413

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114 subjects. The “Occupation of Self-Realiz- ing,” developing the intimate personal vir- tues, is taught by means of hygiene, worship, literature, art, and music. And The “Occupation of Acquiring’? Involves the Boys and Girls in Many Handicrafts and Avocations, When Study Hours Are Past so on for the other seven, which are named, suggestively enough, the occupa- tions of congregating, languaging, cos- mologizing, man-conserving, pairing, and POPULAR MECHANICS acquiring possessions. In all of these the child is graded on the basis of his own best work. This last occupation involves the child in the most interesting phase oi the whole school work. Under the name of “projects” are in cluded a dozen activities, mos of them rewarded by mon wages, all carried on after stu: hours, and all accentuating indi vidual initiative and _ efficiency Prominent among the projects are the Automotive Resear Laboratory which is now noi with the construction of a full size airplane, the Printing Con pany which handles all th school’s printing, and the Repair Company which does the od The Paper-Baling Con pany, the Messenger Service, the Secretarial Division among a dozen others. Finally, ther the bank, which finances all these min ture industries, besides handling 95 chec] ing and saving accounts. jobs. SMALL GARAGE TURNTABLE ON BALL BEARINGS Private garages in narrow quarters of- fer a problem every time the car is moved, further complicated when two or more cars are kept in a restricted space. With an easily rotated turntable, located either Small Auto Turntable, Especially Useful in a Garage Housing Two or More Cars: It Has a Special Arrangement of Ball Bearings, and Runs ina Pit Only Twelve Inches Deep. It may be Located Outside, if Preferred, as It Is in the Right View inside or just outside the door, the difi culty is removed. A substantial made by an Ohio firm needs a pit only in. deep. The table turns on 84 two-in steel balls, but they roll over a peculi wavy course, so that rests on only seven them at one time, others meanwhile in oil pockets. mod

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POPULAR ble is rotated, the seven balls pass along nd are replaced by others, affording an ceptionally easy movement. The table ce is made of 12 sector-shaped steel ites on steel trusses, with a concrete m and an iron center. Casters support e edge while the car is rolled onto it. GREEN-PEA HULLING MACHINE OPERATED BY CRANK (;reen peas can be hulled at an ex- emely rapid rate by a recently patented ichine, according to the inventor. The mtrivance is designed to be operated by crank, and is intended for use in hotels, staurants, or canneries. Filled pods are d into the device through a slanting ile in the top of the wooden mechanism ise, and are carried by a toothed wheel er two splitting knives. After being re- moved from this wheel by a scraper, the plit pods drop between two meshed pad- le wheels, which revolve in opposite di- rections. The effect of the paddle wheels At the Left can be feen the Interior Arrangement of the New Green-Pea Hulling Machine. On the Right, the Device Is in Operation s to shake the peas out of the pods. tlulled peas and their former coverings are discharged through an opening in the bottom of the case. OLDEST EXPERIMENTAL FIELD ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS \griculturists of the state university at Urbana, Ill, point to a plot of ground on the campus not far from the college build- ings as the oldest soil-experiment field in the United States. Since 1879 these acres have been under scientific cultivation and expert scrutiny. Every year for 40 years, one section of the land has grown corn; on another, corn and oats have alternated, and on a third, corn, oats, and clover have been raised in rotation. An adjoining tract has for 24 years been subjected to a five-crop rotation test. MECHANICS 415 ERMINE CAUGHT BY ESKIMOS IN SIMPLE TRAP In the wilds of northern Alaska, where extremely low temperatures are com- Ermine Trapping: The Animal's Tongue is Frozen to a Piece of Metal or a Stone When It Attempts to Eat a Strip of Meat mon, Eskimos employ an_ unusual, though very simple, method of capturing ermine, according to a school teacher who returned recently from that region. A thin strip of meat is placed on a smooth stone or piece of metal. When an er- mine attempts to eat this bait, its tongue touches the object on which the meat rests, and is frozen fast. SHOTS FROM PISTOL STOPPED BY GLASS TWELVE FEET AWAY Bullet-proof glass is an interesting and valuable development of the unbreakable glass so much used in goggles, windshields, and airplane windows. This latter sub- stance is formed of three plies, the inner being of un- shatterable cellu- loid. And, al- though no details were divulged at the time of the tests in the ar- mory of the 69th Regiment, N. Y. N. G., it is com- omens monly surmised that the composition o| the bullet-proof material is similar. In the course of these military tests the shee: of the glass in the photograph was sub jected to the fire of an army “45” at a dis- tance of only 12 ft. Each time the outer ply of glass was shattered, but it always stayed in place, and stopped the bullet. INT ERWA TIONAL

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416 POPULAR NN iECHANICS Old Leather Machine Belts, Prepared for Further Service by Means of Chemical Baths, can be Seen at the Right in the Illustration. The Baths Vary According to the Requirements of the Material, There Being One for Belts Used in Cement Factories; Another is Intended to Rejuvenate Leather Damaged by Water. On the Left Is a Pile of Untreated Material DOORN-ESTATE CURIOS HIDDEN CHEMICAL BATHS REJUVENATE BY NEW TENANT’S WALL Holland’s unbidden guest, William Ho- henzollern from Berlin, new tenant of the ancient house of Doora, 2489 walled in the great estate with a 10- ft. barrier, and the curios that beautify the park no longer delight the eye of the ical of the col passer-by. Typ- lection of bizarre COPYRIGHT, INTERNATIONAL A Curious Pagoda on the Doorn Estate in Holland, Now Tenanted by the Former Emperor of Germany: The “Tower of Doves,’’ Mounted on Posts of Solid Whalebone structures among the trees is the “Tower of Doves.” This big cylindrical bird sheltér is supported by eight huge curved posts of solid whalebone, the relic, no doubt, of some former master’s prowess on the sea. OLD MACHINE BELTS Apparently worthless leather machi belts are restored to serviceable cor tion in a novel plant now operating it mid-western city. This result is plished by a process which is similar that employed by laundries. In oth: words, the belts are washed, eight dit ferent chemical solutions being used this purpose. The baths vary in con position according to the requirements « accon 1 the material. For example, one is d signed to renovate belts that have be used in cement factories \nother is i tended to rejuvenate leather which |] been damaged by water Che extrem: high price of belting has induced mat users of this commodity to patronize new industry. OLD NOTIONS UPSET BY TESTS OF BLINDFOLDED PEDESTRIANS \ttempting to refute the old notion that a blindfolded person walks in circl because one leg is longer than the other the walker is right-handed, ct¢ a southern professor reports a numbet experiments performed in a_ field m Knoxville. Tenn. More than 50 men women, and children were blindfolded ai told to walk straight ahead. The surp ing results may be summarized thus: Th same person would walk sometimes in right-handed circle, sometimes in a left handed one. Every one walked in a prac tically perfect circle, of diameter varying from 100 paces for adults,to 20 for chil dren. The less the subject thought of his because walking, or tried to control it, the more perfect the circle.

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POPULAR MECHANICS STACKING MACHINE HANDLES HEAVY LOADS OF HAY Handling loads weighing over one-half a hay-stacking machine invented by Nebraskan is capable tet ton, 417 the load to slide off and fall on the stack. A team of horses or a tractor may be used to operate the device which, in simple form without winding drums, requires merely a straight pull on the cables. placing material on a le 20 ft. in height. Two g arms, pivoted near bottom of a triangu- frame, are equipped th two tines, e rigidly attached, and other arranged so t it can be swung with iding bar. Hay placed the first set of tines is ld by the second. Wire bles, running over pul- ; on top of the frame, employed to elevate arms. When the lat- sets of are in a vertical tion, the movable tines released, permitting po- TENT, AS USEFUL TRUCK BODY, ADVERTISES OWNER’S WARES \n Oklahoma maker of tents and awn- ings is combining utility with his adver- tising by using a sample tent as the body i his light motor truck. The heavy-duck nclosure is 7 by 12 ft., by 8 ft. high, and has a window in each side. This simple rrangement not only calls attention to the owner’s wares, but serves, as well as a or The Tent Maker’s Canvas Truck Body, a Three-in-One Contrivance That Advertises His Goods, Protects Them in Delivery, and Serves as a Fishing Camp more elaborate and expensive body, to protect goods in transit. Furthermore, the tent maker, who is an ardent sports- man, can convert the whole truck into a Loads of Hay can be Elevated and Stacked by This Con- trivance, the Invention of a Nebraskan. or a Tractor will Operate the Machine Two Horses camping outfit in a few minutes, merely by packing in a cot, provisions, and cook- ing apparatus, thus supplementing busi- ness with recreation on short notice in the most modern and efficient manner. TALKING MACHINES ON SHIPS ADVERTISE BUILDERS Every vessel constructed in an eastern shipyard is supplied with a phonograph, - donated by the building ot company, and placed on board before the craft is delivered to the _ pur- chaser. The machine is not exclusively intended to be used for entertain- ment, as might be sup- posed, but is installed to serve as an _ advertise- ment. Accompanying each device are three rec- ords, on which are in- scribed a history of the shipbuilding concern, a description of the meth- ods employed in produc- ing steel boats, and other similar facts. One rec- ord is in English, another in French, and a third in Spanish. Ordi- nary records can, of course, be repro duced by the phonographs, which are of standard design. ~S

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as Barrels of the on | TAMPING —eemgaoes Guns were Loaded with Dynamite in Layers from Breechto Muzzle, Tamped Down by Thick Layers of Clay between the Charges. The Sketch at the Right Shows the Ar- rangement The First Gun to be Rolled Down the Terrace is Seen Lying in the Cut Leading to the Mouth of the Tunnel, Which Yawns in the Background. The Next Step Was to Get It into the Tunnel et, ‘4 The Blasting of the First Gun Was Largely Experi- mental, and the Resulting Fragments Were Rather Targe. Heavier Charges were Used Later One of the Old Naval Guns, Condemned to be Broken Up, About to be Rolled from Its Em- placement by Means of a Steel Cable Attached to a Windlass, and Then Lowered to the Place | of Its Execution—an @ Abandoned Tunnel. The }@ Gun Weighed 52,000 Pounds The Fragments Which Look So Much like Building Stone Are the Pieces of the 17 Guns, Reduced to Scrap and Ready for Shipment Breaking mH the Guns |e .Incidentally Nearly g Wrecked the Tunnel. The Walls Were Intact before the Blasting

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POPULAR MECHANICS 419 WRECKING OLD NAVAL GUNS WITH DYNAMITE By JOHN EDWIN HOGG WHAT to do with 17 antiquated 15- in. guns, at the military post on catraz Island in San Francisco Bay, ch had outlived their usefulness, was problem that confronted the War De- rtment recently. The guns, cast in », were of an obselete smooth-bore e, known as “Rodman rifles,” and could e used only for firing round shot. As ch gun weighed 52,000 Ib., the task of re- ing them from the island intact would e involved operations more costly than ir value as old metal. Cutting up the with acetylene torches was rgested, but, after a trial, was found im- exploding the guns appeared be the only remaining alternative, but » do this without wrecking the buildings the island or losing the gun metal, ap- ired impossible. Leading away from the power house hich supplies electricity to the military st and the Federal prison on the island, there was an old tunnel, once used as an aqueduct and power conduit, but for the ist ten years abandoned. This tunnel vas stripped of its fittings. Then a corps of carpenters went in and lined the. hole and bottom—with 6 by 6-in. cannon ( ficable . top, sides, imbers. One of the guns was jacked out of its emplacement, and rolled into the tunnel. Ilere 100 lb. of 70-per-cent dynamite was loaded into the breech. This was tamped lown with 26 in. of clay. Another charge if 75 lb. of 70-per-cent dynamite was then laced on top of the first, and tamped lown with more clay. The dynamite and clay were then tapered down to the muzzle with a third load of 75 lb. of dyna- mite; then loads of 50, 40, and 30 Ib., re pectively, until, in all, 370 Ib. had been tuffed into the gun. A final muzzle seal of clay and white lead closed the mouth of he cannon. Meanwhile, to protect the is- land power house, the carpenters had constructed a barricade of 6 by 6-in timbers about 100 ft. from the mouth of the tunnel, which happened to be in a direct line with that building. An igni- tion wire was strung from the gun to a afe distance away from the side of the tunnel, and when all was ready, the handle of the blasting machine was shoved down. The explosion that followed was ter rific. Alcatraz Island and all of San Francisco trembled. Every window in the power house and other near-by build- ings was shattered. When the engineers went into the tunnel, after the smoke and dust had cleared away, all that was to be found were scraps of the gun, splinters of the planks that had lined the tunnel, and tons of loose rock that had formerly been the tunnel wall. When the débris was all cleaned out, the biggest piece of the gun that could be found weighed 840 pounds. Profiting by the experience gained in the shattering of the first gun, heavier charges of dynamite were placed in the breech of the next one. was reduced to bits, the largest of which weighed only 360 lb. The third gun was broken into portions all under 300 Ib., and t] were reduced to The second gun he remaining 14 ments of less than 290-lb. weight. With the completion of the blasting operations, there little difficulty in collecting the remnants of the old guns lhe metal was then transferred to the hold of a vessel and shipped by Panama to the Atlantic coast. In an eastern arsenal these old cannon, which ‘did their bit” in the Civil War, will be melted up and recast into modern harbor defense mortars, or possibly into high power naval guns to bristle from the tur rets of one of our best and newest fighti: g ships. irag- was way ot PISTON-RING DIAMETER FOUND BY CIRCUMFERENCE GAUGE Diameter is found by cumference, in a new piston-ring of English make. It is simply a short steel measure, c nd through a slot in the other, making lar loop. The end is broadened, and is screwed to. the The piston measured is inserted in the loop, and the free end of the gauge pulled tight. It is graduated in mil- limeters, 50 to 150, and indicates the ex- act diameter without computation. The instrument ol might be used for measuring other cylindrical bodies. utilizing cir- gauge with ] tape one passec a circu- slotted bench. ring to he viously

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420 BUSY MAP MAKERS IN FRANCE WATCH PEACE CONFERENCE very time the peace conference changes the status of a European nation, POPULAR MECHANICS SECRET COPPER-ZINC ALLOY STRONGER THAN STEEL Extraordinary claims are made for a new alloy of copper and zinc, discovered

by an Italian engineer around whose secret for mula a large manufa turing enterprise has be: organized. The new meta is asserted to have high er breaking point ai limit than oth metals of its cla to resist corrosion and to have uniform structur In comparative test tensile strength of 1,1] Ib. was shown by a 1 elastic | ‘ Neat, a pe! fect Ly only % in. in diamete and weighing but 3 to the foot. The ne metal may be cast forged, and meets all quirements for machin

working. COPYRIGHT, PRESS ILLUSTRATING SERVICE By slightly The Huge Photographic Apparatus of the French Map Makers: The tering its composition Enormous Plate Holder is Leaning against the Base : there is a call for new maps. The past year’s acceleration in the making of his- tory has kept the map printers of France exceptionally busy, for every new draw- ing is a “rush job.” Copies are made by the photographic process. The enormous camera used has bellows, ground glass, and all the other familiar parts of a com- mon studio instrument, but on a greatly exaggerated scale. The plate holder alone is so big that it requires two men to lift it into place. Electric lights are used with special reflectors AMERICAN SHIPS NOW CARRY HALF OF NATION’S EXPORTS \merican ships soon will be carrying more than one-half of the exports from this country, whereas, before the war, only one-tenth was transported by ves- sels flying the Stars and Stripes. Recent- ly compiled statistics show that at pres- ent 45 per cent of the outgoing goods are conveyed in domestic-owned bottoms, and indicate that in the near future this figure will be increased to 60 per cent. \ vear ago, only 23.3 per cent of the cargoes sent from the United States left port in American boats, while 39.9 per cent were transported in British ships. The latter are now carrying only 32.8 per cent of the total amount. becomes adaptable as substitute for steel, brass, or aluminun It has been found very useful in the cor struction of new air and water craft. HOUSE OWNER TUNNELS HILL TO GAIN ACCESS TO STREET Reminiscent of the olden the underground passage was a part of every castle, is the tunnel which ap proaches a residence in a western city This gallery, however, is built solely to days whe

bien 2m *

A SEI A rep

This Is Not the Grated Entrance to a Catacomb, but to a Tunnel Which Connects a City House with the Street. It Pierces a Hillock That Formerly Made the House Almost Inaccessible make the house more accessible from the street, from which it is separated by an abrupt hillock.

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POPULAR MECHANICS 421 WHIRLING AUTO SIGNAL WARNS OF STOP OR TURN \mong the many signaling mechan- are even more conspicuous. The fans are ms now sold as automobile accessories normally held behind the mirror. one with several clever fea- ires. Resembling roughly a lway-semaphore arm, it is imped with its receiver to the ndshield frame. On approach- * a turn or stop, the autoist tends the arm by means of a ver at the steering wheel. The tle signal arm then displays at outer end two fans which are hirled about by the wind. As ey revolve past each other they ike a signal which inevitably tracts the eye of a motorist in , \ rear. A small electric bulb is — | : me F ” The Whirling Signal is Normally Held behind the Mirror, as ted between the fans at night, Shown at the Left. Approaching a Turn, the Driver id gives intermittent flashes that Presses a Lever, and the Arm Falls into View GENERAL PERSHING PRESENTED - sword and scabbard, presented recently by the people of Missouri, his native state. WITH COSTLY SWORD oe Cee ee ee ee nb (sreen gold, carved to represent a laurel Probably the most costly token of ap- wreath, forms the sheath, which is en- reciation received by Gen. John J. Per- circled with bands of yellow gold, in- hing, commander of the American Expe-_ scribed with the great leader's military tionary Forces during the war, is a_ record. Four platinum stars, set with dia- = , : : monds, the state seal of Missouri, and an appro- == priate inscription further lea ecapep ee > embellish the scabbard. q “ . “ \ Precious stones stud the gold hilt of the weapon, while the blade is elab- General Pershing’s Sword: The Weapon is Sheathed in a Gold Scabbard. orately etched. The value Precious Stones are Set in the Latter, and in the Hilt. It was of the sword is nearly Presented by the People of His Native State, Missouri ten thousand dollars. ELECTRIC HEATER DISTILLS GASOLINE FOR TEST Designed primarily for testing gasoline The efficiency and convenience of the ap- y distillation, a novel electric heater of paratus greatly accelerate the process mall size now on the market will find many other laboratory uses. The helix of heating wire is ar- ranged as a cone-shaped coil in t conical recess in a block of insulation, and the recess is closed by a disk of fireproof material with a 1'%-in. cen- ter hole. An adjustable rheostat is included in the case, which has mountings to fit a laboratory re- tert stand. The flask of gaso- line, or other test fluid, is sup- ported over the 1-in. hole, \ : give nse ets ol, teteagec joni cal The Method of Using the Heater is Seen at the Left, the F Sectional View of the Instrument at the Right allows a perfectly controlled test. Revealing Its Construction

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— * t~ © ~ é AVIARY LATTICE CUT TO FORM SIDEWALK DISPLAY By cutting large openings in the lat- ticework, then perching a bird in the POPULAR MECHANICS PRESERVE SOAP BUBBLES LONG IN SURFACE-TENSION STUDY Soap bubbles, most fragile of child- hood’s playthings and traditional symbol of evanescence, take on new strength and char- acter in the hands of sci ence. Their almost di mensionless film offer unequaled opportunity for the laboratory study of surface tension and molecular action. In course of experiments re cently conducted by a sci entist who. has devot many years to the sub ject, the bubbles wet blown in air carefully fil tered to exclude all dust and contamination, an shielded by a glass cove They ranged in size fron about 4 to 16 in., Some hanging from the blowing tube and some resting o1 iron rings. One bubb! kept in water-saturat: The Street Frontage of the Aviary has been Cut to Give Passers-By One of the Lattice Apertures is Shown in More Detail Above a View of the Feathered Stock Within. center of each, a bird dealer in a western city has transformed the high street wall of his aviary into an arresting sidewalk display. From a distance, the eye is at- tracted by the pleasant harmony of white trimmings and dark-green lattice; on nearer approach, the attention is caught by the brilliant plumage of macaws, cock- atoos, and other fancy birds, each out- lined against its white-backed perch. Only on close inspection are the openings seen to be covered by chicken wire blackened to make it almost invisible. The whole scheme is attractively original, COLORED CORE CONSTITUTES TRADE-MARK FOR ROPE Rope and cordage are difficult commod ities to trade-mark, as it has been held that colors or pattern in the strands, being part of the rope itself, will not af- ford legal protection. An Ohio manu- facturer now makes ropes with a colored core or heart, separate from the strands but woven in when the rope is spun. This distinctive thread, observable by twisting the strands apart, is the trade- mark, air lasted 322 days, and then did not burst, bu shrunk to a flat film b the gradual escape of ait through its sides. The colors of light interference change as evaporation and drainage reduce the film, and at the thin nest stage it is black. Even then, how ever, the bubble supports a drop of wate several times its own weight. CLINICAL-THERMOMETER CASE HAS UNLOSABLE CAP Particularly interesting to physician and nurses is a new clinical-thermomet case, which is equipped with an unlosab! cap. Pivoted on an extension sleeve, th latter can be pulled away from the case ind swung to one side, permitting the r The Pivoted Cap of This Novel Clinical-Thermometer Case, Which was Placed on the Market a Short Time Ago, cannot be Lost moval of the instrument, but cannot be entirely detached. The device can be fas- tened to the clothing with a chain and safety pin.

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THOUSAND-YEAR-OLD FAR-EAST CITY BEING RESTORED HE ending of the great World War the resumption most interesting archeological work, un- now permits dertaken by the French colonial au- thorities, in Cam- hodia, Indo-China. nknown and un- 1eard of by the orld at large—ow- ng as much to the emoteness of the lace from regular routes of tourist ravel as to French reserve and shun- ning of publicity— he work aims at the reclamation of the ancient city of \ngkor-Thom from the destructive in- ision of the jun- ele, and the restora- tion of its strange architectural mas- terpieces. A thousand years ago, as the capital of the flourishing Khmer Empire, it vas rich in impos- ing buildings and magnificent city is surrounded by pon the top of could be = run abreast. En- trance is by colossal gates, sufre mounted by towers. On ich of the four ides of the towers a fr ¢ sculptured hu- man heads, their faces ex- pressing the placidity ty p- 1cet of the Statuary of Buddha. Ang- kor-Thom was captured and looted by five temples, hbas-reliefs, exhibiting wonderful skill. The a wide moat, flanked hy an enormously thick defensive wall, which two automobiles ite Care, the Siamese in that day was neglected until the French By One of the Five Colossal Gates to of Angkor-Thom, FRANCIS DICKIE of a Indo-China, Deserted the Ancient for City Over 600 Years, and Now being Restored by the French ornamented PHOTOS BY FRANK BURNETT Procession of Elephants on the Facings of the Terrace, upon Which Stand the Ruins of the King’s Palace: Extends for a Quarter of a Mile, Each of the Blocks of Which It is Composed being Carved Separately and Fitted with Infin- to Mar the Perfection of the Sculpture So as Not 1373, and with from away. them the French. tons- This Bas-Relief, The of a fine-grained chief temple is on the west. gained contro: of the country. In the very center of the city is the Bayon temple, built on terraces that were reared by the labor of countless thou- sands of men on the flat plain. Near it the remains of the king’s palace stand on another terrace. Upon the facings of this latter elevation are sculptured pro- ions of ele- phants, extending a distance of a quai ter of a mile, one of the most difficult artistic feats, in that stone making up the carving was cut separately and fitted in. Yet there is no loss of line shown or discrep- ancy in any way. But none of the city’s structures ap- proaches in size or beauty the temple of Angkor - Vat standing about a mile from the city. This noblest monu- cessi each ment of the ancient civilization is con- structed entirely of stone, brought from quarries 15 miles How the huge blocks—many of weighing sand- moved and puzzl ho -were greater coer v. they were brought into place, will al ways remain a mystery. [The temple took 300 vears to build and was } completed 1 1373 when the Siamese looted the place; from that time this labor of centuries was left to erosion and decay until the coming of entrance to thi A flagged high- lust on

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424 POPULAR way leads across a very wide moat to a vreat outer colonnaded gallery, 900 ft. in Ruins of the Temple of Angkor-Vat, Considered the Most Magnificent Example of Khmer Architecture length. Into this, five doors open, set high and reached by steps. At regular inter- Flagged Road Leading to Chief Entrance of Angkor-Vat nade, Which Is 900 Feet in Length, Are Gigantic Images of Hindu Idols vals in this gallery are gigantic stone rep- resentatives of different Hindu deities. One of them, a six-armed statue, was vis- ited by countless childless women come to propitiate the god with offerings of their hair, in the hope that the god would grant them a child. MECHANICS Passing through the central doorway, the temple visitor comes upon another broad flagged road, which leads to the main building, a quarter of a mile away Some idea of the millions upon millions of feet that have trod this highway may be gained, when it is stated that here and there deep grooves have been worn in the surface by the mere action of bare feet This roadway is bordered with tank along which run stone balustrades repre- senting the king Cobra. Inside the gallery is a courtyard from which rise three terraces, surrounded by other colonnaded galleries and cloiste1 all a mass of sculpture, the last one being reached by a stairway 40 ft. in height, on which rises the Preasat, the great towet whose summit overlooks the first wall of Angkor-Thom from a height of 250 feet. With the passing of the Khmer Empire the jungle growth slowly encroached upor the city, and the temple of Angkor-Vat The banyan tree and lesser vegetatio1 took root on top of the walls and grad ually penetrated the interstices of the un mortared stones. In this way parts ot standing walls were forced out and slowly) broken down. The great balustrade of the king Cobra was completely grown. Not understanding the construction of arches as built at present, the architects formed them from overlaid massive blocks of stone, the one fitted into the other. These archways above the colonnades, by their tre- mendous weight, slowly forced out the columns at the top, and the ero sion of the rain beating on the columns’ base loosened them at this point. The French built a good road through the jungle from the present day village Siem-Reap and cleared away the trees and shrubbery from the principal buildings Through those of thé columns which had been pushed outward, iron rods were driven and the columns drawn back in place, the end of the rods being secured to the wall at the back Crumbling towers are being shored up with iron rods and cement. The bottoms of the columns in the galleries have also been strengthened by cementing, and col- umns that were utterly destroyed have been replaced. Dozens of fallen and ovel ancient “Ga Pee 2 PHOTOS BY FRANK BURNETT : In the Colon-

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POPULAR MECHANICS ‘roken statues were raised, cemented or olted together, and replaced in their for- mer position. One of these, a six-armed tatue, is an example of what has been lone in the way of re- = —- ibilitation. The statue vas broken in three laces, and the arms were ff when the restoration ork was begun by the rench. As it stands ww, it shows but little dence of these misfor- nes. Civilizations flourish, le, and pass. Countless onders of the ancients ive been lost to the resent-day view by neg- ct and destruction of nthinking men. In sav- ng the wonderful re- with Numerous 495 mains of the city of Angkor-Thom and the temple of Angkor-Vat, the French have again evinced their cultural interest and put humanity under obligation. | eS Inner Causeway beyond the Colonnade Shown on the Opposite Page: This Leads tu the Main Temple Building, Which Consists of Three Stages Exterior Great Pyramidal Tower in the Center Staircases Culminating in the Sanctuary, ihe STATE TRAINS MERCHANT SAILORS By LAWRENCE WILLIAM PEDROSE Y a recent act of the Washington State Legislature, the young men of the Northwest are given the opportunity of becoming commissioned officers in the merchant marine through instruction and practical training given at the nautical chool established at the state university. verything that should be known about navigating a ship on the high seas— marine engineering, the storage and un- loading of cargo, and all the intricate details essential to the operation of vessels —will be taught by competent men who have had years of experience in the navy and in the merchant marine. The course of instruction covers two United States Ship “Vicksburg,” Assigned to the Merchant-Marine School on the Pacific, for Use in Training fficers for the Rapidly Growing Fleet of American Merchant Vessels

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426 years, and cruises to foreign shores of several months’ duration are included in the curriculum, as well as vacation periods during which instruction will be combined with recreation and adventure. The state pays for the board and educa- tion of the young men who enter the service, and the Federal government con- tributes an annual amogint equal to that appropriated by the state legislature. To be eligible for admission, applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 21. They must have a grammar-school educa- tion, and one year of high school is pre- ferred, though not necessary. The ap- plicant must mental examination in arithmetic, elementary algebra, Amer- ican history, geography, grammar, and spelling. His parents or guardiaa must be American citizens. After his two years’ course, the young man who is graduated from this western Annapolis will be fitted to step aboard the finest vessels of America’s business fleets and obtain a position paying at least $160 a month and all found. The nautical school is not a military institution, but is intended for fitting pass a POPULAR MECHANICS young men as officers of merchant vessels. Kecause of the rapid growth of the Amer- ican merchant ‘marine in the last few years, and the prospect of its growing with even greater rapidity in the nea: future, the government has recognized the need for a large number of specially trained and educated officers to man these vessels. It is expected that the demand will be met by the establishment of nau- tical schools at various seaports. ANALYSIS DETECTS BLOWN-OUT SHOTS IN MINES One of the plosions is the causes of coal-mine ex- occasional action of a charge of blasting compound in firing lik a gun, without breaking down the wall of its hole. This is called a blown-out charge. Experiments by the Bureau of Mines have shown that half a pound o material collected by scraping a hole will reveal, when analyzed, whether a s!| has been fired in the hole, and even tel! the nature of the explosive by compari son with neighboring coal. This determi nation is useful in investigating disasters rot 1O The Merchant Mariners must be Sailors Before They Are Officers, and the Students of Washington State’s Nautical School are Learning Ships from Bowsprit to Rudder, with Many a “‘Heave Ho”

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POPULAR MECHANICS DINING CAR OVERTURNED BY FREIGHT CAR IN COLLISION RAILROAD accidents sometimes produce strange wrecks. To illustrate this assertion can be cited a collision that occurred recently at Denver, Colo., where an empty freight car and a dining car came together at a rack intersection, toward which both were being moved by switch engines. Little damage was done to the bodies of the cars, nor were serious injuries suffered by the four men in the dining car, though the latter was mpletely overturned as a consequence of the crash. A truck was torn from each car, and one end of the freight car was pushed over the dining car, by which it was supported in an elevated position. Two hours were required by a wrecking crew to clear the rails. ARGENTINA PLANS MONSTER HEAVY TANGLE OF OLD HEDGE HYDROELECTRIC PLANT CLEARED AWAY BY TRACTOR Surpassing the Niagara Falls, in height Several weeks of hard labor seemed the by 50 ft. and in width by more than a_ only solution of a problem an Illinois thousand, a little known South American cataract tumbles toward the At- lantic Ocean, some 700 miles to the north of Buenos Aires. A great- er volume of water flows over the North American drop; yet hydroelectric engineers of the Argen- tine Republic look to this fall in the Iguassu River for their deliverance from the _ international fear of coal shortage. Present plans call for one main and three emer- gency lines to the cap- ital city, where’ the power will be sold in competition with, the cheaper grades of coal. The initial development ions will cost from $30,000,- . 0) ¢ Method by Which a Farm Tractor, Operating like an Army Tank, and 00 to $40,000,000, and Assisted Only by a Chain and an Axman, Cleared Away a 15-Foot Hedge will yield about 150,000 hp., which, incidentally, is but a small baseball association set for itself when it fraction of the total available power. decided to remove an old, tangled hedge

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428 that had grown to a height of 10 to 15 ft. around its grounds. As an experiment, however, a farm tractor was pressed into service, with a man to drive it, and an- other to manage a chain attached behind it and to chop away the heavier roots. In a few days the hedge was razed and com- pletely cleared away by this novel means, PICTURE SYMBOLIZES UNION OF OLD AND NEW IN CAIRO The very spirit of modern Cairo has been caught in a photograph sent recently PYRIGHT, UNDERWO & Turning Their Backs on Cairo, the Merchants Above are About to Cross the Nile Bridge to the Island of Gezira Bulak. The Lock Controls the Water Flow from the Ismailia Canal NDERW from Egypt and reproduced on this page. Just as the tourist may drive in a few moments from his magnificent European hotel to the tortuous streets of the Arab quarter, or to the citadel with its north- ward view of the pyramids of Giza, so the eye meets here the old and new. Over the wooden drawbridge across the Ismailia canal passes a camel, piled high with na- tive goods, and attended by merchants in robes and turbans; while in the fore- ground are seen the steel gates of a lock installed by British engineers. @An immense concrete storage bin, capable of holding 400,000 tons of coal, is being constructed at Wilson, Pa., by a large steel company to hold an emergency supply of fuel. The great bin will be 600 ft. wide and 800 ft. long. POPULAR MECHANICS SHIP BUILDS HEATED CABIN FOR FROZEN TURTLES Twelve passengers, the eldest said to be 490 years old, and all weighing around 300 Ib., arrived in New York harbor a few weeks ago in a steam-heated cabin of their own. They were turtles, and had been placed in open tanks on the deck of a fruit steamer at Port Limon, Costa Rica, but as the boat progressed up the coast the breezes grew chilly, and the turtles lost their “pep.” When off the Virginia coast they all relapsed in stonelike coma, and the ship’s doctor prescribed warmth in large quantities. So the carpenters con structed a deck shelter aft, and packed it with steam pipes. The derrick man moved the passengers into their new quarters the engineer turned on the steam, and in an hour the huge reptiles had revived BULB-OPERATED SKIRT MARKER FOR HOME DRESSMAKER A skirt marker for the home dress maker, designed to be operated by the wearer of the garment, has been patented by a western inventor. The device in- cludes a tubular ring, mounted adjustably on legs, and equipped with a powder con- tainer, to which is attached a rubber tube, terminating in a bulb. To employ the contrivance, the manipulator stands in side the ring, and presses the bulb. Air pressure created in this way forces powder from a vent that extends around the inside of the ring, making a line on the skirt. a ‘ ‘er a” AP \. * " - dee ; e , | Res ey ? ' er 1 Standing inside the Ring, as at the Left, the Dress- maker Squeezes the Bulb. Powder is Forced from a Continuous Vent, Marking the Skirt, as at the Right

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POPULAR MECHANICS RADIO-ELECTRIC WAVES VARY GROWTH OF PLANT LIFE That radio-electric waves have a posi- ive influence on the rate of growth of lants is demonstrated by the recent ex- eriments of an East Indian scientist. (he upper part of a potted plant was con- nected with a _ wireless 129 OIL BURNERS MADE FOR USE IN KITCHEN COAL RANGE Remembering the alarming coal crisis through which this country lately passed, the housewife who cooks with coal will be glad to learn that an antenna, and the lower nart of the stem ground- ed. A transmitter 650 ft. iway sent out waves of hort length, while the iriations in the plant vere measured by the 1iovements of a spot of vsht on a screen, re- lected from a small mir- ror on an extremely sen- itive lever. It was shown hat feeble electric waves ccelerated the rate of crowth of the plant, hile stronger waves re- tarded it. A mimosa plant, used in the first xperiment, was found to © exceptionally sensitive to of these radio-electric waves. the action circulation to jump in home readers, and the extension of the shelves to accommodate the new total of 1,008,394 volumes, are the features of a recent report from Chicago’s public- library board. q\ post-war COPYRIGHT, PRESS KLLUSTRATING SERVICE The Lids and Damper of the Kitchen Range have been Removed, at the Left, to Show How Simply the Burner is Installed. the Tank at the Right, and is Forced into the Burner by an Occasional The Fuel is Stored in Stroke on the Hand Pump ingenious oil burner may now be bought and quickly slipped into her kitchen range. Fuel oil for the burner is kept at a safe distance from the stove, with which it is connected by a suitable hose. Air pres- sure, maintained hy an occasional stroke on a hand pump, forces the kerosene through the hose and into the burner. This is placed in the unaltered fire box. WATERPROOF SHELL IS USED IN NEW LIFE-LINE GUN Firing a test shot with its barrel full f water was the unusual performance of an improved form of gun Tor shooting a life line over a wrecked vessel, in recent official trials. A one- piece shell New Life-Line Gun with Knockdown Barrel, That Shoots Even When It Is Full of Water, and Never Kinks the Line containing powder and projectile gives the new gun a great advantage over the old muzzle-loading type. The barrel may be regulated by a pin on the carriage to elevations of 30, 45, 60 or 80°, and its range is 1,700 ft. The barrel is readily carried by one man, and the one-piece carriage has a pair of wheels for easy hauling. The firing mechanism is actu- ated by a lanyard, and the life line, at- tached to the projectile, unwinds from the center of the reel without kinking. @The noise of “piston slap,” caused by the slight oscillation of a worn piston, has distressed many an auto driver, who was unable to locate the disturbance. A lead ing car maker, by the simple method of drilling the piston-pin hole a little off center, and so keeping the connecting-rod pressure al- ways at one side, has effectually banished the trouble. —

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RECOVERY OF ALL BY-PRODUCTS AND EFFICIENCY This Part of the Plant Recovers Daily, from Elements Wasted in the Old Process, 16,500,000 Cubic Feet of Illuminating Gas, 75,00) Pounds of Ammonium Sulphate, 24,000 Gallons of Tar, and 10,000 Gallons of Light Oil 5? After About 16 Hours’ Burning, the Valve to the Gas-Collecting Main is Closed, the Oven. ) at Charging Lids Removed, and the Doors at the Oven Ends Taken Off. A Pusher, like the 4 cH One in the Foreground, Rolls along Its Rails into Position before the Oven Door; a Moto: | Rams the Huge Horizontal Arm through the Oven, and the Red-Hot Coke Tumbles into a Steel Car. These Machines are Also Used to Vake Off the Brick-Lined Doors 4

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OF OPERATION CHARACTERIZE MODERN COKE OVEN . One of the Pushers Shown on the Opposite Page is Here Tak- ing Off an Oven Door. The Coke has been Burned, and is Now to be Quenched After an Overhead Lorry has Filled the Oven, the Doors are Sealed. Then the Lids are Pushed over the Charging Holes, and the Gas-Collecting Valve Opened Rammed Out of the Oven, the Flaming Coke is Carried in a Steel Car to the Quenching Station. Here the Nine-Ton Load is Run under a Shower Bath. After 30 Seconds of This Treatment, the Coke is Taken to This ‘Coke Wharf,’ Where It is Dumped

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POPULAR MECHANICS All the Metal Ornaments at the Left were Drawn with an Electric-Welding Arc, Bits of Metal being Carried from the Arc Electrode to the Metal Ground Plate by the Current, and Deposited Where the Operator Wanted Them. The Method of Working is Seen at the Right, the Object Being to Demonstrate Perfect Control ACCIDENT PROVIDES SALMON WITH SECOND MOUTH Regarded for a time as a unique freak of nature, a two-mouthed salmon, caught recently im a northwest - coast river, is now be- lieved to have been furnished with a third jaw through an acci- dent. The second mouth is located underneath the normal opening, and is separated from the katter by a thin jaw. One theory is that the fish was in- jured by a hook, which tore loose the cartilage that supports the tongue. This wound is supposed to have healed, form- ing the second mouth. The salmon evi- dently had control over the extra jaw, as a fish quickly dies when unable to close its mouth. ORNAMEN’TS DRAWN WITH ARC SHOW CONTROL OF WELDER To demonstrate the remarkable pre- cision with which the modern electric- welding arc may be controlled, a large number of ornamental designs and ob- jects have been built up of the molten metal deposited by the arc electrode. Each design is formed on a plate of metal, connected to one terminal of the welder. The metal is carried from the electrode to the plate in fused beads, and using a small electrode and low current, the lines formed are fine enough for in- teresting work. The objects and pat- terns in relief are made by depositing one line of beads on another, gradually building up a wall or node of the de- sired height and shape. TRANSMISSION-BAND ANVIL RESEMBLES WHEEL Transmission bands used on certain light-weight motor cars can be relined without difficulty employing a a by device now on the ‘ A market. The con trivance comprises a wheellike anvil, mounted on a standard in such a way that it can be secured in dif- ferent positions. Lining rivets are clinched by being driven against thy surface of the an- vil, when a band is bolted around the latter. The imple ment can be fastened to a bench or on the wall. @ Diamonds valued at $1,000,000,000, or about one-half of the world’s stock, are owned by residents of the United States, according to recent estimates.

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POPULAR MECHANICS 433 FIREWORKS BOMBARDMENT RIDS CITY OF BIRD PESTS Without killing or maiming a single rd, the municipal authorities of Mont- ir, N. J., last year the locality of tarlings and grackles, reat flocks of which ve invaded the city ch fall, roosting in the es along two fashion- le streets, and disturb- ‘ the residents by their cht cries. A proposal frighten the _ birds vay by shooting at hem with firearms met th strong opposition. other schemes iggested was the use f fireworks. This lan met with general ap- proval, and was finally lopted. A supply of koman candles was ob- tained, and ten men, rmed with these, bom- rded the _ feathered pests. The treatment was administered on two successive nights, with the result that, on the third night, not one of the birds was to be seen in the neighborhood. The mong departure of the undesirable visitors was an extremely spectacular sight. Chasing Birds Out of Montclair, New Jersey, with Fireworks: Roman Candles Served as Effectively as Guns, but did Not Kill or Injure the Pests SILO-DOOR MOUNTING FORMS SLIDE, LOCK, AND LADDER Simplicity is the essence of ingenuity. \n Ohio inventor proves it by making sliding silo door whose mounting com- bines slide, lock, and ladder, and still is At the Left, the Door is Closed and Locked, Forming a Ladder. At the Right, It Is Partly Open less complex than any one of those attac! ments might be. U-shaped iron b are so mounted that one leg turns sockets on the door, while the ot slides in mountings on the jamb. bend of the U forms the lock. kx leased, the door drops down and inward and may then be slid around inside silo to a full opening. Closed, the are spaced to the runs ladder. serve as BABY-CARRIAGE WINDSHIELD IS ENGLISH INVENTION From England, appropriately, comes an invention designed to protect th baby from rain and drizzle. ‘Attache to the hood of a baby carriage, it take the form of a transparent weather screen, or windshield, which is normally held on a roller. When its protectior is desired, it is unwound from the rolle: and held by loops which slip over studs on the perambulator body.

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SOME NOVEL AND LITTLE-KNOWN ACCESSORIES By Pulling Off the Telescoping Case Seen Immediately Above, the Traveler Transforms His Stick into an Um- biella. The Case is Finished to Resem- ble Cane Wood This Double Silver f Spoon, One End for j Tea and the Other for / Coffee, can be Folded A into the Leather Case y for Traveling Use -— Pe ee, ibys A AM A aa bebo ea Rg I i APU Bl) i gs has oY The Motorist’s Lap Robe will Not Sup Untidily along the Robe Rail if These Two Steel Clamps Are in Place, One at Either End ae TE | aad This Boudoir Table is Conven- _ iently Used for Breakfast- ing, as Shown. With the The Pneumatic Insole Makes Walking Easy. After the End Flaps Lifted, However, Shoe is Laced upon the Foot, Deep Pockets are Uncovered, Air is Pumped through the Making It Ideal for Sewing. Valve into the Rubber Bladder. Tne Rubber is Protected against Abrasion by a Tough @ Covering The Central Section may be Tilted Back as a Bookrest PREBLE The Electric Fan Be- comes More Desir- able in the Home or Club, When Treated as in These Three Examples. The Reed Standards Suggest Coolness in Them- selves. Designs may Baked in This Large Aluminum Mold, the Cake Takes the Form of a Recum- bent Lamb. Removed from the Mold, Covered with White Frosting, and d.H Sprinklei with Coconut, It Becomes an —, roy Odd Table Decoration : me seal

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INTENDED FOR THE HOME AND ITS MEMBERS

Reducing the Number of Bristles, and Arranging the Few Remain- ing as Shown, the Maker of This Toothbrush Claims a _ Better Cleansing of the Teeth The Broom’s Tendency to Wear More Rapidly on One Side, and at Last to Grow Generally Dishevelled, is Checked by This Spring De- vice Which is Clamped about It as Shown

TX <=

The Grooves on the In- ner Surfaces of the Jaws Assist the Pin to Hold the Clothes More Firmly to he Line, Than Does the Ordinary Pin

e Diminutive Oil Stove at the ght Burns Kerosene from the it the Bottom. Forced into Burners by Compressed Air, Fuel Burns with a Hot and riess Flame. The Air Pressure viaintained by the Occasional Use i Small Pump. The Stove Finds Favor among Those Removed from City Gas Mains

The Use of Little Papier- : Maché Cups like the One in the Uppermost Photo- graph, Lengthens the Life of the Cuspidor and Makes It Easier to Clean

COPYRIGHT, PRESS ILLUSTRATING SERVICE That Unsatisfactory Light in the Laundry need Worry the Laun- dress No Longer. This Little Lamp is Connected in Series with the Electric Iron, and is Piaced Conveniently on theIron- ing Board or Near-By Table en OEE, — eae bs

This Little Kerosene Hot Plate is Meant to Fill the Needs of Campers and Sum- mer Cottagers. The Well- } Designed Burner Produces a Flame That Is Practically

ootless

= aa Placing the Dirty Dishes in a | Wire Tray, the Housewife Low- ers Them into This Dishwasher. The Cover On, Hot Water is Shot from Sprays in Top and Bottom, Subjecting the Contents to a Shower Bath. Waste Water Runs Out of the Spout

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436 POPULAR MECHANICS TIRE MANUFACTURERS EMPLOY SPECIAL WEIGHING SCALES Automobile-tire manufacturers test the uniformity of inner tubes and casings by — <«eterminine their weight. Scales de- signed especially for this purpose are re- cent inventions. One intended for use with inner tubes is provided with a convex brass plat- form, declared to be more convenient than the flat type. A new casing scale is equipped with a rack, instead of a platform, and has the dial mounted on ss — a tall standard, which supports it above the tire when the latter is in the rack.

WATER METER AND CURB COCK HOUSED IN OVAL BOX Oval water-meter boxes, designed to house not only the measuring device, but ——— - the curb cock as ir? well, have been placed on the market by a mid- dle-western man- ufacturer. A wrench can be at- tached to the -— cock without opening the box, by inserting the tool through a conveniently located hole. To reach the meter, however, it is necessary to remove a circular lid, which is equipped with a lock. The key that operates the latter also serves as a handle for lhiting the lid. Having slots in the end which fit over the pipe connections, the box can be taken up easily when repairs are needed, and replaced.

CRUSOE’S ISLE THOUGHT RELIC OF LONG-LOST CONTINENT From Valparaiso, Chile, a scientific ex- pedition will shortly sail to the Juan Fernandez Islands, which, dotting the Pacific Ocean some 400 miles to the west of South America, are the -supposed scene of Robinson Crusoe’s famous ad- ventures.. In charge will be an Ameri- can zoologist from Hawaii, who, on year ago, made the important discovery that many fresh-water mollusks from the southern islands are almost identical] with those from his mid-Pacific hom: his find led him to suggest, at that time, the prehistoric existence of a co tinent, or bridge of land, between Hawaii and South America; and it now responsible for this expeditior Studying the flora and fauna of th lonely little group, the professor will attempt to substantiate his theory, an even deduce the date of the lost con tinent’s submergence PUBLIC LIBRARY ADVERTISES IN UNUSUAL MANNER Convinced that advertising benefits any enterprise, the Los Angeles public libt ir) has established precedent for in- stitutions of kind by emplo ing billboard p ers

4) to stimulat interest in bool on busines trades, and fessions., Lhe mand for works is declat to have been increased considerably b this unusual method. ; uJ BOOKS on t leetmess Teac: AND Professions f LOS ANGELES 4 PUBLIC LIBRARY *¢ o~ TIPTE a BROaOwAY

HAND TRUCK TELLS WEIGHT OF LOAD IT CARRIES Now the man with the hand truck w be able to tell when his load is t: heavy. An Australian inventor equips the toe of the truck with a small weighing platform = sup- ported by a crossbar resting on knife-edges carried by a pivoted lever. The free end of the lever connects, through a system of rods, with a spring balance near the handles. The weighing mechanism is not operative until freed by raising the bal ance with a cam lever. A pivoted shield on the toe covers the edge of the weighing plat-

form and _facili- he Rae tates loading the truck, whose substantial carrying capacity is not affected by the delicacy of the weighing attachment.

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2 POPULAR MECHANICS 4: AUDIENCE MADE MERRY BY ODD victim of a hoax. The speaker’s descend- USE OF INDUCTION COIL ing hand had closed the switch of a high- frequency induction coil, causing a harm- rhe speaker at a recent meeting of an _ less current to electrify the twenty into a Ohio commercial club brought his ad- semblance of ardent generosity. ess to a close with : [_ ——s rect and eloquent ap- Dae. 2 i 1: “How many of you S| n will pledge $100 niece to this worthy Please stand.” At last word his right d shot to the table, | a score of his audi- leaped to their feet. ne came forward with scriptions, however; t a hand moved to- ird a checkbook. In- tead, the twenty turned ne man to an inspec- ion of their seats, while e audience roared with ughter. Finding a steel late on his seat, and an- ~*~ pe ther on the floor be- — — ——— = ith his feet, each of At the Close of His Appeal for Financial Support, the Speaker Smiled ; . > in Mock Surprise to See 20 Men Leap to Their Feet. Closing a Hidden them knew himself the Switch, He had Shocked His Auditors with a Tingling Electric Current ENGINE AND DYNAMO A UNIT closed, its cylinder being cooled by air IN HOME-LIGHTING SET drawn through the generator. It is started with a switch, and stops auto- \n engine, generator, and fuel tank matically, by exhaustion of fuel, when practically combined in one unit, the the battery becomes charged. One gal- tank holding just enough fuel to charge lon of oil gives a full 120-ampere-hour the 16-cell storage battery, and indica- charge. tors on both battery and tank which tell eee a cir condition at a glance, are features Recorded as the seventy-seventh to a new and simple home-lighting set. leave the local ways, the “American (he engine uses kerosene, gasoline, or Press” was launched recently at Hog Is- cohol. All its working parts are in- land shipyard, near Philadelphia. . i, Ree, The Engine and Generator Unit at the Left Carries Its Fuel Tank under the Crankshaft. At the Right Is the Whole Home-Lighting Set; the Upper Right-Hand Cell Carries a Permanently Installed Hydrometer

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438 GERMAN GOVERNMENT ISSUES NOVEL POSTAGE STAMPS Postage stamps issued by the present German government bear little resem- blance to those used when the monarchy was in power. Not only are the new stickers entirely dif- ferent in design from the old type, but they are noticeably larger, and somewhat bright- er in color, judging by a 10-pfennig sam- ple that arrived in this country recently. This stamp is 1e6 in. long, 1%. in. wide, and is printed with red ink. The familiar head of Germania is missing from _ the modern stamp, being replaced by a conven- tionalized tree. Instead of “Deutsches Reich,” meaning “the German [mpire,” is a legend “the Ge which means rman National Assembly,” when translated into English. ELECTRIC STERILIZING BATH FOR DENTAL INSTRUMENTS dentists find the steriliza- their instruments a simple matter with an electrically heated bath now on the market. The cover is raised and the in- strument basket lifted by a hand lever at the side, or, if preferred, by a pedal at the base of the pedestal stand, which is easily operated. A three-heat switch is provided, and a fusi- ble plug breaks the circuit if the bath foes dry. Progressive tion of @ Prominent Chi- nese have formed an organization for the purpose of carrying ona the long-established binding the feet of female children. Members are pledged not to marry a woman whose feet have been deformed by the practice. | ow) campaign against oriental custom of POPULAR MECHANICS PLAN CHANNEL FOR WARSHIPS AT SAN FRANCISCO HARBOR Naval authorities have recommended the construction of a chanrel, larg: enough to accommodate the dreadnaught of the Pacific fleet, at the entrance to San Francisco Harbor. One plan provides for a passage 45 ft. deep and 1,500 ft. widk across the bar, which now prevents th largest war vessels from coming into thx port in safety. Because of the heavy swell in the bay, experts declare that th channel should be at least 7 ft. deep: than the maximum draft of the ship which will use it. INDICATING MIRROR FOR AUTO MEASURES DISTANCE BEHIND The “rear-vision” mirror commor used in a haphazard way by aut see —, drivers has turned into an strument of pr cision by an genious N « Y ork manufac turer. The provement c sists merely o red lines ruled « the face of tl mirror, and let tered to indica safe or dangerou distances. Th driver, by a gl convenient attachment, can te! just how close he is to a car or other ob ject behind. It is graduated in feet do to 10, the center line indicating 50 The lateral position also is shown. é at this GARMENT INDUSTRY TO MOVE BODILY INTO NEW AREA Sixty cloak and suit manufacturers o! New York City, with an annual output valued at $650,000,000, are soon to mov: their establishments from their many lo cations along Fifth Avenue to a less ex clusive neighborhood not far away. A the tone of the famous shopping thor oughfare is being lowered appreciably b) the infiltration of industry, the remark able migration has the enthusiastic ap proval of the avenue merchants and property owners. Real estate in the new area is so cheap that the 60 pioneers hav: bought, in codperation, 92,000 sq. ft., and now hold options on as much more.

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POPULAR MECHANICS 439 non this ground they propose to build, cooperation again, four factory build- ngs, of 16 stories each. Rents in these ldings will be so low tliat a fall in the rice of women’s apparel will be almost vitable. IMPROVED PROCESS DEVELOPED FOR CHANGING ORE TO METAL \ general and secret process for re- icing molybdenum sulphide into metal- molybdenum, and tungstic acids into rsten powder, is the result of war- experiment by Norwegian investiga- The cost of converting the ore into tal, by this formula, is said to be lower in by any other known method; in ad- on, the final product, in the form of ll tablets, is of superior quality and completely free from sulphur, carbon, d oxygen. GLASS FOR GIVING LIQUIDS TO RECUMBENT PERSONS Administering liquid food or medicine to persons lying on their backs in bed dificult, even for a trained nurse. To e Drinking Glass Pictured on the Right is Designed to be Used, as Shown on the Left, for Giving Liquids to Hospital Patients “4° ilitate this operation, a novel hospital rinking glass is now on the market. The wer portion of the vessel is similar in pe to an ordinary tumbler. On top of is is a tapering hood, which is provided ith an eccentrically placed, nting ing. If not more than half-filled, the n be held in a nearly horizontal ition without spilling the contents. ( Vice La MACHINE CULLS WILD OATS FROM CULTIVATED GRAIN Separating wild oats from the culti- ited variety is the function of a device recently invented by a western farmer, who based the machine on the _ fact that the uncultivated variety is bearded, while the other is not. The contrivance includes a galvanized sheet-metal cyl- inder, lined with cotton flannel, and mounted on an angle-iron frame in such Poe. 4 ¢ Wild-Oats Separator: Uncultivated Grain, Which is Bearded, Clings to the Cotton-Flannel Lining of the Sheet-Metal Cylinder a way that it can be rotated. Untreated material is fed into the separator by a worm, which is supplied from a hopper. Cultivated oats travel directly through the device, but the wild grain clings to the cloth, is carried to the top of the drum, and there scraped off by wires into a sloping chute that discharges it at the feed end of the cylinder. SOCKET FOR VACUUM CLEANER PROTECTS LIGHT FIXTURES To prevent tension on vacuum-cleaner cables from damaging ceiling light fix- tures is the pur- — — ++ pose of a recently > invented device. A 2 Ss standard plug is set in a_ heavy cast-iron block, and connected with a long cord. Attached to an overhead fixture, the contrivance receives the plug of the cleaner cable. If the latter is pulled tight, or jerked, the block is moved, but no in- jury is done to the fixture. The block is provided with a handle. @ Since the recent discovery by American Red Cross physicians that the river Jor- dan, in Palestine, contains many disease germs, bathing in the famous stream has been forbidden by local authorities.

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CHILDREN’S PICTURE-STORY DEPARTMENT At the Base of This Seesaw Are Four Casters, Which Roll on a Metal Track around a Vertical Shaft. This Provision Makes It Possible to Vary the Thrills of the Teeter with the Exhilaration of the Merry-Go-Round. Many Holes are Drilled in the Uprights So That the Board can be Supported at Any Height : eee sain a a eee . of eae ioe : ‘ae LPR PS ae . oleate Working with the 1,200 Squares of Glazed Tile in This Set, a Young Artist can Ar- range, in Mosaic, Any Number of Designs and Color Schemes. Each of the 12 Outer Compartments Holds a Different Color i 2) Yk) y=) a - ape Oey wat late SS A EY ee ee ee Be Knowing the Keys by Such Colorless Names as C, C Sharp, D, and So On, the Small Pianist may be Excused for Losing Interest. But When C Becomes the “Giraffe,” C any 4 the ‘Camel,” and So On for the Octave, Interest Returns. It will be Observed That the Student Reads “Animals Instead of Notes, and Identifies the Keys by Means of a Folding Chart Which Rests upon the Key- board, but Exposes the Individual Keys J 440

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OF MODERN ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS This Toy Tractor, with Its Trailers, Resembles the Big Machines That Puff along the Country Roads. A Starting Lever and Tiny Governor Control the Clockwork Motor These Grammar-School Boys Form Part of a Self - Supporting Industrial Corporation That Manufactures Furniture, and Substantial Toys like Those Above. The Work is Done in the Manual-Training Shop, Equipped with Lathes, Forges, Power Saws, and a Sheet-Metal Plant — a “ The Sidewalk Becomes a Busy Airdrome No Other Car is Propelled When the Five-Year-Old Airman Mounts This like This One. A Backward Wooden “Airplane.”” When the Car Is in Pull on the Handle Causes Motion the Propeller Spins, and the Rudder the Rubber-Tipped Bar to Turns with -Every Twist of the Steering Push against the Ground, and Wheel in the Rear. The Length over All Is So Drive the Car Forward. 88 Inches; the Wing Span, 31 Inches It is Steered by the Feet

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442 POPULAR WRENCH WITH SLIDING JAW QUICKLY ADJUSTABLE Quick adjustment is possible with a recently invented wrench, which differs from the ordinary monkey wrench in that the movable jaw can _ be shifted by slid- 4 nih A Movable Worm, Which can be Engaged, as Shown Above, or Disengaged, as Pictured Below, Makes Possible Rapid Adjustment of This Wrench. A Coiled Spring Holds the Worm in Normal Position ing, instead of by the slower means of turning the worm. The latter is placed on an axle which is held in position at one end by a small coiled spring. By a slight pull on the worm, the gear is disengaged from the teeth on the body of the wrench, and the movable jaw can be slid to the point desired. The wrench is tightened in the usual manner when the worm resumes its original position. FIRST AUTHENTIC NEWS GIVEN OF ARMY’S AERIAL TORPEDO Although details must still be with- held, a recent statement by the former chief of the equipment division, U. S. Air Service, makes it possible to give limited publicity to America’s secret de- MECHANICS velopment of the aerial torpedo. ‘It is revealed that work on an inexpensive, pilotless airplane was carried far during the war. Controlled by wireless, like the rumored German weapon, one of these little machines is accurately guided to a city 100-miles away. Here, the dis- closure continues, the wings are shed: and the fuselage, loaded with explosive, falls like a stone upon the target. The device is seen to be remarkably similar to the airplane described in some detail, in the June, 1919, number of Popular Me- chanics Magazine. FACTORY “BAROMETER” RECORDS PRODUCTION AND SALES Wall charts of various forms, known as “thermometers” and “barometers,” have come into great favor lately for re- PRODUCTION BAROMETER cording the prog- SALES | umm | STOCK ress of business |¥ 2 a ; undertakings. A |? ef « It " form used by an FQ Fee ES FG eastern ball-bear- ing factory pro- Rf} oom FYE vides 2 cocoed of LT each month’s sales and production. It F4 H4y-™-4 FG has four columns: sales, wanted and ‘ actus, i #0 TwO LETTERS OF THE CusTOM “s umes actual, and stock, wanted and actual. ws The columns are graduated vertically in thousands of dol- lars, and filled in with blue for the “wanted” and red for the “actual” col- umns. Symbols are also used indicating customers’ names or stock-size numbers. MANY SPEEDS FOR SMALL AUTO WITH NEW GEAR ATTACHMENT Small autos of the planetary-transmis- sion type are given an unusual range of speeds by a new accessory, which acts as an auxiliary transmission and gear shift. When the attached gear lever is central, the regular gear arrangement is maintained. With the lever pulled back, lower gear ratios are engaged; when it is pushed forward, the ratios are higher than nor- mal. The same conditions obtain in re- verse, giving the car six speeds forward and three backward, and meeting all pos- sible road conditions. @ That the variety of merchandise offered by a modern department store is without limit has just been demonstrated hin by a large London establishment, which advertised for sale a com- plete line of five-room houses The store also promises early de livery on a large number of semi- Attachment for the Planetary Transmission of Small Giving Six Speeds Forward and Three Reverse detached concrete stx-room cot- Autos, tages, at a very reasonable price.

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ie mn Me x. Wl i i ish int ~* ANN ay HN tc eg

e: é Cases BRR i NT ba a uit ms from our Bureau

ot. ali MT e a i ini =~ Information as to where to obtain any specified 4 materials or parts for making objects described in the following pages may be had, on request, of Information.—Editor. Combined Ice and Milk House for the Farm By J. HORACE VAN NICE COMBINED ice and milk house for the farm should appeal to the prac- 11 man who is looking for results with least expense and labor. The house iown in the drawing should cost much less than two separate buildings, and is Lin t both cert Oo ice MILK HOUSE 8 KIOx6: INSIDE ICE save and labor. — The milk hou just a room built inside the usual double walled ic« house, wl 'CE-HOUSE DOOR—- 1S he rT air sefve as insulator both. \ ge,about wide leads from the milk house a doorway in the ice house. Since the walls of this passage are double, and since it has two doors, there little loss through the necessary entering of the milk house. is removed from the means of a door on the side of the house opposite the entrance to the milk room. Sawdust used in the ordinary man ner to protect the ice, and to insulate the milk room from the ice chamber. It is also used on the floor of the milk room. If bars are laid across the ice door, as shown, sawdust can be held in front of it, so that ice may be piled clear up to the door. For the cooling of the milk room, ice racks along the three walls hold a large supply of ice which cools the room thor- the will an for pas Sa 3 “Ht. spac to is A Milk House Built Smaller Amount of Separate Buildings, and within Is, Ice house proper by is mM OF SAWDUST the Heat-Absorbing Surface Besides, oughly and at the same time lasts for long periods, since the room is well insu lated. These racks may be made of either wood, iron, or pipe, as desired. The larg: surface of ice exposed insures a tem perature almost impossible to obtain in the ogdinary milk house, and yet there is lit tle waste of ic: throus gh melt- Since the room e | y sd, be p with an ht if Oth- a lan- may be SO po yuld led electric lig possible

Vhic el Cc wiring ‘st com<¢ peed the ste should be illy well in sulated, owing to the large amount of moistu As in eg unusus re any ice house, better re will be ol tained if the build on its foundation to of air underneath thi and walls are double, complete dead-air space Then there should be at awdust between the ice and Also, there b sawdust between layer Presents a than Two to Construct oh ~ Ice House c 1] Cheaper ults is high circulation The providing a around the ice. least 6 in. of the walls or floor. a thick layer of of ice. While size, S enou insure floor. floor should the building may be built in any the milk room of the size given will in most cases hold all the milk on hand at one time. It will also provide storage space for other foods, vegetables, butter, and eggs.

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444 POPULAR Handiness is not the only adv antage of such a building. Since only one roof, one floor and one double outer wall have to be built, the combination is much cheaper than two buildings having the same ca- pacity. Again, the ice saved in the com- bination amounts to a great deal, both in time, money, and labor. For a farmer who harvests his own ice crop, such a building is an ideal investment. Platform for Empty Sacks A platform on which empty cement or plaster sacks can be sorted and baled is a 7 \I — CHALKED SS i — | {ug SS — S88 - BOARDS PLACED NM ABOUT 2” APART ae if PILE SACKS My A Special Platform for Collecting and Tying Up Sacks Effects a Considerable Timesaving in This Work an easily constructed convenience. It re- sembles an ordinary bench or table, ex- cept for its top, which is made of 6-in. boards, nailed a short distance apart on the horizontal pieces of the frame. The latter may be fastened to a wall and sup- ported by two legs on the opposite side, or provided with four legs. Sacks are sorted according to brand, and piled on the platform as indicated in the drawing. A crayon is used to write a figure on the top sack of each pile to indicate the num- ber of sacks in the pile. The spaces be- tween the top boards make it easy to pass baling wire under the piles—B. R. Glatts, Twin Falls, Idaho. Protecting Battery Terminals on Bench Tables for experimental work, or benches in repair shops where electrical testing is often necessary, are frequently equipped with BINDING POSTS m a) = two binding posts connected to a storage battery. = Unless care is al- Aw SNES ways taken to see = py that the switch is opened when the current is not needed, tools lying on the bench may be pushed against the posts, thus causing MECHANICS a short circuit. An effective insulator may be made of a piece of hard wood, about 1% in. square in cross section, and about 1 in. longer than the distance be- tween the posts. Near the ends of the piece, cut notches slightly larger than the binding posts, the notches to be cut on opposite faces, as shown. The wooden piece is then pivoted in the center, and on a line drawn between the two posts. Thus, when the binding posts are not in use, this insulator may be swung in po- sition to hide the posts in the notches, protecting them from unintentional short circuits —Kenneth Coggeshall, Webster Groves, Mo. Pressing Knees of Trouser Legs To remove bagginess from the knees of trousers, each leg of the garment is spread on a flat, padded surface, with the seams on the sides, and the front crease on top and in the center. The baggy por tion is then covered with a dampened cloth, to which a hot iron is applied. After this treatment, the trousers are pressed in the usual way. Oil Stone Kept in Bencl. Top First mount the stone in a block of 2 by 4-in. lumber, 4 in. longer than the stone. Then cut an opening in the a top of the work- TOP OF BENCH A bench that. will : exactly contain the block, when it is dropped in with the stone = down, and leave | the other side of om stone | \cLeaTs . MOUNTED the block just w siocK / \SHALLOW BOX flush with the top of the bench. If the bench is of 1-in. material, it will only be necessary to nai! a cleat across the underside of the benc h at each end of the opening, and to cut a shoulder at each end of the block so that it can drop down on the cleats tll the upper side is flush with the top of the bench. A _ shallow box, nailed by means of cleats on the underside of the bench, will keep out dust and provide a place for a bottle of oil. This arrange- ment will take up no bench surface, and the stone is always at hand. A thumb hold should be bored in one end of the block so that it can be lifted out easily and this end may be rounded off slightly to facilitate the lifting.

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POPULAR Remedy for Slipping Cone Clutch A hacksaw and a little ingenuity helped an autoist to get his heavily laden car through woods and over sandy roads, miles away from a garage, when the clutch slipped and failed to provide the neces- ary pulling power. The blade of the 1.w was broken into pieces as long as the vidth of the leather belt, and these were hen driven, at equal intervals, between he clutch and the leather. The latter vas thus raised, and, when engaged, the clutch held firmly, remaining in good con- dition for a long time. ‘The plan is an easy one, but care must be used to place the pieces of saw so as not to shear off the copper rivets——Loyal F. Garris, Jack- son, Mich. Support for Stock being Cut on Power Hacksaw Cutting long material in a power hack- saw is a difficult task unless some means is used for supporting the stock on a level with the bed of the machine. For this purpose a tripod can be made from iron or steel bars, which are shaped and as- sembled as shown by the drawing. The construction of the joint at the top of the three legs permits alterations in height by simply adjusting the spread of the legs. This feature makes it possible Peers ee | Stock Support for Power Hacksaw: The Height of the Tripod can be Varied by Changing the Spread of the Three Legs to use the support on an uneven floor, or on the ground.—Frank W. Roth, Joplin, Missouri. @ A nonheating knob for a pot cover may be made from an old fuse plug. The rivet in the end of the plug is removed, and the cover is attached by a small stove bolt. MECHANICS Baggage Rack over Car Hood rhe baggage rack shown in the accom- panying photograph is in daily use for carrying grips and suitcases of guests “eel V LOMA A Metal Rack, Placed over the Hood as a Baggage Carrier, Is Both a Convenience and an Adver- tisement for the Proprietor of the Hotel from the railway station to an Ohio hotel The rack is made of 3¢-in. pipe, mounted on two %-in. rods fixed to the cross member of the automobile frame. The floor is a lattice of iron strips 346 by 1 in. in size, placed about 4 in. apart. The rear end of the rack is supported on brackets which project from the cowl. The rack is 24 by 30 in. in size, and carries several heavy suitcases quite easily. Those on the driver’s side are laid flat in the rack in order to give a clear view of the road Potatoes Sprayed by Exhaust The exhaust of an automobile engine operates the potato-plant sprayer shown in the illustration. A length of pipe is brazed to the exhaust pipe of a touring car, or truck, and on the end of this is screwed a tee, with its lateral ning turned upward. A short length of connects the tee with a wye, into which are screwed two pipes, bent slightly up ward, and equipped at their oppo with elbows. The openings of th« are turned downward. The spraying-liqu container is placed near the back of tl vehicle, and connected with the pipes | means of a rubber hose, which is at tached to the lateral opening of the tee. A stop cock at the upper end of the ho controls the flow of liquid. To operate the device, the valve is opened, and the machine driven so that the ends of the orn

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446 POPULAR branching pipes pass over two rows of plants. The exhaust converts the liquid into spray, which is applied to the plants by the branching pipes. The contrivance -_ * Pa > ~~ 4) a pe 4 ~~ ED et ee ge Ae Rae He SORT. cory ars 8945 ae b SCR ae iat BES eR RRR. RE és tA Potato-Plant Sprayer: Two Rows are Treated at One Time by the Device, Which is Operated by the Exhaust of an Automobile Engine can be utilized for spraying various other vegetables. It is especially adapted for use with a mixture of paris green and water.—Paul L. Fetherston, Ottawa, III. Pneumatic Clamp or Vise Railroad repair shops are probably the greatest users of compressed air in the mechanical field, and devices such as the little vise, or clamp, in the accompanying sketch are very common. It consists of a cylinder, a piston with a triangular head on end of the piston rod, two clamping necessary jaws, and the frame for at- \Y/ i Where Compressed Air Is Available, a Useful Vise may be Operated by a Foot-Controlled Air Valve taching to a workbench. As made, the cylinder was a piece of ordinary wrought- iron pipe, while the piston, frame, and MECHANICS jaws were forged from scrap. The jaws shown were those used for clamping hose to pipe nipples, but other styles of jaws made the vise suitable for holding work for chipping, filing, or other operations With garages using compressed air in more and more ways, devices such as this soon pay for their cost in labor and ma terial. Manifold Heated by Concrete A motorist who experienced difficulty in starting his automobile engine, after letting it stand in a cold garage over night, constructed a concrete block, mold ing it to the exact shape of the intake pipe Two hooks for supporting it were .im bedded. The scheme involves no danger, as from fire in heating the manifold with an open flame, or troublesome disorders such as are likely to ensue when hot water is poured around the carburetor. The con crete form is heated by simply placing it inside the furnace door a few minutes prior to using the car; then it is taken —_ —EEE pes NT] & L “ CONCRETE INTAKE L. ™ MANIFOLD J A Cement Block is Heated in the Furnace and After- ward Hung on the Intake Manifold, Heating It Quickly for an Easy Start to the garage and hung on the side of the intake manifold. By the time the motorist is ready to “crank up,” the manifold is hot enough to vaporize the incoming gasoline, giving an immediate start. The block is carried under the hood at other times; if trouble occurs during the day, the owner can use the block again by reheating it in some convenient furnace or fire.——G. A. Luers, Washington, D. C. Fine Points of Valve Grinding The better the finish on valves and valve seats, the longer they will wear. When grinding valves, use only fine grinding paste, unless the valves are in very bad condition. This avoids a good deal of scratching and scoring, which is likely to occur with coarse com-

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POPULAR pound, unless the grinder is an expert. When the job is nearly finished, wipe all the abrasive off the valve only; put a little more oil on the seat with the re- mainder of the compound that sticks to it, and continue grinding. Wipe the seat it perfectly clean, leaving the paste on the valve. Repeat this a few times until the abrasive is “dead.” Then put little graphite and oil on, together with the remainder of the compound, and give a finishing rub. By this time the valve and seat will be very smooth and polished, and the surface will be in fine working condition Howard Greene, New York, New York. Handle for Rotating Shafts The shop mechanic rotate the other often finds it nec: shaft of a motor, machinery upon which making repairs. operation may met) be accomplished with (Pr “4 ease with the aid of a a \ detachable lever or aN crank. For shafts SS. under 1 in. in diam eter, it is suggested that the lever arm be made of mild steel 1 by 12 in. At one end a suitable handle is made, its axis be ing perpendicular to the 1 in. surface. At the other end, the steel strip is given a half twist, and the 1-in. width is formed around the shaft, as shown, the extreme tip of the strip being bent in to-catch in the keyway of the shaft. To turn the shaft it is only necessary to slip the curved hook of the handle over the end of the shaft so the tip will engage with the keyway, and turn as if cranking an automobile. This is an excellent tool for inspectors; they can thus easily rotate the movable parts so as to make a thor- ough examination. essary to engine, or he 1s rhis LEVER ARM HANDLE FOR REVOLVING ; Dy SHAFT ’ Gummed Paper in Machine Shop There are many cases when small ma- chine parts must be held together tem- porarily, for example while screws are being put in, or while adjustments are being made. In one shop, several widths of gummed paper, in rolls, are kept for just this purpose. The sticky tape is quickly and conveniently bound around any part and holds against moderately severe strains. MECHANICS Electric Lighter on the Bench for Gasoline Torches (Copyright, All Rights Reserved.) An electric lighter for gasoline torches, suitable for the shop, is shown in the PS ies VOLT CIRCUIT A.C.OR D.C *, | @ KEYLESS RECEPTACLES ) LAMP SANK quanees _ ) en Ser WOW OW oe She =a" a* 4m, 10-AMPERE FUSES NO.14 RUBBER- INSULATED WIRE LIGHTING WAND 7 | aah BLOWTORCH —— } SAR SHEET-METAL PLATE WOOD HANDLE — RUBBER -INSULATED FLEXIBLE CONDUCT Electric Lighter for Gasoline Torches, Installed on a Bench: The Device Obtains Current from an Ordinary Lighting Circuit drawing. Electricity is obtained from an ordinary lighting circuit, and either direct or alternating current can be used. A bank of multiple-connected incandescent lamps limits the current by resistance. One wire from the bank is attached to a metal plate, fastened on a bench, while the other terminates in the lighting wand, de- tailed in the illustration. When a torch is set on the plate, and the wand applied to the filled gasoline cup, the fluid is ignited by the resulting spark. If the number of lamps is increased, a better spark will be obtained. Fuses are installed as indicated. The holder for the wand is not essential, but is convenient. When the device by a circuit which has one of its side conductors grounded, the lead to the bank and plate should be connected to the grounded wire. In the case of a grounded neutral conductor in a three-wire system, the same lead should be connected to the neutral wire.—Alfred H. Hayes, St. Louis, Missouri. from some @ An efficient foot scraper is made a discarded currycomb attached at convenient point on porch or steps.

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HOW TO MAKE A FIRELESS COOKER By KENNETH COGGESHALL FIRELESS cooker is a device so constructed that, through the agency of insulating materials, accumulated heat may be retained. Just as the walls of a refrigerator insulate ice from any heat out- side the box, so a fireless cooker prevents heat radiation from its interior compart- ments to the relatively cooler surrounding air. Food, therefore, may be brought to cooking temperature, removed from the source of heat supply, and placed in a fireless cooker, where the process of cook- ing will continue. The construction of such a cooker is not complicated; no special tools, skill, or materials are required. And, because of its many advantages over stove cook- ing, every kitchen should contain a cooker as a part of its necessary equip- ment. Its use will accomplish a ma erial saving in fuel, decrease the time and la- bor of cooking, and eliminate heat and odors from the kitchen, and besides pro- vide thoroughly cooked, fully flavored foods. The requisite parts for such a device

are a box; a bucket or kettle for holding the food; a container, or other metal nest lining, for the bucket, and a quantity of good nonconducting or heat-insulating material. While the outside container may be made from any tightly constructed box, half barrel, or small trunk, a chest built for the purpose will not only present a more pleasing appearance, but will be more economical of space. One-inch cy- press boards, free from all knots and other defects, should be used. Cypress, if properly finished, will give beautiful grain effects, and is less expensive than hard woods. Lighter lumber should not be considered unless well braced; the pres- sure exerted in tamping in the insulating material is likely to bend out of shape the boards of the box, if they are thinner than the weight specified. The general appearance of the chest is shown in Fig. 1. The front and back are matched and fastened to cleats or cross pieces, as indicated in Fig. 2. Two end sections, seen in Fig. 3, are constructed

a HINGED TOP Ss TRUNK HASP OMT) FM CHEST HANDLE —— {1 | J | CYLINDER r | § CHAIN —— NEST SUPPORT } CYLINDER ‘ | (COVER ss 1h pT =z wu ; } » u \ ] 1... h-——— 16" --——— + nt Fic.3: ENDS, MAKE 2 HING | i ail ES e Fog St WY ——- = 1 f Dee == = SS t CASTER —— | — a weet Fia.4: TOP AND BOTTOM

. = —— 32" ——--—_-\_-. . ~~ © T Fic.2:FRONT & BACK ante

fic.5 : NEST SUPPORT | e In Figs. 1 to 5 are Shown an Assembly View of the Fireless Cooker, and Details of the Various Parts of th Chest. 448 This is Made Quite Solid, and Mounted on Casters for Easy Moving

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POPULAR MECHANICS similarly. Cross cleats are also utilized here, at both top and bottom, to hold the hoards in position. 449 even hard-coal cinders. If fireproof insu- lation cannot be obtained, a sheet of as- While the top and bot- tom sections, shown in = Fig. 4, are identical as to “2 NEST SUPPORT amen dimensions, they may be different as to finish. It is permissible to use rough, unfinished lumber or the bottom; the top should be constructed of elected cypress to match the sides and front of the Wood BOTTOM SOLDERED |, SEAM 75° | SEAM TOP AND BOTTOm OF COVER DEVELOPED CYLIWWER COVER: SHEET IRON PATTERN | —_ 285 - — Fic 8 CYLINDER COVER chest. Moreover, since both sides of the top are presented to view, the workmanship should be of the best. The sides, front, and SHEET STEEL DEVELOPED CYLINDER: TINNED OR GALVANIZED { — PATTERN hack should be first as- sembled, leaving the cover and bottom until later. Two inches from Fig. 6:CYLINDER AND PATTERN Fic .7: CYLINDER BOTTOM Fig 9 : FOOD CONTAINER the top edge of the chest, 1 wooden nest support should be fastened in po- ition. This support is constructed as shown in Fig. 5. Using a keyhole or band -aw, cut two 8-in. holes, at the positions indicated. lhe metal cylinder lining, illustrated in Fig. 6, is cut from sheet zine or galvanized iron; it is rolled into a cylinder, and the seam soldered. For a cylinder of this size, the developed dimensions of the flat metal will be as given in the pattern. It may be found possible to use heavy card- oard instead of sheet iron, but the latter is more durable and far more sanitary. lwo such cylinders are required. Prepare two wooden disks, detailed in lig. 7, to serve as bottoms for the cylin- ders. Fasten them in place, as shown in Fig. 6, with small nails. The free ends of the cylinders are then fitted in the 8-in. holes in the wooden support, and fastened with screws or nails. The nests being thus prepared, the insulation may be packed in place. Practically any material which will not conduct heat may be used as a packing. Mineral wool is perhaps the best, since it is fireproof, sanitary, and odorless. It is recommended for the cooker here de- scribed. Asbestos is also fireproof, and may be used with success. Ground cork, such as is used in packing grapes, is ex- cellent, and can probably be obtained from a fruit dealer. Other suitable in- sulators are Spanish moss, excelsior, wool, cotton, crumpled paper, hay, and Figs. 6 to 9 Illustrate Parts of the Two Cylinders Which Hold the Food Containers; Also a Suggestion as to the Container Itself bestos should be wrapped around the out- side of each: metal cylinder. With the chest upside down and the bottom removed, carefully pack in the insulating material. Every crevice, espe- cially. near the metal cylinders, must be tightly tamped full of the packing. Fill up, as far as possible, all air spaces which might cause heat convection. When the insulation fills the chest to the level of the edges, screw or nail the bottom sec- tion in place. The top should now be attached, the hinges being placed at the back. A light chain may be used to prevent the top from falling backward. Two chest f teners, secured at the points indicated it Fig. 2, may be utilized to hold the toy tightly closed when the cooker is in us A handle on each end of the chest will improve its appearance as well aid in moving the cooker about. Easy-running casters should be provided, one at each the bottom corners. Stain, oil, or varnish may be used to complete the finished sur- face of the chest. The construction of the insulating cover, seen in Fig. 8, requires some de- gree of skill in matching the 8-in. holes in the nest support. Two metal cylinders are formed, of dimensions given. Two wooden disks, as detailed, are required for each cushion. Fasten one of these in place as a bottom to the evlinder fill the container thus formed with the insu- + 1 disks

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450 lating substance, and attach the top wooden disk. After an addition of a wire handle, or a knob, in the upper disk, the assembled cushion appears as in the first view, Fig. 8. Needless to say, the kettles or contain- ers for cooking should be durable, and as free as possible from seams. Perpendicu- LIFTING WIRE : 7 1 | Lf ~ a

Fig.12 sTAND RIINFORCEMENT WIRE ) >) | | | ~| | - >) ~

x Fig.10:RADIATOR cw : Figs. 10 to 12 Illustrate = y* ra Some UsefulAccessories: | =~ a A Radiator, a Stand for Holding Utensils, and a Fig.1I:RADIATOR HOOK Metal Hook

lar sides are necessary to insure a tight fit in the nest. Obviously the container covers should also fit closely, to prevent the escape of steam. While it is possible to purchase utensils for use in fireless cookers, a bucket serves the purpose just as well. The cooker here described is de- signed to use two standard 6-qt. buckets. Larger containers may, of course, be sub- stituted, provided at least 4 in. of insu- lating packing surrounds them. While tinned ware can be used, experience shows it will rust after but short use. Enamelware, or better still, aluminum, insures longer service; a suitable con- tainer is illustrated in Fig. 9. If the han- dle is in the way, remove it, and provide two metal hooks for lifting the bucket out of the nest, similar to the one mentioned below for lifting the radiator. It is not always necessary, as experi- ence will prove, to furnish additional heat to assist the process of cooking. A much wider range of cooking, however, is pro- vided if an extra source of heat supply is available. Soapstone radiators may be purchased for fireless-cooker use, but a brick, or iron disk, such as a stove lid, proves just as efficient. A radiator to match the dimensions of each cooker is easily made of cement. Molds, similar to the cover cushions, should be provided. It is not necessary that the radiator he larger than 7'4 in. in diameter, and 3 in. in height. For reinforcement, a disk cut from heavy wire mesh, such as in Fig. 10, is employed. After the cement is poured in the mold, it must be placed in some lo- POPULAR MECHANICS cation where it will dry slowly to avoid cracking. Besides the reinforcement, jt is best to provide a lifting wire by form- ing a depression, exposing the middle part of a heavy wire imbedded in the cement. The radiator can then be lifted by grip- ping this wire with the hook shown in Fig. 11. The initial warming of the ra- diators should not be accomplished jy haste. This caution also applies to th use of purchased soapstones. Unless these stone radiators are stored in a warm, dry place, they will crack when heated on the stove. Two iron stove lid of the correct size, bolted together, mak: a much more durable radiator and one that may be heated to a high degree. Other accessories may be provided a required. A stand, for instance, such a is shown in Fig. 12, is convenient wh two pies or cakes are being baked in on compartment. This stand is made of light strap iron, formed as indicated. Pans can be placed both inside and on top of it Figs. 1 and 9 also present a method o placing a pan inside one of the buckets Food may thus be cooked in the botto: space while its retained heat assists the cooking of the contents in the pan above. Three angle lugs are riveted to the side of the bucket to form the pa support. sy referring to the sectional view o Fig. 1, the method of placing the variou parts in the nest may be seen. A smal dead-air space is permissible between the vessel and the cylinder walls, as circu! tion of air inside the cylinder cannot carry heat to the outside. A fireless cooker can be utilized to greatest advantage in preparing food which require long boiling, stewing, steaming. Such foods are soups, cereals meats, steamed bread or pudding, and vegetables. Obviously, large quantities o! food, because the accumulated heat 1 greater, will cook faster and more thor oughly. If it is necessary to prepare a comparatively small quantity of food, good results are obtained by putting it in some container similar to a baking-pow der can or a 1-qt. bucket, which should then be placed in the 6-qt. bucket, after pouring into the latter a suitable quantity of boiling water. The radiators, prev! ously heated to a high degree on thi stove, will assist in preserving a cooking temperature in the nest compartment. @Empty thread spools, attached to the wall by long screws or nails, make satis- factory clothes hangers.

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POPULAR Plate on Stove Distributes Heat Everyone is familiar with the so-called cannon stove used to heat small depots, railroad repair shanties, and the like. The MECHANICS 451 Gluing Press Made of Strap Iron and Pipe The photo shows a simple and effective clamp which was made for gluing the top of one of these stoves was recently fitted with i loose plate, made from old piece of boiler steel. lo fit the plate to the stove top required only the cutting of a hole in the plate, for the stove- pipe connection on top of the stove; after this had been done, the pipe was lifted and the plate slipped up over it. Primarily, the plate was to be used for hold- ing cooking utensils, but it was found that the - heat radiating upward along the sides of the stove was deflected downward and out- ward by the plate, so that a much larger area in the room was warmed than for- merly. Novel Method of Placing Valve Springs Secure two strips of %e-in. band iron of a length equal to the height of the spring when fully compressed, plus an allowance for a \4-in. bend - over at each end. While the valve spring is fully compressed in the bench vise, _ set one of these pieces on each side of the spring to hold it in compression. To both of them tie the ends of a piece of string, ibout 3 in. long. Now remove the spring, thus held, from the vise, and place on valve stem. After inserting the spring seat and key, take hold of the string loop ind jerk the iron pieces from the spring, which will snap into proper position. For time and labor saving, this method is very efficient —C. Nye, New York, N. Y. yg BAND IRON To remove stains from the hands, rub them well with a mixture of cornmeal and vinegar before washing in the usual way with soap and water. Laundry soap placed under the finger nails will prevent discoloration. sides and tops of cedar chests. Its ad- Where a Number of Large Panels are to be Glued Together, a Clamping Arrangement of This Type will be Found Handy vantage over the usual type of clamp is that it holds the strips in line securely, so that the glued surface is perfectly flat and true, while, with the common type of clamp, it is often necessary to plane off nearly half of the two surfaces in order to bring out warps and twists. This clamp consists of a solid table, having a top made of 2-in. material with a series of holes bored for each iron rod; eight round iron rods, and four pieces of strap iron drilled for the rods. Four straps are required for each set to be glued; they are piled up as high as de- sired. On the back side, blocks of wood are inserted between each rod and the built- up top; on the front side, wedge-shaped pieces of hard wood are driven in. The clamp shown will glue eight tops or sides at a time; it cost about $3 for material — Dale R. Van Horn, Lincoln, Neb. Irregular Ripsaw Filing The results of filing a crosscut saw can be observed quite well by looking down the channel between the points of the teeth, but with a ripsaw this cannot be done. A good way of inspecting the teeth of the latter kind is to bend and straighten it alternately at various points in its length; in this way the teeth can he observed with considerable accuracy. The reflection of light from the varicus teeth will also aid in telling whether they hove been given the correct shape and set.

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452 Improvised Hand Pile Driver The fact that there was no regular pile driver at hand did not retard the progress of certain bridge builders very long when they came to a pond. They simply took 10 of the timbers which were to go into the _ bridge, and covered them crosswise with 3- in. plank for a pontoon. They nailed 2 by 2-in. strips on two 4 by 4-in. pieces, 16 ft. long, and _ raised them as_ guides for the hammer, which was made from a log of maple, 14° in. square and 5 ft. long. Then, with a rope and block, as shown in the photograph, three men were able to drive eight piles in a day in solid blue clay. No trip was necessary; when the ham- mer was hoisted to the top the men let go the rope. A shorter hammer much larger in diameter was used at first, but would not stand the jar; that of smaller diam- t eter and greater length proved much more effective—W. S. Richards, Albany, Oregon. Adapter for Telephone Cords In using a pair of telephones of the kind employed in receiving radio mes- sages and for testing purposes, it is often desirable to have some means of connect- ing them to ordinary battery binding posts, which are not provided with holes for the in- sertion of the P jin. plugs on the end Com of the receiver cord. The easily made device shown in the sketch can be utilized for this purpose. A common ter- minal lug and a piece of brass tubing are the parts needed. The ferrule of the lug is bent around the tubing, which has first been split with a fine saw. The diameter of the tubing is such that the cord plug will fit in it tightly. Solder is used to — BENT AROUND AND GOLDERED TO SPLIT BRASS TUBE POPULAR MECHANICS asten the tubing to the lug. When it is desired to connect the instruments to an ordinary battery, the plug is pushed into the tubing, and the lug attached to the binding post in the usual manner. Thx lug can be removed from the plug when a hole for the latter is available—Frank SahImann, Manhattan, Kan. Engine Exhaust Heats Tank A farmer, who keeps his gasoline en- gine running almost continuously for operating a cream separator, grinding feed, pumping water, and other task: has devised a simple way to heat th: contents of a stock-watering tank with the exhaust. The exhaust pot, or muffler, is placed in the tank on a brick founda tion, which allows water to circulat around it. The exhaust gases pass through the pot, and are released by an outlet that extends above the surface of the water. The contrivance keeps the wate: at a moderate temperature—Chester C. Cook, McMinnville, Tenn. Gauge for Gear Setting A firm which sends out machinery to be erected, experienced much annoyanc: from the fact that gears were often set up with imprope: clearance, thus in en - creasing wear and SY tear. The difh- a , culty was over- > | come by an idea a obtained from a wire draftsman; h i s suggestion was to send out with HARDWOOD each gear a small BLOCK — hardwood _ block whose _ thickness represented exactly the clearance to be allowed between the tip of the tooth on one gear and the root of the other gear. By the use of this block a workman with- out great skill in millwrighting was en abled to space the gears so as to have the clearance exactly right. Benzine for Wringer Rolls The rubber rolls in clothes wringers become badly stained each time they are used. Even careful cleaning with soap and water will not prevent this. When they become almost black they leave streaks on delicate clothes. A little ben- zine, or gasoline, on a rag will cut the

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POPULAR stain off at once, leaving the rolls white nd clean. By turning the rolls, they are quickly cleaned. The benzine should be illowed to evaporate before the wringer used.—J. Horace Van Nice, Chicago, lilinois. Tool for Straightening Steel Bars In a shop which uses much bright, drawn-steel bar, from which are turned small shafts, the usual method of traightening with a bar, after mounting the shaft between centers, is not found very success- ful. More- over, it is bad for the lathe and lathe centers, To over- come this was the purpose of devising the bar straightener shown in the drawing. It is cheap, and can be quickly made, com- plete, by the lathe hand. This one is for a l-in. bar, and was turned and bored from a 2%4-in. bar; the large diameter was used to provide ample thread dis- tance for the straightening screw. “SHAFT Crane Helps in Unbolting Timbers Some scaffold uprights, that were dis- carded by the big shipbuilding company for which I worked, were being unbolted to obtain lumber for other purposes. The short lengths of timber which held the uprights in alinement had 10 or 12 bolts through them, and _ were difficult to remove. A crane being handy, I passed a cable around them, as shown in _ the sketch, and when the nuts had been removed from the bolts, signaled for “slow hoist” until the cable was pulled taut. Then I signaled “hoist,” and the pieces came off with little trouble. By the same method I have removed angle clips bolted to ways decking. A chain was used to get the angle clips off, as a cable cannot be made into a small enough loop. To get a chain taut on an angle clip requires a very slow hoist. The workman should stand to one side while the hoisting is in progress. —R. W. Goodwin, Philadelphia, Pa. CABLE “TIMBER ENDS MECHANICS Clips Hold Bearing Liners Automobile mechanics who experience trouble in keeping bearing liners in place when refitting connecting - rod bearings will find the clip illustrat- ed a convenience. Brass spring wire is used to make the device. The material is bent into shape with a pair of pliers. A set of clips can be attached to the bearings in a few seconds, and will hold the liners securely in place—Charles H. Willey, Concord, New Hampshire. BEARING LINERS Dishpan Makes Concrete Manhole Form An easy way to form the manhole for a concrete cistern top, or septic tank, is to use an old dish- pan of the desired size. This is set in the regular form, and the out- side gives the shape to the open- ing. The cover is then made by pouring concrete inside the pan up to the level of that outside, thus giving the proper 3 , bevel and insur- SoS eee Ses “=: ing a fit. Twisted wire, or a round piece of woven-wire fencing, can be used for reinforcing the cover or lid. A rod, or ring, should be put in and tied to the reinforcing for a handle— M. W. Lowry, Athens, Ga. REINFORCING FOR UD Saving Alcohol from Auto Radiator Alcohol placed in an automobile radi- ator to prevent the cooling system from freezing is lost rapidly by evaporation when the engine runs, as many motorists have learned from experience. To save the alcohol, a 1-gal. tin can is placed under the hood, and a hose, connected with the overflow pipe, is inserted in it. Alcohol vapor escaping from the overflow pipe will be condensed in the can.—Harlan J. Lindsley, Constantine, Mich.

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454 POPULAR Ladder Inaccessible to Children The sketch shows a ladder that cannot be climbed by children when the hinged section is fastened as indicated. It is an 4 It Is Impossible for Chil- dren to Climb This Lad- der When the Hinged Section is Elevated adult matter for an rungs and sidepieces into position. hinged section is 6 ft. long—Elmer O. Tetzlaff, Chicago, II. easy to lower the The Buggy Converted into Sleigh The illustration shows how eight pipe tees, two unions, four long nipples, and a few pieces of l-in. pipe may be con- nected so as to form a sleigh gear to at- tach to a buggy. The two long pieces of pipe are bent to form the runners, and the tees are screwed on at the ends. Then come the nipples and other tees. The spindles of a buggy should just slip TEES TO ATTACH BUGGY SPINDLES TO RUNNERS is Converted A Buggy Removing the Wheels, and Mounting on the Axle Ends a Runner Frame Made of Pipe and Fittings into a Sleigh by Merely inside the upper tees. The runners are held by replacing the nuts on the axles. They are stiffened below by short pieces MECHANICS of pipe and a union, connecting the other tees. The connecting pipe should be of such length that it will keep the runners parallel with each other. To attach thy gear, remove the wheels from the buggy, unscrew the short piece of pipe that con- nects the runners at each end, slip the [-joints over the spindles, replacing their nuts, and screw in the connecting pipe. The union is necessary in order that the pipe may be unscrewed at one end with- out screwing it in at the other.—H. F. Grinstead, Columbia, Mo. Boiler Tubes Measured While Hot Boiler tubes can be measured while the boiler is hot by employing two iron rods, as shown in the illustration. The hooked end of the long rod is pushed entirely through one of the tubes, then pulled back uritil the end of the hook rests on the boiler head. The short rod is in- serted in the fire box, and held against the tube sheet at the other end, besick the tube in which the long rod has been placed. While the rods are in this posi- tion, registering file marks are made on both of them, after which they are r FILE MARK Measuring Boiler Tubes with Iron Rods: This Method does Not Interfere with the Continuous Operation of the Boiler moved and laid on the floor, with the marks together. The exact length of th tube is ascertained by measuring the dis- tance from the end of the short rod to the end of the hook. A steel tape should be used for this purpose. To Find Small Cracks in Tools Small cracks in tools, frequently dif- ficult to locaté, can be found easily by using petroleum and chalk. The former is rubbed over the surface where the crack is suspected to be, and then re- moved with a rag. The chalk is then applied to the same surface. If a crack exists, the petroleum which has _ heen forced into it will come out at this time, and the line of the fracture can be seen in the chalk.—S. Leonard Bastin, Bourne- mouth, England.

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POPULAR MECHANICS Electric Toaster for Starting Auto An old electric toaster is used by a middle-western motorist to assist in starting the engine of his automobile in cold weather. The toaster is placed under the hood, connected to a socket, and lowed to remain in operation for about 30 minutes. Enough heat is then given off to make it easy to start the machine.— Kkalph C. Busbey, Columbus, Ohio. Chicken Coop Made from Trunk A good two-compartment coop for sit- ting hens, or hens with chicks, can be quickly made out of an old trunk, the traps on the ends enabling the owner to transport it conveniently. The hinged cover permits examination of the occu- pants from above, and the walls are not likely to admit drafts. lhe trunk is divided across the middle a partition which reaches nearly to the top, and which, for genegal purposes, hould be made of boards, as there will then be no trouble between sitting hens. lor fowls brooding chicks, however, a poultry-wire partition, chicken-size, is adequate. The coop entrances are rectangular holes, 6 in. wide and 8 in. high. For one of the two compartments the entrance is made in the trunk front at the bottom, midway between the partition and the end; and for the other one it is in a cor- responding position at the back. The purpose of making entrances on opposite ides is partly to prevent trouble between broods, and partly to enable each brood to get in and out without crowding. Kach of these entrances is furnished with two light wooden doors, hinged at the side, one above the other. The upper door is 5% in. high, and the lower one 2'5 in., the latter being used when it is desired to confine the hen, but release the chicks, For ventilation, an opening is cut in each end of the trunk lid, about 8 in. long and 2 in. wide, and wire mosquito netting is stretched across it. There should also be a row of air holes about % in. in diameter, along the trunk wall, eight or ten being allowed to each compartment. If the trunk has a rounded top, all that is needed to make the roof rainproof is some oilcloth, roofing paper, or other waterproof material. This is tacked on tightly, and the edges are allowed to ex- tend an inch or so beyond the front and back, so as to protect the walls. If the 455 top is flat, the necessary pitch can be given to the roof by cutting a 2-in. piece of wood the same length as the trunk, and nailing it along the top in the middle. A Few Changes Turn an Old Trunk into a Two-Com- partment Chicken Coop Which Lasts for Years It is good policy to make these changes in such a way that the job will be perma- nent, as the coop, if stored away carefully after each brooding season, will last in- definitely —J. T. Bartlett, Boulder, Colo. Jack Made from an Old Monkey Wrench With a little labor, an old monkey wrench can be converted into a small jack, which can be used in places where it is impossible to employ an ordinary jack, because of its size. The movable jaw of the wrench is cut with a hacksaw, as indicated, to form the base of the de- vice. Two holes are made in the knurled head, and in these are inserted small rods, which serve as levers to turn the screw. The cap is shaped on a lathe, after which a hole is bored in it to receive the end — CuT OUT ON OOTTED LINES MONKEY WRENCH A Handy Small Jack, Which can be Used When an Ordinary Jack Is Too Large, is Made from an Old Monkey Wrench of the screw. A small pin, inserted in the side of the cap, fits in a groove around the screw, and holds the two parts to- gether. A steel ball serves as a bearing. —S. E. Gibbs, Ames, Ia.

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456 Funnel with Breather Tubes The inefficiency of a common funnel is due to the fact that while the liquid is being poured into the receptacle to be filled, the air is compressed with- in and a resultant back pressure oc- curs. The funnel il- lustrated has vent pipes leading from the bottom to the top of the funnel. Ilhese pipes carry off the air in the receptacle as the liquid is being poured in, and hence permits rapid pour- ing. Larger funnels may be equipped with larger vent pipes. ~ WIRE GAUZE

| __- COPPER TUBES Service Button Fastened on Coat COMMON PIN To prevent the loss of a military- service badge, use an ordinary pin on the back of the coat lapel. Insert the pin at right angles to the but- tonhole, close to the shank of the badge.

SERVICE BADGE Recovering Tools from a Deep Well Small tools accidentally dropped into a deep drilled well can be recovered easily with the simple device shown in the illus- tration. An old buggy spring is cut in half, and the two sections are inserted in one end of a 3-ft. length of iron pipe, with their concave curved sides facing each other. The end of the pipe is flattened slightly to permit the pieces to be fitted, and wooden wedges are driven in to hold them firmly in place. To re- trieve a hammer, au- ger, wrench, or other similar implement, the NAN ends of the springs are separated, and a nail or stick is placed between them. The contrivance is then lowered into the well by means of a rope, attached to a wire bail at the opposite WIRE BAIL —=> SPRINGS

POPULAR MECHANICS end of the pipe, and alternately raised ; few inches from the bottom and dropped again. When the springs come astride the object sought, the latter dislodges the stick or nail, and the springs grasp the object itself, holding it firmly so that it can be brought to the surface—L. M Jordan, .Wallace, Ala. Notches Take Place of Cigar Cutting Try cutting two notches near th end of a cigar, in stead of cutting off the tip. The smoke will b-« drawn around th side of the tongue, and the teeth, fit ting in the notches, will hold the cigar firmly in the mouth.

CUT NOTCHES

Timesaving Elevator Sign In a building where there are two ele- vators, only one of which is required at certain times to carry the traffic, signs

have been in- stalled on the ele- —_—_—————— vator-shaft doors, at THE which enable the E TAKE operator very : ry [ELEVATION quickly to notify “OTHER Ee persons on all ee floors which ele- vator is running. The sign placed on each door con- sists of two parts, the lower one be- ing attached solidly to the door, while the upper swings on hinges, as illustrated. When the up- per half is swung up, the sign reads “Please take the other elevator;” when it is swung down, the sign is entirely hid- den. <A spring holds this upper half in either position. When one of the eleva tors is to be stopped, the operator has only to step out at each floor, and swing up the upper half of the sign. @An ordinary cork, of sufficient size, should be attached to the boat key by means of acord. The idea is that, should the key be accidentally dropped into the water, it would not sink to the bottom and become lost.

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POPULAR MECHANICS Cold-Weather Auto Starting Less effort will be required to crank an automobile motor on a cold day if a filled hot-water bottle is placed on the carburetor, and allowed to remain for a few minutes. During this time the hood should be covered with a blanket. In case a tight clutch makes the cranking opera- tion difficult, one of the rear wheels should be jacked up, a block placed be- fore the iront wheels, and the gears meshed for direct drive. It is then easy to crank the engine. When the motor starts, the gears should be shifted to neutral, and the brakes applied to stop the back wheel, before the jack and block are removed.—H. E. Lloyd Owen, Port Arthur, Can. Improved Thread Tool for Lathe An improved threading tool is shown together with the common type, in the diagram, the former being that at the right. The old kind cuts on both sides of the 60° angle, while the new one cuts only on one side of the angle. The compound rest is swung around to 60°, as shown. In this way the thread is cut as a regular turning operation, the metal being peeled off on the cutting side only, and not torn off on both sides. This difference results from the impos- sibility of giving any side rake to the common type of tool, while the im- proved tool may be given the proper side rake, producing the correct-shaped cutting edge. When using the mproved tool, advance into the work by the compound-rest <a Or | palates When the Lathe Has a Compound Rest, a Threading Tool of This Type will Pro- duce Cleaner Work, Especially in the Hands of a Beginner “SCREW FOR’ r FEED screw. This will produce a thread which will be found smooth and free from cus- tomary tear marks.—S. B. Royal, Phila- delphia, Pa. Old Ice Tongs for Tire Work An old pair of ice tongs can be used to make a handy bench tire spreader for a garage. The tongs are taken apart, and their points dulled, so that no injury will

A Tire Spreader, Made from a Pair of Old Ice Tongs, Is a Very Useful Device When Installed on a Garage Bench be done to a casing, after which they are pivoted 10 in. apart, on a !%5-in. iron rod, as shown in the drawing. Lengths of pipe on the rod hold the parts in position. Another rod is used to join the parts. The first rod is fastened to two uprights under the bench, and the second is con- nected with a pedal, made of strap iron. The tongs pass through two slots in the top of the bench. Small pieces of strap iron, bent into hooks, are fastened to the edge of the bench as indicated. A notched piece of strap iron, bolted to the floor, holds the pedal in different positions. One edge of a casing is gripped by the strap-iron hooks, and the other by the ends of the tongs. When the pedal is pushed down, the tire is spread open, so that it can be repaired—Dale R. Van Horn, Lincoln, Neb. Floors Built to Keep Out Coid When laying flooring on the first story of houses which are not to be heated by a furnace, it is of great advantage to cover the subfloor with building paper, strip with lath over the joists, and then lay the finish floor over the lath. This leaves a “dead-air” space between the floors, which will not conduct the cold through to the rooms like double floors laid together—E. Ritchison, Modale, Iowa.

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458 Underground Water Reservoir Aids Growth of Trees Trees growing along the sidewalks of city streets are likely to wither unless special precautions are taken to supply the roots with moisture. A concrete pave- ment prevents the necessary quantity of surface drainage from reaching them, so that the needed nour- ishment must be col- ; al : Barrels, 20 to 30 Feet Apart, are Buried beneath the Concrete Sidewalk to Act as Cisterns and Provide Artificial Irrigation lected by artificial means. Dig a pit in the sidewalk on each side of the tree, sufficiently far from the trunk to leave room for the roots. A distance of 10 or 15 ft. will be about right, as the roots ex- tend underground for a considerable dis- tance. Bore a number of 1-in. holes through the staves of two old paint bar- rels, and bury one of them in each pit, with the open end down, and the upper end just below the level of the pavement. Connect each barrel by a pipe with the gutter, and provide it with some sort of strainer to keep the dirt out while letting water run into the barrels. These will then act as a cisterns, and the water accumu- lated in them will percolate through the holes in the. staves and nourish the roots of the tree.—T. B. Lambert, Chicago, IIl. Improving Flame of Small Torch Small gasoline torches that pro- duce red, sputter- ing flames. will give better service if the burner and supply pipe are connected by GASOLINE TORCH heat - conducting strips. The torch will then burn with a very hot blue flame. POPULAR MECHANICS Automobile Painting Easily and Rapidly Done Automobile owners who contemplate refinishing their machines should give consideration to the method used in paint- ing army motor cars and trucks. These vehicles are painted at frequent intervals, but nevertheless are kept in constant service. This is made possible by the use of a paint, which is made by mixing white lead and coloring pigment with linseed oil, and adding a relatively large quantity of drier. It requires about an hour to apply a coat of this paint to an ordinary car, which is less than the time required for waxing and polishing—a temporary remedy. The paint dries in eight or ten hours, so if the car is painted at night, it can be driven the following morning. Before the actual painting is done, the car is carefully washed with soap and water, and rough spots are smoothed with steel wool. As no varnish is used, dust does not spoil the appearance of the coat, and the work can be done in any garage. Drawing Water from Lake Far Below A farmer whose home is situated on high ground adjacent to a small lake raises water from the latter for his stock and _house- hold use by means of a simple home- made device whick cost little to con- struct. A %- in. wire cable is stretched between a standard erected on an elevation, near the lake, and a_ heavy anchor about 15 ft. from shore. On this is a traveling block, equipped with a hauling line. The latter is attached to a rough wooden drum lo- cated at the base of the standard. Sus- pended from the block is a 4-gal. tin can, so weighted that it tilts and fills when it reaches the surface of the water. When filled, the can is pulled up the slanting cable by rotating the drum with a crank provided for that purpose. Its contents are then emptied into a bucket or other container, for carrying to the house.

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POPULAR MECHANICS Electrolytic Rectifier for Charging Storage Batteries By THOS. W. BENSON HE automobilist or experimenter will find the rectifier to be described cheap to construct and quite efficient. It is of the single-cell type, but by using three electrodes and a special lamp bank it utilizes both sides of the cycle. This construction is much cheaper than the use of an auto transformer, and but little less efficient. The lamp bank and_ switches are mounted on a board, 1 ft. wide and 2 ft. long. Eight lamp sockets are mounted in two rows, with two double-pole witches at the bottom. These should be 10-ampere indicating snap switches, wired as shown in the diagram. The terminals for connecting to the storage cell to be charged are located at the lower edge of the board. The board is mounted on the wall convenient to a source of alternat- ng current, a shelf to hold the rectifier cell being placed above it. For the cell container, any large glass, or porcelain, jar will serve. The jar from a 300-amp.-hr. FEdison-Lalande primary battery is ideal, the cover forming an ex- cellent support for the electrodes. If one of these cells is not available, any jar 7 in. in diameter and 12 in. high may be used. Make a cover of wood, and im- pregnate it with paraffin. Three holes are drilled in the cover, to support the plates. The plates measure 3 in. wide, 11 in. long, and Y%e in. thick, two being of aluminum, the other of iron. Holes are drilled in the ends of the plates before bending, and then they can be mounted in the wood cover by bolts that form ter- minals. Connections are to be made to these terminals by flexible leads. The solution put in the jar is made up in the following manner: To every 2 qt. of water add two tablespoonfuls of car- bonate of soda and three tablespoonfuls of alum. Stir well and dissolve thor- oughly before inserting the plates. The apparatus is then ready for use. Screw eight 32-cp. carbon lamps into the sockets, and turn the left-hand snap switch. The lamps should light up to half brilliancy. The storage battery to be charged is connected to charging ter- minals by flexible leads, taking care that the positive post on the board is con nected to the positive terminal of the battery. Turning the right-hand switch will start the battery charging. This outfit is quite practical and serv- iceable. The maximum direct current ob- tainable is four amperes; this can be ex- ceeded for short runs by using more lamps, but the jar will heat badly and will boil if the overload is continued too long. The outfit as described should give four T , A oe non ALUMINUM DETAIL. OF ELECTRODE MOUNTING = LAMP SOCKETS CELL a FRONT VIEW OF ¥ COMPLETE RECTIF ven CONNECTIONS An Electrolytic Rectifier Provides an Inexpensive Means of Charging Batteries amperes continuously without overheat- ing. A number of storage batteries may be charged in series, and for high ef- ficiency this is the preferable method of operating the device. Grindstone Frame Made from Part of an Old Bicycle By using part of a discarded bicycle, Georgia farmer fashioned the ient foot - power grindstone shown in the accompany- ing illustration. The rear section of the frame was mounted on a wooden standard, and the circular stone substituted for the rear wheel of the machine. The value of the idea will be quick- ly seen by any- one who has at- tempted to use an ordinary hand-power grindstone without the help of an assist- ant. The arrangement supplies a_ball- bearing device which is very easily oper- ated.—Searle Hendee, Winnipeg, Can. conven-

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460 Oil-Well Casing as Air Tank At a western oil company’s shops, an oil-well casing, closed by welding at both top and bottom, serves aS a com- pressed-air tank. The air is main- tained at very great pressure in this shop, and the casing makes a safe receptacle for storing the air. Besides, being placed in a corner of the shop, it does not take up valuable room. It is supported on a wooden base about 1 ft. above the floor. The idea may be interesting to many small shops in the oil districts—C. W. Geiger, San Francisco, Calif. Stand Attached to Tobacco Pipe A device that will prevent a to- bacco pipe from tipping over is made by bending . a piece of wire to ‘ : fit on the stem \Y / and extend under _ » 2 the bowl. Garr wine a Repairing Auto Tire on Rim Cuts and holes in tires can be repaired very satisfactorily with cement and tire cut in- putty. It is quite TRE a job, however, to S get the cut a cleaned out so the 1 \- cement will stick, 0) be. especially when \y a\ the tire is on the \\\\teds ‘rim; but it can be eT | \ done very easily ||| if the tire is de- || flated and an ordi- IN nary wood screw a clamp is placed on the tire, as shown. By tightening the screw, the cut will be spread out, and can then be easily cleaned with a stick and a rag soaked with gasoline. Apply ce- ment and putty before removing the clamp. This makes an extra good repair. —Chas. Albert, Chicago, II. POPULAR MECHANICS Testing Tool Steel at the Forge Good steel may be easily distinguished from poor-grade stock by the following simple means. Heat the steel to a good cherry red, then hammer the surface well at the forge with a flat-faced hammer, as though the piece were being drawn out. It is again returned to the fire and heated to a cherry red, then plunged into water to quench it. The piece is struck with a hammer to make the scales come off. The surface left after this treatment is the index to the quality of the steel. If the entire piece scales off clean. leaving a white surface, the steel is of the best grade and about 100 points carbon; that is, one per cent. If the scales come off in patches, leav- ing a speckled surface, and the scales partly attached to the metal are very thin, the steel is of a good grade and about 75 to 80 points carbon. If the scales come off in patches and the remaining scales are thick and heavy, the steel is a medium-grade of 40 to 5) points carbon. If the piece does not scale off at all, it is very poor grade and low in carbon. If the fire in which the work is heated is smoky, the degree of whiteness under the scales will be less pronounced, but the scaling process will be no different. By these simple tests, the mistake of making a good tool from a piece of poor steel is avoided, as a piece of low grack sometimes gets in the rack with the good grade steel. It is only necessary to test a small end. This may be done by cut ting off a piece, or by leaving it on the bar, which will save the waste of any ma- terial. To Renovate Typewriter Ribbons Typewriter ribbons that have become dry, causing the letter impressions to be faint, can be restored to good condition by putting a few drops of any light ma- chine oil on their edges as they are wound. After the oil has permeated all parts of the fabric, which requires only a little time, the writing will be improved. Paraffin Repairs Leak in Float To repair small leaks in a hollow-metal float, the device should be placed in melt- ed paraffin, and rotated until the surface is completely covered with the wax. This treatment fills the holes, and serves also to protect the float from corrosion.

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POPULAR Signs Made of Gummed Paper Price signs for retail stores can be made by combining ordinary wrapping paper and gummed paper tape such as used in- stead of string to tie parcels. Suitable lengths of the tape are stuck on a_ piece ol wrapping paper to form letters. If dif- ferently colored strips of tape are used, the attractiveness of the signs is in- creased. Protection for Film While Scraping Motion-picture machine operators who splice many films will find constant use for a device which protects the film while it is being scraped to remove the emul- sion. Although the emulsion must be removed before the two surfaces can be cemented together, great care must be taken to avoid scratching the next picture. A 2 by 4-in. piece of sheet brass, riveted at ne end to a 3 by 4-in. piece, provides the necessary protection. The film to be scraped is slipped between the two pieces with the edge of the picture nearest the break held just under the edge of the smaller brass piece. The projecting por- tion of the film is easily scraped with a knife, while the whole film is kept from slipping by pressing down on the upper piece of brass. SCRAPE WITH PENKNIFE SHEET BRASS RIVETED TOGETHER

MOVIE FILM PRESS HERE > Adjustable Countersink on Drill The tool illustrated drills a countersink in one operation. It is adjustable so that any depth of hole ADJUSTING COLLAR can be drilled. The attachment fitted to an ordi- nary twist drill consists of a collar containing a sét- screw and a plate made of hardened

and ground tool steel. The plate, SS <x «COOr:=s cutting tool, SSN A __ fits into a flute of MAA IG SW OMY MMO the drill, and is at- tached to the col- lar with a screw. Separate tools are required for each size drill—W. R. Calver, Brooklyn, N. Y. MECHANICS

461 Numbered Parking Spaces for Autos The method of numbering motor-park- ing spaces illustrated by the accompany- ing photograph has been found highly advantageous at a western naval base.

By Numbering the Parking Spaces about a Naval Reservation, the Various Motor Vehicles are Easily Found The idea might well be employed about large industrial plants, or other places where numerous motor vehicles are in use. Thus, the officer who instructs an en- listed man to report to headquarters with a certain machine has only to say that it is in parking space No, 15, for instance, and the man knows exactly which ma- chine is meant. With the usual system it is necessary to designate machines by make, description, and even license num- bers, which causes considerable waste of time. Funnel Spout for Oilcan The _ spout - equipped oilcan illustrated is made by soldering together a l-gal. tin sirup can and an ordinary funnel. The latter is cut diagonally across the flare, and a hole is cut in the top of the can to fit it. The funnel is then soldered to the top. FUNNEL Spraying Removes Old Wall Paper Old wall paper should always be re- moved in order to insure a smooth sur- face for the new paper. To do this eas- ily, fill any common hand sprayer with clean water, preferably quite warm, and spray the walls and ceiling thoroughly. In a few minutes the paper will soften and can be quickly removed with the aid of a large knife, or spatula—Milton P. Matthews, Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

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462 Compressed Air for Oiling Automobile Springs Many people try to avoid the disagree- able job of greasing auto springs, by applying a light oil to the side of the ° 2 a OT | sxc | arn \ SECTION OF SPRINO “aes END SAWED © For the Car Owner Who cannot Find Time to Grease the Springs in the Reliable Way, Compressed Air Offers Interesting Possibilities spring, trusting to its tendency to “creep” in between the leaves. Some of it usu- ally does, but not enough to do much good. Of course the body of the car is first jacked up, so as to let the weight of wheels and axles open the spring as far as possible. If compressed air is available, or even a helper to work the tire pump, a blast of air directed against the side of the spring will usually carry a part of the oil in where it belongs. The sketch illustrates the method. A nozzle may be improvised from an old tire valve, as shown at the right. A little fine-flaked or powdered graphite mixed with the oil will make its effect much more lasting—John A. Prior, New Haven, Conn. Ladle for Soldering Wire Joints Electricians will find the ladle illus- “ated a convenience for soldering wire joints on ceil- ings, where the use of a torch is inad- visable. The bowl is made WOODEN HANDLE SMALL ROD -—_ y-!Z REDUCER from a pipe reducer, into F the smaller Y PIPE PLUG end of which is screwed a ming. The rod is threaded and screwed ty a tapped hole in the side of the re- ducer. A wooden handle completes the device. Cold solder is prevented from POPULAR MECHANICS falling out of the ladle by the threads inside the reducer.—k. B. Miller, San Francisco, Calif. Cigar Ash Used as Silver Polish Cigar ashes are excelient for polish- ing silver and nickelplated ware. Use a soft, slightly moistened cloth, or chamois skin, and dip it in the ashes; then rub the ware with a circular motion, fin- ishing with dry chamois skin. Cut glass, china, mirrors, watch dials, and electric- light bulbs, too, will acquire a high gloss Red with such _ polish.—Al. Cloud, Neb. Schaal, Chip Guard for Brass Turning A guard, to pro- tect the eyes from flying chips when brass is turned on a lathe, is made from a small piece of tin. The tool- post screw holds the device in place on the tool. Removing a Broken Tap When a tap breaks off inside a hole, especially if the metal being tapped is iron of steel, it is quite a job to get the broken piece out of the hole. Often the most practical method is to soften the piece with a blowtorch in or- der to drill it out, but this method is by no means re- liable. \ Where it is pos- sible to use the part with a larger screw than had been intended, a good method of extract- ing the tap fragment is shown in the dia- gram. Drill two smaller holes as indicated by the dotted lines, so as to fit into the flutes of the tap. After these holes are made, it is comparatively easy to knock the fragment around far enough so that half of the cutting edges of the tap come into the two holes, thus loosening the piece entirely. It can then be lifted or dropped out. It is now necessary to run a larger-size drill down the hole and retap it, substituting a screw of appro- priate size.

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Hu | | Wi KH HM Information as to where to obtain any specified materials or parts for making objects described in the following pages may be had, on request, PZ il In| 2 1 Wiig > Gil 4Eo! it =e 9 from our Bureau of Information.—Editor. Coasting without a Hill By DALE R. VAN HORN WO timbers for uprights, some scrap lumber, rope and a piece of pipe, and a smooth lot, make winter coasting pos- sible where a hill, or other incline, is lack- ng, For the framework, two uprights, 14 ft. long, are set 8 ft. apart and 3 ft. into the ground, with a piece across the top, for a brace. Ten inches below the top brace, two 114-in. holes are drilled to take the pipe shaft. Before the pipe is put in place, however, the drum and_ ropes should be arranged. The drum is built up of two sets of wooden disks, cut from 1 or 2-in. material. One set is cut 8 in. and the other 12 in. in diameter. Each 8-in. disk is nailed in the exact center of the larger one, the grain of the two crossed to prevent splitting, and a hole is bored in the center to accommo- date the shaft. The disks are attached to the pipe by means of %-in. steel rods, which pass through holes drilled in the shaft and are fastened to the disks by staples or bolts. The inside disks provide the surface for nailing the strips, which complete the 14" PIPE : aa BRA KIGAEFT J A Weight-Operated Drum Overcomes the Lack of Hills and Gives Children All the Pleasures of Coasting and Healthful Exercise in the Open drum. QOne-inch strips, 3 in. wide, are cut to length, spaced 1 in. apart, and ‘nailed on.’ Holes should also be drilled at each end of the pipe to take small bolts or pins, to prevent its slipping out of the upright frame. Still another hole is drilled 20 in. from the end on one side, to take a small bolt, to which the rope supporting the weight is attached. The illustration shows the device after it has been set up. A hundred feet of small rope should be obtained, one end of which is attached to the drum, the free 20° Details of the Wind- f 7“ ing Drum, Showing _ 3 -—STAPLES Arrangement of the tJ 4 : Ww £ é 3 ooden Disks and | }-——- "— at @ STEEL ROO Siats and Method of t¢'—___} Attachment ————— ot end being held by the coaster. Twelve feet of 42-in. rope is required for support- ing the weight, an end of this rope being fastened to the bolt already provided. Now for the fun: Wind all the rope on the drum, leaving the weight, which may be an old bucket filled with stones, on the ground. When the small rope on the drum is unwound, it will wind up the other rope and raise the weight. Since very little pull is required to draw a loaded sled over hard-packed snow, a bag of sand may serve as well as a stone-filled bucket for the weight. Then take the end of the small! rope and walk away with it. When the rope has been unwound, the weight will be raised high in the air. Still grasping the rope, give the sled a shove and steer for the space between the uprights. As it passes underneath, let go of the rope and the sled will sail far beyond. A few trials will get the track well packed and the more one uses it, the farther one will go. To prevent the rope from winding too 463

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464 POPULAR far on the drum and out of reach, tie a small weight to the end, which can be used as a handle. Guy wires* should also be attached, as shown, to prevent swaying. Even though there may be no snow on the ground, a track may be made by cov- ering the ground with water until a coat- ing of ice is built up. Chair With Built-In Desk for Writing or Study A small detachable desk, which can be placed on the arms of almost any chair, is a convenience easily made. It will be fully appreciated by the stu- Students and Writers will Find This Detechahte-Desk Chair a Great Convenience dent or letter writer. The illustration shows how the desk is assembled. The crosspiece in front is l-in. square, and the boxes that fit on the chair arms are made from %-in. boards. A _ board, 7 in. wide, is used for the slanting top. The back crosspiece is shaped to form a trough at the lower edge of the top, to hold books and papers in place, and to prevent pens and pencils from roll- ing off. The wood should be stained and varnished to match the chair.—Leo Rosasco, Indianapolis, Ind. Light Aids in Trimming Prints To get evenly cut margins when trim- ming photographic prints, arrange a light in such a manner that it will illuminate the print from underneath. This is ac- complished by placing a light or a re- flector below the trimming board. Then, when the print is placed a certain distance over the edge of the board, the extending part of.the print will be distinguished by the light showing through it, and it will thus be possible to cut even margins on all prints—Frederick C. Davis, St. Joseph, Mo. MECHANICS Paint Mends Leaks in Pail Small leaks in the bottom of a gal- vanized-iron pail can be mended by a very simple method. The outside of the bottom is given a heavy coat of paint. Before this is dry, a piece of strong cot- ton cloth, cut to fit inside the rim, is placed on the paint-covered surface, and all wrinkles are pressed out. The next day a coat of paint is applied to the ex- posed surface of the cloth, care being taken to cover all parts. The edges should not be neglected. The pail should not be used until the paint has dried thoroughly, which requires several days.—S. H. Kee- nan, Los Angeles, Calif. Marksmanship by Magic In this trick the performer brings forth a box on which is a stand for a piece of wire and an ordinary electric lamp. When this is connected up to the regular 110- volt current, the lamp lights. The per- former loads a pistol, takes it about 20 ft. away from the box; aims, fires, and the lamp goes out. Upon examination of the fine piece of wire (No. 36 gauge), it is found severed in two parts. “Fine shooting”’—but it is done with a blank cartridge! In the upper part of the illus- tration is shown the box and ap- paratus as the audience sees it. Below is the in- ternal diagram. The circuit does not go. directly from the fine wire to the lamp, though a fake connec- tion can readily be mounted on top of the box. Actually the current goes through the relay below. The performer loads the pistol with a blank cartridge and fires; the noise caused by the discharge sends a slight current through the relay. This is caused by the sensitive microphone and hattery. An induction coil in the circuit — TO 110-VOLT "Re FINE WIRE comes, INOUCTION_| COIL SENSITIVE MICROPHONE —~ J BATTERY ——— may help the action of the relay. The relay magnet pulls its armature away from one contact, and the armature touches the other contact. This is wired, as shown, so that the bulb is short-cir- cuited, and all the current goes through the piece of fine wire, instantly melting it by the heat produced. Thus both the immedi- desired effects are caused: the

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POPULAR MECHANICS ate going out of the light, and the break- ig of the wire. fhe fact that the trick is so mystifying due to the apparently simple nature of the apparatus. This effect may be eightened still more by making the box im a solid piece of fairly heavy timber, jlowed out to contain the microphone nd the coil—Philip A. Wall, Bedford, \assachusetts. Stovepipe Joiner To connect lengths of stovepipe easily nd quickly, take an old lard pail, which is tapered in form. Remove the ears and bail, cut a slit on the side, as shown, and fasten a wooden handle to the smaller end. To use, the larger end of the pail is placed over the end of the inner pipe length, and _ the outer pipe is slipped over the ail, as shown. When the pipes are in the proper position, a slight pull on the handle removes the pail and leaves the sections connected.—Riley Edwards, Cin- cinnati, Ohio. TAPERED PAIL Aerial Connector Block The weakest point in many amateur wireless-telegraph stations is the connec- tion between the aie apne aerial wires and | | the wire leading to aoe foes ee a the instruments. If the connector block shown in the drawing is in- stalled, loose joints will be avoided, and sol- der will be unnec- essary. The de- vice is made from a strip of brass or copper, 101% in. long, 3g in. wide, and ¥% in. thick, which is bent into a triangle. Wires pass through holes in one side of the triangle, and are fastened to the other two sides with brass screws. The ends of the strip are held together with a small screw bolt, and the instrument wire is clamped between them.—Lawton Shee, Oak Park, II. ‘J rv wil _— wiRE LEADING To NSTRUMENTS A Hingeless Tool Box Although no hinges are used to attach the lid of the tool box illustrated, it can Le ‘locked as securely as if these fittings were employed. The lid is made in two sections, one of which is at- tached perma- nently to the box, with nails or screws. Two cleats are fasten- ed on the other section, with their ends projecting over one edge, as shown. When the box is to be closed, the ends are thrust under the fixed section, and the removable section is dropped into position. Almost any type of lock can be used on the box, but a padlock, with hasp and staple, probably is the most suitable.— George H. Holden, Chester- field, England. Snap Fasteners as Electrical Connectors In electrical work, it is often necessary to make a connection that can be broken easily, but replaced quickly. An ordinary snap fastener, commonly used on wom- en’s garments, is convenient in such a case. The ends of the wires are soldered to the two members of the fastener. To make a connection, the parts are snapped together; to break the circuit, they are simply pulled apart——George E. Perkins, South Bound Brook, N. J. Watch Holder from Strap Hinge An ordinary strap hinge can easily be converted into a device for holding a watch in a nearly vertical position on a table, or other piece of fur- niture. One end of the hinge is cut off to provide a straight edge, and in this is made a U-shaped slot for receiving the stem of the watch. The tip of the other end is bent to hold the bottom of the timepiece. This contrivance has the advantage ol being collapsible and relatively light im weight, and when folded may be carried in the pocket. — CUT END TO FiT STEM TIP OF LOWER END BENT?

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166 POPULAR MECHANICS Umbrella Catches Bird Seed The illustration shows a convenient and attractive way of catching seed which may fall from the bird cage. Under- neath it is suspended a Japanese umbrella, just large enough to extend beyond the edges of the cage. The handle is cut off short; threads are tied to all the ribs, and to a ring A enough to fit over the ring at the top of the cage.—Mrs. Grace E. Willey, Concord, New Hampshire. == é a ng ZS Doll Lamp for the Bedroom The head, shoulders, and arms from a broken china doll served nicely for mak- ing an attractive night lamp. A wire frame , was made, as (% shown in the il- Wil) lustration, and a Hi miniature lamp socket was_ se- RNY Y [HOLES 2. cured by fasten- +) DOLL HEAD ing a crosspiece yp SILK CLOTH to the _ bottom WIRE oe ring. Wires were i! 1 then attached and /, — the binding posts Le ‘ 5 ; made fast to the + terminalsofa length of flexible lamp cord, provided with a plug for attachment to the wall socket. Holes were carefully drilled through the broken edges of the doll, as shown, and secured to the upright wires by bend- ing them over. The lamp frame is concealed under- neath the doll’s silk dress. When the current is turned on, the light gives a pleasing glow, and the head and arms show up translucent.—Dale R. Van Horn, Lincoln, Neb. Replacing Broken Window Panes Not a great deal of skill is required to replace broken window panes with new ones. After the old glass has been taken out, the inside of the sash is scraped with a knife, or chisel, to remove the putty that remains. The rabbet, or groove, is then carefully measured. Glass should be cut Me in. less in length and width than the rabbet, to allow for expansion. The amount of putty required can be esti- mated on the basis of | lb. for every 20 ft. of sash. Glaziers’ points are inserted in the sash to hold the glass in place, being driven halfway into the wood, close to the glass, at 3-in. intervals. The putty is made into long rolls, about % in. in di- ameter, by rolling it between the hands. Starting at one corner of the sash, the roll is laid in the rabbet, whereupon it is smoothed and forced into the groove with a putty knife. In sash larger than 12 by 16 in., double-strength glass should be used —W. S.. Standiford, Youngstown, Ohio. To Mend Broken China Broken china dishes can be mended without the use of glue, or cement, by a very simple process, provided the frag- ments are not too small. The pieces are tied firmly together with a strong cord, and placed in a vessel containing skimmed milk, which should completely cover the article. The milk is allowed to simmer on a stove for 24 hours; then the vessel is removed from the fire, and left standing for the same length of time. The dish ts now taken out of the milk, and allowed to dry thoroughly before the cord is cut The drying process requires from five to six hours. A dish mended in this way can be scalded, and is strong enough tu survive as rough handling as a new dish. This process converts the casein in the milk into a gluelike substance that is not likely to harbor germs.—Kate H. Brower, Parshall, N. D. String Stops Alarm-Clock Signal Most folks need only a few short rings of the alarm to arouse them in the morn- ing. Any alarm clock may be fixed easily, and at no expense, to shut off the alarm after a short ring. A piece of light, strong twine is tied to the alarm winder, and several turns are taken around the shank of the key and brought over to the shut- off lever. When the alarm is wound night, there is sufficient slack in the string to allow the lever to be set in the “alarm” position. At the time set for the alarm to go off, the alarm key will wind up the slack of the string and draw the lever over to the “silent” position. The dura- tion of the alarm may be regulated by adjusting the slackness of the string.— Frank M. Ladd, Springfield, Vt.

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+ — 4 PUN glass and glass wool are now be- Y ing used for a large variety of pur- oses, such as filtering chemicals, manu- facture of abrasives, erasers, glass cloth, torage-battery separators, etc. For the amateur, the work presents great possi- bilities of enjoyment and usefulness. A small specimen of fine-spun glass may eadily be prepared as follows: Heat a mall piece of glass rod, or tube, if a rod not handy, over a gas flame as indi- cated in Fig. 1. When . the = spot over the flame has softened and _ be- come somewhat red, grasp one end of the rod firmly with one hand, and the other end with the other hand. TiN DETAIL OF WHEEL ASBESTOS PAPER GLASS THREAD \ GLASS SPINNING “AND WEAVING SFT By R.RHenderron These lamps consist merely of two metal cans, as shown in Fig. 2, with a wick tube, which should be about '% in. in diameter. This tube is filled loosely with several strands of cotton wicking, which should reach the bottom of the can and be trimmed off square at the top of the tube. The lamp is filled with dena- tured alcohol through this tube. If city gas is available, the alcohol lamps may be replaced by an ordinary gas burner giving a flame about ™% in. in di- ameter. Whatever gas burner is used, all the air passages should be shut off. Air Blast The high temperature needed is ob- tained by using an air blast with the flame. The air-blast tubes are con- structed from pieces of %-in. copper tubing; the outlet ends should be reduced to a nozzle about Me in. in diameter, by tap- — ping lightly with a With one sudden sweep of the arms, extend the hands as far apart as possi- ble. This stretches the softened por- tion of the rod out into a fine hairlike thread. To one un- familiar with spun glass, this hair will appear remarkably flexible and strong. Fig .t:eR T “ Blast Lamps - ee lo prepare spun glass on a larger GLASS-ROD SUPPOR Fig.2: SPINNING WHEEL are supported on AIR BLAST § BRASS TUBE ALCOHOL LAMPS = wick TUBE hammer. The tubes movable blocks of wood. Thisarrange ment, combined with the flexibility of the copper tubes themselves, allows } DIAMETER NOZZLES | — / them to be adjusted = ° ° : in any direction to = = obtain the best +— rs flame. Rubber RUBBER irre | STORAGE TANK \ tubes are connected GLASS 'Y to the blast tubes, and to a tube with a pinch cock, which passes to the pres- scale, it will be nec- WATER essary to construct a blast lamp and spinning wheel. The type of blast lamp needed will depend upon whether city gas is available. If it is lamps can be made. not, two alcohol BELLOWS —— | rf Fig.3: BLAST LAMPS Spinning the Glass: In Figs. 1 to 3 is Shown the Apparatus Required for Producing the Glass Threads in the larger, which sure regulator or storage tank. This tank consists of two cans, one slightly smaller than the other, and the smaller inverted is three-fourths filled with water. A weight is placed on the 467

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168 POPULAR top of the floating can, a smaller or larger one being used, according to the air pres- sure desired. \ir is pumped into this tank by bellows, or any other form of air pump. This causes the top can to rise in the water, hold- ing the air below it under pressure. Spinning Wheel The spinning wheel, illustrated in Fig. 3, may have any diameter desired, but as it requires considerable skill to spin glass on the larger sizes, it will be more satis- factory for the beginner to use a wheel about 18 in. in diameter. \ny wheel, such as a discarded toy- wagon wheel, will do, and as the face should be about 3 in. wide, a strip of tin of this width may be tacked around the circumference. Since the contact of the hot glass threads with this cold tin might cause breakage, the tin should be coated with a layer of asbestos paper, which may be glued on with ordinary glue or rubber cement. The wheel is then attached by its spin- dle to the upright support, and a crank ts attached to one of the spokes. Rod Support To support the glass rod while it is be- ing softened in the flame, cut out a small block of wood, of proper height to bring it about 1% in. above the level of the burner outlets. In the top is then cut a groove in which the glass rod can rest. If a small piece of flat spring brass is tacked across the groove, the rod will be held MECHANICS firmly in place, and can be inserted or re- moved readily. It can also be fed into the flame by pushing the block forward. Spinning the Glass Insert a small piece of glass rod or tub- ing under the spring of the rod support. Light the gas or the alcohol lamps, and open the connection to the air-pressure tank; then adjust the air nozzles so that they will be close to the edge of the flames, and about '% in. above the top of the burners. The air blast will then blow the flame in a horizontal direction, and there should be sufficient air to make the whole horizontal flame blue in color. If there is a tendency of the air blast to ex- tinguish the flame, it indicates either that the pressure is too strong, or that the air nozzle is too low and should be raised a little higher above the burner tips. When the proper air-blast adjustment is obtained, move the front blast lamp un- til the tip of its flame meets the point of the rear flame and mingles with it for about one inch of its length. At this meeting point a brushlike flame is formed, which is extremely hot, and it is here that the glass is melted. Now the glass rod is placed in the flame, as in Fig. 1, except that in this case one end is fixed in a solid support. As soon as the glass softens and gets red, the wheel should be started revolving. Grasp the free end of the glass rod, and pull it suddenly out into a fine thread. With the same sweep of the arm, the thread is wrapped around the revolving wheel. Keep the wheel revolving by means of the SLOTS; DEEP ——~ BAND FLAT TAPE NEEDLE WEAVING THE CLOTH Fic.6 cuP GLASS THREADS ———— \4 a’ ; 16.5: LOOM WITH WARP IN PLACE eS ap Ses eeereniie oe Fig. 4:inK ERASER BRADS{ HIGH, 2 APART Figs. 4 to 6 Show Hosoda of Making Use of the Glass Thread: A Glass-Fiber Ink Eraser Is Novel but tive, and a Simple Hand Loom Enables the Glass to be Woven into Sparkling, Silklike Fabrics

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crank, and a continuous fine thread of «lass will be produced. It requires a little kill and practice to make the glass reel onto the wheel, but after the winding is once started it may be continued for a considerable time. The tip of the glass rod should be advanced into the flame as the melted portion is used up by being drawn out into a thread. The more rap- idly the wheel is revolved, the finer the thread. Care should be taken that the thread is reeled off as fast as the glass \ftens, otherwise it may get too hot and actually melt into drops, interrupting the thread and necessitating a new start. After sufficient glass has been reeled onto the wheel, it may be removed by pressing the blade of a heavy knife against t, cutting completely through the layer of ‘lass threads and allowing them to be re- moved. Glass Wool ‘rom this spun glass many articles may now be prepared. By revolving the wheel very rapidly and decreasing the heat of the blast lamp somewhat, very fine threads ire spun. If these are then cut from the wheel and crushed together in a mass, a material resembling white cotton, or wool, is obtained. It is acidproof and fireproof, and is used in place of excelsior or saw- dust for packing corrosive and inflam- mable liquids. It is also used for filtering acids and other chemicals, a small amount heing pressed down in the bottom of a glass funnel, through which the liquid is poured, Abrasives By passing some of the glass wool through an ordinary coffee or other grinding apparatus, a fine glass powder is prepared which is used as an abrasive, similar to emery. For fine work, such as lapping or polishing, this glass powder should be sifted and only the very finest used. By coating pieces of cloth,. paper, or leather with glue and sprinkling over it some of the glass powder, abrasive and polishing fabrics may be prepared. Ink Erasers A novel use for spun glass is the fol- lowing: Take a bunch of spun threads, about 3 in. long and %e in. in diameter, and, compressing them firmly, force the bundle into a paper tube, as shown in Fig. 4. This forms an excellent ink eraser, the sharp ends of the threads cut- ting away the ink rapidly without tearing the paper. This type of eraser is particu- POPULAR MECHANICS 469 larly liked by typewriter operators. As the glass wears away, a new portion may be exposed by cutting away the paper. If the bunch of threads is slightly moistened with dilute sodium . silicate (water glass) before compressing into the tube, they will stick together better when dry, giving a stiffer and more compact rod of glass threads. Glass Cloth There are many practical and ornamen- tal uses to which a cloth made of glass threads may be put. It may be used for filtering acids and, being noncombustible, it can be used where there is some heat— though it will of course melt if the heat is great. If prepared from threads of several different colors, many beautiful articles may be made of it, such as lamp- shades, screens, or globes, which will not catch fire and are not easily broken. One of the most ingenious uses of glass cloth is for storage-battery separators. In a storage battery the positive and negative plates must be separated by some material that is at the same time insulating, acid- proof, and porous. It is evident that a cloth made of glass fulfills all of these conditions. Hand Loom for Glass Weaving Obtain a smooth piece of board, and screw to it two strips, as shown in Fig. 5. In the top of the strip at the right, drive a row of small brads, allowing about 4 in. of the brads to project from the wood. In the top of the other strip, saw a corre- sponding row of slots, forming a sort of comb. Screw in a small hook at each end of the board. Procure two strong flat spring clips, such as are used in offices for holding papers together, and two stiff rubber bands, about 2 in. long. Attach one end of the rubber bands to the spring clips, and the other to the hooks. How to Weave Take a bunch of spun glass from the spinning wheel, and cut it into 12-in. lengths. For a loosely woven cloth the full width of the loom, a bunch containing approximately 350 ends or threads will be required. Flatten out one end of this bunch of spun glass, and insert it in the spring clip. Next, separate the spun glass into small strands of about 12 threads each, and place between the brads. Tak- ing the small strands one at a time, anc twisting them slightly between the thum! and forefinger, insert them in the slots in

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470 the other upright; this keeps them from untwisting. When all the strands have been twisted and placed in the proper slots, gather all the ends together and insert them in the other spring clip. The rubber bands con- necting the spring clips with the hooks should be stiff enough to keep the glass strands tight. These strands form what weavers call the warp. Thread a large, flat tape needle, such as shown in Fig. 6, with about 12 threads of spun glass, and insert it across the warp threads, passing over the top of one and underneath the next, alternately. Pull clear through, until the end of the glass strand gets close to the warp threads. This is known as the filling thread, or weft. Then bring it back again in such a manner that, on this trip, the weft thread will pass underneath all the warp threads above which it was passed on the first trip, and vice versa. This gives the plain weave effect shown in Fig. 6. Continue doing this until the desired length of cloth Easy Testing of Dry Cells Many automobile owners who carry a battery of dry cells for ignition or for lighting, find that the chief objection to the use of these cells is that one of them is quite likely to develop a short circuit, due to becoming wet, or damaged in some other way. Many cheap cells even seem to deteriorate very rapidly without appar- ent cause, Ow- ing to some de- fect in manu- facture. To locate the offending cell | BAT TERY LEADS TWO-POINT SWITCHES and remove it from the circuit Bin Mp, often requires so much working with nuts and connecting wires that the motorist is disgusted with dry cells alto- gether. A way of simplifying this testing is shown in the diagram. A number of sim- ple two-point switches are installed, there being as many switches as there are cells in the battery. A type of switch should be used which has a broad contact surface on the top of the contact points, as otherwise there may be too great a voltage dropped at these points. Con- nections are made as shown. When trou- ble develops and the current from the battery seems to be weak, each one of the POPULAR MECHANICS is done. When all the spun glass in the first needle is so nearly used up that there is not enough to pass completely through the warp again, pull the threads from the needle and allow the ragged end to stick out at the side; start with an entirely new length, as it is not advisable to try tying the two together. The ragged ends may be trimmed off after the cloth is com- pleted. These filling threads should be kept as close together as possible, so after passing them through the warp, a sharp pointed instrument of some kind—a pen- cil, for instance—should be used to push each succeeding one close to its neighbor When the cloth is finished, it may be cut from the loom with a pair of scissors. To keep it from raveling at the ends, % in. of the warp threads may be left as a sort of fringe. As the weaver becomes more expert in the use of the loom, and begins to use glass of various colors, new uses for the beautifully smooth and silky cloth will suggest themselves. switches may be thrown in succession, in order to test out the cells. This is easiest done by observing a lamp con- nected across the battery, such as a dash or tonneau lamp. If, when any switch is thrown to the right, the light grows dim, it may be concluded that the cell connected to that switch is supplying its share of the current. If the lamp shows no change, the cell is in poor condition, and if the lamp becomes more brilliant when the cell is cut out, then the cell is exhausted, and should be removed imme- diately. By testing out each one of the cells in this way before starting on a trip, any bad cells may be located instantly, and replaced with good ones. It is well to attach the leads very tightly to the switches by means of nuts, and to fit spring connectors on the other end, so that any cell can be changed in a few seconds, Safe Tie for Rope RON RING To make a_ non- choking neck halter for a horse or cow, an iron ring and a snap are tied to a length of rope, as shown in the drawing. — Forrest Benson, Boulder, Colorado.

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Cutting Circular Disks from Paper It often occurs that the amateur me- chanic is called upon to cut paper into various-sized circular disks; this is easily done by attaching the paper to be cut to the board of a photographic print trim- mer, with a pin or tack at the point which will be the center of the completed circle. By turning the paper lightly about this center and trimming off the edges that project beyond the cutter blade, a fairly ccurate circle is produced.—Iwamo Inonye, Tokyo, Japan. Trap Device for Drowning Game One of the mishaps to which the trap- per grows accustomed is the escape from a trap of a mink, muskrat, or other water animal, which leaves only its foot behind it. When the trap is set at the edge of a spring or lake, where there is deep water very close to the bank, the animal’s es- cape can be prevented by the use of a length of baling wire, leading from a stake in the bank “BALING tO ae stone, or \ “" other heavy weight, resting on the bottom of the stream at a point where it is sev- eral feet deep. If the trap chain is provided with a ring of the type illustrated, the wire is slipped through in such a way that the ring slides along it, when moving downward, but catches instantly when an effort is made to pull it upward. To insert the wire, simply drive a 10-penny nail or punch between the ends as indicated. If a ring of other type is furnished with the trap, one like this can readily be made from some stiff wire. It is common knowledge among trap- pers that when a water animal is caught in a trap, it dives into the water, carry- ing the trap with it, if the chain is long enough to permit this. When the ring, instead of being fastened directly to a stake in the ground, slides on tke wire, the animal is able to dive some distance into the water, pulling the ring with it; but immediately on trying to reach the bank again, the ring catches, and the animal, being unable to reach the sur- face, is drowned.—Chester Cooper, Glen- ville, W. Va. TO STAKE IN BANK ——3> TO ROCK

/ / 4 \ J

“ WIRE RING ON TRAP POPULAR MECHANICS 471 Card-Finding Trick The home magician works at a handi- cap if he performs card tricks without proving that he has not had an oppor-

— < he. thle mmm wL sn ae A Magician Scratches the Face of a Card When Only Its Back Is Visible, and is Thus Able to Identify It Afterward

tunity of preparing the deck beforehand; and it is therefore a good plan to borrow one from the audience. He can then com- pletely mystify it by identifying cards which have been drawn and replaced without letting him see the faces. The small wire device shown in the sketch enables him to do this. It is worn on his forefinger, which is curled up _ be- neath the deck while the card is being drawn, and when it is pushed back into the deck, face downward, the wire point is pressed against the lower surface, scratching the face of the card. In this way he can easily identify the scratched card as the one chosen.—George N, Sleight, Saugatuck, Mich. ” Hacksaw Frame Uses Broken Blades Broken hacksaw blades, in pieces 4 or 5 in. long, are usually thrown away, but if a frame is made of cold-rolled round steel, these short lengths will still serve a_ useful purpose in cutting off small screws, rods, or studs— work which often results in break- ing the regular blades due to haste and _ care- lessness. The frame is slit at the ends, which are sprung together to match the saw holes, and pins are inserted in the latter. The broken end of the blade must be heated before drilling. Two forms of handles are shown.—H. H. Parker, Oak- land, Calif. % COLD-ROLLED STEEL

ALTERNATIVE HANDLE CONSTRUCTION

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Table Leaves Used for Bookshelves Festivity in present-day apartments is a rare thing—at least a function that re- quires the exten- sion of the dining table to its full ca- pacity. Closet room for the stor- age of the table leaves is also at a premium. As a solution of the problem, a_ book- PERDEPEFEPTIPTPYY tit : . OP LTEeHTE SAD case was built, us- = ing the table leaves for shelves. When one or two of the leaves are required, the few books necessary to re- move can be placed on top of the case. —Mrs. H. F. Summerhays, Chicago, III. gonenerreunennpegere? Desk Lamp Made from Scraps A satisfactory desk lamp can be made from an old single-light ceiling fixture. A socket is supported in this by a wooden disk, as shown in Seance the drawing, or by FROM HALF a metal bar, or disk, held in posi- tion by screws. Another wooden disk fits on the socket, and fills the space between the latter and the edge of the fix- ture. This disk is held in place by the thumbscrews with which the fix- ture is equipped. A wooden base is fitted to the large end of the fix- ture, and wires are passed through this and attached to the socket. Felt is glued to the base to prevent the wood from in- juring the finish of furniture. A piece of rubber, cut from an old inner tube, will serve instead of the felt, if the latter is not available. The shade is made from half of a hollow brass ball, removed from the end of the curtain pole; the edges are turned under. Spring-brass_ wire, formed into two loops, is held inside the shade by a fancy-headed bolt, or by sol- dering underneath, which makes a neater job. The loops serve to hold the shade, which is adjustable, to the light bulb.— E. Nesbit, Quebec, Can. WOOD BASE POPULAR MECHANICS Telephone Protected from Lightning To protect the coils of a_ telephone- bell ringer from the inductive effect of lightning in the neighborhood, two strips of brass, pointed at one end, are fastened to the binding posts, or terminals, of the coils, with the points about %e in. apart Instead of entering and damaging the coils, the induced current will jump across the gap between the points, which offers less resistance than the coils. The strips will not, of course, give protection from direct strokes of lightning—Irl R. Hicks, Centralia, Mo. Lever Tightener for Bucksaw When it becomes impossible to adjust a bucksaw with the usual tightening rod, because of rust or woopen ro STIFF WIRE, / worn threads on the latter. the wooden lever tight- ener illustrated can be used for that purpose. In some cases, the parts of the old rod can be utilized, by bend- ing their ends into loops, which are passed through t woo coms the holes in the lever. Otherwise, stiff wire is employed to fasten the lever to the frame. Small wood screws on th¢ crossbar hold the lever in different posi- tions, making it possible to vary the ten- sion of the blade. Roller Curtain for Drying Prints A useful device for drying photo- graphic prints can be made by removing the painted cloth from a window-shade roller, and substituting for it a piece of white cotton cloth of the same size. A row of wet prints is placed near the end of the cloth which is attached to the roller, so that when the latter is turned, winding the cloth around the prints, the emulsion side of the prints will be con- vex. Another row of prints is then placed on the cloth, and the same operation per- formed again. This is continued until all of the cloth has been wound on the roller. The contrivance is placed in a warm place, preferably over a radiator, and allowed to remain until the prints are dry. Prints dried in this way will be nearly flat when removed from the roll of cloth.

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POPULAR MECHANICS Cold Hands Avoided in Outdoor Work In doing many kinds of work outdoors in the winter, one’s hands become ex- tremely cold, as, for instance, in using nails. The discomfort may be entirely voided by putting the nails to be used in . tin dish and placing them in the oven; when the nails are heated, take them out- side for use. By heating the clothes- pins a little in the same way, a housewife can make the hanging out of clothes more vreeable in winter.—S. Leonard Bastin, sournemouth, Eng. Rolling Toy Made from Spool An entertaining toy for the children that requires little time and no money to make is made content from an empty \ avenan BAND spool. Half of a .s ay match on one end of a rubber band is placed in a groove on one end of the spool, to keep it from turn- ing. The other end of the rubber band is passed through the spool hole, through the hole of a small nut, and over a whole match. By turning the latter, the rubber band is twisted and sufficient energy imparted to it to cause the spool to travel for a considerable distance when placed on a flat surface —Glenn O. Wil- son, Denver, Colo. / HALF MATCH “ GROOVE CUT IN SPOOL Emergency Push-Button Repair When more suitable material is not obtainable, a small cork can be used to repair a push-button doorbell switch from which the button is missing. The cork. is cut to the proper size with a sharp knife, and two pins are driven through it at right angles to each other, near one end. These serve to prevent the cork from being pushed out of posi- tion by the spring in the switch. In case the pins are too long to fit into the switch cover, they can be clipped off with a pair of scissors. A cork installed in this man- ner four months ago is still in service, and shows no signs of wear or decay.— K. McLean, Caledon, S. Africa. if a hair which harmonizes in color with the material is used instead of thread for mending rents in garments, the repair will be practically invisible. 473 Postal Scale Made of Mailing Tubes A neat and accurate scale for weighing small articles is made of two mailing tubes, one of which slips easily inside the other. One end of each tube is fitted with a cork, which is pierced with a short, stout wire, with eyes in each end and _ tightly pressed against the corks to pre- vent any play. The inside eyes of the two wires are joined with a spring of the proper tension and length, for light work, such as a bird-cage spring or a piece of spring from a shade roller. The outside eye of the larger tube is fitted with a heavy wire ring for a sup- port, and that of the smaller tube with a wire hook for attaching the articles to be weighed. When assembling the de- vice, the corks are glued into the tubes and the inner tube is graduated by mak- ing marks on it at the edge of the outer one as various known weights are at- tached, and dividing the intervening spaces evenly. A coat of shellac adds materially to the appearance and dura- bility of the completed scale-—Frank M. Rich, Paterson, N. J. ———« CORK CON SPRING FASTENED TO TOP AND BOTTOM CORKS = S, MAILING TUBES CORK Wire Hanger for Seed Corn The drawing shows a simple seed-corn hanger, made of old wire, that has some advantages other than its low cost. T he Ww ire loops, being assembled chain fashion, hold the ears of seed corn at right angles to each other, and as no two ears touch, perfect ven- tilation is assured. Each loop is adjus- table, to accommo- date ears of dif- ferent size. The weight of such a hanger, when filled, is sufficient to hold the ears securely, since each ear is steadied by the weight below it. —E ae SEED CORN ™— WIRE

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474 Bench Vise and Hand Drill Form Drill Press The arrangement illustrated will save a great deal of time where a large number BENCH mY . j} , { 4) HAND DRILL Y ee 1RON BLOCK OF WOOD The Need of a Drill Press is Easily Supplied by Mounting the Drill Rigidly on the Bench and Applying Pressure with the Vise of holes are to be drilled in thin material. The hand drill is attached to a block, screwed or nailed to the top of the bench, and in line with the upper end of the wooden vise. A support is made to fit over the moving part of the vise to hold the parts when they are drilled. The vise is closed until the drill bit touches the work to be drilled, and as the drill is turned, pressure is applied to the vise. After a little practice, holes can be drilled in the manner mentioned with surprising speed, accuracy, and neatness. Laying Out a Circle with a Square i When no other ee means is at hand, it is possible to ee) pet lay out a circle of fi * : h >. VF f'n with a carpenters ie oh square, _ driving # two nails at the ends of a diam- eter, and marking Nn as shown by the ‘ | “CARPENTER'S ; i F aon illustration. NAILS Don’t Be Afraid of Castings Many amateur mechanics have a fixed idea that, if a machine or piece of ap- paratus requires castings, it is “too much of a job,” and they give it up. While it is true that some castings are problems, in many cases they are easily obtained: the making of patterns is the “mean” part. But simple patterns are not at all diffi- cvlt to make. The mechanic should bear in mind that he must allow %e in. per POPULAR MECHANICS foot for shrinkage in iron and 1% in. in brass, in addition to whatever is needed for filing, machining, or otherwise finish ing such surfaces as must be finished. The foundry will return a piece that is just the shape of the pattern and just the size, less shrinkage. In making pat terns, remember that the pattern is set in the flasks with one half projecting downward and the other half upward, and there must be sufficient “draw” to allow the flasks to be removed*after the sand has been filled in, without breaking the imprint made by the pattern. If, for instance, the pattern is a little bigger at the top than in the middle, it will “dove- tail” into the sand, so to speak, and will not come out leaving a clean impression. If, however, the top is a little smaller, there will be sufficient “draw.” When a hole is desired in the casting, the patternmaker puts on “core prints.” These are simply cylindrical pieces of wood, in the case of a round hole, of the size the hole is to be, and they are put on the pattern just as if they pro- jected from the hole. Core prints ar painted with black shellac to indicat what they are; the rest of the pattern is finished with orange shellac. The molder first makes an impression in the sand with the pattern, and when this is done, the core prints form recesses in which a core of hard-baked sand mixture is laid; the molder will use a core of the same size as the print. So there is noth- ing complicated about ordinary core work Patterns should be smooth and well finished, and free from uneven surfaces which would tend to break the impres- sion in the sand. It is necessary to study a pattern job and figure out what position it will take in the sand so that it will come out clean. Avoid sharp angles; fill in corners with a fillet of wax or putty, if it eannot be formed in the wood itself, and round outside corners slightly. Avoid very thin sections. The amateur mechanic who has always thought castings an insurmountable ob- stacle may learn a great deal by visiting a pattern shop and foundry and examining patterns to see how they are put in the sand. Watching the making of a few molds will throw so much light on the subject that it will be well worth while. Besides, it is an exceedingly interesting process. And there is a certain fascination in getting a casting from one’s own pat- terns that is worth something in itself to say nothing of the substantial work that can be done with good castings.

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POPULAR Martin Box for 20 Pairs Which is So Constructed That the Interior iy be Readily Cleaned by Sep.- ting It from the Wallis, as Shown in the Central Illustration Some Artistic pk SOVIDING suitable shelters and pro- tection for his feathered friends is ly one of the many pleasures and indi- ct benefits derived by the bird lover, rticularly when he is able to make his vn bird houses. Some birds, such as the martins and vallows, are gregarious, and like to get vether and be sociable, and sufficient ac- ommodation must be provided to house number of them in the same house. The upper illustration shows a martin box ar- ranged to house twenty families, each compartment being 8 by 8 by 6 in., which makes very commodious nesting and breeding quarters. It will also be ob- erved, in the center photograph, that the interior of the house has been constructed in such a manner that it can be separated from the walls and brought down, in order MECHANICS When the Birds Migrate in the Fall, the Hinged Perches beneath the Windows are Swung Up to Cover the Entrance Holes, So as to Keep Out the Sparrows Bird Houses that it may be thoroughly cleaned out in the fall. When the birds have gone south, the perches, which are hinged to the walls, are raised and fastened over the entrances, as shown, in order to prevent the entrance of the pestiferous and ubiquitous sparrow. A pleasing departure from the usuat lo- cation of the bird house at the end of a pole, is shown in the lower illustration of a summerhouse built of small cedar logs. This arrangement of bird house and sum- merhouse is not only pleasing in appear- ance, but has a utilitarian value as well. The illustration in the center shows an elaborate and artistic martin house which is made of wood. The attractive stucco effect is obtained by mixing sawdust with white paint to the consistency of a creamy paste, and giving the structure a thick coat of it with a whisk broom. A heavier stucco The Summerhouse and Bird House at the Left is Built of Small Cedars. dust Makes the Bird House Shown in the Center Particular! A Stucco Effect of Paint and Saw- Attractive. The Photograph at the Right Shows a Simple Shelter and Feeding Platform Roofed with Thatch

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476 POPULAR effect is given by adding another coat after the first has thoroughly dried. The roof is painted a light green, which en- hances the beauty of this. structure. Bird shelters and feeding platforms are not particularly necessary in the summer time, but in the fall and winter they are indispensable, and many of the birds which we are accustomed to miss during the winter can be induced to brave the wintry winds if given assurance of pro- tection and food. The simple bird shelter shown at the right in the lower illustra- tion, is covered with a thatched roof of MECHANICS sufficient area to prevent the entrance of snow and sleet. For ease in cleaning, th feeding platform is made of tin, and is sufficiently deep to prevent the food from being scattered or blown away. Hooks for lumps of suet are attached to the pole supporting the roof. Birds have no eight-hour law, and spend every minute of daylight through out the summer in destroying harmful in- sects and seeds. It is remarkable that with very little in the way of care and protection, the birds will become very chummy with their human friends. Compass That a Boy can Make Any boy can make himself a good compass. Using a safety-razor blade as material, grind out, on an emery wheel or a hand stone, a piece shaped as in the sketch, to form the compass needle. Do not take the temper out while grinding; to avoid this, keep the blade wet. After an —. - iece_ is s— siade formed, take the Dp temper out of the 7 , center of the y, needle only, by a small gas or alco- MAGNETIZED hol flame, and bend as indicated. Grind a point on a nail, and round the tip with emery cloth. Put the needle on a block of wood, and make a small dent in it with the nail. Ob- tain a brass pin from a campaign button or a piece of brass wire, and bend it as in the sketch, after putting a very fine point on it. Put the needle on the brass pin, the point in the dent, and grind the needle until it balances perfectly. Mag- netize by rubbing the needle from the middle to one end with one pole of a horseshoe magnet, and from the middle to the other end with the other pole. When magnetized, the needle will turn north, and show a decided dip. Regrind the end that dips until it balances again. Polish all over, except for a small spot on the north side of the needle, to dis- tinguish the two ends. The hunter can make such a compass; using a straight brass pin, roll it in a bit of waxed paper and cloth, and drop it in the bottom of a pocket. When the day comes that he wishes for a compass, he will appreciate the fact that it can be made ready at a moment’s notice. BRASS PIN —— FROM A CAMPAIGN BUTTON Washtub Forms Home for Chicks A shelter under which a brood hen car be confined, while her chicks enter and leave at will, is made from an old wash tub. Every second stave is removed on one side of the tub, and it is turned up side down, so that the bottom serves as a roof. The openings made by the re- moval of the staves provide exits and en trances large enough for the passage of small chickens, but too small to accommo date any hen.— R. L. Ogden, Denver, Colorado. Hall Lamp Made from Bottle An attractive hall lamp, which can be made from a brown or green glass bottle, is shown in the sketch. After the top of the bottle has been cut off, a two-piece metal band is fastened around the re- maining portion. 3rass is the most BLACK SILK o suitable material for the band, though iron can be used, if given a coat of bronze paint. Chains of equal length are attached at the connections of the band, as indicated, and linked to a ring. A third chain is fastened to the ring, and serves to suspend the lamp from the ceiling. The light cords are laced in the chains. A silk cord, attached to the ring and the socket, holds the light bulb in place. To prevent light from being re- flected on the ceiling, a pasteboard cover is placed on top of the bottle—James FE. Noble, Portsmouth, Can.

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POPULAR MECHANICS Earthenware Mended with Sealing Wax if the handle of an earthenware water tcher has been broken off accidentally, can be replaced by using ordinary seal- » wax as cement. Before the wax is pplied to the surfaces to be joined, the sel and the handle should be warmed n oven, or on top of a stove. The are then held together tightly, un- the wax becomes hard. Cloths are ed to protect the hands during this peration. Surplus material is removed y scraping the union with a knife.— rank W. Roth, Neosho, Mo. Strong Splice for Broken Stick (he common method of joining a roken stick is to make a straight cut t an angle, as hown at the left vat the illustration. \ RA ANI if the piece is to Mi Mi ANH under any Wi Mh } WH, tension, a far Mi MH more satisfactory plan is indicated it the right. This joint is known as the bracing splice. It will be seen WAN AN that there is a HET mn NK slanting cut at the HH WH} | NY end of each piece, with a step cut in cach in both cases. These steps fit exactly into one another. The splice may be nailed and bound with wire, or glue may be used to make the wood adhere. win Mudguards for Toy Wagon child’s homemade auto- rather bare and uncom- pearance unless mud- guards are _ pro- vided. The illustra- tion shows how neat-appearing fen- ders may be made from large-size lard cans, which are ob- tainable from the butcher or grocer. With a pair of tin snips, the cans are cut off 6 in. from the bottom, and the shallow pan thus ob- tained, cut in half, provides two fenders. —K. P. Mikesell, Portland, Ore. Generally the mobile has a pleted ap LARD CAN: 2 REQUIRED Focusing Hood for Cameras Focusing a camera with a focusing cloth is often inconvenient. A hood cut from medium-weight cardboard is not se Sa PAPER CLIPS END VIEW A Collapsible Pasteboard Hood, for Easy Focusing, is Held Together by Paper Clips, Which are Easily Removed for Carrying bothersome as a cloth, and when folded it is less troublesome to carry. The dimensions given are suitable for a 4 by 5-in., horizontal-loading camera. Fora camera loading from the top instead of the side, or of a different size, the di- mensions will have to be changed to suit. The cardboard is cut as in the pattern, the flaps being to cut out extra light, and the short piece at the left for binding. The hood is assembled as shown, and is held together by paper clips. To focus, it is held up against the camera; when the hood is not in use, the clips may be taken off, and it may be folded up and put in the camera case.—Welton Gros- didier, San Francisco, Calif. Lathe Dog for Turning Bolts When a large number of bolts are turned in a lathe, a great, deal of time is consumed in changing the or- dinary lathe dog from a finished piece of work to r WORK f a new one. In a ; ; [_——ree the illustration is HEAD OF BOLT we shown a dog that { e's : 5oo0e makes this opera tion unnecessary. The device is made from a piece of Y-in. stock, bent as indicated, and provided at one end with a slot, cut with a hacksaw to fit the bolt heads. At the op posite end a hole is bored. When the at- tachment is fastened to the faceplate, bolts can be placed in the lathe and re- moved without changing the position of the dog.

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POPULAR Simple Drawer Carrier In the sketch is held is shown a drawer that level, even when drawn out its his is made possible by entire length. ! t GUIDES’ | GUIDE FIXED stops’ }| TO DRAWER —— N J CABINET "my ORAWER The Carriers at the Sides of the Drawer Hold It in a Level Position When It is Drawn Out to Its Full Length carriers, one on each side of the drawer. These are guided by strips of wood, tacked inside the case, as indicated. An- other guide is attached to each side of the drawer. Blocks of wood, nailed to the carriers, act as stops to prevent the drawer from being removed accidentally. If the drawer is lifted from the carriers, it can be taken from the case, and when the drawer is out, the carriers can be re- moved with a little manipulation.—E. R. Smith, Walla Walla, Wash. Dowel Pins Prevent Opening of Door by Removing Hinges To prevent locked doors from being opened by burglars, through the device of removing the pins from the hinges, proceed as follows: @lose the door on the head of a lath nail, far enough so_ that the head will make a slight im- print on both the casing and_ the edge of the door midway between the hinges. With a %ge-in. bit, bore a houe 1 in. deep at the nail-head mark in the casing, and set in it, with glue, a dowel, 2 in. long, of oak or other hard wood. Then bore a %-in. hole 1 in. deep at the nail-head mark in the edge of the door. The hole in the door should be slightly MECHANICS larger than the dowel, so that the latter will not bind, and free entrance may be aided, if necessary, by tapering the point slightly. If only one size bit is avail- able, both holes may be bored with it, and the projecting half of the dowel made a little smaller—W. H. Wilcox, Los Angeles, Calif. Preserving Broken Negatives When a negative becomes cracked, the film may be stripped from its glass base and mounted on another plate. The film is first given a backing of enamel collo- dion. This is not absolutely necessary, but makes the film stronger and reduces the chance of damage in handling. After the collodion has dried thoroughly, the negative is placed in a solution composed of two drops of hydrofluoric acid (poison) to each ounce of water. Allow the nega- tive to remain in this bath for several minutes, when the film may be loosened at the edges with a piece of wood, cut to a chisellike end. The film is then re moved from the broken glass, thoroughly washed, floated onto a new plate of clean glass, and allowed to dry- Funnel Tube for Engine Oil When the oil-filling pipe of the auto- mobile engine is so located that a spe- cially bent spout funnel is required to put oil into the reservoir, the de- vice indicated in the sketch will OF SPOUT save the expense WHEN of special funnels. This flexible- spout filler was made up from a section of horn tubing, and, in consequence, is practically leak-proof. This is soldered to the funnel, and a bent- wire hook is likewise soldered in place for convenience in handling. By means of this flexible spout, the oil can be carried from the oil barrel to che car, the flexible end being lifted up to prevent the oil from flowing out of the end. The size of the funnel determines the quantity of oil which can be conveyed at one time, and for this reason a large funnel is the most advantageous. If desired, a hook for fastening the end of the tube to the edge of the funnel can be added, to further facilitate han- dling.—G. A. Luers, Washington, D. C. BENT-WIRE HOOK ~ SECTION OF HORN TUBING

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POPULAR Rubber-Band Noise Maker To imitate the noise made by an air- »lane motor or a high-powered automobile engine, stretch a rubber band, about 3 wide and 11 in. long, between the ndlebars of a bicycle, just in front of he grips. The machine is driven at a eh rate of speed until the band begins +o vibrate, after which it may be slowed The band will continue to vibrate, roducing a buzzing sound, as long as the evcle is in motion.—Philip Shera, Jr., Oxford, Ohio. Picture Frame Made from Straw Hat \n old straw hat provides material for unusual picture frame. The crown is removed, leaving an oval open- ing in the brim. A piece of glass, slightly larger than the opening, is placed on one side of the brim, and a picture is put behind the glass. If the top of the hat crown 3 is large enough, it can be sewed to the brim, back of the glass and picture, to hold the two in place. Otherwise, a piece of pasteboard, cloth, or other material may be used for this purpose. The fin- ished frame is colored with hat dye, and can be hung on the wall, or set in an easel—Michael M. Mahalick, Bound Brook, N. J. ——TOP OF CROWN 7 Se SS SASS >>> - NS Light Fixture Holds Nail Brush for One-Armed Man After my son lost one arm in the World War he experienced difficulty in washing his remaining hand. We experimented with various devices and finally had, good results with a rubber electric-light fixture and a nail brush. The nail brush is firm- ly fastened in place of the electric bulb, and as the rubber fixture is the kind which adheres to a wall by suction, it can be ad- justed in the same way to the inside of the washbasin. This device can be car- ried anywhere. The hand is easily cleaned by rubbing it up and down over the sur- face of the brush—Katherine Louise Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. MECHANICS 479 Combining Bicycle Carrier and Stand The useful contrivance shown in the drawing can be used either as a parcel carrier or as a stand, when attached to a DETAIL OF - STAND CARRIER AND STAND 4 Bicycle Carrier and Stand: Parcels may be Tied on the Device, or It may Serve to Support the Machine bicycle. It consists of a board, pivoted on the rear axle in such a way that it can be placed under or over the rear wheel. In the former position, the device serves as a carrier, while in the latter it becomes a stand. Straps are used to secure the board when it is over the wheel.—Edward Huddlestone, Victoria, Can. Crank-Operated Pencil Sharpener At the expense of a few cents and a few minutes’ time, a satisfac- tory and rapid- acting pencil sharpener may be made, by soldering an ordinary small sharpener to a piece of heavy wire, bent as shown in the illustration, pencn and mounting Socperco To wire the whole on a block of wood which may be fastened to a desk or table. A few turns of the crank will sharpen the pencil with satis- factory neatness, and with less effort than is usually required to sharpen it by other means. WIRE . Target-Shooting Rest The amateur finds it very difficult to support some target rifles, and this diffi- culty is reflected in his inability to make good scores. A folding music stand, such as used by musicians, is deprived of its rack and fitted with a suitable semicircu- lar rest for the gun. Such a rest is ad- justable to various heights—Wm. E. King, Monessen, Pa.

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480 POPULAR HANDSOME TROPHY FOR WRITER OF BEST BUSINESS LETTER Nearly every business man prides himself on his ability to write a good letter. Those who have com posed business letters of proven power now have opportunity to enter them in contest for a trophy of real merit. The prize, offered 9 by the extension depart- ment of a Chicago col- lege, is a bronze ink- stand, on which the young figure of *‘Oppor- tunity” offers to the mas ter of writing the imple ments of the art. The bronze is the work of a noted sculptor, and is original, only one be ing cast. As the only st of a business let- ; . ——<—_ - ter is its result-get- ting power, the rules of the competition call for proof 4% returns, cost figures, and other essential. details. Che letters for the contest must be written during the, year ending June 30, 1920.

~ THOUSAND-DOLLAR PRIZE CONTEST FOR BEST AIRPLANE PARACHUTE Airplane parachutes, designed to promote the safety of aerial pilots and passengers, will have a chance to compete tor prizes totaling $1,000 at Havana, Cuba, February 21 to March 1. Elements to be considered in the contest are the method of attachment to mach ne or airman; simplicity and certainty of opera- tion in the seconds of time available in emergency; control of opening in relation to the fliers’ safety belts; speed of drop and degree of oscillation in the air; weight; controllab lity while falling, and quick release upon landing. From the results of the com petition it is hoped an aerial-safety device will be developed which will become standard equipment on air craft, as life preservers are on boats. The chair- man of the contest committee may be addressed at Liga Aerea de Cuba, Manzana de Gomez, Havana. STRANGE NAME GIVEN Y. W. C. A. IN CHINESE CITIES Though the insigne of the Young Women’s Chris- tian Association remains the same in every land, the name of the organiza- tion is subject to change. In China, where 44 American sec- retaries are at work in 10 of the largest c ties in the republic, the as sociation is known as “Female Green Years Society,” is the Chinese equivalent of the appellation. The characters rep- the initial letters of these words give the fa miliar insigne an odd appearance. A great deal of interest is taken by Chinese women inthe society, which has been growing steadily since its establishment in the oriental country about 15 years ago.

. - .S which English resenting SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS OF RAILROAD PROFESSION Now railroading has entered the ranks of the learned professions. Provisions have been made by an enterprising transcontinental line to award 60 railroad scholarships a year to young men who wish to study the subject. Candidates will be recom- mended by business men of the communities along MECHANICS the route, and those accepted will be sent to a school in San Francisco and paid a nom_nal wage while pur- suing their studies. ihe positions in tie treigat aid passenger departments and general Oflices, tor whic! graduates will qualify, are those that lead to execu tive opportunities.

NEW COLLEGE SONG MAY WIN FIFTY-DOLLAR PRIZE Dissatisfied with the present supply of “snappy” songs appropriate to the character of lowa Sta College, that institution’s alumni association ha established an annual prize of $50, to be awarded to the writer of the best song submitted each season Competing songs will be judged in June, and thx first year’s contest is open now. Reserving the rig to-use desirable songs that do not win prizes, ¢ association hopes in a few years to have a collection worthy of publication in book form, te WINNERS OF ARMY’S AIR RACE FINALLY GET MONEY PRIZES The cash prizes donated by supporters of tl army’s recent transcontinental air derby have finally been awarded to those who finshed the long grind The excessive delay has been caused by the com, cations of the scoring system which involved con parison of elapsed time, actual flying time, and general efficiency, each of these items being dedux from the mass of data turned in by the commanders of the 20 control stations. Of the 62 plots wil started the race, but 13 shared in the awards, whi totaled $6,150. To Lieut. B. W. Maynard, first finish, and to Lieut. A. Pearson, Jr.,° winner | actual flying time, went $1,025 each; to a third off cer was awarded $769; tliree others got $513 apiece; while to the last seven was given $256 each. WESTERN SCHOOL GIVES SHORT COURSE IN PURIFICATION OF WATER A course of instruction of extreme brevity, in a subject of unusual character but highly important, is announced by the University of Texas. The study will cover the chemical treatment of water for publi supply, as taken from streams, lakes, and reservoirs The course will be completed in 10 days’ time, and is intended particularly for operators and employes of water plants and filtration projects. No charges will be made, as the plan is part of a campaign con ducted by the state board of health. It is expected that the class will be formed in February. PATENTS By James A. Sanaker I spend my leisure makin’ things That never seem to run; My drawings and my. reckonings Don't pan out right when done. And still I’m everlastingly Beginning something new; While hoping yet to see the day When Fortune sails in view. My tinkerings and putterings May seem a foolish waste; But nothing ever yet was done In any kind of haste. I'll keep it up, I guess, until The day I pass away; I know at least I’ve patented A darn good way to piay.

IN accordance with the editorial policy of this magazine never to accept compensation in any form for what appears in our reading pages, and also to avoid all appearance of doing so, we are obliged to omit the name of the maker or the seller of any article described. This information, however, is kept on file and will be furnished free, by addressing Bureau of Information, Popular Mechanics Megazine, Chicago. [Editor.]