Popular Mechanics 1922-05: Vol 37 Iss 5

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“ieeanncs - Saad = Q z 2) 1) Zz WW b = x > | V4 af SEE PAGE 667

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POPULAR MECHANICS ADVERTISING SECTION 7 FIR. bo g a i“ LO Nai -/ ~ “Short Cuts to Good Carpentry’ ( Vol.36, CypressPocket Libra: 48 pages of authoritative { struction (simple, clear ; stimulating) fully illustr: ™ and with big Supplement, We X 36 in. with detailed Wo, wa ing Drawings that sh Wa how to make twelve‘‘h jobs’’ easy, safe and ¢ nomical of both lal and Lumber. Read w? “Rural Life,” (Roc: \ ter, N. Y.) says of “SHORT CUTS to GOOD CARPENTR* i. ‘‘Itis a guide boo’ the man or boy w can handle a ss or hammer a wants to k: how to them the b adv: —_— about bai Sent free wv our complime: WE TRUST YOUK OWN_JUDGME} and SELF-INTEREST INSURE CYPRESS on YOUR } ‘*The Wood Eternal’’ keeps val: going up by keeping the place fr running down ~~ F di : gi. ote remember | r ju ence, remem! ~ Wh CYPRESS wou BUILD BUT ONCE.” TRY IT. Let our “ALL ROUND HELPS DEPARTMENT’’ heip YOU. Our resources are at your service with Reliable Counse!. j UTHERN CYPRESS MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION 1219 POYDRAS BLOG., NEW ORLEANS, LA.. or 1219 GRAHAM BLDG., JACKSONVILLE, FLA. { (Please rese nearest office INSIST ON TRADE-MARKED CYPRESS AT YOUR LOCAL DEALER'S. IF HE HASN'T IT—LET US Know

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SEE PAGE 667 PRIZE OFFERS WHETHER YOUR NAME BE LUCKY OR NOT DECIDED BY HOROSCOPE MEANS A novel means of attracting readers—so novel that it is not only copyrighted, but is also the subject of a patent application—is a prominent feature these days of the Chicago Daily Tribune. Every day a blank is printed in a corner of a page of the paper, that con tains spaces to be filled in, as follows: full name, father’s name, mother’s name, full address, birthday, and the date sent in. From these data the horoscope editor decides whether the applicant is lucky enough to win one of the following prizes: first, $200; $100; third, $50, and 40 or 50 of $5 each. Thus each day some names are lucky, others are luckier, but the luckiest of all will be the name that is finally picked for an additional prize of $10,000. Nobody will dispute the fact that that person will be unusually lucky. It is not stated when this opportunity to “try be terminated. second, your luck” will BEST LISTS OF USES OF SHOE POLISHES WILL BE AWARDED CASH PRIZES It has been found that the shoe polishes known as 2-in-1 Black, 2-in-1 White, and 2-in-1 Tan Paste, can be used for other purposes besides shining shoes. The manufacturers, therefore, are offering the following cash prizes for the best lists of new uses of these polishes separately or in combination: First, $500 second, $300; third, $200; 10 of $25 each; 20 of $15 each; 50 of $5 each; 50 of $2 each, and 100 of $1 each. The rules are: Write on one side of the paper only, and list uses according to colors. Awards will be made on or before Oct. 1, 1922. Address: Prize Editor, F. F. Dalley Company of New York, 277 suffalo, N. Y. Military Road, ONE-HUNDRED-DOLLAR PRIZE OFFERED FOR BEST SETTING OF A SONG Announcement is made of a competition for a prize of $100 for the best musical setting of Sir Walter Scott's poem, “Hunting Song,” by the Swift & Com pany Male Chorus The conditions are as follows The composer must be a resident of the United States The setting must be for chorus of men’s voices with piar accompaniment. The well, and should be ano composition must sing PRIZE-POSTER CONTEST FOR SCHOOLS TO TEACH KINDNESS TO ANIMALS Pupils in the public and private schools of Massa chusetts are offered an incentive to join in the eight national observance of “Be Kind to Animals Week (April 24-29) and Humane Sunday” (April 30), throug the interest of the Massachusetts Society for the Pre vention of Cruelty to Animals, which for the best posters received before April 18 will give nine annual subscriptions to its publication, Our Dumb Ar als, and nine cash prizes as follows: For pupils in high schools, training classes, etc., first, $20; second, and third, $10; for pupils in grammar grades above the sixth, and also for pupils in the fifth and sixth grades, first, $15; second, $10, and third, $5 rhe offer is open to all pupils of public or private schools in Massachusetts rhe posters are intended as propa ganda in the interests of all dumb animals, domest or wild. h rawings must be on cardboard ot heavy paper of about 14 by 20 in., and should be shipped flat, in time to reach the offices of the Massa chusetts S. P. C. A., 180 Longwood Ave., Bostor not later than April 18. The prize-winning poster will be sent to the American Humane Association, Albany, N. Y., to compete in a national prize yntest. $15, SILVER LIFE-SAVING MEDALS AWARDED TO THREE HEROIC NAVY MEN Three enlisted men in the navy have been awarded silver life-saving medals by the Treasury Department, as follows: Leslie Robert Ebaugh, coxswain, for rescue from drowning of a seaman, and the attempted rescue of another, at Hampton Roads, last May 12; Sernard M. Noonan, seaman, for rescuing from drown- ing a pharmacist’s mate at Bremerton, Wash., last July 5; and Ralph Joseph Martin, chief torpedo man, for rescuing a fireman who was swept overboard from submarine “O-10,"" April 18, 1921, while en route from Bermuda to New London. PRIZE OFFERED FOR ANY MAN-PROPELLED AIRPLANE THAT CAN HOP 164 FEET Some time ago a prize former for hopping 10 winged bicycle. Now at was given to a French per- meters (nearly 33 ft.) on a ther prize of 20,000 frances is offered for tl first kept within a rea sonable vocal com pass. Parts may be doubled at pleasure. Each composition must bear a ficti tious name, and must be accompa nied by a envelope bearing on the outside the ficti- tious name and hav- ing inside the com poser’s real name and address. For return of manuscript, loose stamps should be inck sealed Competitions should be sent to the conductor of the chorus, D. A. Clip pinger, 617-18 Kim- ball Building, Chi cago, Ill., and must be in his hands on or before July 1, 1922. The award will be made Aug. 1, 1922. The composi tion winning the prize will be pro duced by the cho rus, whose property it becomes, during the season of 1922- 1923 it is a catastrophe. gicians’ vor.—Editor. “AGICIANS earn their living by mystifying the public. Performances such as “The Vanishing Elephant” and “Passing through a may Brick Wall,” both of which have been ex- The dates for mak plained in this magazine, are produced not ing attempts for the merely at great financial cost for paraphernalia and equipment, but also at the expenditure of 23-30, July much clever brain work and severe physical sed. training. What then—when the magician has perfected his idea and begun to delight large The audiences with its presentation—what must be his dismay to have the secrets of his patiently mastered art revealed by the press! Realization of this fact leads to the announce- ment that henceforth Popular Mechanics Mag- azine will publish no detailed articles of ma- performances, operate with the American Society of Magicians in protecting the secrets of a form of amuse- ment which has always met with popular fa- but, man-propelled air- plane whicl shall MAGICIANS’ SECRETS TO BE hop 50 meters (164 tt.) over a ftlat s RESPECTED face once in each a two opposite direc- tions. No artificial buoyancy, or inde- pendent assistance, be employed. prize in 1922 are April 23-30, June ] 23-30, September 23-30, and possibly a sup- plementary date. competition is open to all nation- alities except for- mer enemy nations. Entries, accom- panied by a fee of 10 francs, returnable under certain condi- tions, must be made at least 10 days prior to any of the weeks stated above, to Maison Peugeot, 80 Rue Danton, a Leval- lois-Perret (Seine), in the name of the competitor, and witl the name of the maker of the machine To him instead, will co- 651

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652 POPULAR TWO EXAMINATIONS FOR COMPUTERS BY U. S. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION The U. S. Civil Service Commission announces an open competitive examination, closing May 2, 1922, for computer (Grades 1 and II). Vacancies for the Ordnance Department of the War Department, for duty at the various proving grounds within the United States, will be filled from this examination, Entrance salaries for these positions will range as_ follows: Grade I, from $1,400 to $1,800; Grade II, from $900 to $1,400 a year. The duties of the appointees will be to make ballistic computations. Competitors will not be required to report for examination at any place, but will be rated upon sworn statements of their edu- cation and experience. Applicants must have gradu- ated from a four years’ high-school course, or have completed a course of study equivalent to that re- quired for such graduation. For Grade I, they must have had at least four years’ experience in engineering, or other pursuits involving the application of higher mathematics, and in Grade II, two years of such ex- perience. The equivalent of this in a college, or uni- versity of recognized standing, embracing mathematics up to and including integral calculus, and physics and applied mechanics, will also be accepted as a qualification. he department also announces an open competitive examination for computer, to be held April 26-27, 1922, to fill vacancies in the Coast and Geodetic Sur- vey, for duty in Washington, D. C., at a salary of $1,400 a year, and in Manila, P. I., at $2,000 a year. Appointees whose services are satisfactory will be al- lowed the bonus granted by congress of $20 a month. The subjects of examination will be mathematics, as- tronomy, physics, surveying, practical computations, and one foreign language. Applicants may be exam- ined at any place at which this examination is held, regardless of their place of domicile; but only those who have been domiciled in the state in which they reside for at least one year previous to the examina- tion, and who have the county officer’s certificate in the ‘application form executed, may become eligible for permanent appointment to service in Washington. In the examination for computer in the Ordnance Department, all citizens, men or women, who have not reached their 50th birthday, and for computer in the Geodetic Survey, all male citizens who have not reached their 70th birthday on the day of the exam- ination, are eligible. All desirous of competing should at once apply for form 1312, stating title of the examination, to the Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C., or to the Secretary of the U. S. Civil Service Board in the ap- plicant’s locality. “HOOSIER TON LITTER CLUB” HELPS INDIANA FARMERS During the past two years the Department of Agri- cultural Extension of Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind., has made investigations that proved that the number of pigs raised and marketed per litter is the governing factor in determining the cost of producing pigs. Therefore, in codperation with the Indiana Live- stock Breeders’ Association, they formed the “Hoosier Ton Litter Club,” which offered a gold medal for any litter of pigs that would weigh 2,000 Ib. or more when six months old. In connection with this prize offer the club demonstrates methods of breeding, feed- ing, and management of hogs which will produce ton litters. Executive committees are appointed in each county or township who explain the plans of the club, enroll members, and appoint committees to inspect and weigh litters according to the rules of the club. Be- sides the gold medals for litters weighing a ton, silver medals were offered for 1,800-Ib. litters, and bronze medals for those of 1,600 pounds. The idea is decidedly novel, and will doubtless stim- ulate the interest of all Indiana farmers in animal husbandry. The plan might very well be imitated in other states. MECHANICS CENSUS THAT WILL SHOW EXACT NUMBER OF SAFETY MEN IN MINING INDUSTRY It has never been established definitely how many persons in the mining industry are engaged in accident prevention and industrial health work. Now for the first time the National Safety Council, with the coédp- eration of the Bureau of Mines, is engaged in the compilation of a census of safety men in the mining industry, including also safety men in noninining in dustries. It is expected that when this census is com- pleted there will be registered at_the headquarters of the National Safety Council in Chicago the name of every man and woman responsible for the safety work of every industrial plant, public utility, municipality, and every organization which devotes any part of its efforts toward the promotion of either industrial or public safety in the United States. The council con- tinually receives requests from all kinds of organiza- tions and associations for help in finding speakers or writers on safety subjects, and the census records will greatly increase the facilities of the council for filling such requests. SIXTH SWISS SAMPLE FAIR TO BE HELD AT BASLE, APRIL 22 TO MAY 2, 1922 Five annual Swiss sample fairs have already been held in the great exhibition building at Basle, and from the steadily increasing popularity of these shows, it is expected that still greater interest will be taken in the sixth show, which takes place April 22 to May 2, 1922. The principal object of these annual expositions is to develop already existing commercial relations, and to afford opportunities for forming new connections. The sample fairs are also intended to remove conditions resulting from the war, and to help reéstablish international economic relations. The ex- hibits are confined strictly to Swiss products and man- ufactured goods. Sales at one of these fairs reached a total of 50,000,000 francs (normally about $10,000,000). Many foreign buyers, including several from this side of the Atlantic, attended the ‘ast fair, and still more are expected this year. CONTESTS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED Medals, Diplomas, and Money Awards: Announced August issue, 1921; awards offered by the Franklin Institute. For Service to City of Philadelphia: Prize $10,000; announced September issue, 1921; awarded in spring or summer of 1922 by Edward Bok, former editor of The Ladies Home Journal. Model in Clay by Students of Chicago Art Insti- tute: Prizes, $1,000, $100, and $50; announced No- vember issue, 1921; closes April 15, 1922; address, Daily News Office, 15 N. Wells St., Chicago, Ill. One Million Francs for Best Motor: Announced January issue, 1922; closes June 1, 1923; address, Aero Club of France. Best Slogan Describing Razor: Prize $500; an- nounced January issue, 1922; closes June 30; address Durham Duplex Razor Co., 190 Baldwin Ave., Jersey City, N. J American-History Essays: Prizes, $3,000 for pro- fessors, $2,000 for specialists, $1,000 for school-teachers, $1,000 for students, and $500 for undergraduates in U. Ss. colleges ; announced March issue, 1922; closes May 31. Address, Knights of Columbus Historical Commission, K. of C. Bldg., 199 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, Mass. @The National Billiard Association of. America has been organized for the purpose of encouraging the game of billiards, and at the same time to correct any evils that are connected with the sport. While doing everything possible to upbuild billiards, it is also the intention of the association to close up any billiard rooms that allow objectionable practices. IX 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 Magazine, Chicago. [Editor.] ° ree

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Popular Mechanics Magazine REGISTERED IN U. S. PATENT OFFICE WRITTEN SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND IT Vol. 37 MAY, 1922 No. 5 Astonishing Results of Foundation Tests By HENRY S. WHITE ERY interesting results have been sion of the concrete. Thus the remark- obtained from the unique tests of the able result is shown of a load that was undation piers and caissons for the new over 13 times the load allowed by the cit ( may Station at Chicago, that were of Chicago ordinance, with a total settk lly described and illustrated in the Jan ment at the base of only 1% inches. lary issue of this magazine. Since that The next test helped to explain this time the tests have been completed on unexpected result, for it proved positively both piers. On the one with the belled that fully a quarter of the load was car- base, having a bearing rea of 54% sq. ft., a load of 970 tons was ap- ad GROUND LINE cae P. & i, a “> “Reed vb se . Roy OF “BLUE CLAY End of Tunnel to Unsupported Base of Foundation Pier: Bot- tom of Pier, at the Man's Hand, had been Pushed Down from Top of Tunnel by Load of 260 ons plied for 10 days contin- uously, resulting in a total settlement of 11% in., of which 15 in. was found to be due to the compression of the con- crete itself. On the other pier, without a. belled base, and with a bottom area of 125 sq. ft., a CONCRETE PIER Diagram of Shaft and Tunnel, 45 Feet Long, for Examining Results of Tests load of 1,000 tons was on Two Foundation Piers: At Left Is the Pier without Belled Base, applied continuously for on Which Skin-Friction Tests were Made after Removal of the Hardpan six weeks, with a total settlement of 2 in. ried by the skin friction between the out of which “6 in. was due to the compres- side surface of the pier and the soil sut 6

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G54 rounding it. A shaft, 4 ft. in diameter, was sunk alongside the pier with the belled base to the bottom of it, and a tunnel, 6 ft. in diameter and 45 ft. long, was driven to the bottom of the other pier. The shaft alongside the first pier furnished opportunity for a thorough ex- amination of the soil, which was found to be partly soft, and partly hard clay and gravel. Under the other pier the hard- pan was all dug away, leaving the base entirely unsupported. Loads were then applied, and gradually increased until a load of 260 tons was reached, when for POPULAR MECHANICS the first time the unsupported pier began to move. When the pier had been pushed down about 3 ft., the load was taken off. This proves that the resistance from skin friction alone was at least 250 tons, show- ing by calculation that there was resist- ance from friction at the rate of 570 lb. per square foot of the pier’s surface. This is the first time a test of this kind has been made, and the results are deemed to be of great value. It is hoped by engi- neers that these demonstrations will con- vince the city authorities that the present allowable load could safely be doubled. NEW PROCESS MAKES COTTON FIREPROOF ALED cotton, which so easily catches fire, or quickly rots when exposed to the weather, is to be largely saved from both huge losses by a new chemical proc- ess which is simple to apply at the time the cotton is ginned and does not injure the quality of the cotton. Anyone who has touched a match to a piece of cotton batten knows how the flame spreads over the surface in a flash. This has led to the adoption of the term “flash fire” in the cotton industry, and is one of the menaces to be guarded against in shipping or storing cotton bales. An- other form of fire risk is the so-called “burrowing fire,” which refers to the fire which eats its way into the bale. One would think that this fire hazard was a sufficient handicap to be placed upon any industry, but cotton is also subject to another loss, called “country damage,” caused by fermentation among the fibers when the bales are stored in contact with the ground or under adverse weather con- ditions. This country damage spreads into the bale, and may occasion the loss of as much as 80 per cent of the cotton in the bale. When consideration is given the fact that, with the single exception of corn, cotton is the most valuable of our agri- cultural products, and far exceeds in value any other exported commodity, the eco- nomic importance of any process that will reduce the fire loss and prevent the loss through country damage, can be ap- preciated. The process of treatment is extremely simple and has been tested to a point where its commercial value is proved. In treating .the gin-baled cotton it is only necessary to roll the bale through an L-shaped vat containing the chemical in such a way that all surfaces are exposed to the liquid. The level of the liquid in the vat is maintained by a float valve con- trolling the supply from a storage tank. At least two minutes must be consumed in passing the bale through the vat in order to insure a proper penetration of the chemical solution. When it comes from the vat, the bale is placed on a plat- form and allowed to drain for two or three days, when it is ready for shipment or storage. Fire tests on the treated bales show that matches and cigar or cigarette stubs may scorch the surface, or even start local flash fires in some cases, but that, as a general rule, these die out quickly without starting burrowing fires. In the excep- tional cases where burrowing fires started, they were easily quenched with water. In one particularly rigid test, the flame from a blowtorch was passed over the surface of a treated bale, and while the surface was scorched, no flash fire or burrowing fire was started. In addition, several tests showed that treated bales were practically fire-resist- ant to sparks such as would come from a coal-burning locomotive. This fact alone is of great importance, not only to the cotton industry but to the railroads which transport the crop, for it means that cot- ton may be shipped on flat cars or in or- dinary cars without special precautions being taken, as is now the case. As a consequence, the first-grade spark-proof cars can be released for the movement of other crops. Many tests have shown that treated bales are practically immune from coun- try damage, even when stored under ad- verse weather conditions. One test showed that the loss after three years was only 2 Ib. on a 500-Ib. bale, while with the untreated bales the loss in only a few months may range from 80 Ib. to as much as 400 lb. per bale. “

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: Giving a Bale of Cotton the Chem- ical reatment in a Temporary | Tank: The Solution Is About “vr Eight Inches Deep in the Tank, and the Bale is Turned So That All Four Sides and Both Ends are Immersed in the Solution, Which Penetrates the Bale to a Depth of , : ; About Two Inches, Depending on - the Time It is Allowed to Stand. a —— = : j It Takes About Two Minutes to ——— : Apply the Treatment Testing the Fireproof Quality of a Treated Bale of Cotton by Pass- el ing the Flame from a Blowtorch U®] over the Surface: The Chemical Treatment Rendered the Bale Fire- proof to Such an Extent That Even This Hot Flame did Not | Start Any Flash Fires, or Bur- |} rowing Fires; but the Flame from the Torch was Not Allowed to Strike One Spot for Any Length — of Time —————— — — ee ———= ciccstinessillcaniannisnail us

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POPULAR MECHANICS e the Place of the Old Bridge to the Right Which for a Period of 105 Years onstruction and will Tak with Few Interruptions, d Is of Modern Steel and Stone C Traffic after having Been in Use, has been Condemned as Unsafe for This New Bridge over the Connecticut River at Springfiel NEW VIADUCT REPLACES OLD TOLL BRIDGE A new bridge is be- ing erected over the Connecticut River at Springfield, Mass., to take the place of the old toll bridge which has been in service since 1816 and is now declared un- safe for traffic. The old bridge is of the two-way, covered type and was constructed of hand-hewn oak tim- bers held together by hand-wrought iron rods and hardwood pegs. The new bridge is of modern steel and stone construc- tion, and will be 80 ft. wide to allow for car tracks, vehicular and pedestrian traffic. One feature of this bridge is the center span of 172 ft., which is so constructed that it can be replaced by a drawbridge should the civer be made navi- gable for ocean-going boats later. NEW SUBSTANCE AS CATALYST HARDENS OILS The process of oil hardening, called hy- drogenation, consists in the conversion of oils, which at ordinary temperatures are liq- uid, into fats which are hard under the same conditions, and depends on the use of a catalyst, which is a substance causing the action but not affect- ed by it. It has been found that a combina- tion of nickel-magne- sium silicate gives much better results than any of the cata- lysts previously used.

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POPULAR MECHANICS German Substitute Manikins, Made of Metal Instead of Wax: At Left is Shown a Seated Manikin Undraped; To the Extreme Right Is a Standing One, and to the Left of It, The Manikins Revolve on Balls at Their Feet to the Right of It, Draped. the Same Manikin Draped. GERMANS INTRODUCE MANIKINS OF METAL INSTEAD OF WAX During the war almost every staple in Germany was replaced by an “ersatz”—a substitute—and now it seems that also in peace time certain substitutes have come into use. One notable instance, that is said to be for the purpose of counteract- ing French influence, is the substitution of metal manikins for the beautiful wax ones so universal, not only in France, but throughout the whole world of fashion. These lay figures are the invention of a famous German ‘sculptor and are made of such light metal that they can easily be carried about. The arms are jointed, and the whole figure rests on a ball upon which it will revolve. TWENTY-PASSENGER AUTO BUS IS SPECIALLY DESIGNED A new passenger-carrying bus, now un dergoing its preliminary trials, has been specially designed for this service. The running boards and floor are placed low for convenience in entering and leaving Sidesway is eliminated to a great extent by the increased width of the tread, which is 68 in. as against the usual*56 in. The bus is equipped with a 64-hp. motor pro- vided with a governor, and is capable of a maximum speed of 52 miles an hour. The interior appointments have been spe- cially designed for the comfort and con- venience of the passengers. The motor and driveshaft are supported on fabric or rubber pads to eliminate vibration. Left: “The Silver Fox” is Specially Designed for Passenger Service and has the Floor and Running Boards Placed Remarkably Low for the Convenience of Travelers. Above: The Extra-Wide Tread Makes for Easy Riding and Reduces Sidesway

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658 POPULAR MECHANICS VISUALIZE PAPER’S STRENGTH BY NOVEL DEMONSTRATION A rather unusual method was recently employed to demonstrate the strength of a certain kind of paper. A single sheet almost instantly, like a prairie fire. Thou- sands of dollars are lost each year from this cause alone. The causes of the fires are various, many of them being in- cendiary. So vital is the success of the wheat crop to the welfare of the region that the business men of Colfax, which is located in the heart of the wheat belt, have organized a volunteer fire department to aid the ranchers in saving their crop. The method used by the ranchers is the same as that employed by the earlier settlers in protecting their homes against prairie fires— a plowed strip ahead of the fire. Also a call for help is telephoned to town. In town, a special signal is sounded on the fire whistle, and autos and volunteer fire fighters flock to the fire station. A pile of gunny sacks that is kept at the station, is soaked with a stream from the hose. The first auto to arrive is given a load of shovels and these wet sacks. Fol- lowing autos are loaded with men, and they leave in rapid suc- cession for the fire. Usually, by the time help from town arrives, the rancher and his neighbors have the plowed fire line com- pleted and are ready for the men with the wet sacks. The sacks are used to beat out any small fires that start, on the opposite The a ~ Sheet of Paper is Supporting a Weight of 769 Pounds. side of the plowed strip. he Young Women Seem to Have Perfect Confidence in Its Ability to Hold of this paper, no heavier than the usual letter stock, was suspended in a frame carrying a seat on which five young women stood and sat. The total weight supported was 769 lb., which included the weight of the platform. FIGHTING WHEAT-FIELD FIRES IN EASTERN WASHINGTON In eastern Washington is an agricul- tural region, known as the Palouse Coun- try, that is devoted almost entirely to wheat raising. Here one may ride mile after mile through what has been aptly termed, by one writer of fiction, a “desert of wheat.” After the crop has been suc- cessfully nursed through dry winters, wet springs, and dry summers, comes the time of ripening grain and its danger from fire. When the wheat is about ready to harvest, a fire started in it will spread So common are wheat fires during the harvest season that as many as five or six alarms may be turned in during one day. SKINNING KNIFE FOR HUNTER PREVENTS CUTTING HIDE Hunters, or other persons who have occasion to skin wild or domestic animals, will appreciate a new knife invented by an eastern man. The knife has a blade with a sharply curved tip which termi- nates in an oblong knob. Both edges of the blade are sharpened, and in using, the knob is first inserted between the hide and the flesh. In this position, the knife may be either drawn or pushed without fear of cutting deeper than intended, and without raising the skin with the fingers.

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WILL THE LOST TRIBES RETURN TO JERUSALEM ? By Lewis R- freeman Characteristic View of the French-Built Railroad, near Homs, in Northern Syria, between Reyak and Aleppo: The Road Is an Almost Continuous Succession of Cuts and Fills, Owing to the Peculiar Conformation of the Country UT of the “Grapes of Wrath,” trod den in the wine vat of the World War, have flowed strange vintages, most of them bitter if not poisonous. One of the few that sparkles with the bright ef- fervescence of promise is that which typi fies the release from their centuries of Turkish bondage of the Jews, Armenians, ind Arabs, to say nothing of various and sundry odds and ends of lesser peoples who had long suffered virtual strangula- tion in the grip of the tentacles otf the a A Group of Pre-War Jewish Colonists in Palestine: Primitive in the Extreme. Undoubtedly the dying Ottoman octopus. The difficulty of extending succor to the young Armenian republic may mean that it will yet have to face for many years the threat of Turk and Bolshevik; but for the Jews of Pales tine—with a strong but liberal British protectorate established, and ultimate au tonomy in sight—there is hardly a cloud on the horizon. \nd for those who were once called “God’s Chosen” the vintage of the war has brought more than ire it has edom They Were, as a Rule, Very Poor and Their Equipment New Colonization Scheme will Alter All This

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660 brought fulfillment. To the ends of the world Jews are thumbing the pages of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others once of scant honor in their own country, pointing out how prophecies already come true have opened the way for the fulfillment of others of even greater import, leading up to a virtual renaissance of the race and the establishment of their long-dreamed- of New Jerusalem. I shall discuss here only that covered by two verses from Isaiah. Because the war has made the “highways” referred to a fait accompli, that prophecy, with all that its fulfillment seems likely to lead up to, falls fully with- in the field of a magazine which devotes itself exclusively to accomplished, and accomplishable, facts. Visioning the re- turn of the “Lost Tribes” of Israel, Isaiah wrote (xi:16): “And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.” And again (xix :23): “In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.” Just what a highway connoted to Isa- iah, it would be interesting to know. Doubtless, however, clear-seeing as was the great prophet of the redemption, it is not probable that he visualized much more than a long series of wells and POPULAR MECHANICS tanks, khans, and caravansaries, marking the windings of a dusty camel and ass- beaten path across the desert. Certainly, not in the farthest-flung vista of his vision could he have seen the glistening tracks, the thundering trains, the crowded sta- tion yards that differentiate the modern railway and railway travel from that by the ancient caravan. And yet it is in the railway that the prophecy comes to ful- fillment. From thousands of miles be- yond the outermost limits of the known world of Isaiah’s time it is, now pos- sible to reach Jerusalem by rail. The _—“isWhighhway from Egypt to Assyria, via Palestine, is an accomplished fact; but that (save as it ful- fills the letter of the prophecy) seems hardly more than a_ negligible incidental when one learns that the whole of the European railway system, together with great and increasing lengths of those of Africa and Asia, have been brought—almost over- night as it were—in rail connection ‘with Jerusa- lem. No matter whither, on any one of these three continents, the most rest- less remnant of any of A Section of the Bagdad Railway in Northern Syria: This was Built by the lost tribes has wan the Germans before and during the War, as a Part of Their Ambitious Plan of Connecting Berlin by a Direct Railroad with the Head of the Persian Gulf dered, there are few who would have to march for more than a day or two to reach a high- way that will lead them back to Israel. To what extent they will bring about the fulfillment of other prophecies by return- ing, still remains to be seen. Just how much the war and the press- ing transportation needs of the belliger- ents put forward the establishment of through rail connection between Jerusa- lem and the world to the east and west and south, it is hard to say. Even had the war not come, so that Palestine and Syria would have remained under Turk- ish control, it is still conceivable that e roundabout connection with the Bagdad Railway would have been effected in the course of the next eight or ten years. Nevertheless, the facts that the Palestine and Syrian lines were French, though of different gauges, and that the Damascus- Medina line was Turkish, and the Bagdad line German, would have made coopera- tion to this end very problematical. Still one heard such a connection spoken of frequently in Palestine in the years just

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POPULAR MECHANICS ES al Wastin oA . RAILROADS BUILDING OR - ‘ ABOUT TO BE BUILT xxxxxxx General Map of Palestine, Syria, and Mesopotamia, and Adjacent Territories, Giving an Idea of the Extent to Which the Railways are Developed at Present: It will be Seen That Even Now the Old Prophecy of a “Highway Out of Egypt to Assyria” Is Practically Fulfilled previous to the war, and perhaps it would eventually have come to pass. A railroad across the barren Sinai Desert to the delta of the Nile, however, I never heard discussed at that time, either in Palestine or Egypt. As the insignificant trade be- tween these two regions was easily han- dled by the existing steamer service, it is probable that many years would have gone by before Turkey, or even private concessionaires, would have been willing to sink money in what could hardly have been a profitable enterprise. Had not this railway been built as a strategic line, then, it seems likely that there could have been no incentive for its construction until Palestine and Syria had fallen from the palsied hand of the “Sick Man” by their own weight. Without the war, this might not have eventuated for several decades. I shall hardly need to add that there is no possibility of the Jews ever having come to their own while Palestine remained under Ottoman control. A brief survey of the railway situation in Turkey-in-Asia at the outbreak of the war will be necessary to an understanding of what was accomplished during the war, and a consideration of the possibil- ities this latter development opens up for the age-long Jewish dream of a New Israel in a restored Palestine. By the middle of 1914, the Bagdad Rail- way (under construction by German con- cessionaires as the backbone of their grandiose plan of eastward penetration) was, save for a number of heavy cuts and tunnels in the Taurus and Amanus mountains, complete from the Bosporus to the Euphrates. The bridge over the latter, at a point not far from Aleppo, was well under way, and some prelim- inary work had been done on the eastward extension to Mosul, opposite the site of old Nineveh, on the Tigris. At the oppo- site end of the survey, working with ma- terial brought up the Tigris from the Persian Gulf, the grading had been com- pleted from Bagdad to Samara, 60 miles north of the ancient capital of the caliphs. In Syria a French-constructed and op- erated railway ran from Beirut, over the Lebanon Mountains to Reyak, from where one branch ran northeasterly to Homs and Aleppo, and another south- easterly, across the Anti-Lebanon Range, to Damascus. From the latter metropolis the German-built but Turkish-operated Hedjaz Railway ran almost due south, across a bleak and sterile desert, to Me- dina. This line had been built solely with the idea of handling the pilgrim traffic to Mecca, and Turkish mismanagement had brought it to a hopeless state of disrepair within a year of the time the Ottoman government took over the control. A branch of the Hedjaz line ran from the junction of Deraa, down to the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan—well below sea level—and on to the Mediterranean at Haifa.

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662 POPULAR In Palestine proper the only railway was the 54-miles-long line, owned and operated by a French company, connect- ing Jaffa and Jerusalem. On account of its open roadstead, Jaffa was useless as a port for days at a time, which fact had set the Turkish government to planning a connection with Haifa by means of a spur from the Hedjaz branch to Jerusalem. As this would have rendered the French line from Jaffa almost worthless, the conces- sionaires of the latter were much _ per- turbed over the outlook at the time of my last visit to Jerusalem, just before the war. When I crossed by caravan from Bag dad and Mosul to Aleppo and the Medi- terranean in the summer of 1912, evidences of feverish activity were observable all along the sur- MECHANICS been able to learn that any active con- struction has been carried on there since. As this is one of the most unsettled re gions of the late Turkish empire in Asia, it is not likely that much work will be done here until the combined Turko- Bolshevik threat to Armenia is removed the Kurds reduced to subjection, and the peoples of this much-harassed section allowed to resume the ways of peace. As Nisibin, however, lies well within the bor ders of Biblical Assyria, the prophecy oi the highway between that country and [Israel may be said to have come to ful fillment when the railway was completed to that point. The materials on hand in Bagdad at the outbreak of the war sufficed only to build a railway from that city to Tekrit 20 miles north vey of the Bag- dad Railway. This could have been nothing, however, to what went on after the war began, and especially after the inaugura- tion of the first British drive up the Tigris toward Bagdad. That route im- mediately be- came the main —indeed, the only—artery of communication of the Turko- German defense, and remained so until that defense crumbled away to nothing in the last year of the war. The greatest effort was made in pushing the Taurus and Amanus tunnels, as that part of the Jagdad Railway was also the main line of communications for the operations in Palestine and Syria. Through traffic was opened to Aleppo in 1916, about the mid dle of the year. Meantime, “construction had been pushed on across northern Mesopotamia from the completed bridge over the Eu- phrates, and by the end of 1916, Nisibin, halfway to Mosul, had been reached. The next year saw the completion of the grade to Mosul, but the tremendous demand for steel in‘ Germany made it impossible to supply material for rails and_ bridges. Nisibin remained practically the railhead, as far as transportation was concerned, to the end of the war, and I not have Section Boss and His Gang on the Hedjaz Railway: The Ties Used Are of Steel, as No Wood could Stand the Railroad Is Turkish-Built, and Mainly Serves the Pilgrim Traffic ON of Samara, and that strange lit tle Arab town —which re ceived its name from Alexander the Great—was railhead at this end when all of southern Meso- potamia was overrun by the British at the culmination of Maude’s mas terly campaign Much grading was found to have been done the survey north to Mosul, but rails had not been laid. The closing up of the uncompleted gap of the Bagdad Railway need not be a matter of many months, once the country to the north is pacified and the nations concerned (Great Britain and France) in the establishment of a through line from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf find the money for the project. With the French railway from Beirut reaching both Aleppo and Damascus, a‘l the Germans had to do to establish a through line from the Bosporus to \rabia (once and Amanus limate. This the Taurus tunnels were completed) was to connect the French and the Hedjaz systems at Damascus, and change the former from a meter gauge to standard. Maan, on the Hedjaz Railway, was made the base for the early Turkish operations across the Sinai Desert against the Suez Canal, but no new line was laid to assist in this

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POPULAR MECHANICS > - /- 7 & we eee ERO SES eee ee 2 ee The Narrow-Gauge French-Built Line, Climbing the Mountains Back of Damascus: The Grades Are in Some Places Very Steep; Here, for Instance, the Gradient Is Six per Cent, and a Rack System Was Necessary to Secure Traction not until it became apparent that the he marched into Jerusalem. The final Turks were to be on the defensive rather defeat of the Turkish army was so com- than the offensive in Palestine, that each plete that little was done in the way of belligerent in this theater began work on destroying their railways, and _ conse- lines which, when finally united, effected quently the whistle of the locomotive fol- fulfillment of the prophecy of the high- lowed close upon the pursuing cavalry way from Egypt to Assyria. all the way up to Damascus and on to The Germans, after building a line to Aleppo. At the latter point Allenby connect the Haifa branch of the Hedjaz reached the Bagdad Railway. Railway with that from Jerusalemto Jaffa, pushed construction on southward until Beershe- ba was reached. This was their expiring effort in railway extension in Pal- estine, and the result of it was that there was a through, if roundabout, line all the way from the Bosporus to Jerusalem and Beersheba. When Allenby launched his campaign against the Turks he carried his rail- way right along with him as he went. It was the sequel to his capture of Beersheba that made pos- sible the welding of the final link in the highway that Isaiah had foretold. Fortunately both lines were stz ‘ auge. s The “Wailing Place” of the Jews, outside the Old Temple Wall at Jerusa- — tand ree & 1ugC, = lem: The Interior of the Temple had been Converted into a that Allenby’s railw ay Turkish Mosque, So the Jews could Not Enter ill-advised and ill-fated operation. It was trains were almost upon his heels when

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664 POPULAR So much for the prophecies that have already been fulfilled. Now what of those which it seems certain are about to come to pass? With Israel once more open to them, and with a highway stretching fair before them, will the Lost Tribes return to realize their New Jerusalem? Of many prophecies in point, one from Jeremiah (xxiii:3) will suffice. In its ex- plicitness of expression it is but typical of what Isaiah, Hosea, Joel, and _ several other of the prophets, have said on the same subject. “And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.” The Jews are found all over the world at the present day. Speaking very broad- ly, these may be divided into two classes: the descendants of the tribes which were carried into captivity, or who fled to avoid being carried into captivity; and the de- scendants of later and more voluntary emigrations. The former movement was in the main toward the east, and oc- curred previous to 586 B. C., the date of the final destruction of the kingdom of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar; the latter movement has been westward, most of it in the Christian Era. The emigration of European Jews to America is the final wave of this westerly drift. Students of Biblical history will recall that the union of the twelve Hebrew tribes under the warlike Saul, which was further consolidated under David and Solomon, fell into two parts after the death of the latter. That to the north retained the name of the kingdom of Israel, while that to the south, with its capital in Jerusa- lem, was called Judah. Israel, after sap- ping its strength with wars with the princes of Damascus, fell an easy victim to the Assyrians, under Sargon, in 722 B. C. All the inhabitants were carried off to Nineveh, and Assyrian colonists sent to replace them. It was because all trace of the expatriates disappeared that they came to be referred to as the Lost Tribes of Israel. That the lost tribes were, as history tells us, originally planted in the Tigro- Euphrates Valley is evident even to the veriest tyro of an ethnologist who travels in central Asia today. From the source of the Tigris, near the Black Sea, to its confluence with the Euphrates above the head of the Persian Gulf, the unmistak- able Hebraic cast of countenance is en- countered in every town and village. In MECHANICS the larger cities, such as Diarbekr, Mosul, Bagdad, and Busrah, the Jewish quarters are scarcely less extensive than the Mus- sulman. In Mosul and Bagdad, the cities nearest to the respective Assyrian and Babylonian capitals of ancient times, busi ness is today very largely in the hands ot men whose ancestry would undoubtedly trace back to captives of Sargon and Nebuchadnezzar. For most of these, it will be but the matter of a short journey by arabanah |a sort of prairie schoone1 used in Asia] to reach the beginning of the highway that will take them all the way back to Jerusalem. How far fragments of the lost tribes wandered eastward will never be definitely known, but unquestionably far into China if not all the way to the Pacific. One finds Jews in plenty in the bazaars of Kermanshah and Teheran, and right on east across the ancient cradle of civiliza- tion from which their Semitic ancestors came. One sees types that are Jewish ethnologically beyond question in the ba- zaars of Kashgar, Yarkand, and Samar- kand, though their religious observances have often been greatly modified by thei: environment. Farther east still, one finds valleys that are peopled by tribes of un- mistakable Jewish origin. In the moun- tains along the Chinese border they occur only in scattered villages, and by the time one has penetrated 500 miles toward the heart of the Middle Kingdom, the effect of the Jewish immigration is noticeable only in the narrower and more aquiline faces of a type that is predominatingly Mongol. Another 50 miles and the He- braic cast of features has become excep tional, and beyond that one rarely sees it at all. The numerous Jews one encounters all over Siberia were carried there by a refluent wave of the later westward move- ment from Palestine. They all came from European Russia, not from the eastward movement of the lost tribes. Russian Jews have always made up a considerabl: part of the pilgrims to Jerusalem. Once communication with what was formerly the Russian empire is restored, the trans Siberian trunk will open through rail con- nection for all the Jews between the Baltic and the Pacific, right through t: the Holy Land. These will undoubtedly figure largely among the new colonists ir. Palestine. The many migratory movements be tween Palestine and Egypt since the tim of the Exodus were responsible for the presence of numerous Jews in northern Africa, though those of the bazaars o'

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POPULAR MECHANICS A Typical Station on the Jaffa-Jerusalem Railroad: Cairo, Algiers, and Morocco are mostly the result of the later westward drift. For a hundred years, however, explorers have been finding so-called “Black Jews” in many parts of the Sahara, upper Egypt, Abyssinia, and even as far south as the Nyasa lakes. The warlike Masai, who graze their herds over a vast area of the high country about the head of the Nile, are Strikingly Hebraic in appearance, though it is difficult to trace anything Judaistic in their religious observances. In any event, should any of the Black Jews of any part of Africa desire to re- turn to their mother country, the fact that the highway of prophecy connects in lower Egypt with the almost completed Cape-to-Cairo trunk offers the opportu- nity to do so cheaply and expeditiously. The Jews of present-day Europe are largely the descendants of those carried away in the early Greek and Roman con- quests, or who migrated during the later Byzantine empire, or through opportuni- ties arising in connection with the Cru- sades. Most of these have preserved the ancient religious observances, and it is they, therefore, who have been most as- siduous in rereading and feinterpreting the prophecies, and in laying plans for the establishment of a New Zion upon the ruins of the old. To these the com- pletion of the highway to Jerusalem has particular significance; for, with all of Europe in rail connection with Constan- tinople, the fact that the steel rails lead on without a break from the other side of the Bosporus right to the foot of Mount Zion means that the next step in fulfillment—the return of the remnants of Israel from all the world—may well be This Road Is 54 Miles Long, ‘Built “a a French Com- pany, and Forms a Part of the “Highway of Prophecy” at hand. To one who knows the Pales- tine of today, the first question that pre- sents itself in connection with the return of any considerable number of the Jewish race is: “Can that dry and barren country support a population greatly in excess of the comparatively sparse one which lives there now?” The answer would be a most emphatic “No,” were it not for the fact that the way appears to be open for rec- lamation which bids fair to make of this desert country another land of Canaan— a land literally flowing with milk and honey. Of the possibilities of restoring Palestine to fruitfulness through general reclamation, and particularly a project for developing power by utilizing the differ- ence in elevation between the Mediter- ranean and the Dead Sea, I shall write in a later article. NEVADA LEGISLATURE PASSES LAW FOR CAMEL CONTROL Camels roaming at will upon the roads and highways of Nevada seems like a fairy tale, but the state legislature, in the year of 1875, evidently recognized it to be a most annoying fact. At any rate, at that time a law was passed which prohibited the straying about of these mild-appearing animals that were consid- ered distinctly out of place by the pro- testing natives, but which had been in- troduced for hauling purposes at the Virginia City mines. Whether the statute succeeded in safely tethering them is not known, but it is thought that there is no other place in this country that has legis- lated in this manner against the unassum- ing camel, almost

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666 POPULAR MECHANICS DESERT ROADWAY FENCED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS There are several stretches of road in the deserts of western Ari zona and eastern Califor- nia, where the roadways are constantly being filled with sand blown by the strong winds. In many of these sections fences, consisting of iron posts and chains, are used to keep the motorists to the right path. At the sea sons of the year when the winds of the deserts are unusually strong and frequent, this nove! method of keeping th« traveler from going astray proves valuable. Desert Roadway Which has been Fenced to Prevent Touring Motorists from Straying off the Correct Route of Travel, and Consequently becoming Lost. hese Barren Stretches of Sand are Often Encountered When Mo- toring in Some of the Western States CONVERT GIANT BATTLESHIP INTO FLOATING CRANE One of the constructive features in the scrapping of the battleships of the navy machinery. In extended position the crane will have a maximum radius of is the conversion of the “Kearsarge” into a 250-ton floating crane. When the trans- formation is completed, the crane will bear very little resemblance to the former fighting unit. The hull will remain, but the giant guns and battle turrets will give way to the great boom and its operating about 174 ft., with a maximum reach of 101 ft. for a 250-ton load. The total height of lift at the 101-ft. radius will be about 143 ft. The remodeled “Kear- sarge” will be used as a service crane and in the dismantling of the battleships which are to be scrapped. The Great Crane and Its Operating Machinery will be —— ‘ Mounted on the Hull of the Battleship. The ane ~ - Have a Maximum Reach of 101 Feet When Lifting a . f 250-Ton Load, and a Lifting Height of About 143 Feet rane will

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POPULAR MECHANICS 667 The Battleship “Kearsarge,” Remodeled in- to a Great Floating Crane, will Play an Important Part in the Dismantling of the Naval Vessels Which are to be Scrapped. With Its Enormous Lifting Capacity and Long Reach, It will Be Able to Lift the Heavy Pieces of Fighting Equipment from the Depths of the Former Fighting Units and Transfer This Material to Docks or Barges. When the Salvaging Operations are Completed, the “Kearsarge” will be Used as a Service Crane in Handling Heavy Equipment

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668 POPULAR MECHANICS SERVICE-BANNER MEMORIAL townships, has been erected in front of IN GENESEO, ILLINOIS the public library at Geneseo, [Il In front of each name is a five-pointed star A war memorial in the form of a many- that indicates graphically, by its color sided service banner inscribed with 497 and various details, the nature of the names of the soldiers and sailors of six man’s service, and something of his his- tory. For instance, a plain gold star denotes “died in service,” a stat with a small medallion on each point means “died in action,” and a Dieo In Action star with five plain gold *z Citeo ForBRavery tips denotes “died after Dicolw Service discharge.” This last item is to be kept up to 2 date, and therefore, even Over JEA 5 UNDERE A tually every star for dis- IVER SEA SGMONTN'S charged men will have Over SEASLYEAR the five gold tips. A key Dien Arter Discrarsi to the various stars, 15 in Poiconcn OF WAR number, is part of the herman oa banner. The monument In AMERICA Unoens 4 is a substantial structure In America 6 monte surmounted with a coni- lnAmenical Year cal roof bearing a flag -> Creo For Gasantey pole. It is brilliantly il- — luminated with electric Left: General View of Service-Banner Memorial. Right: Close-Up of Key lamps, so arranged that to Meanings of the Various Stars, 15 in Number, One of Which beside all the names can be read Each Man’s Name Denotes, by Its Color and Other Details, the Nature ‘ . - : ; of His Service at night. SNOW-BOUND CITIES REACH OUTER WORLD BY RADIO IX the latter part of February, when the state of Wisconsin was visited by one of the worst snow and sleet storms in recent years, untold damage was done to trees and orchards, and all regular forms of com- munication were put out of commission. Miles of telephone and telegraph wires and power lines were torn down by the weight of the ice coating. In this emergency, radio stations were brought into service and kept the snow-bound cities in touch with the outer world until normal means of communication were reéstablished

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POPULAR MECHANICS 669 ee s¥ ee - ae AAU I Eig ate II ia LARGEST VENTURI GAS METER THAT HAS YET BEEN BUILT What is said to be the largest gas meter in the world, built upon the principle of the Venturi, which consists of a conical, nozzlelike reducer, followed by a gradual enlargement to the original size in a pipe line, is in use at the Bethlehem Steel Company’s plant at Sparrow's Point, Md. It is for the purpose of measuring the combustion gases from the blast furnaces, which formerly were wasted, but which for many years now have been a valuable by-product at all steel-producing plants. The meter is 59 ft. long, and the diameter of the pipe line is 72 in., the Venturi throat diameter being 26 in. It is calcu- lated that the measuring capacity of this huge meter per 24 hours is sufficient to fill a gasometer 350 ft. in diameter and '1,400 ft. high, or about twice the height of the Woolworth building, in New York. The meter’s rated capacity is 5,700,000 Largest Gas Meter in the World: It Has a Measur- ing oe ¥ per 24 Hours, Sufficient to Fill a Gas- ometer as Large as That Shown at Extreme Left, Which Compares in Size with Woolworth Building in New York as Shown to the Right of It cu. ft. per hour. Although the meter itself is so large, its recording device oc- cupies no more space than an ordinary office desk. MACHINE FOR SEWING LACE SAVES MUCH LABOR Lace insertions and lace edgings can be sewed in and trimmed with a machine of recent introduction, which also does lock- stitching and makes French seams. Dur- ing a demonstration given for manufac- turers, the inventor proved that the innovation could sew and trim 100 yd. of lace in an hour. To perform the same amount of work under the present meth- ods, a single girl would require a day and a half, and it is claimed that the machine will consistently new produce an average of 12 times the production of one operator. Operator Using Motor-Driven Lace-Sewing Machine Which Equals the Production of 12 Hand Workers

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In This Blériot Air Liner of French Construction, Great Attention has been Given to the Question of Wind Resistance. The Four Motors are Carried in Pairs on the Lower Wing and are Inclosed in Streamline Housings GUIDING THE AIR LINER INTO PORT By EVERETT J. LOVETT The Interior of the Liner Resembles a Railroad Parlor Car with Its Comfortable Armchairs and Large Observation Windows OMMERCIAL aviation, par- ticularly in Europe, is fast approaching a point where it is an accepted mode of travel, and the success of the shorter routes has led to the establishment of lines of international scope. As typical examples of some of the present routes might be men- tioned those from London to Copenhagen by way of Amster- dam and Hamburg; from Tou- louse, France, to Casablanca, North Africa, by way of Bar- celona and Gibraltar, and from Cairo to Bagdad; while some ac- count should be taken of some of the proposed routes, such as the one from Paris to Algiers by way of Italy and Sicily, and the route from Paris to Warsaw by way of Strassburg and Prague. 670 There is no doubt that the his- tory of these longer routes will be only a repetition of the suc cess of the short ones, and that the flying companies fee! assured of this, is evidenced by the plans they are making. for the safety and comfort of their passengers. The question of comfort. is really of secondary importance and has already been answered in a satisfactory way in the latest limousine planes affording ample space for passengers, and fur nished with comfortable arm chairs in which one may sit at ease and view, through large ob- PHOTOS COPYRIGHT, M. ROL Even the Landing Gear has been Given a Streamlined Housing in the Effort to Reduce Head Resistance to a Minimum. The Struts are Flexibly Hinged to the Fuselage, in Order to Reduce the Shock in Landing

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The Great Lighthouse as It will Ap- pear When Erected on Top of Mount Afrique, Nine Miles from Dijon, France: Situated at an Elevation of 1,500 Feet, This Light will Be Visible, under Favorable Conditions, for a Dis- tance of Nearly 200 Miles, and will Be One of the Guiding Beacons on the Paris-Algiers Air Route. Right: The One-Billion-Candlepower Light- house as It Appeared Before It was Shipped to Mount Afrique. The Steel Base Is About 18 Feet in Diameter, and the Light is Furnished by Two Banks of Arc. Lights Arranged Four in a Group. This Lighthouse Is the Largest Made, Up to Date, for Use in Making Aerial Navigation Safer

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672 POPULAR servation windows, the varying panorama passing below as the ship speeds on. As the longer air routes become more popular, as they surely will, there will be more and more necessity of night flying, and the companies are antici- pating this by the erec- tion of lighthouses at intervals along the line. Lights of limited inten- sity and with a visual range of from 20 to 40 miles have been in use on the London-Paris route, but these will be dwarfed by the light that is now being MECHANICS installed on the top of Mt. Afrique, near Dijon, France. This will be of one billion candlepower and _ will be visible, it is claimed, at a distance of nearly 200 miles under favora- ble conditions, and will be one of the guideposts on the international air way between France, Italy, and Algeria. Two groups of arc lights, arranged four in a group, will furnish the illumination for this beacon which has taken more than two years to construct. The lenses and lights are carried in a steel tower, 18 ft. in diameter, which will be solidly supported on concrete foundations at One of the Smaller Lighthouses on the Route ; Lenses for Throwing a Horizontal Beam, Img and Four Reflecting Lights Which Project a Vertical Beam London-Paris the top of the moun- tain, 1,500 ft. high, add- materially to the visible range of the light. Guided by such giant beacons, the air- man will fly confidently through the dark ness to the landing field where is located the traffic-control office. This office is in a tower, from which an unobstructed view may be had in all directions, and is equipped with the latest signaling de- vices, such as pistol flashlamps and elec- tric flashers. As the airman approaches the landing field, automatic lights will show is Equipped with Above: The Controller of T From the Inside of the Tower He can Communicate with the Approaching Flier b Give Him Special Information as to Ground Conditions. the Tower. Right: rafic Using a Pistol Flashlamp from the Balcony of the Control Tower. Left Wireless Telephone and All Landing and Signal Lights are Controlled from Using an Electric Fiasher to Communicate with the Airman

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POPULAR him the direction and strength of the wind, while the controller of traffic will give him by wireless telephone any spe- cial information that he may need for his guidance, such as the amount of fog and MOVING PICTURES GAIN GRANT OF IMPROVEMENT FUNDS Displaying motion pictures or stereop- ticon views of contemplated civic im- provements for the pur- pose of obtaining neces- sary appropriations, is the method used by the Department of Public Works of Philadelphia, when the question comes up before the city coun- cil. Heretofore, eonsid- erable friction has devel- oped among the aldermen relative to the size and need of various requests for funds to start or complete a municipal project, and principally because the council mem- bers were not sufficiently familiar with the work. By showing motion, or other, pictures of prospective undertaking, together with a lecture on the subject, the city engineers hope to create a better understanding and unity among all par L Above: each cial Machine. MECHANICS 73 ground mist, and the condition of the landing field itself. In this way he will bring his craft into port with the same certainty as the captain of an ocean liner brings his ship into the harbor. BLIND AND DEAF CRIPPLE »~OPERATES TYPEWRITER Terribly handicapped by the loss of both hands, eyes, and hearing, a persever- Illustrating the Spe- Arrangements Typewriter Whereby the Blind and Deaf Crippled Man can Strike the Keys of the Right: Showing the Pedal Attachments Which are Used by Him to Manipulate the Spacing and Shift Mech- anisms of the Typewriter on the ties concerned. The plan PHOTOS BY GLLIAMS SERV was inaugurated with an illustrated discussion of proposed im- provements of the city’s sewage-disposal system. GLASS MODELS OF FLOWERS AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY The “glass modeled the famous flowers,” now in the Botanical Museum at Harvard University, is at work on a supplementary collection of glass models of grasses and sedges, which will be exhibited at the university on their completion. The collection now _ illus- trates 160 families of flowering plants, and 803 species. Besides these there are more than 3,200 enlarged details. All the speci- mens were made by Rudolph Blaschka, who has now in his studio in Germany 20 models and 50 enlarged details, which, when transported to Harvard, will com- plete the collection. artist who ing ex-service man has overcome seem- ingly impossible obstacles in learning to operate a typewriter. Special arrange- ments on the machine enable the maimed man to strike the keys, while pedal at- tachments are provided so that he can manipulate the spacing and shift mechan- isms. Observers have viewed with aston- ishment the speed and accuracy attained by the young fellow in spite of his dis- heartening affliction, and marveled at his great perseverance. @A motor lifeboat of very unusual pro- portions and characteristics is to be built for use at New Brighton, Eng. The boat will have a displacement of 60 tons, and a passenger-carrying capacity of 150. Its equipment will include a line-throwing gun, a searchlight, a life-saving net, with first aid, and also heating appliances in its two cabins. over

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POPULAR MECHANICS IMMENSE CREOSOTING TUBE MAKES FREAK SHIPMENT Unusual arrangements characterize the method devised for shipping a recently manufactured tie-treating tube, which is 7 ft. in diameter and 144 ft. long. Four flat cars were needed for the shipment, but only the two end cars carried any weight, the center cars acting solely as fillers. The tube was carried on pivoted bolsters which allowed it to swing when the train was rounding a curve, and much care was exercised in selecting a route which was free from very sharp curves. The tube is to be used in creosoting ties, which will be run in on cars, after which the door is locked and the tube filled with creosote, which will be forced into the ties by subjecting it to a pressure of from 125 to 200 Ib. pert square inch for a period of four hours. 4 i %- se i iain sp ee ae TINTED GLASS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL DAYLIGHT For very accurate work in matching colored fabrics under artificial light, a new tinted glass has been developed. An or- dinary gas-filled electric bulb is used in combination with a disk of this tinted glass and a reflector coated with a suit able blue pigment, and it is found that the light emerging through the disk more closely resembles natural daylight than any previous combination. A _ strong light, however, is necessary as almost two-thirds of it is absorbed. a eee 6 EOS CEN AVERAGE COSTS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF ROAD PAVING The Bureau of Public Roads has re cently compiled figures: on the average cost per square yard of various types of paving for country roads, over a’period of five years, with the following results: sand-clay, 18 cents; gravel, 46 cents; plain and surface-treated macadam, 95 cents; bituminous macadam, $2.10; bituminous concrete, $2.50; plain cement concrete. $2.57; reinforced cement concrete, $2.74. and brick, $4.10. These figures cover only the cost of paving, and do not include the cost of grading. and was at Cars to Trans- the Proper at Pivoted Bolsters the Two Center Cars Diameter, on in While End Cars Each Other the Feet Carried Weighing More Than 87 Tons, Is 5s Seven was Distance from Weight Long and Shipped in One Piece by Using Four F! The @ Because the sea lions and hair seals play havoc with the fishing industries on the British Columbia coast, the Canadian fisheries department plans to attack the seal rookeries on Queen Charlotte Islands with machine guns. It. Placed on the Two End Cars, Acted as Spacers to Keep 144 Feet port This Creosoting Tube, |

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POPULAR MECHANICS High-Powered Electric Train Now Running between Moscow and Petrograd, in Russia: It is Said to Have 3,000-Horsepower Electric Motors, and to Run the 500 Miles between the Two Cities without Stoppage for Recharging EXCEEDINGLY HIGH-POWERED RUSSIAN ELECTRIC TRAIN Recently a new type of electric railway car has been developed in Russia that is said to equal anything of its kind any- ‘re. Trains of these cars are now run- ning from Moscow to Petrograd, a dis- of 500 miles, without stoppage for recharging. The train is said to be equipped with electric motors of 3,000 hp. The Soviet government aided the in- ventor in the design and development of these high-powered cars, and all details of their construction are being kept secret. 1 Whe tance HOME PHOTOGRAPHY IS AIDED BY NEW PORTRAIT LAMP Employing a battery of five 400-watt bulbs, a new portable portrait lamp has been introduced by an Illinois manu- facturer, which has great flexibility of operation. The apparatus is constructed in two hinged sections, so arranged that either may be used.as a separate unit, and the power of these units may be decreased by unscrewing enough bulbs to meet the requirements of the occasion. In addi- tion, the lamp has special reflectors so that the greatest possible efficiency of lighting effects is procured, and a dif- fusing screen is also provided. The entire outfit, not including the stand, weighs 12 lb., and can be packed in a 5 by 12 by 17-in. case for carrying purposes. Left: Portrait Lamp and Stand. Upper Right: Pull- ing Down the Diffusing Screen. Lower Right Lamp and Stand Packed for Carrying

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676 POPULAR MECHANICS FIREPROOF CONCRETE HOUSES BUILT ECONOMICALLY Concrest is the appropriate name given to a village at East Rochester, N. Y., that it at is being built entirely of monolithic-con- crete houses, each being a illa on its own rarden site, and with distinctive individual fea- tures of design. These houses have a ment and stories, seven besides an at- tic, and their concrete con- struction has been so stand ardized that it is possible to sell them at a profit for $4,000. \ telescoping portable tower, specially de- signed for this construction, makes it pos- sible, with great economy of la- bor, to pour one story at a time instead of all three at once. The tower can be raised or low- ered to suit each story base- two with rooms, a suitable height. Monolithic-Concrete House under Construction: Wooden Forms for Upper Story Are in Place, and Concrete is being Poured from the Telescoping Portable Tower with Its Funnel-Shaped Outlet, Which is Raised to Its Full Height A Corner in the Village of Concrest, with Three Houses in the Foreground That Are Typical of the Rest: of Concrete, the Exteriors Are of Tinted Stucco, and the Roofs of Different Colors height, and the concrete is poured from Thus, in pouring the basement, without this tower, every bucketful of concrete would have to be raised twice as high as is re- quired with the tower at its lowered posi- tion. @ The Bureau of Mines is seeking a rapid method for the direct determi- nation of the amount of me- tallic aluminum in commercial aluminum and its alloys and drosses, and also the de termination of aluminum oxide in the lrght- alloys. The problem of oxidation of aluminum will also be studied. These investi- gations are most timely, as the subject of light alloys is one of much importance. Built

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POPULAR MECHANICS ~ Upper Left: High-Speed Turbine Pump and Other Fire-Fighting Apparatus, Mounted on Ordinary Car. Upper Right: Pump Fitted on Lightweight Engine. Lower Left: Close View of Pump treme tabloid size. The typewritten char acters are about .01 of their natural and are on a strip of paper that fits in 51zZe a small aluminum frame, at one end ot which is mounted a lens and eyepiece. .\ small roller attached to the frame is moved by the forefinger, and the pape rolls along so that line after line of the reading matter passes the lens. The in strument is 614 in. long, 17% in. wide, 14 in. thick, weighs about 5 oz., and is easily carried in the pocket. HIGH-SPEED TURBINE PUMPS PLACED ON MOTOR CARS The transformation of any pleasure car or truck into an effective fire engine is made possible by the installation of a small high-speed turbine pump, which is designed to be mounted just below the radiator, or at the rear of the machine, and be driven direct from the crankshaft. The pump is built in three sizes by an Italian concern, the smallest being suitable for attachment to a 10 or 12-hp. motor; the medium size for a 25 to 30-hp. motor, while the largest size is made for 50-hp. » trucks, and these weigh 77, 187, and 322 lb., respectively. The invention should be of particular interest to small commu- nities unable to afford the more expen- * sive fire equipment. NEW READING MACHINE MAKES POCKET LIBRARY POSSIBLE With the use of a new reading machine, a small library may be carried in the vest pocket, according to the claim of its in- ventor. The instrument makes legible, through a lens, typewritten matter that has been photographically reduced to ex- COPYRIGHT, UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD Reading Machine That Uses Reading Matter of Ex- treme Printed inuteness, as Seen in the Four Columns on Strip in Its Aluminum Frame. Inset: The Inventor Showing How the Instrument is Used

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678 POPULAR MECHANICS TRAVELING CRUSHER STATION AND ASSAY OFFICE As a rule, modern copper-mining op- tain known as Sacramento Hill is copper- erations have to be conducted on a_ bearing, but most of it ranks as low- considerable scale, because the high- grade ore, and some is too poor to pay a eee for treatment by or- dinary milling, concen- trating, and smelting methods. It requires a close control of opera- tions to grade the ore and reject the waste rock. An accurate knowledge of the copper content is possible only by means of chemical analysis. A prompt de- cision as to how much copper is. contained in an exposed face of ore is often necessary, and so a traveling crusher station and assay office has been designed and put in operation, which SS ——SSS<°§< can be moved on a rail- Crusher Station and Assay Office Which Travels by Railroad to the Dif- road track as required. ferent Mining Locations Where Samples of Ore are Analyzed and < - ic sof the Results Reported to the Operators Thus it is possible to crush a sample to pow- grade deposits, for the most part, have der and analyze it for copper right on the been exhausted. A case in point is spot, and report the result to the oper- found at Bisbee, Ariz., where the moun- ators without delay.

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SPINACH PICKERS USE BOATS ON LARGE CHINESE MARSHES GTRANGE methods are employed by the Chinese in the picking of spinach from the large marshes in that country, on which grow vast stretches of this plant. The pickers use small boats of a peculiar shape and construction, two of these being shown in the above photograph. The boats are paddled and pushed around through the thick vegetation until a carefully selected load has been gathered for the market.

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POPULAR MECHANIC Natives of Rhodesia, Africa, Removing a Mammoth Anthill That Was 25 Feet High, and Was an Obstacle to Cultivation: Anthills of This Kind Are Very Numerous in Rhodesia and the Belgian Congo SOUTH AFRICAN ANTS BUILD SKYSCRAPER ANTHILLS Anthills, all over South Africa, but par- ticularly in Rhodesia, are of proportions unknown in America, reaching sometimes a height of 25 ft. or more, and, in spite of the steepness of their sides, covering a very large ground area. They are made of clay, sunbaked to the hardness of bricks, and are the outcome of many years’ labor on the part of the industrious ants. Sometimes they are an advantage to the pioneer settlers, often furnishing them with material for making their first homes. At other times they may be an obstacle, preventing the cultivation of the ground they stand on, and then it be- comes necessary to remove them. In the case of an anthill 25 ft. high, this is no small task, and may involve as much labor as is required to demolish a fair-sized city building, ALTERNATING CURRENT USED IN ELECTRIC WELDER An alternating-current electric welder that does the work as efficiently as with a direct current has been developed by an engineering corporation in Indiana. The welder uses the ordinary city 110- volt current. A patented fusing metal used in the welding point is the most important feature in connection with this welder, and is said to leave the welded metal just as hard as the original metal in any casting. The welder has been used mostly in repairing scored cylinder walls of automobile engines. Alternating-Current Welder being Used in Repairing the Badly Scored Cylinder Walls in an Automobile Engine: The Welding Point can be Seen in the Bet tom Cylinder

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680 POPULAR IRON PISTONS MADE LIGHT BY SKILLFUL DESIGN That desirable quality — lightness — is obtained in the pistons of high-speed gas- oline engines often by the use of light material, such as aluminum alloys, and sometimes by the use of common cast iron, with the lightness achieved by the scientific construction of the piston. A good exam- ple of the lat- ter is one in which strong reinforcing ribs are cast integral with the piston, radiating from a center reinforcing ring in the head and extending down the full length of the wall. These webs, with their large radiating area, aid materially in dis- sipating the heat, as well as in strength- ening the walls and head, and therefore they add to efficiency as well as lessen vibration, and it is said that they greatly increase gas and oil mileage. NEW MOTOR BUS FOR CHICAGO NEARLY EQUALS STREET CAR That the motor bus as a means of transportation has met with popular favor, is evidenced by the development that has been made in the busses during the last few years. Recently the first of a new MECHANICS type has been placed in operation in Chi- cago which approximates the size and carrying capacity of the ordinary street car. This bus is of the double-deck type and will accommodate more than 60 pas- sengers, is equipped with comfortable seats, and has a separate inclosed com partment for the driver. The open upper deck is reached by an outside stairway. MACHINE FOR WALL PAPERING HOLDS PASTE AND PAPER Papering a room is a sticky task for the novice, who usually smears everything within reach with the gummy paste, including his own irate person, and ruins several rolls of paper before the job is com- pleted. A remedy for this has been produced in a ma- chine having con- tainers for the paste and paper, and a pressing or smoothing brush. The machine can be operated with one hand, the paste being auto- matically applied to the paper, which is “brushed” as the apparatus is drawn down the wall. @ There are more than 1,200 small irriga- tion and water-supply projects either completed or under construction in Al- berta and Saskatchewan, Canada. The New Motor Busses Placed in Service in Chicago Are Much Larger Than the Older Ones, Being, in Fact, Almost as Large as Street Cars, Which They Resemble with heir Comfortable Seats and Inclosed Compartment for the Driver. The Entrance Platform at the Rear is Placed Conveniently Low

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POPULAR MECHANICS Left: Part of Equipment Used to Produce Artificial Lightning Bolt, Which can be Seen in Front of the Con- denser-Generator. ARTIFICIAL LIGHTNING BOLT REALISTICALLY PRODUCED Artificial lightning bolts which perform exactly the same as nature’s shattering trokes, although on a miniature scale, have been produced by Dr. Charles P, Steinmetz and associate engineers of the General Electric Company. The amount of power expended in each dem- onstration totaled more than _ 1,000,000 hp., obtained by the generation of 10,000 amperes at 120,000 volts. The apparatus ised consists essentially of a high-volt- ige condenser of large capacity, in the form of 200 glass plates which are ar- ranged in groups of 50, and in two rows, ir banks. Rectified direct current is tored in these condensers, one end rep- resenting the thunder cloud in the sky, in which an electric charge is gradually accumulating to its capacity, and the other end corresponding to the earth. \Vhen the tension of the stored energy becomes greater than the condenser will hold (120,000 volts, at 10,000 amperes), a flash to the “earth” end results, thus im- itating a discharge of lightning to the cround, By placing pieces of wood or other articles in the path of this powerful flash, or discharge, the tearing, explosive effects of genuine lightning were realisti- cally produced. @As a means of protection for women traveling alone. A Canadian Pacific-coast steamship company furnishes each with a small ribbon which indicates by its color to what province she is traveling. Right: Doctor Steinmetz Examining Wood Fragments Shattered by Imitation Lightning SNAP GAUGE THAT MEASURES ERRORS IN SIZE EXACTLY \ new type of that does the work of a “go” and Snap gauge, but which has a scale graduated to .0001 in. that shows exactly how much a piece of work is over or under the nominal size, is now in use in England. The in strument is shaped like an ordinary snap gauge, and has a movable plunger in one jaw which, through a system of boxed-in levers, operates a pointer ona scale, like the pointer of an ammeter or voltmeter On a standard piece of work that is of the exact nominal size, the justed so that the gauge no go gauge is ad- pointer is at zero. In Gauge That Shows, with a Pointer on a Scale Gradu ated to .0001 Inch, Exactly How Much a Piece of Work Is over or under Size testing other similar pieces of work, any variation under or over size is then shown on the scale.

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TORCH CUTS CAST IRON IN FIFTY FEET OF WATER E have be- come accus- tomed to the idea of cutting metal under water by burning it, although at first this seemed like an impossibil- ity. Both acetylene and electric torches have been so used for cutting steel plate, but usually at rather shallow depths. Now, by the use of a special electric cutting torch, a wrecking company has been able to cut cast iron—which is much harder to cut by burning than steel—at a depth of 50 ft. under water. Mention of this is also made in an ar- ticle appearing on By A. M. HOFFMANN . hi page 745, which had already gone to press before these further interesting details had been received. Early in Febru- ary, a dredge acci- dentally smasfed a hole in one of the many 12-ft. sections of which this main is composed. As this pipe line sup- plies Staten Island with water, it was imperative that service be restored as quickly as possi- ble. This was ac complished in rec- ord time by the aid of a gas-electric un- derwater cutting torch, an American invention promising to have a wide field of usefulness. Above: Bringing Up the Broken Length of Pipe Which was Cut Out of Water-Supply Line with the New Type of Submarine Torch. Below: The Assembled Plant Used in Operating the Submarine Torch. The Tank at the Right was Used for Training the Divers for This Work and for Testing the Torch 682

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POPULAR MECHANICS The Diver, without His Helmet, is Demonstrating the Action of the Torch Just below the Surface of the Water. The Gas is Supplied to the Torch through a Flexible Hose Which Also Carries the Electric Wires Furnishing the Current for the Electric Arc with Which the Cutting is Done. The Torch can be Taken under the Water Unlighted and the Gas and Electric Current Turned On When the Diver Is Ready to Begin Cutting The submarine cutting torch is a very ingenious and simple tool, that first came into use some years ago, and which makes use of the electric arc in conjunc- The are is relied upon tion with a gas. to do the cutting, while the gas creates a gaseous envelope in which the are burns. The pressure of this gas is regulated to uit the depth at which the torch is employed. Both the current and the vas are fed from the sur- face, and the hose that supplies the gas also car- ries the electric conduc- tor, On the job, the diver takes the submarine torch down with him unlighted. When he reaches his goal he signals his at- tendant to turn on the current. In order to GAS-FILLED TOY BALLOONS DECLARED FIRE MENACE Toy balloons will no longer be pe mitted at public gatherings in Detroit, make the tool operate, it is only required to hold it a fraction of an inch away from the metal that is to be cut, and instantly the spark jumps the gap and arcking begins. This arc burns away the metal in the same manner as when it is used in the air. The Broken Pipe on the Dock: The Diver is Showing How the Submarine Torch was Used in Cutting the Pipe at the Bottom of the Harbor, Where the Divers Worked in Two-Hour Shifts Because of the Cold Water according to the city fire marshal of that place. Severe accidents, and in some fires, have resulted from the igni tion of hydrogen-filled playthings by a lighted cigar or cigarette. cases

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684 POPULAR LONG SERIES OF ARCHES AFFORD STUDY IN PERSPECTIVE The arcade connecting the new build- ings of the recently built Marine Bar- View from One End of a Series of Arches Forming an Arcade 3,000 Feet Long, Which Shows Perspec- tively the Other End Converged Almost to a Pin Point racks, San Diego, Calif., is over a half mile long—3,000 ft. to be exact. The ar- cade and buildings are built in mission style, with concrete archways, rough stone floors, and beamed ceilings. The perspective shows lines converging almost to the vanishing point. Largest Range Finder in the World, Built in England for Coastal Tube Is 100 Feet Long. Kind of View the Observer Gets, and When the Instrument is Adjusted So That the Two Parts of the Mast Line Up, the Range can be Read MECHANICS HUGE BRITISH RANGE FINDER WITH RANGE OF 22 MILES The largest range finder in the world, over twice the size of any used during the war, has been constructed in Eng- land for use in coastal defense. It was designed by the two original inventors of the range finder that has been in use in the British navy for many years, and that consists of a horizontal tube carried on a central frame, which rotates with the tube on a pedestal. In using the range finder, it is necessary to be able to rotate this tube horizontally, and for that purpose, in this huge instrument, there is provided a circular track of large diameter, with the supporting frame as its center, from which radiate connections to trolley wheels that run on the track. At the ob- serving point, beside the pedestal, there are two telescopes in the tube, and in finding the range the observer places his eyes to the eyepieces, and sees a different field with each eye. That presented to the left eye is used as a finder for cor- rectly alining the instrument. Then the object, as for instance a ship the distance of which is to be found, will be seen with the right eye as two images separated by a thin, black horizontal line. In the case of the ship, these images might be parts of a mast. When the instrument is ad- justed so that these two objects assume their proper relative positions, ‘the dis- tance, or range, can be read from acscale provided for the purpose. . In this huge range finder the tube is 100 ft. long, and distances up to 22 miles can be measured. In the range finders of the U. S. battle- ships this tube is 45 ft. long. Defense: Its Horizontal The Inset Shows the on a Scale

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POPULAR MECHANICS 000 & URBERWOOD MOST MENACING CHICAGO BLAZE SINCE THE GREAT FIRE W HEN one wholé city block and a portion of another in Chicago burned recently, it was characterized as the most menacing conflagration since the great Chicago fire. The 16-story Burlington Building was com- pletely gutted above the eighth floor and was damaged by water below that level, but was probably the means of saving much property situated to the west of it. While severely damaged itself, it acted as a fire wall in preventing the spread of the flames to adjoining property. SMALL TRACTOR USABLE FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES Various operations can be performed bushes, and obstructions of different by a small tractor lately produced by an kinds are found. eastern inventor,the most prominent of these be- ing weeding or hoeing the garden, or pulling a number of lawn mowers. Steering is accomplished with control handles, sim- ilar to those of a plow, which extend back to the driver’s seat. In turning, one front wheel is thrown out of gear and the other turns the machine, with the stationary wheel as a pivot. Being capable of executing such sharp turns, the outfit is valu- able as a garden tractor, or for cutting the grass ' in an orchard, or on a Small Tractor Pulling a Number of Lawn Mowers over the Fairway of a ‘ Golf Course: The Plowlike Steering Handles Form an colf course where trees, Interesting Feature of the Machine

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6286 POPULAR MECHANICS RAPID METHOD DETERMINES AMOUNT OF TAR IN GAS When the gas stove fails to operate properly, it may be a sign that some trouble-causing substance has found its way into the mains and service pipes. One of the most trouble- some impurities that the gas companies have to contend with is tar, and skilled chemists are em- ployed to test the gas in an effort to keep this tar out of the mains. In order to provide a simple and rapid means of de termining the amount of tar in the gas, an instru- ment has now been de vised which has_ been nicknamed the “tar cam era.’’ By passing a measured quantity of gas through a filter paper it was found that the stain left by the tarry vapors varied with the amount of tar in the gas. By comparing this stain with a set of standard colors, it is a simple mat- ter to determine the amount of tar in the sample of gas tested, and the weight of the mate- rial deposited on the paper can be found as a further check. The tar camera, while designed The “Tar Camera,” S#own Below, is Screwed into the Gas Main and Con- The Valve is Opened and a Measured Quantity of Gas is Passed Through. The Vapor Stains the Filter Paper, Shown Above, and the Color Records the Amount of Tar in the Gas nected to the Meter. ———_—s« for use in gasworks, can also be used to determine the quantity of moisture or suspended solids in air. POWER-DRIVEN MACHINE GUN UNDER DEVELOPMENT Remarkable possibilities are conceiv- able in connection with a power-driven machine gun, said to have originated in Germany, but which is now being devel- oped in this country. Besides having»sev- eral advantages over other machine guns, it is, or rather will be when it is fully developed, driven entirely by external power, such as an electric motor, or a gasoline engine. It has a driving shaft in the breech of the gun that operates the firing mechanism, and can be run in either direction, and at very low or very high speed. “It does away with troubles due to bad and variable ammunition, and it reduces the amount of gas reaching the breech mechanism. It is fed automati- cally with ammunition on a cartridge belt similar to those used commonly in machine guns. In other details it will also resemble existing machine guns, such as its water jacketing of the gun barrel, and it may be mounted on a tripod. Up to the present, it has only been developed for the purpose of demonstrating by hard the operating mechanism. Later on the handwheel, with which it is now driven, will be replaced by a sprocket, which will be driven by a chain from a motor. @ Unbreakable glass, which can be heated red-hot and placed in cold water without any perceptible effect, is said to have been produced in Bohemia after years of experi- ment. Hammers made from the product can be used for ordinary purposes.

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paprroyoree cage? ~~ . . ok ee . Power-Driven Machine Guns Shown Above Defending a River @ | Crossing against an Assault of the Enemy: Batteries of the | Guns in Emplacements are Operated by the Gunners from a Safe Distance in the Rear. Sheltered Power Station in the Foreground is Connected to Operating Base, Which by Wire Connections to the Guns Has Them under Complete Control. To the Right, One of These Guns is Shown on a Battleship’s Conning Tower Doing Anti-Aircraft Work. Below: Side Ele vation and Bottom View of Operating Gunbreech in Experi- mental Gun, Built with Handwheel at Rear, Where Driving Sprocket would Be, and Showing Aperture for Cartridge Belt in Front of the Breech. The Water Jacket on the Barrel is Not Shown

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O55 PRINTERS’ CHASE SIMPLIFIES LOCKING UP FORMS Time, labor, and material are saved in a newly patented printers’ chase, which dispenses with the use of the usual printers’ furniture cabinet, and eliminates as neta = = 2 “ae yey ee : ra wet ABE Printers’ Chase That, in Locking Up Any Form, Dis- penses with the Use of Printers’ Furniture: Where the Quoins Are, One Bar is Locked, the Other Loose roller bearers, as these are fitted onto each end of the chase itself, and can be removed by means of screws. Inside of the four sides of the chase are grooves that accommodate pica notches. In con- nection with these are bars that stretch from side to side, and end to end, of the chase, and can be moved into any posi- tion, and locked there automatically. Some of these bars are double, one being locked and the other loose, so that print- ers’ quoins can be placed between them, and the loose bar be pressed against the type form. These bars are made of nickel- chrome steel and will not bend under severe Strain. LARD OIL AS A LUBRICANT VINDICATED BY SCIENCE The belief of machinists that lard oil is superior to mineral oils in certain cutting operations, as on a lathe, has been regard- ed by many as a superstition. Studies of the subject made at the Bureau of Stand- POPULAR MECHANICS ards, the results of which have just been announced, show that the machinist is right and that lard oil is distinctly better for many purposes than mineral oil, in fact being well-nigh indispensable in certain cases. The need for lard oil has been previously discredited, as it was thought that the viscosity of the oil determined its behavior with cutting tools, and mineral oils, or mixtures of mineral oils, could be obtained with the same viscosity as lard oil. It now appears that the lard oil has, aside from viscosity, the important characteristic of adhering more tena ciously to the metal than mineral oils, thereby preventing the tool from seizing the metal of the work, and causing it to drag and tear and make a rough cut. Lard oil is very useful in getting good clean surfaces in cutting soft steel and wrought iron, and also in tapping and threading. However, in hard brittle steel lard oil merely produces a glaze, and tur- pentine is used with success, BRILLIANT LIGHT OBTAINED WITH NEW REFLECTOR Brilliant lighting effects can be obtained with the use of a new reflector having a concave sil- vered surface containing special inden- tations, which has recently been intro- duced in France. These indentations are said to in- crease greatly the efficiency of any lamp used, which, in public buildings or photographic studios, re- sults in a high illumination at a compara- tively low cost in the consumption of the electric current. (It is reported that concrete ships are now being experimentally built in Ger- many with the use of a floating iron shell instead of the usual wooden one. It is claimed that the new method is more rapid and less costly.

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POPULAR MECHANICS The Lear pg a Machine Is Light Enough to be Placed on Top of the Threshing Machine, and the Grain is Cleaned Before It is Shipped MACHINE WILL CLEAN WHEAT AT TIME OF THRESHING One source of economic waste has been the contamination of wheat by dirt and the seeds of various weeds and foreign grain, such as wild oats, buckwheat, and many others. Lately a machine has been designed and tested which seems to point to the solution «. he problem of cleaning wheat at the time of threshing. It is of simple con- struction and can be placed on the top of the threshing machine, receiving its power from that source. In operation, the grain is fed into a horizontal cylin- der in which are revolving disks provided with undercut pockets of such size that the dirt and foreign seeds are discharged at one point, while the cleaned wheat is discharged at another point. It is claimed that the separation is very satisfactory. EMPLOY ECHO FOR MEASURING THE DEPTH OF THE OCEAN The Navy Department has been work- ing on a device for measuring ocean depths by means of reflected sound waves, but as yet has not perfected it to a point where it wishes to give out information regarding it. A recent German device of similar nature has been developed, by means of which depth measurements, ac- curate to within one foot, can be made even when the ship is moving at full speed. The principle, which has been ap- plied previously, is very simple. A sound is made on the ship, the sound waves travel to the bottom of the ocean and are then reflected back to the ship. Sound travels in water at the rate of about 4,700 ft. per second, so all that is necessary is a suitable sending and receiving instru- ment with a means of measuring the time it takes for the sound to go and come back. The German apparatus is capable of recording a difference of %,o00 part of Above: A Phantom View of the Machine, Showing How the Disks Revolve in the Grain. Below: Enlarged View of the Disks, Showing the Arms Which Move the Grain Ahead and Pockets Which Deliver It at the Proper Place a second. The apparatus is tuned in such a way that the usual noises and vibrations of the ship in motion do not interfer« with its operation. CHART HOUSE q | RECORDING ; APPARATUS === = * OL —~ ELECTRIC CABLE® 4 Loe ENGINE f TS When the Captain Wishes to Take a Sounding He Causes a Cartridge to be Fired at the Sending Instru- ment and Notes the Time It Takes for the Sound to Reach the Receiving Instrument. The Interval of Time Required for the Sound to Return Measures the Depth of the Water under the Ship

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690 POPULAR PORTABLE RUBBER WASHBOWL FOR USE OF TRAVELERS Insanitary conditions of hotel wash- bowls have caused the introduction of a portable bowl consisting of rubberized hospital sheeting. The material is pinched Left: Portable Rubber Washbow! on Hotel Washstand. Right: Washbowl Folded in Leather Case MECHANICS between two metal loops, as linen is held in the rings of an embroidery frame. A telescopic frame enables the innovation to be fitted in any ordinary washbowl, and when not in use, it can be folded in a small flat leather case. FRANCE PREPARES WONDERFUL TAPESTRY FOR AMERICA For the purpose of commemorating \merica’s entry into the great war and of further showing her appreciation of the assistance rendered, France is causing to be made a great tapestry which is to be presented to the United States. The tap- estry shows in large figures the departure of American soldiers for France, and is wonderfully complete in details and color In making the tapestry, the weavers are aided by sets of mirrors, one of which reflects all the details of the large paint- ing which hangs behind the weavers, while another enables the workers to watch the results as the weaving proceeds. Ing, GERMAN AUTOMOBILE SHAPED LIKE A RAINDROP Radical departures in automobile desigu have apparently not yet reached their limit, judging from a striking example of novelty presented by a car that caused a sensation at a re- cent auto show at Berlin, Germany. The principal aim of the designer was to construct a car with streamlines that would offer the least possible resist- ance to the air, and for that reason a falling raindrop was taken an ideal model. Everything in the construction of the car was made subsidiary to this, and incidentally in- volved many strik- ing novelties. The chassis made of two wide pieces of pressed steel, under part of which there is a Streamlined bot- as is tom of thin metal. The body, in both the open and limousine types, follows strictly the raindrop pattern. In both Rear View of Automobile with Ideal Streamlines, Shaped like a Raindrop: The Motor is Located near the Rear Axle Where Ventilator Openings are Seen ‘axles. cases the driver sits in front and the pas- sengers behind, all the seats being in the center of the car between the two The motor is at the back of the car just in front of the rear axle, and consists of six cyl inders in three pairs, arranged ra- dially, with the cen- tral pair vertical and the others at 60°. Normally it de velops only 10 hp.— all that is required to drive the car as a result of its slight air resistance. Be- hind the motor, in line with the rear axle, is the radia- tor, which is cooled by a powerful fan. The center of grav ity of the car very low, and it rides quite steadily with a chauffeur and two passengers, even at such a high speed as 75 miles attained on a race is PHOTO GY A. &. MIRZAOFF an hour, recently track,

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Crankshaft and Pistons of the Six-Cylinder Engine Built with Two Cylinders Vertical, and Two at 60 Degrees on Either Side of hem —_— —— Side View of Limousine Type of Au- J) —s Se —— tomobile Shaped like a Raindrop: The — > — - Whole Body Has Streamlines That y | Offer the Least Possible Resistance to | the Air. The Mudguards Are like | Rudimentary Wings Streamlined Chassis with the Motor and Its Driving Equipment at the Rear Axle, and the Controlling Pedals and Levers Seen at the Front, Where the Driver’s Seat is Located . . | oe S—— = —"—=) ; = ay y ‘Oma On ~ * ~* i. Reaction of the Air to the Ordinary Car, and to the Car Shaped Power Plant of Raindrop Car on Rear like a Raindrop: The Former, in Upper View, Causes Eddies like the Disk or Ball at Right, While the Latter Disturbs the Air No More than the Raindrop at the Right Axle with Six-Cylinder Motor at Left and Radiator at Right, Which is Cooled by a Powerful Fan

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Left: by a Tractor. Right: FLASH-TIMING ARRANGEMENT FOR MAKING RADIOGRAPHS Instantaneous radiographs, or X-ray pictures, can be made with a new flash- timing apparatus which has a range of from ‘40 to 147 second. The in- strument consists of a hollow cylin- der having a weight inside, which makes and breaks an electri- cal contact accord- ing to the way a small indicator is placed on the outside scale. After the indi- cator is adjusted on the scale for the desired time of exposure, the weight is pulled up toward the top of the cylinder, until at a certain point it is automatically t released. As the falling weight passes the indicator, a contact is made which opens a shutter for the exposure, and when the weight strikes the bottom of the cylinder, the shutter is closed. HARVESTER COLLECTS RICE FROM STANDING STALKS A rice-stripping machine has been de- veloped that marks a decided advance in the harvesting of rice. This machine strips off the rice while it is standing in the field, leaving the stalk and taking only the graim This makes unnecessary cut- ting and threshing, which are the most expensive of the rice-harvesting opera- tions. This stripper is equipped with a cylinder with six bars, on which are POPULAR MECHANICS Sn View of the Rice- Sateen Machine in Action, Showing How It is Pulled through the Rice Field Construction of the Stripping Teeth on the Cylinder of the Machine mounted fingers, or teeth, of the proper shape for stripping the rice. Revolving as it moves along, the teeth of the strip- per comb the rice from the straw and throw it up over the cylinder in the hood and drop it into a trough. The grain is then conveyed by an ele- vator across to a platform, where the ele- vator empties it into sacks, which are tied, dropped off in piles, and finally picked up and hauled to the granary. This leaves the straw standing in the fields to be plowed under and used as fertilizer for the next year’s crop. This stripper, being mounted on, and attached to, one of the regular harvesting tractors, is able to work successfully in any rice field. When the rice comes from the stripper, it is from 60 to 80 per cent threshed clean off the stem: the other 20 to 40 per cent consists of blades, whole heads, and part heads that have been jerked off with the rice grains still intact. This rice must be carried through some cleaning process to get it ready for the granary or for the market. SIMPLE BOOKHOLDER MADE BY BENDING IRON WIRE Bending a piece of iron wire to a simple bookholder is the idea of an Indiana inventor. The holder consists of a wire with an eye bent in the center for a screw, and with two arms bent at right angles to rest upon the book. The whole ar- rangement is screwed to the back of the school-desk upright, and the tension of the wire holds the arms flat against the pages. The de- vice is patented. make

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POPULAR STEAM TOURING CAR SIMILAR IN FORM TO GASOLINE CAR Past experience with steam cars has shown that, while some would operate as economically, it has been difficult to manufacture them at as low a first cost as equivalent gasoline-engine cars. Built in many respects on the lines of a gasoline car, there is now being constructed a commodious steam touring car which the manufacturers expect to be able to market for about $1,000. Viewed externally, it is difficult to distinguish it. from any ordi- nary gasoline car. The hood is exactly similar, with what appears to be an ordinary radiator, but is, as a matter of fact, the condenser for the exhaust steam from the engine. Immediately behind this is the boiler, which supplies superheated steam at a pressure of 600 lb. It operates intermittently, its fire box being a mixing chamber for air and kerosene forced into it by motor-driven pumps, and ignited by a spark plug, all of which are on an elec- tric circuit, which is automatically broken when the pressure reaches 600 Ib., and closed when it drops below that pressure, or by a switch operated by hand in start- ing. The engine—of the V-type—located behind the boiler, has three cylinders, one on one side, and two on the other, with poppet valves operated by cams. In com- bination with the engine is a two-speed and reverse transmission. Power is trans- mitted to the rear axle by the usual pro- peller shaft. At the driver's seat are gear-shift and emergency-brake levers, with a service-brake pedal, and another for controlling the steam cut-off. Directly below the steering wheel is the throttle for speed control. The weight of the car fully equipped is 2,250 pounds. MECHANICS 695 POLICEMEN IN EGYPT CARRY SHIELDS FOR PROTECTION Broken bottles, stones, etc., are the favorite weapons of rioters in Egypt, and Left: Egyptian Policeman Ready for Action with Club and Shield. Right: Carrying Shield When Not in Use to protect the police from these crude barrages, they have been furnished with shields. These are of woven-reed mate- rial, and when not employed in warding off flying missiles of a miscellaneous char- acter, are carried on the back by the policemen. @Ghostly materializations of a Danish medium aroused such widespread interest that scientists of Stockholm, Sweden, de- cided to verify the performances. During a seance, when a “soul” was projected out- side of a body, a photograph showed that the filmy emanation was nothing but a piece of chiffon. Steam Touring Car That Is Indistinguishable in Appearance from a Gasoline Car, and can be Manufactured Very Economically: What Looks like the Radiator Is the Steam Condenser, and under the Hood, besides the Boiler, Is the Three-Cylinder V-Type Engine, Shown to the Left on an Enlarged Scale

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POPULAR MECHANICS f The Steel Parts Go, Automatically, through the Hardening Furnace at the Right, the Quenching Tank, in Center, and the Annealing Furnace at the Left. ECONOMICAL FUEL PUMP FITS ANY BARREL OR DRUM Farmers can have their own miniature filling station if use is made of a pump placed on the market by an Illinois con- cern. The pump is made entirely of brass, insuring durability, is adjustable to fit any size wooden or steel barrel, or drum, and has a capacity of 5 gal. per minute. Preventing the evaporation or spilling of the fuel, and eliminating all danger when filling the tanks of motor cars or tractors, are additional features of the product. This Fuel Pump Fits Any Steel or Wooden Barrel, and Prevents Waste The Insert Shows the Interior Arrangement of the Furnace AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC FURNACE FOR TREATING STEEL PARTS It has long been known that the proper heat treatment of steel is a big factor in determining the strength and wearing qualities of the piece treated. This is ot particular importance in the automobile industry. Up to date, heat treatment has been practiced in various kinds of fur naces, but always under the supervision of skilled operators equipped with the most delicate instruments for measuring time and temperature. Now, however, an automatic electric furnace, installed at a Michigan automobile plant, has been de vised in which the parts to be treated move through the different processes on a predetermined schedule. The parts are loaded in metal baskets and pass through the hardening furnace to the quenching tank, thence to the drawing furnace. The mechanism is set so that the parts under go each step of the treatment exactly the required period of time. GREAT BRITAIN NOW ABANDONS DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIPS It is announced that Great Britain is to scrap her aerial navy, as far as the large dirigibles are concerned. The action is partly the result of the desire for econ omy and partly because of the disasters to the two great airships, the “ZR-2” and the “Roma,” with their consequent loss of

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POPULAR MECHANICS life. The equipment at the large airship bases is to be dismantled and sold at scrap prices. This’ action means the abandonment of plans to link up the em- pire aerially. NEW TIE-CHANGING MACHINE RAPID AND ECONOMICAL Replacing railroad ties reaches a yearly average of more than 10 per cent of the total number in the roadbed, and a ma- chine has been developed that will do this work at a cost of .4 man-hour per tie, instead of the old rate of 1.2 man-hours. In operation, the apparatus is placed across the rails, and a ratchet arrange- ment with handles works back and forth ipon it. Attached to the ratchet is an anchoring chain and also a steel pulling cable, the latter terminating in a special clamp which is fitted over the end of the tie. After the spikes and tieplates have been removed, the clamp is fastened on and the worn-out tie pulled from under the rails without disturbing the roadbed. Where there is but a single track, the new tie can be pulled in without moving the machine, but with a double-tracked right of way, it must be reversed so as to pull the tie in from the “ditch” side. 695 VIOLIN MADE OF MATCHES, TOOTHPICKS, AND GLUE When a person speaks of violin mak- ing, it brings to mind thoughts of the finest wood, thoroughly seasoned, and carefully worked to the proper dimen- This Violin is Composed of More Than 13,000 Matches and Toothpicks sions. That this is not a necessity, is shown by a patient worker who has made a violin entirely out of matches and tooth- picks glued together and fashioned to the proper thickness. In spite of the unusual material used in its construction, the violin has a soft mellow tone, said by ex- perts to be of good quality and volume. It seems remarkable that a violin con- structed in this way should stand the strain and vibration of being played upon. Tietienes Machine, Showing the Ratchet Arrangement in the Center, the Pulling Cable at the Left, and the pecial Clamp under the Right End of the Frame: The Inset Shows the Anchoring Chain

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696 POPULAR TYPEWRITER STUDENTS AIDED BY “FLASHBOARD” MACHINE Typewriter students have been greatly aided by the introduction of a flash writ- ing machine which furnishes an easy Machine for Typewriter Students, Showing the “Blind” Standard Keyboard Below and the Lettered “Flashboard” at the Top with the Shutters method of visualizing letters and words on a keyboard. The apparatus has a “blind” keyboard with the standard number of blank keys on it, and in place of the usual set of type, has what is called a “flash- board.” This flashboard also is equipped with the standard layout of letters, signs, etc., each having a white spot under it, but which is concealed by a small shutter. When a key is struck, the shutter be- neath the corresponding letter or sign is drawn down for an instant, exposing the white spot. The beginner thus forms a mental picture of the positions of the different letters and soon becomes adept in “seeing” entire words, all of which helps in the development of speed. AUTOMATIC JACK CONTROLLED FROM AUTO DRIVER'S SEAT With a new device consisting of four jacks permanently attachable to any car Automatic Jacks Permanently In- stalled, One at Each Wheel, Oper- ated by Power from the Engine, and Controlled from the QM Driver’s Seat: The Lift Is 5% Inches MECHANICS —one adjacent to each of the wheels— an automobile driver can jack up any one or all of the wheels without leav- ing his seat. The jacks are operated by power from the engine, transmitted either from the flywheel or the pump shaft. Four levers near the driver’s seat furnish the means of control. The jacks have a maximum lift of 5'% in., and are powerful enough to lift any load that the car is capable of moving. Tire changing will thus: be greatly facilitated, and the jacks will make it easy to take the load of the car off all the tires when not in use thus greatly adding to their length of life. LAND ELEVATIONS OF NATION SHOWN IN WATCH CHARM An unusual watch charm, which is representative of the extremes of land elevations within the continental limits of the Unit- ed States, has been made by a western man. The charm consists of three pieces of polished stone picked up in California: one from Death Val- ley, symbolical of the lowest point below sea _ level; one from Redondo Beach, to repre- sent sea level, and one from the sum- mit of Mt. Whitney, being emblematic of the highest point of land. These are set in a gold mounting which bears an engraved description of the three layers of mineral, the whole serving as a pleasing reminder of the owner’s visits to the different lo- calities. USE WEATHER CHART TO SAVE MONEY WHEN PLACING TIES That rainfall charts may be used 4 money savers was recently shown by a railroad wishing to place ties it had on hand which had been treated with zinc chloride preservative. The ties treated with this zine salt are satisfactory in dry climates, so a map was prepared showing portions of the line where the rainfaft was relatively small, and the ties were used at these points, while creosote treated ties were used at points subject to heavier rainfall.

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POPULAR MECHANICS >. . c ie. - MOTORBOAT TRAVELS OVER SNOW-COVERED HIGHWAYS BYFFETING through snowdrifts in a motorboat was the strange experience of three men who made a 70-mile trip over the highways to deliver the purchased craft to its owner. The boat, which was ordered built for pleasure purposes on a Maine lake, is 40 ft. long, 8 ft. 6 in. wide, 3 ft. 6 in. deep, has an oak frame with cedar planking, and weighs two tons. Two 24-hp. gasoline engines will drive two propellers, to yield a speed of 18 knots (203%4 miles an hour). In making the journey from the boat works to the buyer, the craft was mounted on ordinary bobsleds and pulled by a one-ton tractor. WILD ENGINE MAKES PLUNGE INTO Ledsarvicin nme PIT Running wild, an en- gine in a roundhouse of the Southern Pacific Railroad steamed out of the building and plunged into the turn- table pit, causing $1,750 damage, Men were working on other en- gines in the immediate vicinity, when suddenly the large locomotive was seen to move and Workmen Raising the Benowey Engine upon Blocks Preparatory to Taking It Out of the Turntable Pit: The Damage to the Cab of the Engine can be Plainly Seen gather headway, but with no one visible in the cab. After due in vestigation, the board of inqui: appointed by the company reported that an unknown person, or per sons, had opened the throttle and started the engine on its disastrou Runaway Engine Shown in Turntable Pit Immediately After - ie ne It had Made the Disastrous Plunge journey.

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698 POPULAR NEW FRUIT-JAR WRENCH GIVES FIRM GRIP Anyone who has struggled with an ob- stinate fruit-jar cover will appreciate a wrench recently de- “=i vised. The wrench is so constructed that the harder one pulls on the han- dle, the tighter the wrench grips the top of the jar, the handle giving sufficient lever- age to start the tight- est top but, because of the shape of the jaws, there is no dan- ger of spoiling the cover or the jar. The wrench is made of stamped metal and combines lightness and strength. CHALLENGER IN FISHING-BOAT RACE IS LAUNCHED The American fishing schooner “Puri- tan,” prospective challenger for the inter- national trophy won by the Nova Scotian craft “Bluenose” in a contest last fall against the “Elsie” of Gloucester, Mass., was launched on March 15 at Essex, Mass. More than 1,000 persons witnessed the launching, despite the fact that the shipyards in which the schooner was built are in a remote community. The “Puritan” was christened by Miss Grace Adams, of Malden, who, with Capt. Jeff Thomas, master of the craft, rode in- to the stream on the vessel. Although after sliding down the ways, the stern of the schooner fetched up against the oppo- MECHANICS site bank of the narrow Essex River, no damage was done. The craft is financed by the Manta Club, an organization of some 16 Gloucester men, formed to make efforts to put a schooner into the water capable of bringing back the international trophy to the United States. Following the launching, the “Puritan” was towed to Gloucester, where it will be rigged and fitted out. Then it will leave, under Captain Thomas, for the halibut- fishing grounds for active service until the elimination races off Gloucester next October to pick the American challenger In the elimination races the “Puritan” may meet the Boston schooner “May- flower,” which was ruled out of the inter national contest last fall by the Canadian authorities on the ground that it was more of a yacht than a practical fishing schooner. The “Mayflower” has been‘ac tively engaged in the fishing industry for nearly a year, and quite probably will be allowed to enter the elimination contests. Another schooner, of Boston build, is scheduled to enter the elimination tests. Plans call for its completion the latte part of April. It has been tentatively named “Uncle Sam.” A group of Glouces ter men arranged for its construction. The “Puritan” is well within the regu lations governing the international trophy competition. Its ovér-all length is 138 ft. water line 107 ft., beam 25.2 ft., depth of hold 11.91 ft., and draft 14.6 ft. It has a gross tonnage of 149. The construction throughout is that of the ordinary deep water fishing craft. The bowsprit is 12 ft. outboard. It is approximately 20 tons lighter than the “Mayflower,” and from deck to main topmast measures 10 ft. less in height. Above: After the Launching, the “Puri- tan” was Towed to a Gloucester Yard, Where It will be Rigged and Fitted Out for Active Service on the Halibut-Fish- ing Grounds. Right: Miss Grace Adams, Who .Christened the Schooner, Rode with Captain Jeff Thomas on the Deck as the Ship Slid down the Ways. Although the Launching Took Place at a Remote Shipyard, More Than 1,000 Persons Witnessed the Ceremony L a

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POPULAR MECHANICS 699 S SS =. — raver PAT 7 Left: Rear View of Automatic Engine Lathe. Tank below Lathe Holds Supply of Cooling Compound, Which is Conveyed to the Work by Chain-Driven Gear Pump Seen at Right of It. Right: Close-Up, Showing Lathe at Work, with Magazine at Rear Half Filled with Cut Lengths of Bar Stock NEW AUTOMATIC ENGINE LATHE FOR QUANTITY PRODUCTION Engine lathes, entirely automatic in their action, taking the work from a mag- azine, gripping it and setting it up, and ejecting the finished piece, all without any attention from an operator, are now on the market. The machine is designed for quantity production, handling cut lengths of bar stock or forgings that must be turned on centers. All the operator has to do is to replenish the magazine, and keep the cutting tool in proper condition, and, therefore, he can attend to a number of machines simultaneously. In general, the machine resembles a common engine lathe, but in place of the lead screw is a drum cam for the carriage traverse. This cam has adjustable dogs which may be arranged to produce the required length of cut. In operation the earrier, con- nected with the magazine, moves forward, presenting the work in alinement with the centers. The tailstock center then moves up and pushes the work between the jaws of the driver, or chuck, and then the car- riage moves the tool to the cutting posi tion. At the end of the cut the tailstock spindle is withdrawn, the chuck is opened, and the work dropped out. @ The Canadian Pacific Railroad is to resume work on its new ocean pier at Vancouver, B. C., which, together with the Ballantyne pier, will provide 10 addi- tional steamship berths. CAUSES OF FAILURE OF ROOF OF WASHINGTON THEATER An investigation of the causes of the failure of the roof of the Knickerbocker theater, in Washington, D. C., when 97 people were killed and 135 injured, has heen made by a cominittee of the Wash ington chapter of the American Associa- tion of Engineers. ~The committee con sisted of N. D. Mitchell, chairman, and W. G. Noll, L..M. Neel, W. A. Slater, and J. .\. Cliff. The features of the the ater building that most deserve criticism, according to the report of the committee, were nine in number, as follows: 1. Support of main truss on a thin I! it solidity and mass, », Support of main truss on a skew bearing om bined with lack of stiffnes 1 ¢ on be tween the end post and lower rd f tru . Failure to anchor trusses and avy be nt walls. t+. Scant bearings at wall . Insufficient section are f truss members 6. Inadequate column bracing Absence of lateral support els of a Tt tN trues . Abser f d trusses, ,. Inadequate strength of roof slab. The committee expressed the opinion that every one of these nine items re quired correction to make the building safe, but that the correction of the first three alone would have postponed the failure of the roof. The conclusion drawn by the committee was that the construc tion of this building violated the building laws of the District of Columbia in man respects.

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500 THIRTY-YEAR-OLD BICYCLE WITH WOODEN FRAME At first glance a person would say that there was nothing strange about an old bicycle found in a Los Angeles shop, but Nine Strips of Hickory Wood were Used in Making This Bicycle Frame, but They are So Skillfully Joined That It Has the Appearance of One Piece a closer inspection shows that the frame and forks are made entirely of hickory wood. Built 30 years ago when steel frames were very massive, this bicycle weighed 10 Ib. less than the standard ma- chine of those days. PRACTICE CHART OF KEYBOARD ON TYPESETTING MACHINE So that persons who are studying to become typesetting machine operators may practice at home, a copyrighted chart has been prepared which shows all the characters of the standard keyboard and POPULAR MECHANICS the location in which they occur. In use, the chart can be fastened to a board or table top, which should be inclined to form about the same angle as the regular keyboard. FRAMELESS WINDOW REPLACES SHIP’S CIRCULAR PORTHOLE A notable feature of the modern pas- senger ship is the change from the old restricted circular porthole to a> square type of window of generous proportions. The improvement is comparable to the change ashore from the old diamond pane to the balanced window sash. But, of course, at sea the ordinary framed win- dow sash will not stand the exposure to spray and rain, where water-tightness is essential, without constant care and at- tention. For this reason a frameless win- dow has been devised which consists entirely of thick plate glass with well- smoothed edges. The windows are now being installed quite extensively in ships built in England. They are used in all deckhouses, charthouses, and on_ the bridge. The window is a highly polished sheet of glass, its finished edges sliding in brass guides, thickly lined with felt. A handle is fixed at the top of the window, with which it is raised or lowered. It rests upon a double set of levers, hinged together so as to move in and out, on the well-known lazy-tong principle, the lower end terminating in a spring box in which the springs are so designed as to balance the window in any position. This is ail housed in the wooden framing below the window, and at the top of the framing is a small brass handwheel which acts upon the guides so that they hold the window tight against vibration and leakage. Balanced Frameless Ship Windows, Shown in Two Deckhouses, Illustrating Their Superiority over Old-Fash- ioned Round Portholes: In the Center Are Sectional Views, Showing Balancing Arrangement on a D of Levers, like Lazy Tongs. ouble Set The Small Handwheel above the Levers Tightens the Window to Prevent Vibration

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POPULAR MECHANICS 701 "Sting Seay _— . Naterworks Project, Showing the Dam Which Controls the River: Beginning at the River Just above the Dam can be Seen the Canal That Leads to the Screen House. From the Screen House the Water is Carried through a Narrow Channel Leading to the Pipe Lines ABSOLUTE CONTROL OF RIVER SMALL ELECTRIC APPLIANCE WITH WATERWORKS DAM POSSESSES MANY MERITS Controlling an entire river has been Frying eggs, toasting bread, ‘boiling ichieved by engineers of a waterworks water, or making coffee, and providing project which supplies Portland, Ore., better illumination, are several of the ind which was lately completed about 20 uses to which a small electric heater may miles east of that city. By means of a be put. The appliance weighs but 3 Ib., dam, 30 ft. high, the water is caused to ig finished in polished copper or nickel- pass through a canal, 30 ft. wide, 10 ft. plate, and has a screw-type element of deep, and 200 ft. in length. This canal 615-watt capacity, which can be removed has a screen house built upon it for re- for interchanging with a 15-watt lamp. moving gravel, or any other foreign mat- \n adjustable spot-w elded guard is fur- ter, from the water, and leads to a pond nished with the outfit, so that different trom which are laid huge pipe lines to the articles can be placed at varying distances reservoirs of the city. Besides giving ab- above the heating element. . solute control of the water and eliminat- -- ing the débris, the undertaking furnishes in additional 30-ft. head on the water- orks system. ALIENS TO BE DEPORTED MAY BE HELD FOUR MONTHS According to a decision recently handed down, undesirable aliens to be deported may be held by the authorities only four months. If action is not taken within that time, the alien may obtain his free- dom on the grounds of “unlawful im- Left: Small Electric Appliance being Used to Heat a prisonment.” Coffee Percolator. Right: Same Appliance ° being Used as an Ordinary Heater

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POPULAR MECHANICS 703 ASBESTOS INSULATING MATS better, and in far less time, than with the HAVE MANY ADVANTAGES ordinary block sections. These mats can be made in very large sizes, indeed in any Asbestos mats as insulating coverings size desired. The fiber filling possesses for boilers, steam cylinders, turbines, and great strength and lightness. similar machines, have been used for the last 20 years almost everywhere excepting in the United States, which is some- what surprising considering their advantages. These mats, made preferably of South African blue asbestos, contain neither wire nor cotton carrier, and have great strength and durability. Their great advantage is the ease and rapidity with which they can be fitted as a cover for an object of very irregular shape, such as a Locomotive, with Its Irregular Surface, being Covered for Insu- locomotive, in which 10 or 15 lation with Extremely Flexible Asbestos Mats, Making the Work Splieneg is ° r 4 Easy and Rapid: The Work can be Completed in Much Less strips of matting will do the work Time Than with the Usual Lagging ANIMALS ANZESTHETIZED IN SPECIAL CHAMBER In a well-conducted zoo the animals receive the finest treat- ment, and, should one of them fall ill, it is examined by medical experts. In case an operation is deemed necessary an anesthetic is administered in a special cham- ber designed for the purpose. This is a stout box fitted with an air-tight cover, and with windows at the sides and in the top, through which the condition of the patient may be noted as the ; ear. ~ anesthetic is forced in by the After the Sick Animal is Placed in the Box and the Air-Tight ns Cover Closed, the Anesthetic is Forced In by bellows until the proper coma- Means of the Bellows tose condition is reached. GASOLINE GRADER CUTS —————— EIGHT-INCH TRENCH For the use of contractors and highway engineers, a machine has been devised to take the place of > some of the pick and _ shovel gang. It is a motor-driven trench cutter and can be steered to follow a chalk line. At the side of the machine, an eight- blade rotary spiral cutter makes a trench eight inches wide, true to grade, and leaves the bottom of the trench solid. The blades of the cutter are so arranged that only one blade cuts at a time to a depth of about one inch. Steered along a Chalk Line, This Machine Cuts an Eight-Inch Trench True to Grade and Leaves the Bottom Solid

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704 NEW VACUUM-TUBE AMPLIFIER AID TO PARTIALLY DEAF Considerable progress has been made in the development of telephonic hearing aids for the partially deaf, but the limit Telephonic Hearing Aid Which Employs a Vacuum- Tube Amplifier: Insert Shows the Instru- ment with the Case Open at the End had apparently been reached along this line until the new vacuum-tube amplifier was produced. This tube, the result of the efforts of many inventors, consists primarily of a small electric bulb having within it a filament, a spiral wire called a grid, and a metallic plate, all in the order named. An electric current is caused to flow constantly between the filament and the plate in the tube employed in one of the latest hearing instruments. Sound waves striking upon the transmitter of the apparatus, are carried to the grid and greatly amplified by the effect of the cur- rent flowing between the filament and the plate, before ultimately reaching the re- ceiver. A rheostat regulates this current in the tube, and correspondingly controls the volume of sound in the receiver, so that the user of this particular instrument is enabled to adjust it so as to conform to his peculiar degree of deafness. The outfit is compactly mounted in a small leather-covered case not unlike the ordi- nary camera for size, and weighs but 642 Ib., so that it can be carried conveniently on the ‘street, to the church, or theater, as well as proving invaluable in the home. This latest hearing aid is simple of oper- ation and will yield a natural reproduction of voices to persons thus afflicted. POPULAR MECHANICS TREATMENT FOR CITRUS FRUIT MAKES ICING UNNECESSARY After the grower of citrus fruits has successfully combated adverse weather con- ditions, blights, and pests, and finally has the ripened fruit ready for market, he still has to face the problem of delivering that fruit to market before it spoils. Un- der average conditions, this means that the time elapsed from the tree to the consumer should be about 15 days, even when the fruit is precooled and shipped in refrigerator cars. Now, however, this condition may be changed if a new chem- ical treatment fulfills the claims that are made for it. By this method a chemical emulsion in paraffin is brushed over the fruit as it passes to the packing bins. The chemicals kill all germs and agencies of decay, and then evaporate without leaving taste or odor, while the paraffin seais the fruit air-tight and prevents withering and evaporation. It is claimed that fruit so treated has stood for three months, and when cut, was found to be as firm and juicy as when picked. SPECIAL RACING AUTO HAS VERY NARROW BODY In the making of automobile-speed records the question of wind resistance is of utmost importance, and _ special attention is paid to bodies designed to reduce it to a minimum. In one of the modern speed wagons the streamline body is only 20 in. wide and barely pro- vides room for the driver, whose head only is exposed when seated. This car has covered a mile in the remarkable time of 22% seconds. This Modern Speed Bug Only 20 Has a Streamline Body nches Wide

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a eM Te HERE’S a saying in the circus zoo when a new attendant, disregarding the warnings of old-timers, becomes care- less while working about the cages. “Here’s a new animal trainer,’ the vet- erans will remark, as they watch the fresh helper petting a tiger or a leopard. They know that it is only a matter of a few days until the “cat” will lash out with its claws unsheathed and rip the arm of the newcomer. They also know that nothing will teach this type of attendant the alert carefulness necessary in handling wild beasts but an ugly scratching. They can only hope that the man’s hurts will be slight. He must have a lesson. He must realize that all animals are dangerous at all times, even if some are more so than others. One often hears it contemptuously re- marked that such and such a beast in an act is “just a mangy, toothless old lion,” but often that mangy, toothless old lion, because of its age, is more danger- ous than its mates in their prime. The old lion is testy, and no matter what its years, it carries a wallop that will break the back of a horse—a wallop backed by ripping claws. Some of the world’s fore most trainers, working with the same beasts in acts year after year, have paid for the slight carelessness that familiarity with and affection for their jungle pets have insidiously brought about. At an unexpected ‘diversion—the overturning ot a pedestal, for instance—the animals have leaped upon their mentor, but with the element of complete surprise absent, for no real wild-animal expert is caught com pletely unaware by a beast’s leap. The trainer knows one saving fact—the animal must set itself to spring. Not long ago Louis Roth, one of Amer- ica’s front-rank trainers, was rehearsing a troupe of eight Royal Bengal tigers in the steel-bound circus arena. The beasts were sulky, snarling, spitting as they re sisted the forcing with whip and slende bar carried by the trainer. Time and again Roth had driven the animals to their seats on a semicircle of pedes- tals, only to have them leap to the “When, to the circus people gazing breathlessly on, it seemed that ‘Prince’ was in the very act of springing on his trainer, Roth calmly turned his back and swung his snapping whiplash at the other cate 705

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706 ground as he turned away. The real battle of wills had attracted a large num- ber of the circus folk to the vicinity of the arena. They stood watching anx- iously, for they realized that Roth was in trouble, and that he must conquer or lose control of the finest group of Bengal tigers in the land. Of all those present, Louis was by POPULAR MECHANICS springs he must get set; he must contract his muscles, measure his distance, switch his tail, as though it were a rudder. The cat does all this in a second, but a good trainer knows, and has time to disconcert the beast with rod, whip, or gun fire.” However, if a number of cats spring to- gether, the trainer is fortunate, indeed, who comes alive through the ordeal. Roth once slipped and fell in the arena when he was “performing” 18 African lions. All the beasts leaped for him at once. Naturally, they struck one another as they met in full flight over his body. Immediately there started the fiercest lion fight in the history of show business—a tremendous bat- tle, with Roth underneath the roaring, ripping, slashing mass of mad- dened beasts. Attend- ants, with steel rods, revolvers, and flares, ; worked like mad, as the = trainer, cool even be- neath this jungle bedlam, lay perfectly still, waiting a chance to work his way from under the mass of writhing, fighting lions to the door of the great steel cage. Finally, at- tendants forced the fight- ing away from Roth, who battled his way out, his clothing ripped into shreds, his body bleeding from 42 cuts. Another time, Roth was winding up a tiger “He stood betireen the two largest of the group, with his arms around Slowly, irresistibly, the tiger on his right straightened, suddenly to turn and sink his fangs long teeth meeting over the their necks, their faces pressed against his own. into Roth’s right cheek, the jawbone.” far the least perturbed. He had to win. He knew it, and he forced the issue with the tigers with relentless purpose. Again he drove them to their seats, firing blanks in his revolver, as “Prince,” the largest of the group, struck at him blindly, viciously. When, to the circus people gazing breath- lessly on, it seemed that “Prince” was in. the very act of springing on his trainer, Roth calmly turned his back and swung his snapping whiplash at the other cats. When he finished his work with the animals, Roth was asked how he dared turn his back on “Prince.” “He was bluffing!” exclaimed the trainer. “I could tell by his eyes and his muscles that he wasn’t set to spring. When a tiger act with an exhibition of superb confidence in his control. He stood be- tween the two largest of the group, with his arms around their necks, their faces pressed against his own. Slowly, irresistibly, the tiger on his right straightened, suddenly to turn and sink his fangs into Roth's right cheek, the long teeth meeting over the trainer’s jawbone. One can imagine the agony of it, but Louis Roth held himself absolutely still. With the smell of the blood reaching the tiger on the left, the slightest movement, reasoned the trainer, meant that beast’s turning to crush his shoulder or jaw on that side. With infinite care, with almost imper- ceptible effort, Roth ever so slowly disen- gaged the fangs of the first tiger from his face. Then he slowly stepped back—and fainted. Alert, loyal helpers, who had trainer's

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watched their chance from the door of the arena, rushed in firing blanks, and dragged him to safety. When Roth was able to stand, with his wounds roughly bandaged, he stepped into the arena again and raced the two tigers through a rou- tine of tricks. He did this to maintain his control over them, and it was less than a week before he was again doing his cuddling pose with them, his arms affec- tionately about their necks. Naturally, trainers that have worked the same group of wild animals year in and year out, grow more or less fond of their charges, and in spite of their knowl- edge of the beasts’ inherent treachery, become too confident of their ready obedience. There is a celebrated woman trainer—Martha Florine—who worked the same group of tigers for 10 years. Each day she rode in parade in the cage with her animals, sitting in a chair with her feet resting on the neck of the largest of them. While the cage was rolling along in the main street of a western city two years ago, the tigers leaped upon_her without warning. They knocked her to the floor of the cage, as the crowds along the curbs screamed in horror. The door to the cage was POPULAR MECHANICS 707 locked, and the drivers and parade mar- shals, who ran to the rescue, could not get in. A man with an elephant hook beat several of the tigers off the uncon- scious girl, saving her life although she was terribly lacerated, before an ax could be secured in a store and an entrance to the cage effected. She was six months recovering from her wounds, but she is working the same tigers now. The layman often wonders how the first step in obtaining control of and training wild animals is gone about. Usu- ally the cat animal—lion, tiger, leopard, puma, or jaguar—is “collared,” that is, a collar is snapped on its neck, and the beast is held in check by a chain, the end of which is in the hands of attendants outside the steel training arena. The trainer enters the cage in safety and guides the animal to a stool or pedestal, on which he urges it to take position No animal is beaten into doing the trainer’s will, as some suppose. To pun ish an animal in early teaching is ruin ous, and only when it knows what ts wanted and refuses, is it touched with a whip. It will be noticed by the close observer of wild-animal acts that no beast is touched with a whiplash while it is on the ground. A surly, combative brute is flicked with the lash or tapped on the nose only when it is on the pedes- + “Ag the trainer grabbed a rod, the bear sent it spinning and knocked Barry over a bench. . The manager, apparently unmored by Barry's mishap, stood up!’ Barry, alternating between justifiabie anger at bear calmly take position and stand on his head! outside yelling: ‘Great! Good stuff! Keep it the manager and fright, was astounded to sce the

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GOS POPULAR tal. There is a good reason for this. The animal first feels the lash when it is learn- ing to jump on and off the pedestal at the trainer's command. It is then on the chain leash, and if it attempts to spring at its taskmaster, the chain checks it ab- ruptly. Later, when it is unleashed, the MECHANICS who had had marked success with do- mestic animals, was prevailed upon by the manager to put the bears through their paces in the center arena. It was in Roseburg, Ore., that Barry, clad in a blue-and-gold suit and _ patent-leather boots, made his bow from the circle of Es, Se ee bears. Everything went ae ee ab habit prevails. The anima! seems to feel that it is still chained when on the pedestal. Thus, trainers invariably pun- ish refusals while the beast is so placed. The danger of a spring is thus minimized. Of course, too much trust cannot be put in this mental trait of the performing cat, as has been shown above in Louis Roth’s experiences. Charles Barry, a leading American trainer, made his début in a wild animal arena with a troupe of performing bears. Because of the fierceness of one of them —a huge cinnamon—several trainers had failed in presenting the act. Barry, who had shown especial aptitude as an aid and splendidly until Barry attempted to make the big bruin stand on his head. He gave the ani- mal the cue for the trick, but the brute had become interested in some green grass thai had not been trampled down in the arena. He ignored Barry’s cue and nibbled unconcernedly at his find. The young trainer smacked him with his whip. Be- fore Barry could move, the bear had knocked “The first perform- ing hippopotamus became a performer through his first and only escape . . . the great behemoth broke into f a run, turning into the hip aa podrome track of the main ” tent, around which 9,000 spec- tators sat in the stands.” his whip from his hand. As the trainer grabbed a rod, the bear sent it spinning and knocked Barry over a bench. As he fell, Barry grabbed a chair, but before he eould raise it, the bear seized it and threw it against the arena bars. Attendants then pushed the bear back with rods and gun fire, while Barry leaped for his whip and the door. The manager, apparently un- moved by Barry’s mishap, stood outside Keep it jus- yelling: “Great! up!” Barry, Good stuff! alternating between

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POPULAR tifiable anger at the manager and fright, was astounded to see the bear calmly take position and stand on his head! The young trainer then showed his mettle. He doffed his cap and made his long-delayed bow. As he did so, the bear righted himself and nipped him on the boot. Barry again tapped the brute— viciously and in wild anger—and the bear took another head stand with entire docility. The act was finished without further untoward incident, and Barry worked it with credit throughout the re- mainder of the season. However, the manager often expressed regret that Barry did not put in the “hippodrom- ing” that featured his maiden effort. “It was the biggest hit I ever saw ina wib-anhetll trena* he would remark. Many accidents and es- capes of wild animals occur in a circus menag- erie, of which audiences in the big top adjoining fortunately know nothing. There is the celebrated case of the first per- forming hippopotamus, which became a_ per- former through his first and only escape. This animal, which is not vi- cious, crawled from his tank during an afternoon performance, and was first discovered as he was making his way into the big top. A menagerie man attempted to head him off, but the great behemoth broke into a run, turn- ing into the hippodrome track of the main tent, around which 9,000 spectators sat in the stands enjoying the show. True to circus tradition, there was no confusion among the performers or other employes of the circus, but ringmasters and prop- erty men raced to head the hippo and turn him back. Now, be it known, a full- grown hippopotamus, huge and awkward as he is, can outrun a fleet-footed man. This hippo astounded the circus employes by breaking into a sprint and circling the track before the audience had the least idea that anything was wrong. Hardly had the announcer bawled his “Keep your seats, good people!” before the hippo- potamus completed the circle, turned again into the mienagerie, and crashed headlong into the aviary wagon, with the result that tropical birds were flying all over the place in no time. The hippo stopped short and moved over to the ele- phant lines, where he placidly helped him- self to the pachyderms’ hay, without MECHANICS 709 alarming those huge beasts in the least. He was returned to his cage, the birds, with few losses, housed in makeshift cages, and the big show went on without a “bobble.” However, the trainers had been shocked into a big idea. They would train the hippopotamus to circle the hip- “In one sweep of his paw, his claws caught in the mesh of the Ger man’s chain suit. The trainer leaped back, the great cat hooked to him.” podrome track—but under control. This they did the following winter, and only a small whip is now needed to guide the lumbering creature, which, however, is never urged out of a walk. It is a big feature of the show today, but the audi- ence that saw the incident which inspired it, will never forget the speed made by the ponderous, short-legged “blood- sweating behemoth of Holy Writ”—nor will the circus people, for that matter. The hippopotamus is only dangerous when he charges, and then by reason of his great bulk and through his habit of ramming with his heavy snout. How- ever, his charge is diverted and halted by animal men with whips, who have but to strike him on the head, even tap him, to change his course and slow him up. When the hippo mentioned above circles the track, the attendants keep flicking him with whips on the side of his face toward the audience. This keeps his gaze toward the rings, and should he start to charge, he could easily be halted before any damage, except to circus parapher- nalia, perhaps, could result. There is in the Salt Lake zoo now a

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+10 POPULAR lion by the name of “Brutus,” a great, splendid specimen of the black-maned African king of beasts. “Brutus” has a record as a “bad” lion. He has slashed and torn many trainers. Because of his magnificent appearance, every effort was inade to subdue him. The best trainers in America “worked” him; and they all bear the scars of “The Order of Brutus,” as the zoo men termed the group of wild- animal men who were roughed by the mighty cat. Once a great German trainer announced that he had succeeded in working “Brutus” in winter quarters with a polar bear. He took the manager of the circus and a party of friends to the animal barn to view the act. The lion and the polar bear were turned into the arena together. “Brutus” instantly leaped on the bear, killing it. He then literally ate it up, and the combined efforts of the German trainer and his helpers could not separate him from his kill. Some time later Charles Barry entered the steel train- ing cage with “Brutus.” The lion wasted no time; leaping 15 feet at the trainer, who managed to dodge. “Brutus’ ” head struck the steel bars, and he was dazed. Before he could spring again, Barry knocked him out with a bar. The circus manager then gave orders that “Brutus” was through as a performer, and forbade any trainer en- tering his cage. The animal was shortly afterward sold to the Salt Lake zoo, where he is securely housed—the finest lion on exhibition anywhere in America. There is the story of one of Bostock’s trainers, who volunteered to subdue a “bad” tiger—a Royal Bengal outlaw. The tiger was a great performer, but he had suddenly turned renegade, killing one trainer and injuring several. The Bostock man, a German of large physique, not only offered to subdue the animal but LECHANICS promised to present him in the first pub- lic performance in Leeds, Eng. Now, the trainer had a plan. He purchased for use in the arena a suit of steel mail, woven to fit him under his uniform. However, his pride prevented his telling anyone with the show about the suit, and as he had encountered little trouble in the training cage with the beast, he saw no reason for any confidences afterward in the matter of his armor. The night of the opening in Leeds, he entered the arena and sig- naled for the attendants to open the run- way gate and let in the tiger. Announce- ments had been made of the brute’s ferocity and almost supernatural strength, and a large audience was present to view the thriller. All went well for a while. Encouraged by his success, the German began to “hippodrome” with his charge: that is, he teased the beast into striking at him as the animal sat on the pedestal. The cat was in a fine performing humor, striking and snarling in a semblance of fury. However, in one sweep of his paw. his claws caught in the mesh of the Ger- man’s chain suit. The trainer leaped back, the great cat hooked to him. Both lost their heads, the tiger bounding, scream- ing, spitting as it leaped, rolled, and threshed about, apparently tearing the man into ribbons. Women fainted and men shouted their terror. The cat was unable to extricate his claws, and in the hubbub, the German could not make the helpers understand why they could not drive the tiger from him. At last, a ter- rific blow on the head stilled the beast, and the claws were extricated from the mesh. The trainer suffered only a few minute scratches, but the audience, which had almost stampeded from the circus building, was convinced it had seen a man eaten alive by a jungle demon. Above: Radio Gar- ter, Showing the Receiver, Crystal, and Snap Chains. Left: Illustrating How the Radio Garter is Worn and the Manner of Using It RADIO GARTER LATEST FAD FOR WIRELESS FANS Feminine wireless fans will be inter- ested in the introduction of a tiny radio set which is made in the shape of, and is worn as, a garter. Wire is coiled around a piece of: cardboard, which is covered with silk, and attached to this are two ordinary eyeglass snap chains, one fas- tened to the foot and furnishing the ground, while the other is affixed to a coil of wire in the hat and forms the aerial. A small bottle containing the necessary crystal, or rectifier, and a re- ceiver complete the apparatus, which has undergone tests and proved practical.

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SCIENTIST INVESTIGATING “MOTH RADIOGRAMS” OTHS and some other insects have a very mysterious way of communi- cating with each other. The female moth may be caged in a scent and soundproof box, and yet she is able to summon the male moth without apparent trouble. En- tomologists have been puzzled by this phenome- non for a long time, and it was recently suggested that a system of radio might be used by the in- sects. Following this suggestion, a New York scientist, L. C. F. Horle, started to investigate the subject. The ingenious apparatus he employed and the results he has achieved, although interesting. not conclusive, are To the layman, the subject may be more or less confusing, since he cannot possibly under- stand how a living creature could propa- gate wireless waves. In the firefly we see a crea- ture that is able to send forth visible rays. Scien- tists now know that the only difference between visible and invisible waves is a matter of wave length. Wireless waves are long, and light waves are short, but they are both If one insect is able to send forth visible waves, why should of the same nature. highly The Sensitive Condenser Microphone Used, By L. D. LOTTON not another be able to send forth invisible waves? In order to send wireless waves Apparatus Used by Mr. Horle, the New York Scientist, in Investigating the Methods of Communication between Moths, Presumably by Some System Resembling the Propagation of Wireless Waves from one point to another, we all know that electric power is necessary. We also know that there are certain creatures, like the electric eel, that are able to produce within their own bodies elec- tric currents of very high potential. This proves that a living creature can generate an electric current. In fact, the human heart produces a weak gal- vanic current at every beat, and this current has been measured. In watching moths and studying their action, scientists have noticed the peculiar way in which they use their antennz. When the male is some distance from the Which Is Much More Sensitive Than a Telephone Transmitter “Listenin: the In” for the Moth Messages: , n lass Bottle Seen on the Table. So Far No Conclusive Evidence of the Wireless Nature of These Messages has been Found female, it will wave its antennz about first in this direction and then in that, as though it were trying to locate the direc- tion in which a message was coming. After some experimentation in this way, the male will take to its wings and fly off to the female. The apparatus used by Mr. Horle has been es- pecially developed to respond to very short wave lengths. If the creatures do send wire- less waves, they must be 711 The Female Moth is Imprisoned in

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112 of a length that will put them somewhere between those we call heat and the short- est of those that can be called radio. The wave lengths must be short, since the creatures are small and the oscillator ised must be correspondingly small. The strength of the radiations would quite iaturally not be very great, and for that reason an ultra-sensitive radio receiver had to be assembled. Before he set out to solve the problem by wireless, he first satisfied himself that sound waves were not used. To do this he invented what he calls a “cell microphone,” based on a new principle, and used it with a vacuum- tube amplifying device that would greatly increase the volume of any sound waves detected, even though they were beyond perception by the human ear. Although this apparatus was used under the most favorable conditions, no sound was heard that could be identified as insect com- munication. His radio device, although of great interest to radio technicians, is too involved to be understood in detail by laymen. Since there is no wave meter that will measure the radiation that could be set up by a moth, owing to its small- ness, he assembled a receiver which, by successive modulation processes, convert- ed the small wave lengths into those of the usual magnitude. An oscillator of spe- cial design was placed in proximity to the insects. The natural frequency of the oscillator. was varied to cover a wide range in wave lengths. The small powers POPULAR MECHANICS original wave lengths detected were greatl; lengthened and the strength of the radio- frequency current produced by them in- creased to a point where they would be audible. By knowing the electrical con- stants of the various circuits employed, the length of the original waves detected by the first receiver could be calculated. An outfit of the nature described above is extremely difficult to handle, owing to the presence of the numerous vacuum tubes. Unless they are carefully watched and regulated, the tubes will set up various noises which would interfere with the reception of moth messages. Although Mr. Horle has not as yet heard anything that could be identified as a message between insects, he believes this means, not absolute failure, but rather that he has not succeeded in getting his apparatus adjusted to a point where it would be sensitive to small radiations of low in- tensity. Never before has such an outfit been assembled, and it is but natural that considerable experience will be required before results can be expected. ITALIAN POWER PROJECT USES OLD LAKE BEDS FOR STORAGE Many interesting conditions are met in the development of hydroelectric power in southern Italy, but one of the most unusual is in the project on the Sila River in Catanzaro. In this mountainous region there were several basins, believed produced from the oscillator were allowed to have been the beds of ancient lakes : WIRELESS NO. | NO.2 NO.3 AMPLIFIER AMPLIFIER AMPLIFIER = Hotes 4 Y 9 ‘ ° wy ° ° o =o) MODULATOR MODULATOR DETECTOR PHONES NO. NO.2 OSCILLATOR SOUND DETECTOR = =E : LQIgee ys ee E Zz “ Yas } ren ° MICROPHONE . 3 MODULATOR AMPLIFIER CONDENSER GENERATOR Fully Notated Diagrams of the Apparatus and the Wiring, as Used in Experiments on Sound and Wireless aves: Lower Diagram Shows the Apparatus Used for Sound Waves, and the Upper One That Used for Wireless Waves to react upon a radio generator of more nearly usual frequencies. This process was dtplicated several times until the which are now dried up, and these are to be used as storage reservoirs for im- pounding the water.

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CONQUERING MOUNT RAINIER IN MIDWINTER By LAWRENCE WILLIAM PEDROSE The Summit of Mount Rainier, Conquered for the First Time in Midwinter by a Party of Four Adventurers: The Men are Here Seen Hoisting the American Flag on the Summit, the Climax of a Two Weeks’ Struggle with Natural Elements FTER a two weeks’ contest with storms, four men late in February succeeded in scaling the summit of Mount Rainier, the second highest mountain in the United States. Although in former years many attempts had been made to climb the 14,500-ft. peak in winter, none had been successful. The climbing party consisted of an American, a Frenchman, and two Swiss. All except the American were experienced alpinists. There was no monetary reward for the climb, and the adventure was undertaken for the sheer love of the thing. The preliminary work of scaling the mountain was carried out carefully. Various approaches were reconnoitered, and this precaution took up ‘most of the men’s time. The actual scaling of the peak required only five hours, and the return four and one-half hours. Roped together, 24 ft. apart, with the alpinists in the lead, the men made the dangerous climb, each carrying a pack weighing about 40 Ib. At the “Shutes,” one of the most hazardous points of the climb, progress was won only by chopping footholds in the ice. At the summit the storm cleared sufficiently for the men to make several remarkable pictures. COVERED TRUCKS HAUL FIVE AUTO BODIES Long trucks having canvas covers are used to carry all the closed-car bodies from a_ Detroit factory to an automobile company in Flint, Mich. Each truck, of which there are 10 now in use, is 55 ft. in length, and has a capacity of five bodies. Motorists on the narrow highway find dif- ficulty in passing the long trucks, Specially Made Motor Trucks Having Long Canvas Covers, Shown en Route on One of Their Daily Trips from the Factory: Each Truck Contains Five Closed-Car Bodies

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o14 POPULAR ANGLE OF AIRPLANE’S FLIGHT AUTOMATICALLY INDICATED Difficulty is experienced by the pilot of an airplane in accurately determining whether he is traveling up, down, or par Indicator Fastened to Airplane Strut So the Pilot can Tell at a Glance His Angle of Flight allel with the earth. The position taken by the plane is termed the angle of attack, meaning the angle ‘at which it is attack- ing the air, and to determine this an ar- rangement has been brought out, having a scale which moves with the strut, and a balanced indicator that always maintains a position parallel with the earth. This apparatus is located near the airman, who can easily tell at a glance whether the craft is traveling on an inclined or level course. LAWN-MOWER GRASS CARRIER WORKS ON NEW PRINCIPLE An attachment for carrying the grass cut by a lawn mower, which extends no farther back than the old-fashioned can- Grass Carrier, Attached to Lawn Mower, Showing the Endless Canvas Belt and the Galvan- ized-Iron Container MECHANICS vas basket, has lately been put on the market. The outfit consists of a grass container made of galvanized iron, to which are fastened two wooden rollers and an endless canvas belt. The rollers are driven by a cross belt from the wheel of the mower, and these operate the can- vas conveyor, so that the cut grass is constantly carried away from the mower blades and deposited in the large pan. A NEW INCUBATOR EGG TRAY TURNS ALL EGGS AT ONCE The present hatching season has marked the introduction of a new type of incubator egg tray which not only adds 25 per cent to the egg-holding capacity of the machine, but also provides a me chanical turning device which turns all the eggs in a few minutes, without remov- ing them from the machine. The eggs are held, pointed end down, in a series of metal cradles which are supported on pivots at both ends. These pivoted ends In This Incubator Tray the Eggs are Supported in Metal Cradles Which are Pivoted in the Sliding Bars at Their Ends are carried on a shifting lever which can slide along the side of the tray. By mov- ing the lever, all the eggs are turned in a fraction of the time required by the older method of turning by hand. ATMOSPHERE OF PLANET VENUS CONTAINS NO OXYGEN According to spectroscopic studies made at the Mount Wilson Observatory of the light received from Venus, no oxy- gen-absorption lines are found. This in- dicates that there is no oxygen or wate! vapor in the outer atmosphere of Venus, and furthermore that the reflected light of the sun must have penetrated to a considerable depth. It therefore appeat necessary to attribute the great bright ness of Venus to some other cause than that of high reflective power of watet vapor clouds, and this apparent absence of oxygen must be considered in connec- tion with speculations as to the conditions of the planet.

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POPULAR MECHANICS Ornamental Table Top, Showing the Various and Intricate Designs Wrought by the Maker of This Most Unusual Piece of Furniture: ORNAMENTAL TABLE TOP MADE FROM STEEL TUBING Hundreds of pieces of seamless-steel tubing were used recently in the con- struction of an ornamental table top, producing a neat and original pattern. \s this tubing is made in nearly every conceivable shape and size, the number of designs wrought in the top were lim- ited only by the ingenuity of the maker. Ends of tubes were cut off and these, circles, squares, oblongs, rectangles, ovals, hexagons, crescents, etc., were then im- bedded in a soft substance and allowed to “set.” After being highly polished and The Multitude of Varied Shapes and Sizes Are But the Ends of Seamless-Steel Tubing given a coating of lacquer, this table top is said to be one of the most unusual pieces of furniture ever manufactured. TRACTOR AND AUTOMOBILE MAKE PIONEERING EASY Automobiles in place of prairie schoon- ers, and gasoline tractors in place of ox teams, mark the difference between modern and ancient pioneering. After settlement upon the land, the difference is between plowing with a yoke of oxen and a single-share plow at the rate of about an acre a day, and plowing with tractor-hauled gangplows at the rate of Modern Pioneer Taking a 140-Mile Jaunt on a Tractor Which is Hauling a Load of Four Tons, Including the Indispensable Automobile: Note the Headlight on the Tractor for Night Traveling

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716 tens of acres a day, according to the size of the tractor. In a recent instance of modern pioneering, the traveling outfit consisted of a tractor that hauled an ordi- nary lumber wagon in which were loaded the pioneer’s farming and camping out- fits, and a gasoline tank. Hitched to this was the inevitable automobile with a truck attachment in the rear, handy for personal baggage. The whole load pulled by the tractor was four tons. PROJECT VIEWS OF OBJECTS WITH REFLECTING DEVICE A new form of projection apparatus has been developed abroad which can be When Placed over Objects, Printed Pages, or Pho- tographs, This Apparatus will Project Views of Them Which can be Thrown onto a Screen placed directly over the objects, printed pages, or photographs to be snown. Four high-power lights illuminate the object and the view is projected by the lens into the mirror above, which reflects it on the screen. CHURCH BELLS DEMONSTRATED OVER THE TELEPHONE An eastern church committee was given the task of selecting a bell, and the chair- man called a bell factory by long-distance telephone to arrange for a visit to the plant. While conversing, the tolling of different bells being tested was trans- mitted so clearly over the wire, that the chairman decided that the selection could be made without going to the factory. Accordingly the entire committee was assembled and each “listened in” on the demonstration, until one of the bells was unanimously chosen. POPULAR MECHANICS POLISHED METALS ANNEALED WITHOUT TARNISHING By covering with a very thin film of boric oxide any polished article that has to be annealed, there will be none of the tarnish which results under ordinary treatment. The coating of boric oxide will resist temperatures up to 1,202° F., which is high enough to protect polished steel from any coloration when it is tem- pered. The coating is fireproof, does not evaporate, and dissolves any oxidized matter on the surface of the heated metal. It can be applied either as a powder or as a liquid. After annealing, the coating peels off, or may be dissolved in warm water. The process has been patented. GOLF-COURSE SPRINKLER HAS RUBBER ROLLERS Marring the turf of a golf course is always prevented if possible, and one of the latest of these preventives is a rotary sprinkler having rubber rollers, which allow it to be moved freely on the greens and fairways without injuring the soft sod. The sprinkler is 19 in. high, with an arm.spread of 28 in., weighs but 14 Ib., has connections for either *4 or Golf-Course Sprinkler, Showing the Four Rubber Rollers, Hose Connection, and Spread of Sprinkling Arms 115-in. hose, and has a capacity of 15 gal. per minute over a 70 to 90-ft. area. @ Portable altars will be installed in all the passenger steamers of the Cunard Line, according to late reports. During the busy tourist season, one large public room in each section will be set aside for Protestant services and Catholic masses.

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POPULAR MECHANICS oo eg p 7 _ > . Motor Truck Moving a 250-Ton Office Building, in Portland, Oregon: The Truck was Blocked, and a Winch, Driven by Its Engine and Mounted Just behind the Seat of the Machine, was Used to Move the Heavy Structure a Little at a Time TWO-STORY OFFICE BUILDING MOVED BY MOTOR TRUCK two-story Moving a office building without interrupting the duties of the employes therein, was accomplished re- cently in Portland, Ore., with the aid of a motor truck. The building is 40 by 80 ft. in size, weighs approximately 250 tons, and was to be relocated at a dis- tance of 600 ft., in addition to being turned completely around. The workmen used a winch mounted on the truck, and driven by its engine, and thus slowly but surely moved the structure to its new location. TO INVESTIGATE PROPERTIES OF ALUMINUM ALLOYS Extensive investigations of the prop- erties of light aluminum-alloy castings are being lertaken by the Bure: . Mine eing undertaken Dy the bureau oF Mines, and, when completed, will give exhaustive information on this important subject. rhe study will not be confined to the physical properties alone, but will deal with the subject of sand castings, die castings, and permanent mold castings. There will also be a discussion of the principal aluminum-alloy systems, such as aluminum copper, aluminum iron, alumi- num manganese, aluminum zinc, and others. SHARK-PROOF NET PROTECTS LONG-DISTANCE SWIMMER How to swim with safety in shark-in fested ocean waters was demonstrated re¢ cently by a negro in Queensland, Aus tralia, who insisted on from Magnetic Island to Townsville, a distance of five miles, in spite of the sharks, and also of police interdiction Ind ed, it was only on account of the latter that he even deigned to take the precaution of sur- rounding himself with a floating wooden frame from which was suspended a shark- proof net, 6 ft. deep. were towed by a swimming The frame and net launch, and the negro accomplished his feat without experienc- ing any interference. Australian Negro Swimming in Shark-Infested Waters: Suspended from the Floating Frame Is a Net, Six Feet Deep, Which was Towed Along as He Swam

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718 POPULAR PRINTING-PRESS ATTACHMENT FOR DISTRIBUTING THE INK For the production of high-class print- ing, such as half-tone-and color-process MECHANICS ELECTROMAGNETIC RECOVERY OF COAL FROM CINDERS In all furnaces to some extent—in some more and in others less—a certain amount . — of coal falls into the A Ad a a Front View of the Ink Equalizer: The Inking Knife is Automatically Reciprocated by the work, and of any ordinary printing with minimum spoilage, a machine has been designed that, when attached to the press, keeps the ink smooth, soft, and equally distributed. Placed in the foun- tain it has an adjustable blade that can be raised or lowered to turn any amount of ink desired. When in operation it scrapes the ink loose from the bottom of the fountain, and also plows it against the fountain roller, insuring even distribution on the duct roller. The blade is recipro- cated by means of a drive screw which has an adjustment for any-size form. The blade is on a hinged frame which can be raised and moved out of the way when putting ink in the fountain. The attach- ment can be run by an individual motor or by gears from the press. It eliminates pressroom delay caused by stiff ink, @The Popular Mechanics’ Bureau of Information offers its free service to all readers of our magazine. Names and addresses of manufacturers and dealers in articles described, and any other de- tails in our possession, will be promptly furnished by addressing the Bureau. Driven and with the Inking Knife in Operating Position hreaded Spindle in Connection with It ashes that is only partly consumed by the fire. Considering the present high cost of coal, espe- cially in Europe, it is not surprising that much interest has been attract- ed there to the efforts of a German inventor to separate this partly con- sumed coal from that which is entirely con- sumed. The method em- ployed is based upon the fact that all coal con- tains a certain amount of iron pyrites, and that dur- ing combustion the iron in this compound be- comes converted into an oxide and remains in the cinders. Iron pyrites, such as contained in the unconsumed coal, is not sensitive to magnetic at traction, but the iron ox- ide in the consumed coal is to a certain extent. Therefore, if sufficiently powerful magnetic attraction be employed to hold the completely consumed cinders, those only partly consumed will be al- lowed to escape and can be recovered by a simple separation process. LETTER IS PLAINLY VISIBLE IN GLASS-BODY MAIL BOX \ very attractive mail box is being made in which the body is of glass. It can be fastened to the wall or other convenient point, and is so designed that the holding screws cannot be removed when the lid is locked. One advantage of this box is that the contents are al- ways plainly visi- ble. A spring clip is provided for holding papers or envelopes too large for the box.

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POPULAR From Left to Right: Wrecking in Progress, with Two Platforms in Place; UNUSUAL MEANS OF WRECKING WORN-OUT STEEL STACK \n unusual exploit, done in an unusual manner, was the wreckage recently of a steel stack at an alkali plant in Ford City, Mich. The stack was 180 ft. high, 10 ft. in diameter, and [It had been in use for 27 years, and the action of the heat and chemicals in the — pulverized its brick lining nd had eaten away the steel so that the plates beet led and the rivets could be pulled out with the fingers. In wrecking the stack, a scaffold was erected inside it in order to carry a 6 by 6-in. pole. Two 20-in. platforms were placed around the outside of the stack, supported on brack- ets that were clamped to the stack by a cable tightened with a turnbuckle, thus making them movable. The brick lining on one tier of plates, which were 6 ft. 8 in. wide, was first lowered down the inside self-supporting. smoke MECHANICS Showing One Plate being Lowered outside Three Steeplejacks Climbing the 719 Beginning at “Top to Wreck old Worn- Out Steel Stack with Movable ‘Pliers around It; the Stack; Still Further Progress Ladder to Platform on Stack of the stack, and then each plat in that tier was taken off and lowered down the outside of the stack by means of the pole and a winch. The job was completed in six days by three steeplejacks above, and two laborers on the ground, without th slightest mishap. ELEPHANTS ACT AS EXPERTS FOR TESTING FLOORS was recently placed in the popular tradition that an elephant will refuse to walk upon an unsafe structure Wishing to determine the strength of his floor, a Canton, Ohio, man em ployed the services of five circus elephants to act as test load. They were led upon the floor and grouped as closely as pos- sible, making a live load of more than 15 tons on the center of the floor—probabl) Great confidence rarage the first of this unusual de scription to be used for such a purpo Five Elephants from a Visiting Circus were Employed as Safety Engineers’ in Testing This Garage Floor Grouped as Closely as Possible, They Represent a yn Pe Load of More than 15 Tons

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520 POPULAR MECHANICS WINDSHIELDS ON UPPER DECK FOR PASSENGERS’ COMFORT Many motor-bus patrons prefer to ride on the upper deck of the bus but are deterred during the winter months by the The Big Windshield across the Front and the Individ- ual Shields for Each Seat Make the Upper Deck Comfortable during the Winter Months chilly winds. This has led a Detroit bus company to install windshields on the upper deck, and they have proved very successful. One big windshield extends across the front of the bus, and each seat is also equipped with an individual shield. INERT GAS USED IN CANNING VARIOUS FOOD PRODUCTS Ninety per cent of the present commer- cial canned food would be improved, it is claimed, by the complete elimination of the oxygen in the container. This has been known for some time, and various expedients have been adopted, such as venting the cans after heating and sealing while hot, but none has succeeded in removing more than from 50 to 80 per cent of the oxygen. For some nine years now a much more effective method has been under development, namely the sub- stitution of inert gases for the oxygen. By the use of such a gas, canned coconut has been produced without any loss of flavor whatever. The inert gas used has been carbon dioxide, and an ingenious mechanical method has been developed by which the oxygen is removed by suc- tion from large numbers of cans rapidly, and the vacuum is automatically filled with carbon dioxide. Packers are now considering the possibility of applying the process to many other products. DEVELOP MANGANESE MINES IN ARGENTINA DESERT The United States imports more than 500,000 tons of manganese ore a year. It is principally used by steel mills in the manufacture of the very hard manganese steels, and by glass factories in the manu- facture of flint glass. It is also used in making electric dry batteries. Brazil has always been the great source of manga- nese, while India and Cuba are also important producers. Recently manga nese mines have been discovered in Argentina, and an Angio-Argentine com- pany is developing the industry in that country. The Argentine manganese oc- curs in a single vein running for about 50 miles through the Santiago desert in the center of the republic. The greatest width of the seam is about 8 ft. The ore is about 75-per-cent pure manganese diox ide, and is claimed to be superior to the Brazilian. The mining is done by native Indians, who are paid an average of one peso per day, or the equivalent of about 33 cents. The ore is brought to the rail- way, a distance of 90 miles, in two- wheeled carts, carrying a ton and a half ot manganese. 4 OO nh Left: The Manganese Vein Runs for Approximately 50 Miles across the Desert. Mined, It is Sorted, Graded, and Sacked by Indian Women and Boys, and is Then Hauled a Distance of 90 Miles, to the Railroad Right: After the Ore is

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POPULAR MECHANICS Cpa OE tae Motor-Truck Chassis with Air Compressor Mounted on the Left End: The Tractor on the Right End of Chassis is Used to Haul the Apparatus from the Garage to the Job, Where It Drives the Air Compressor during the Day, and to Pull the Truck Back to the Garage at Night DOUBLE SERVICE OBTAINED FROM SMALL TRACTOR “Killing two birds with one stone” is figuratively done with a small tractor which hauls a concrete-drilling outfit to the job, and then runs up on the chassis of the specially built truck, where it is belted to an air compressor. All day the tractor faithfully chugs away in driving the compressor, and at night it runs down from the chassis and obligingly pulls the apparatus back to the garage. MAIL CARRIED BY DOG TEAM IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA On a power-tunnel project in the high mountains of southern California, it was decided to keep the construction work going during the winter from both ends of the tunnel. The road connecting the two ends of the tunnel leads through a pass at an elevation of more than 9,000 ft., and is of course blocked with snow during the winter. In order that mail might be delivered regularly at the far- ther camp, a team of seven Alaskan dogs is employed, and under favorable condi- tions can take a load of 500 to 600 Ib. over the route. ESKIMOS’ WHALING BOATS ARE AMERICAN-BUILT The boats used by the Eskimos of Alaska, as described and elaborately illus- trated in “Whale Hunting on the Top of the World,” in the February issue, are all American-built. Many of them are built at New Bedford, Mass., and are shipped from there, by way of the Pan- ama Canal, to the Arctic regions. The Whaling Boats for the Eskimos of Alaska on Their Way to the Steamer Which will Take Them, via the Panama Canal, to the Arctic Regions boats are not needed in large numbers, and this year’s shipment from New Bed- ford thus far consists of only four boats.

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“The Castle” Built by the Artist with the Help of One Man: The Structure Is of Brick and Concrete, and was Built in His Spare Time during the Course of Eight Years. There Are Many Examples of Concrete Sculpture in the Building DECORATIVE EFFECTS IN MOLDED CONCRETE When one speaks of concrete, it con- adapted for artistic work. On his estate, jures up visions of retaining walls, severely called “Pine-\Wold Park,” are many ex plain buildings, and massive bridges, but amples of his art, in the form of statues T. A. Brouwer, of Westhampton, N. Y., fountains, and the like. In some _ in- has shown that this material is admirably stances, it seems almost impossible that such delicate figures and designs could have been made of con crete, yet such is the case, and the artist contends that it is a very easy matter to make them. In making a statue, for exam ple, he first makes a frame of light iron pipe, or heavy wire, which conforms to the general lines of the figure and is really the skeleton on which it is molded. Over this frame, a wire mesh form is molded by hand along the general lines of the figure. This mesh form is made of 4-in. galvanized-wire netting and serves as the foundation fo: 4 the concrete. A mixture of one part cement to two parts sand is used, and is placed and molded by hand. After the general out - lines of the figure are formed, the excess material is cut away and the finishing coat of cement is applied with a brush. When this has set, the figure is finished by chipping and working over with a fine chisel. This method is not limited to Statuary but can be applied to ‘The Soul of a Rose:” The Figure of a Butterfly-Woman Bend- ng over a Wild Rose, Molded of Concrete over a Wire-Mesh decorative effects for buildings Frame, Shows the Delicate Effects Produced by This Method cornices, fireplaces, and also fot

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a wih wd Left: A Fountain of Molded Concrete, in Which the Large Shell was Shaped Out of a Single Block as the Material was Setting, the Figure being Built Up on a Frame of Iron Pipe and Wire Mesh. Right: Decorative Pier, Seven Feet High, Cut from a Solid Block. The Bird on Top of the Pier is Molded over a Wire-Mesh Frame many other purposes. The work can be ternating current was available where the done very rapidly and the decorative counting was done, it was found necessary effects are limited only by the skill of to find means of operating the counters the sculptor. The artist has been able to on current from rectifiers. Current from produce various color effects in his work _ batteries could not be used on account of by the proper blending of the material the great number of times the gate would used. Some of his groups of statuary are operate during the day, as many as 300,- given a finish similar in appearance to 000 exits per day being expected. antique bronze, which is very effective against the forest setting in which they appear. Contrast- ing effects are produced by plac- ing white relief figures or designs against a background of gray or darker color. BEEHIVE GATE PASSES ONE BEE AT A TIME \n interesting problem has re- cently been brought to the at- tention of the Bureau of Stand- ards by the Bureau of Entomol- ogy. In studying the habits of bees they desired to learn the number of bees leaving the hive during the day, so a gate was devised which would permit only one bee to pass at a time, and an arrangement was made whereby the number of bees was counted automatically. The little count- ing device which is used for reg- istering the number of telephone messages on a given instrument was employed as a recording de- vice. A series of these registers were installed in such a way that the number of bees passing the Another View of the Fairy Figure Whose Wings Are of Con- gate was led As | r al crete, Modeled and Shaped by Hand, While It Is Still Sate as recorded, As only al- Plastic, over a Frame Made of Stiff Wire

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“ a POPULAR ROLLER CURTAIN IS MOUNTED ON BOOTBLACK STAND Feminine customers showed so much embarrassment while having their shoes shined, that a sympathetic New York Bootblack Stand with Roller Curtain, Enabling Women Customers to Protect Themselves against Annoyance from Passers-By hootblack mounted a roller curtain on his stand. Now the wearer of the most abbreviated skirt can pull down the cur- tain to suit herself, and sit unconcernedly in the elevated chair for a “shine” with- out being annoyed by the _ interested glances of the rude passers-by. MECHANICS SUBSTITUTES FOR PLATINUM PROVE SATISFACTORY In a search for a substitute for expen sive platinum, various alloys have been tried and some have been found satis factory for different purposes, although no general substitute has been evolved One combination, known as “palau,” re- sists the activity of most of the reagents, while another, called “rhotanium,” is claimed to make a good substitute for electrical-heating units. MOTOR VINEYARD CULTIVATOR OPERATED BY ONE MAN As an economizer of time and labor a motor-driven implement has been de- signed to furnish in one machine a com- plete equipment for vineyard cultivation With only one operator, and one opera tion, it will both harrow the rows and hoe the vines. It can also be used as a tractor for hauling a three-base vine yard plow, and as in the case of ordinary tractors, it can be used as a stationary power plant. Its motor is of the tractor with a selective type, three-speed gear transmission, all mounted on a three wheeled chassis, and between the front steering wheel, controlled from the driv er’s seat, and the traction wheels in the rear is a regular disk-harrow equip ment, with 12 disks, which is controlled by the operator’s feet. Behind the trac tion wheels is the attachment that hoes the vines. When turning, either of the traction wheels can be left stationary while the other is revolved, causing the cultivator to turn in either direction within a 10-ft. radius. i jj Motor-Driven Vineyard Cultivator, with Self-Adjusting Disk Harrow in Front of Traction Wheels, and Vine Hoe behind Them: The Driver Sits at the Rear, and with the Large Steering Wheel Operates the Front Wheel

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POPULAR MECHANICS Above: The Raft and Derrick Towed from Place to Place by a Tug. Left: Right and Two Views of the “High Lead” Used in Removing the Felled Timber from the Steep Bluffs THERMOMETER HOLDER ON BED IS HANDY AND SANITARY Clamping to the bed a small metal holder containing a glass tube, in which can be inserted the ordinary ther- mometer, or fever register, of the sick room, is the latest method used in hospitals. Fol- lowing this pro- cedure, there is slight chance of the thermometer being inter- changed with that of another pa- tient, or mislaid, thus furnishing a sani- tary innovation for the care of the sick. USE HUGE FLOATING DERRICK IN LOGGING OPERATIONS Efficient logging of many wooded islands and steep headlands of the British Columbia coast was a problem that long hafled Canadian timbermen. The solu- tion has been found in a floating. logging camp, consisting of a pile driver, donkey engine, and derrick, all assembled on one raft which is towed from job to job. The raft is built of huge logs, and is 106 ft. vide and 130 ft. long. The two upright timbers form what is known as a “high lead.” Cableways from the high lead into he forest areas provide means of rapid 1 transportation of logs to sea level. The 34 in. at the top. sticks forming the uprights are each 126 ft. long, 6 ft. in diameter at the base, and A seagoing tug tows the raft to islands and rugged coasts where customary methods are not applicable. The raft is placed on the beach and anchored with piling, and guy wires are fastened to the shore. The ordinary high- lead system of logging is then used to swing the logs to the shore, where they are piled like so much cordwood, half submerged in water, to form rafts. ELECTRIC WINDOW RADIATOR IS FROST PREVENTER Formation of frost on windows can be prevented by the use of an electric radia- tor, which was designed expressly for this purpose. The appliance consists of a small metal frame extending below the window, mounted on metal supports and contain- ing a heating element. Connected to any light socket, the apparatus gives sufficient heat through its perforated sides to keep the glass clear on the coldest days. Electric Window Radiator Placed in Position to Pre- vent Frost from Forming on the Plate Glass

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a 126 POPULAR HANDY INHALATION OUTFIT OF NEW DESIGN Inhalation outfits are numerous, but one of new design consists of a specially constructed mask of rubber, to Inhalation Outfit, Showing the Bottles of ) Liquids to Which is Attached the Rubber Tube Leading to the Special Rubber Mask That is Placed over the Nose- which is attached a tube of the same material. The tube is fastened to bottles containing liquids, which, when inhaled, are transformed into dry gases, and are said to afford relief to the organs of the respiratory tract, when afflicted. @ Under the terms of the Leasing Act, royalties of more than $2,000,000 were paid during the year 1921 for oil and gas produced on government-owned land in the West. MECHANICS PERSONAL HEATING POSSIBLE IS THEORY OF ENGLISHMAN Giving as an illustration the pleasing effect produced throughout the body by holding anything warm in the hands, or by immersing the hands in warm water, J. W. Beauchamp, director of the British Electrical Development Association, re- cently suggested the. possibilities of per- sonal heating. According to his theory, in the future, instead of seeking better means of heating the atmosphere within buildings, an effort will be made to heat the bodies of the occupants of these places by individual electric devices, thus leaving the air as fresh as on the outside. The lecturer also thought that science would soon discover a method whereby merely the presence of some small heat- ing medium about the person would pro- vide sufficient heat to make anyone com- fortable. NEW FRUIT-PEELING MACHINE USES CAUSTIC-SODA VAPOR Fruit canners now have available a new peeling machine which is said to re- duce the amount of lye used by half, greatly improve the color and flavor of the product, and effect a saving of ap- proximately 50 cents per ton. With the improved apparatus, the fruit is placed on a conveyor belt, preheated, and*then run for about 30 seconds through the vapor of caustic soda, which loosens the peel. Then, without being touched by hands. the fruit passes along between sprays of water which wash the peel off, and which can be carefully regulated according to the condition of the fruit. Fruit-Peeling Machine Erected and Ready for Operation in a Canning Plant: The Fruit is Placed on a Con- veyor Belt at the Left End, Passes through the Machine without being Touched by Hands, and Emerges at the Right End Thoroughly Peeled and in Readiness for Canning

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POPULAR MECHANICS TANKS USED TO DESTROY STILLS CAPTURED IN RAIDS EW uses are constantly being found for tanks, but one of the most unusual was the reduction of some “‘moon- shine” stills to a condition of junk. During a recent clean-up campaign in Newport, Ky., more than 50 of these illicit stills were taken and were then destroyed by driving two tanks over them. The wreckage was later sold as junk. HAITIAN STREET CARS BUILT FROM AMERICAN AUTOS Street cars, built from American auto- place of the old steam locomotives which mobiles, are being operated in Port au consumed so much coal. Prince, the capital of Haiti, with great success. The complete chassis, motor, and transmission were used, except that the gearing from the origi- nal rear axle to the 32- in. drivewheels was re- duced, so that the axle and wheel sprockets are the same size. This great- ly increased the available power. The cars weigh 7,250 |b. and can attain a speed of 40 miles an hour. They have proved so successful and eco- nomical that the sugar company, which operates all the street cars and railroads of Haiti, con- One of the Street Cars, Used in Port au Prince, Haiti, Which were . ’ : ee i ) les, Using the Complete Chassis and Power template using ‘ from American Automobiles, | g C r I rs _— similar They have Proved a Great Success in Solving the Transportation Pr cars to haul sugar, in and may be Adopted Also for Railroad Traffic

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™ 25 POPULAR PROJECTILE POCKET PISTOL IS LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCE In case of shipwreck, a few minutes’ delay in sending a line to the vessel may MECHANICS TRANSMISSION LINE TO SPAN STRAITS OF MESSINA Industrial expansion in Sicily demands the introduction of more electric power, and a 120,000-volt transmission line has been proposed, which will come from Italy by crossing the Straits of Messina. The span would be 3,770 yd., or about 2!+ miles, and the cables of nickel or zinc-plated steel, each cable being supported on individual masts. These masts would have to be 900 ft. in height, to provide a 150-ft. clearance for passing ships in the center of the estimated 660-it. sag. At present the most diff cult feature of this huge engineer ing problem seems to be the con struction of strain insulators which will be strong enough to hold the vast weight of the steel cables. However, if this contem- plated project can be realized, Sicily will receive approximately 50,000 kw. of power for manufac- turing purposes of all kinds. MUSSELS ON SHIP BOTTOM CAPTURE SMALL FISH Capturing three fish about the size of sardines was the curious exploit of as many sea mussels, which had attached themselves to the iron bottom of the famous exploration ship, the “Albatross,” Above: Left, Inserting the Firing Cartridge in the Pistol; mean life or death to those on board. A line-throwing rocket pistol has now been devised which, with all equipment, weighs less than 50 lb., and is easily portable. The pistol is fired from the hand. A small cartridge projects the rocket from the barrel of the pistol and ignites the charge in the rocket, which then becomes self-propelling, carrying the line in the direction required. A length of flexible wire connects the line to the rocket. LARGEST FELT-WEAVING LOOM EVER CONSTRUCTED A felt loom, said to be the largest of its kind ever constructed, has recently been completed at Worcester, Mass. The loom is for weaving continuous tubular paper- makers’ felts, up to a width of 40 ft. The finished machine weighs 18 tons, and will require two freight cars for its shipment. Two Steel Boxes Hold the Complete Outfit. Right, Inserting the Self-Propelling Rocket with Line Attached of the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries This: vessel had lain in San Fran cisco Bay for some time when it was decided to condition it for sea duty, but it was found necessary first to put th: ship in drydock to clean the hull of the mus sels. On the 30-mile trip to Below: the Mare Is- land Navy Yard, the vessel must have passed through a school of an- chovies, for several of these fish were found entangled on its bottom, and three were held firmly by the head in the shells of the mussels. This curious phenomenon must have been purely accidental, as neither the fish nor the mussels were capable of eating the other.

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ye j = . * Sa eg 7 ‘ ~ ™ A SA AY DA LEE PMs | \ ees > ~ a xs Vidadda || nc te site ai Aas EN ; mee ree Because of the Danger from Heavy Surf, the Schooner Anchors About a Mile Off Shore, Where the Lumber is Made Up into Rafts. These are Cast Overboard, to be Towed Ashore by a Small Launch Which can Venture Close to the Surf without Fear of being Damaged HOW KAUAI IN THE MID-PACIFIC GETS ITS LUMBER HE demand for lumber for , SS a al building and other purposes in the Hawaiian Islands is enor- mous, and owing to the fact that neither hard nor soft woods can be produced in commercial quan- tities, the islands have to depend entirely upon importations. Be- cause of the lack of harbors on the island of Kauai, interesting and somewhat primitive means of landing a cargo have to be resorted to. The lumber schooner anchors about a mile from shore, beyond The Rafts are Assembled at the Side of the Schooner Until the Launch Is Ready to Start for the Shore the breakers, and the lumber is made into rafts and jettisoned into the shark-infested ocean. The rafts are secured by the natives and lashed to- gether. They are then “harnessed” over the bows of a motor launc!l and the craft procee: shoreward with its load ot about 10,000 board any =~ - feet. On approaching the “sie: ; _ ee shore, the rafts are cast The Rafts are Arranged on Both Sides of the Launch Ready for Towing, ; off, and the launch gor and a Harness is Passed over the Bow of the Launch in Such a Way 13] ; : That the Rafts can be Cast Off by Reversing the Launch astern, while Hay

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730 POPULAR MECHANICS After the Rafts are Cast Off by the Launch, Expert Swimmers Come Out from the Shore and Secure Them to Buoys Until They can be Warped Ashore and the Lumber Hauled Up on the Sandy Beach, Where It is Soon Dried by the Tropical Sunshine who are notoriously good swimmers, mersion, and it is creditably reported that ‘wim from the shore, secure them to this is the only place in the world where huoys, and warp them to the sandy beach. such means of landing a cargo have to be (he lumber does not suffer from its im- resorted to. MILKING-MACHINE WASHER. IS which does this work rapidly and effi- RAPID AND SANITARY ciently has been produced by an eastern manufacturer. The machine consists of Milking machines must be washed after four cleaning brushes, two for milk tubes every period of use, to prevent their be- and two for teat cups, the whole being coming sour and insanitary, and a washer’ attached to pulleys belted to an electric motor or other source of power. These brushes revolve at a high rate of speed, two revolutions to the right and then two to the left, and are con- stantly immersed in a container filled with an antiseptic, or sterilizing, solution. It is said that the reversing action of this machine insures a longer life to the brushes than is the case with the usual rotating washers, and that the apparatus is so simple a child can operate it effectively. @Several trial gas in- stallations for cooking in Canal Zone quarters are to be made by the Pana- ma Gas Company. Mains Upper Left: Placing Long Rubber Tube of Milking Machine on Special have been laid from Brush. Upper Right: Washing Teat Cups. Lower Left: Cleaning Short Panama and the laving Rubber Tubes. Lower Right: Four Brushes of Washer, Illustrating the ree ie a Different Sizes and Shapes Required to Properly Clean the Milker of pipes 1s now going on

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POPULAR MECHANICS 131 Above: A Two-Cylinder Gasoline Engine Furnishes the Power for Driving the Tractor Belts Which are Provided with Wooden Cleats. Right: Passengers and Operator Ride on the Toboggan and the Power * Unit Propels It by Pushing from the Rear TRAVEL SNOW-COVERED ROADS WITH MOTOR TOBOGGAN A motor toboggan has been invented by a Maine man which is expected to solve most of the transportation prob- lems in localities subject to heavy snow- falls during the winter. The passengers and operator ride on the toboggan, at the rear of which the power plant is fastened by a flexible connection. Power is supplied by a 15-hp. engine which drives the tractor tread, consisting of a rubber belt equipped with metal or wooden lugs. Trials have shown that a speed of 30 miles per hour can be attained. Fuel consumption is at the rate of 45 miles to the gallon of gasoline. The weight of the toboggan, in passing over loose snow, packs it so the treads have a firm grip. NEW YORK APARTMENT HOTEL WILL HOUSE A CHURCH That the bright lights are not the at- traction for all visitors to New York is shown by-a recent announcement that an apartment hotel is to be built, in which part of the three first floors will be occu- pied by achurch. The church-hotel will be 17 stories high, with the usual hotel lobby on the first floor. The church will have a separate entrance on the first floor and will occupy most of the space up to the level of the fourth floor. The remaining floors will be arranged for hotel accom- modations, divided into suites of not more than four rooms and bath, with single rooms for transients. NEW TOOTHBRUSH CLEANS ALL SURFACES OF THE TEETH In one form or another there have been toothbrushes almost as long as there have been teeth, but hitherto in all forms it has always been necessary to replace them from time to time. Now there is a new form of toothbrush that is almost everlasting, only a small part of it having to be renewed. This renewable part is a small attachment that holds the bristles of the brush in a semicircular ivory frame that is rotatively connected to one end of a metal handle, so that it will move into any position that best suits the form of the teeth. The points of the bristles are semicircular like the frame, and straddle the teeth, cleaning the top and both sides. Toothbrush with an Everlasting Metal Handle, and Renewable Semicircular Brush Attachment

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oy POPULAR AN IMPROVED FORM OF SCALE WEIGHS RUBBER TIRES [In the manufacture of rubber tires, just sufficient rubber should be supplied to fill the mold, and any excess used results in “ — P E Oy age A oie ‘ The Short Metal Arm Replaces the Usual Platform and is Used for Weighing Rubber Tires on Their Metal Cores waste. By weighing the tires on their metal cores before they go to the molds, the exact amount of rubber required can be determined. To do this accurately a scale has been devised which has a short arm projecting from one side, on which the tire is hung and weighed just before going to the mold. The scale is designed to maintain its accuracy under rough usage, and the usual knife-edges are re- placed by metallic spring plates. MECHANICS AUTOMATIC AND SHUTTLELESS LOOM MADE IN ENGLAND A new automatic which its English inventor claims will! revolutionize the cotton-manufacturing industry, is reported now ready to be placed on the market. It is said that this loom weaves automatically cloth bette: in appearance by 25 per cent, and with about double the production of ex isting looms. Two different kinds of yarn, or two different counts, can be put in for effects, and with the attachment ot a simple color mechanism, 6 to 10 colors can be put in by the same plain loom. It is also claimed that waste is reduced to practically nothing. shuttleless loom, COMBINED THRESHER-BALER SAVES TIME AND MONEY Threshing peas and baling the pea hay in one operation is possible with a ma- chine which has lately been introduced by a Missouri farmer. The implement is placed beside a stack of the hay in the usual manner, the peas are threshed and come out of a spout into waiting sacks, while the hay is carried through the wind stacker and dropped on the baler. The whole is driven by a tractor of 10-18 hp., a belt from an extra pulley on the wind- stacker shaft furnishing the power to operate the baler. With all parts of the outfit placed in a positicn to reduce the labor of handling to a minimum, it is said that a considerable saving of time and money can be effected, thus making the machine a valuable aid on the farm. Combined Thresher-Baler, Showing the Manner of Placing the Units to Reduce Labor: At the Extreme Right is Seen the Tractor Belted to the Thresher, While at the Left is Shown the Baler Also Belted to the Thresher

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“WINDWARD PT.

/

OFFiCiaL WAVY PHOTO Left: The Hydrographic Map is Made by Surveying the Land and Making Soundings of the Water Near By. The A f Water of Different Depths are Shown b of ‘an ‘tome Locality in Which the Areas of Shallow Water A The Photograph is Used to Check the Survey CHECK HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY BY AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS It has recently: been demonstrated that aerial photographs can be used as a sim- ple and satisfactory check on _ hydro- graphic maps. The map shows the land and the depth cf the water around the land, the areas of different depths being represented by different shadings. <A photograph of the same locality, taken from an elevation of 5,000 ft., will pro- vide a ready means of checking the data on the map, as the areas covered by shal- low water will appear of lighter shade than the deeper water. If radical differ- ences are noted, such as a change of a deep channel, or new shoals appearing, a new survey becomes necessary. FISH-MARKET SURVEYS MADE BY BUREAU OF FISHERIES Surveys of the larger cities of the United States to ascertain their fish dis- tribution and consumption are being made by the Bureau of Fisheries, which issues bulletins on the subject that are of great value to the commercial-fishing in- dustry. A survey has already been made of the Chicago market, and a more recent one of the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. There the fish supply comes Different Shadings.

Right: The Airplane Photere™ ear of Lighter Shade than the Deep ater. ap and to Discover Changes mainly from the Canadian lakes to the north, and from the North Pacific coast. A total of 86-carloads of fish, besides 21 of oysters, weighing 2,841,212 lb., was re- ceived in the Twin Cities during the year ended Sept. 30, 1921. These fishery products were handled by 360 firms, of which 11 are in the wholesale business, 5 in the wholesale and retail business, 32 in the retail business handling fish every day, and 312 handling it part of the week. AUTOMOBILE ASH RECEPTACLE CONVENIENT FOR SMOKERS Conveniently mounted on an automobile for seat, or on any side wall, or other flat surface for those riding in the rear seats, is a new device that acts as an ash receptacle and a cigar and cigarette case holder. The ash container has a lid that flies open at the touch of a button, and when open has a winged apron that pre- vents ashes from blowing into the car. the dash of smokers in the front

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Panoramic View of Shingle Mill: In the Background, About at the Center of the Left-Hand Picture, Is the Log Slip to the Splitting Saws. Near the Knee Bolters at the End of These Conveyors, in the Immediate and Passes the Prepared Log Sections to the 14 Shingle Machines MILL CUTS 500,000 SHINGLES DAILY By HENRY C. COPELAND T is a far cry from the days when the pioneer went forth with his frow and mallet to split cedar shakes with which to cover his roof, to the shingle mill re- cently put in operation at Vancouver, B. C., which cuts 500,000 every ten hours. The cedar logs, ranging all the way from 1% to 6 ft. in diameter, are floated to the foot of the log slip. There one end of a log is caught by the dogs on an im- mense endless chain and the log is drawn up the slip, other dogs engaging it as it goes up. If the log is not in the right position as it comes to the end of the slip, there is an overhead canting device which lowers a heavy wire cable and Ss. +. hook, by means of which the log is turned to place. Just to the right of the end of the log is a swing, circular cut-off saw 7 ft. 2 in. in diameter. The saw is automatically set to cut 16, 18, or 24-in. lengths from the log; a thrust on a lever, and the saw is forced against the log. If the log is too large for the saw to cut off entirely, another lever is pulled, and an ax comes down and splits off the part sawed, whereupon the canter rolls the log for another cut. This operation is continued until the first length is cut completely free from the log, when the latter is moved ahead for an- other cut. At the Right Is the End of the Log Chute by the Side of the 86-Inch Cut-Off Saw. To the Left of That Are the Steam Ax, the Control Levers, the Log Slip, and the Chain Conveyors, with the First Splitting Saw at the Extreme Left

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a * len ~ 2 = - : : and the 86-Inch Cut-Off Saw. To the Left of This Are the Chain Conveyors in the Floor That Carry the Cut-Off Logs ro Foreground, Is Another Conveyor at Right Angles, That Extends the Whole Length of the Mill, to the Right of It. At the Extreme Right Is the Filing Mill The blocks fall onto a chain conveyor in the floor, and a workman with a picka- roon centers it so that the first splitting saw halves it. As the block arrives at the end of this conveyor, another man switches it onto another conveyor run- ning at right angles to the first. If the blocks are so large that they need splitting again, they are centered on this conveyor and again split. They next arrive at the knee bolters, where they are trimmed of all bark and rotten spots ready for the shingle sawyers. The knee bolters work in a pit, so that the blocks do not have to be,lifted. From the bolt- ers they are placed on the conveyor and passed along to the 14 shingle machines. The conveyors from the cut-off saw to the splitters and then to the knee bolters give more efficiency with three men than was obtainable with 10 under the old system. The prepared shingle blocks are placed in the grip of the shingle ma- chines and are automat- ically sawed into shin- gles. The operator takes the shingles as they fall and “joints” the edges on a small saw in . front of him. They are then tossed down the chute to the packer, or “weaver.” means of these conveyors and other live conveyors, is carried to the trucks read) for the dry kilns. The trucks go into one side of the kilns and out at the other, then to the repacker and into the car. FIND INDICATIONS OF POTASH WHEN DRILLING FOR OIL While drilling for oil recently in Texas, the drill passed through strata which showed a considerable amount of potash. Unfortunately the samples taken did not give complete information as to the thick ness of the deposit. Further investiga- tions are now in progress which may de velop new potash areas at a considerable distance from all known Texas deposits. —~ _- - -_) A As each bundle is packed, it is placed on a Row of 14 Shingle Machines, Showing the Chutes Down Which the Fin- gravity conveyor, and by ished Shingles Slide: The Saw at the Right of the Machine Cuts the Shingles. Each Machine is Driven by Two Motors

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ORDINARY RECEIVERS USED WITH NEW AMPLIFIER Any standard head set may be attached to branches of a new radio amplifier, and held in position by two knurled screws, which are rubber-covered to prevent damage to the receivers. As a rule, persons who buy ampli- filers generally have a head set which is there after not needed, but with this new loud speaker, the old instruments can be utilized. The sound from the two receivers of matched tone is usually greater and less distorted than when but one is used. FREIGHT AND PASSENGER-CAR HIGH-POWER STAFF BRAKE For both steam and electric roads, a new type of hand-brake drum is an improvement over the old simple staff hand brake. In place of the plain winding staff isa grooved winding drum. The radius of the drum is large at the upper end, to provide for quick take-up of the brake chain, and tapers down to the lower end. The drum has a winding power about 214 times that of the plain staff. @ Parisians are discussing the erection of a me- the dogs employed in the French army, which were killed in service in the late war, be- ing the first nation so to honor these faithful animals. morial in honor of © POPULAR MECHANICS COURT HOLDS THAT JAPANESE BORN HERE MAY OWN LAND A decision recently handed down by a California court holds that Japanese born in this country are entitled to own land here. This is the first decision of this kind in California and is based on the Constitution of the United States, which says that all persons born here are cit- izens. In the case cited, the Japanese father advanced money to his children, who were born here, for the purchase of land. It is hard to say what will be the effect of this decision in California, with its 100,000 Japanese population. RATS CAUGHT AND DROWNED IN NEW-STYLE TRAP Catching and drowning rats at the same time is accomplished with a-trap of late introduction, The trap is built in the shape of a perpen- dicular “L,” and has a small screened runway through and up which the rodent must crawl to get near the. bait. When the rat ar- rives at the top of strives to reach the the tempting cheese, bacon, or other bait, the animal is precipitated into a galvanized- iron tank filled with water, and drowned. runway and SOFT-FACE FLOGGING HAMMER HAS MOLD FOR REFACING A soft-face flogging hammer that has a mold in connection with it, so that it can be readily refaced, is now on the market. On its hickory handle the hammer has an iron head, strengthened to stand hard usage, on each end of which is molded a special antimony-lead face, the whole be- ing well balanced and of ample weight. The iron mold that goes with the hammer is so shaped that it will slip over either of the soft ends, and form a mold for pouring molten lead so as to form a new face. It is stated that this can be done in three minutes.

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MUNICIPAL RIVER TERMINALS ERECTED AT NASHVILLE ONSTRUCTION work on the Nashville, Tenn., river terminals, which has been in progress at the municipal wharf since last June, is now nearing completion. Three of the four floors are practically finished, and small quantities of freight have already been stored on them. The terminals are being erected by the city at a cost of nearly $240,000, and will be of great value to the native shippers and receivers, as well as to the railroads and steamboat companies. Farm products will be the bulk of shipments down the Cumberland River from a hitherto undeveloped part of this state and Kentucky, and transferred through the terminals to the railroads for dispatch to their destinations, or to buyers for local use. Above is seen the municipal terminal during construction, while below is a view of the river terminal in 1862, when steam- boats were landing war supplies. 737

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738 POPULAR MECHANICS FIRST AUTO SHOW IN CHINA HOUSED IN BAMBOO SHED Very characteristically, the first auto show in China was housed in a huge , =a? 8 c aa T Dk or See: * “ e} ' paer::., iba / A ATT : ; ue a GNF Top: The Huge Shed during Process of Construction, Showin Bamboo Arches Supported by Slender Uprights of the Same Below: Several of the Exhibition Booths at the Auto Show shed built entirely of bamboo. Arched bamboo ribs with a very large span were supported at several points by slender bamboo posts. In that respect it was very Chinese, but when completed, with its well-furnished booths filled with American and European cars of the latest models, equipped with conspicuous signs in English, and illuminated with a large number of electric lights, it had very much the appearance of an automobile exposition such as one is accustomed to see in Europe or America. @ Tracks of prehistoric animals have been found recently on rocks in Kentucky, between the Kentucky and Cumberland rivers, @ vy X 7 so: tm. foe Pe o NA KZ Leg 4 ae, ape PL! ree tea eee TO WIRE APARTMENT HOUSES FOR RADIOTELEPHONE As an indication of the growing popu- larity of the radiotelephone, a real-estate firm of New York an- nounces that it will wire several apartment houses for this service. The builders say that it will be better for them to erect one aerial for the use of all tenants than to have the tenants erect individual aerials. A building contractor of Philadelphia also an- nounces that buildings being erected by him are to be wired for radiotel ephone service as part of the regular equipment. EMPLOY OLD RAGS IN NEW PREPARED ROOFING That a waste material may become one of the necessary ingredients of a great industry is shown in the manufacture of prepared roofings, as old rags form the basis of the finished roll or shin- v , Nas 4 a PONY EN gle. The rags are col- lected by dealers and shipped to the factory, where they are sorted and reduced to a pulp which is made into a fabric or felt. Hot asphalt is then the Long forced through all the aterial. pores of the fabric, and a coating of asphalt is applied on both sides. The wearing sur- face is then coated with crushed slate, or other stone, which is pressed firmly into thé asphalt coating. OILED WRAPPERS FOR APPLES STOP FORMATION OF SCALD Scald, which is a transportation and storage disease of apples, is caused by gases given off by the apples themselves, but can be prevented by the use of oiled- paper wrappers. Tests have shown that the wrappers should carry 15 to 20 per cent of oil in order to be effective in pre- venting the development of scald. These oiled wrappers are not to be confused with wax-paper wrappers.

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POPULAR MECHANICS 739 INSTRUMENT DRAWS ON CHART COURSE OF SHIP’S VOYAGE For many years there have been in use odometers, or instruments for measuring the distance traveled by vehicles, either side of the carriage. The forward motion of the carriage is at a speed in proportion to the speed of the vessel. The carriage is connected to two rails which extend across the chart to other and now there has been invented in England an odograph, or in- strument for drawing to scale on a chart the course traveled by a ship. The instrument consists of a carriage on casters which has a magnetized propelling wheel supported centrally in a revolving frame carrying an index or pointer in the plane of the wheel corre- sponding to the ship’s head. This is first set by hand on the chart to agree with the true course ob- tained by the ship’s compass. After that it always follows any change in direction of the ship’s head, and records it on the chart by means of a pencil in a carrier attached to Instrument That Automaticall Traversed by a Ship at Sea: So That the Pencil Draws the Vessel’s Course Exactly to Scale Draws on a Chart the Course verything is Timed and Adjusted rails at right angles to them, one on either side of the table that supports the chart. AUTOMOBILE TOWING TONGUE STEERS AUTOMATICALLY Disabled automobiles, limited in num- ber only by the engine power of the “wrecking car,” may be towed by one driver if a recently invented towing tongue is employed. With these tongues, each machine is controlled by the pre- ceding car, and each will follow the same track on curves of any Automobile Towing Tongue Which Automatically Steers as Many Disabled achines as the Wrecking Car can Pull Back to the Garage reasonable degree. As the arrangement consists of jointed flat bar = steel, there is no unnecessary jerking when starting or stopping, and no result- ant broken fenders, head- lights, or other damage from rear-end collisions. ADVERTISING STUNT TESTS FLOOR COVERING Not content with sub- ag jecting his floor covering to foot traffic by placing a strip of it on the side- walk, an_ enterprising merchant placed strips of the same covering in the street, where it was ex- posed to heavy automo- bile and wagon traffic. Careful count was kept of the number of ve- hicles passing over the strips. This, in one case, amounted to 17,000, but the strip showed little evidence of wear. In Order to Show Its Wearin Placed in the Path of Tra Qualities, Six Pieces of Floor Covering were c at the Intersection of Two Busy Streets

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_ MAKING AN ISLAND ROM CITY REFUSE By Wm. B. Goodwin a —— Scows, Loaded with New York City Refuse, mogg, S g + up the East River to Riker’s Island, Where the Refuse is Dumped in Very Large Quantities: PROBABLY the most complex and un- usual formation which is used for raising crops and for other purposes, is situ- ated in the East River, New York, and known as Riker’s Island, or Municipal Farm. In looking about for a place to dispose of the vast accumulation of waste materials dis- carded by the thou- sands of households, the > the River at the Munic- street-cleaning depart- ipal Farm Tower Which is Occupied by an Officer Who Reports Irregularities, and Ar- rests Anyone Attempting to Bring Narcotics to the Occupants of the Farm Looking East from ment of New York City decided that if refuse Part of Riker’s Island, Showing High Hills Formed b Dumping New York City Refuse There, and Clouds of Smoke from ver-Present Fires 740 is Island is being Made Ten Times Its Original Size were placed on this island in sufficient quantities, it would provide a place on which to erect buildings and for raising crops. In .1895, the first household refuse was deposited there. Since that time more than 22,500,000 cu. yd. have been added to that plot of ground,-which origi- nally consisted of only 60 acres and will eventually be extended to some 600 acres. The material dumped consists of ashes, glass bottles, tin cans, dishes of various sorts, earthenware, beds, mattresses, baby car- riages, iron wire, waste paper, wooden boxes — in fact, all household refuse except garbage, which is taken elsewhere. This refuse is collected from the streets in horse- drawn carts and auto trucks, taken to various docks, dumped directly onto scows, which are towed up the East River to the Municipal Farm and unloaded at two points on the island. It is taken from the scows with steam-operated cranes with dump buck- ets and placed upon small cars which are easily un- loaded by tipping side- ways, allowing the con-

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POPULAR MECHANICS 741 ~ tents to slide off quickly. — ars Thus hand labor is prac- tically eliminated. The distribution of the refuse over the island is done by contractors under the supervision of the street- cleaning department. From this mass of mate- rial, things of value, such as money and jewelry, are sometimes picked up by workmen. Thirty per cent of the city’s refuse is disposed of here, the remainder going to other places. The top surface of the island is covered ——— with ashes and makes a =e" — 2 eh Landing Place and Equipment: Watchman at Right of Derrick Reports Presence of Anyone At- tempting to Land on Island from y , Boats The smoke is carried long distances by the wind, accompanied with a disagreeable odor. No fires are set, but sponta- neous combustion causes the flames to burst forth along the embankments where the filling-in work is done. The Municipal Farm, or older part of the is- land, is under the super- vision of the city’s depart- Loaded Cars Leaving Dock: About 50 Such Cars Are in Con- stant Use for Hauling the Ref- use from the’ Landing Dock to Various Parts of the Island soil which, in a fairly wet season, produces various vegetables, corn, and other crops. Hogs are also raised on the island, and plans are under way for increasing their num- ber from year to year. One hundred acres are now under cultivation. In places, the mass of ref- use is 60 ft. high and forms an uneven surface, elevations and valleys having been purposely created. Soon after the first load of refuse was placed there, smoke and flames began to appear and 4 d Embankment of Refuse Used in Building Up Riker’s Island: Space to the and have not subsided. Left will be Filled to the Level of the Hills Shown on Opposite Page

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742 ment of correction. A number of build- ings, dormitories, hospital, jail, and a church have been erected, and at present house 500 drug addicts. These unfor- In Foreground, Part of One Embankment; in Back- ground Another: Space between Them will be Filled tunates come from the city of New York. After recovery, they are kept working on the farm until the end of their period of commitment. WATER GOLF IS LATEST FAD OF PLEASURE SEEKERS Water golf, the latest fad of pleasure seekers, is played entirely on the water with the aid of a canoe and a floating tee. The tee, which is tied to the canoe, is placed in the water, the ball upon it, POPULAR MECHANICS and then driven over the “fairway” in the direction (if one is fortunate) of the next “hole.” The holes consist of mark- ers that are anchored at specified dis- tances apart. After the drive, the caddy paddles to the point where the ball has stopped, the player puts it on the tee again and makes another drive, and thus the game continues. Retaining one’s bal- ance in the canoe while driving is an extremely difficult feat, the frequent cap- sizing of these furnishing an amusing fea- ture of the sport. COMMUNICATION WITH LINER FROM TELEPHONE BOOTH Long-distance wireless telephone equip- ment recently installed on the U. S. Ship- ping Board liner “America,” furnished the means whereby newspapermen were en- abled to talk from common telephone booths, to persons on the ship. During the conversation, while the vessel was 370 miles from land, the reporters’ voices were carried over the usual wires to a trans- mitting station and thence by wireless The incoming messages were wirelessed to a receiving station on shore, and re- layed to the New York telephone ex- change by ordinary methods. The feat served as a demonstration of long-distance equipment, which, it is predicted, will soon be in general use on ocean liners. @An attempt is being made to raise rein- deer in the United States on a commercial scale, and a herd of 50 females and 10 males has just arrived from Norway on the way to northern Michigan, as a nu- cleus for the herd. For many years these animals have been raised in Alaska, but this is the first attempt to acclimate them in any of the states. Left: Playing Water Golf. The Ball is Shown on the Floating Tee. with the Caddy Anxiously Awaiting Results, Which Not ea ag a Means bein of the Canoe. Right: Illustrating How the Floating The Player Is nog ey = a Drive, ip ut ee is Tied to the Canoe

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POPULAR MECHANICS 743 BEAUTIFUL FRATERNAL BUILDING FOR FORT WAYNE B* combining resources, the fraternal orders of Fort Wayne, Ind., are to erect what will be one of the most costly Masonic homes in America. The building will occupy half of a city block, and will be in fact two buildings joined by a large auditorium for the common use of all Masonic orders housed in the building. The auditorium will have a seating capacity of 4,100 persons, making it one of the largest convention halls in the state. AUTOMATIC FOUNTAIN SERVES SELF-MIXED DRINKS Similar in character to the au- tomatic cafeteria where food is dispensed in return for a coin dropped in a slot, is a new auto- matic sanitary fountain that dis- penses drinks in the same way. But it also does a great deal more than that, for it mixes its own drinks, measures them, cools them, and delivers a paper cup with each drink by means of a cup-dispensing system that is said to be entirely novel in design. The fountain has its own elec- trically operated refrigerating ap- paratus, and also a filter which purifies the water before it is used in mixing the drinks. It serves three customers at a time, measures and mixes each drink in 12 seconds, and has a capacity of 500 drinks per hour by actual test. All the sirup tanks are porcelain-lined, and the entire dispensing mechanism is silver- plated. @ That the ancient Inca Indians had a knowledge of brass is shown by the analysis of an ax head composed of a mixture of copper and zinc. Automatic, Sanitary, Nickel-in-the-Slot Fountain That Mixes Cold Drinks and Serves Them to Three Customers at a Time: Its Own Refrigerating Apparatus can be Seen Below

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44 POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHER IN BOAT SNAPS DISTORTED REFLECTIONS Photographic studies of water images have been made in the past, usually with the aim of portraying the reflection as an inverted but faithful duplication of the object. The very opposite, however, was the end of experiments carried out re- cently by one photographer. In every case he attempted to catch the reflection at its instant of greatest distortion. This he OPYRIGH , steve Photograph Taken from a Boat When the Water was Disturbed by Ripples: If the Upper Half of the Picture were Covered, It would Be Difficult for a Person to Guess What It did by standing in the stern of a boat which he allowed to drift parallel with and close to the shore. Pointing his COPYRIGHT. t S. SLEVIN The Reflection of the Chimney in the Water Makes It Appear as though It were Falling in a ost Peculiar Manner MECHANICS camera at the diverging ripples of the wake he secured pictures of undulating docks, oscillating factory chimneys, and other irregularities often seen but seldom recorded tor their own sake. REMOVE OXYGEN FROM WATER TO PREVENT PIPE RUSTING In western Australia it is necessary to pump water great distances, and it was found that the formation of rust inside the pipe caused a serious loss in the pumping efficiency. It was suggested that the oxygen dissolved in the water might be the cause of the rapid formation of rust, and the experiment was tried of passing the water through a tower in which a vacuum was maintained. It was found that 90 per cent of the dissolved oxygen could be removed in this man- ner, and the formation of rust in the pipe was practically stopped, as the remaining oxygen was absorbed in the first 30 miles of pipe. Tests of the water at the end of the pipe showed no oxygen. » Showed EQUIP NEW MAIL TERMINAL TO HANDLE BIG TONNAGE In the construction of the railway-mail terminal at Chicago, much attention has been given the mechanical equipment which will be necessary to transfer and handle the large tonnage of mail matte which will pass through it daily. The ter minal will be capable of handling 3,000 tons of mail each 24 hours, and one part of its equipment, will have 15 freight elevators. The belt-conveyor equipment is one of the features of the installation, as there will be 65 of these, using a total of seven miles of belting of different widths from 30 to 48 in. They will play an important part in the sorting and transfer of mail sacks and packages. The transfer conveyors on the upper floors will be placed near the ceiling and deliver the mail to spiral chutes leading to the delivery belts on the first floor. This method of placing the belts takes advan- tage of all the space available and leaves the floor clear for the use of trucks. as

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ELECTRIC TORCH SUCCESSFUL IN UNDERWATER CUTTING When a 36-in. cast-iron water-supply pipe was broken recently in New York harbor, a difficult task was presented in the removal of the broken piece. It was decided to try to cut the pipe POPULAR MECHANICS NEW SIX-WHEEL-DRIVE TRUCK PULLS HIGHWAY TRAIN One of the latest developments in high- way freight transportation is the six- wheel-drive auto truck capable of carry- ing a 10-ton load and pulling two five-ton p —-— — Right: The Highway Train is Coupled Together Much like a Railroad Train, and Air for the Trailer Brakes is Sup- plied from the Truck through —_ and Flexible Connections. Center: The Highway Train on a Road Test; the Trailers are So Designed That Their Wheels Follow in the Track of the Truck. Below: The Truck Which Furnishes the Power Drives on All Six Wheels with an electric torch specially designed tor underwater cutting. Submarine cutting of steel plates has been done before, but this was the first time that this system was used in cutting cast iron. At the point where the break occurred, the water was 50 ft. deep. Divers were sent down, and the electric torch proved effective, the pipe being cut away in much shorter time than would have been possible with any other known method. trailers. The truck drives on all six wheels and steers with the two front and two rear wheels. Each wheel of the truck and trailers is equipped with a special hydraulic-pneumatic brake, the brakes on the trailers being arranged to set auto- matically should the trailer break loose from the train. The trailers are designed so that their wheels will follow in the track of the truck, and are equipped with special antiwabbling devices.

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746 POPULAR DANGER SIGN AT BAD CORNER SIMULATES REAL AUTO Wishing to call the attention of motor- ists to the curbing at a dangerous street corner, the Columbus, Ohio, Automobile What Looks like an Automobile Which has Run Up on the Curb Is in Reality a Warning Sign Erected as a Danger Signal for Motorists Turning the Corner Club erected a warning sign which was formed like the rear of an automobile. A reflecting danger signal was placed in the center of the “spare wheel,” which made the sign efficient at night and much more noticeable than the ordinary warn- ing sign. REFUSE CONVEYED BY SUCTION IN 700-FOOT PIPE LINE When recently a lumber company in Ohio, built an addition to its plant, sit- uated at a distance of 700 ft., there arose the problem of how to handle the saw- MECHANICS dust and retuse of both plants efficiently as a unit. The difficulty was overcome by connecting the two plants with a 15-in. pipe line. In connection with this is an air pump which conveys by suction the sawdust and refuse from each plant along the pipe line to a spout that is about 25 ft. above the roof of one of the plants At this point there is erected on the roof a tank into which, in this way, the refuse is discharged. The tank has a hoppe: bottom with a discharge pipe leading from it to a point just above a side track for box cars. By this means it is loaded into the cars for shipment. The lumber company thus avoided a threatened in- crease in its insurance rate of from 20 to 25 per cent, and at the same time does the work more efficiently. NEW ELECTRIC TEAKETTLE HAS TWO COMPARTMENTS An electric teakettle has lately been dk vised which is divided into two compart- ments. In one compartment an electric ele ment heats the water until it boils; then, by pressing a but ton at the cen- ter of the top, a valve is opened and the steam pressure is made to force the boiling water into the compartment where the tea ball is hung. Two Views of a Pipe Line Connecting Two Branches of a Lum- ber Plant, 700 Feet Apart, That Conveys by Suction the Saw- dust and Refuse from Each Branch to the Tank above the Roof of One of Them

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Sz ~, ~ * vars} The Wrecked Concrete Tanker “Selma” Tied Up at a -Galveston Wharf, after having beeri Raised by Means of Compressed Air: The Bracing of the Forward Deck Was to Strengthen It So as to Resist the Air Pres- sure, The Vessel Sank upon the Mud beside the Wharf, and Remained There Nearly a Year CONCRETE SHIP BURIED TO SAVE EXPENSE I1E use of reinforced concrete as ma- terial for building ships was dealt i severe blow recently when the Shipping Board towed the concrete tanker “Selma” from the wharves at Galveston, and lit- erally buried it at considerable expense, to get rid of it and stop wharfage charges. The vessel, which is reported to have cost nearly $2,000,000, ran into the rock jetties at Tampico, Mexico, about a year ago, and ripped a big hole in the bottom of the hull. The tanker was raised with compressed air and towed to Galveston. There, shipbuilders decided that it would not be practicable to repair the damage. The rods which reinforced the concrete were projecting through the hull, and it would have been difficult to get the craft in position upon the drydock for repair. So the “Selma” was allowed to sink upon the mud at a wharf where it lay for nearly a year, and wharfage charges of about $1,500 a month piled up. The task of getting rid of a steamship, especially one with a big hole in its hull and ready to sink in the nearest deep water, seems simple at first sight. How- ever, the Shipping Board had considerable difficulty in disposing of the “Selma.” It was first offered for sale, and nobody wanted it. Then it was proposed that it be towed out and beached near the Gal- veston jetties, for use as a fishing pier. The Federal engineering department ob- jected on the ground that the hulk might set in motion currents which would un- dermine the jetties. The proposal of taking the ship to sea, and allowing it to sink, was abandoned because it was feared that it would sink before it could be towed far enough not to become a men- ace to navigation. The ship drew about 24 ft. of water when lifted as high as it was possible, and for that reason the only spots along that section of the coast that it could reach were considered to be navigable waters which must not be obstructed. The gulf is so shallow around Galveston that the vessel could not be brought within a mile of the beach. The problem was solved by dredging a channel from the deep water of the gov- ernment channel into Galveston and out into the sand flats at one side of it. This channel was cut 30 ft. deep for 400 ft.; the “Selma” was raised by compressed air, run into this channel, and allowed to set- tle to the bottom. Its decks and upper works are still above water, and are ex- pected to remain there for a long time. 3ut the currents will soon refill the chan nel, and the tanker will be lying in sand with only a few feet of water around it. If the vessel is ever desired for use again, it will be necessary to dig it out.

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%418 It has been suggested that the hulk be used for a shrimp-canning factory, but no definite steps along this line have been taken. All movable machinery was sal- vaged, but the major portion of the ma- chines on the “Selma” were bedded in the concrete of which it is constructed, and it will be necessary to break the ship up to take out these machines. POWER COMPANY’S CUSTOMERS READ METER IN CONTEST During a meter-reading contest con- ducted for the benefit of its customers, a Harrisburg, Pa., power company discov- Display Window of Power Company, Showing the Watt-Hour Meter Placed in a Framed and Velvet-Lined Box ered an amazing lack of understanding relative to the correct reading of the in- strument. The meter was placed in a display window of the concern, and cards furnished to those desiring to enter daily records of their conception of the amounts shown on the dials. These cards, to- gether with similar ones marked by regu- lar meter readers employed by the firm, were handed in to clerks who checked and filed them. At the conclusion of the 12-day period, when the several prizes for the best average cards were to be dis- tributed, it was found that but one of the many participants ,possessed a_ perfect score. USE OF SECONDARY CONDENSER IMPROVES AUTO IGNITION New principles of condenser construc- tion in connection with a_ high-tension magneto-ignition system for auto engines have been discovered by an experienced engine builder of Detroit. This new con- POPULAR MECHANICS denser, made of glass, is absolutely sealed from brush-discharge loss, and is prac- tically indestructible, for it takes 60,000 volts to puncture it. Another departure from the common practice in condenser construction is the use of very thin steel! plates in connection with the glass-tube dielectric. After the steel plates are elec trically connected, the glass tube is incased in a mahogany box, and the con- denser is sealed by pouring over it a cement that has been made specially for this work. It is poured in at a tempera ture of 250°F., which removes all traces of moisture in the condenser, and elimi- nates brush-discharge losses. It is used as a high-tension secondary condenser in the high-tension circuit of the ignition system. SAFETY DRILL AND TAP CHUCK SAVES TOOLS FROM DAMAGE A friction-drive positive-safety drill and tap chuck, recently patented, has a soft-steel pin which drives the collet, in which the drill or tool is held, and shears off when the cutting tool is overloaded. The collet slips into the chuck when the sleeve is raised, and is held rigid when the sleeve is lowered. In the small end of the collet is an ejector. A light blow on this releases the drill or tool. A hollow screw in the collet prevents the tool from being pulled out or pushed in, and end play of the collet is impossible. As a re- sult of this construction it is impossible to break or burn drills or other tools held Friction-Drive Positive-Safety Drill and Tap Chuck Are Below. Above, the Collet is Removed, Show- ing the Soft-Steel Safety Pin That Drives It in the collet. The tools can be made ot! carbon steel, and the cost of high-speed steel is, therefore, avoided. @ Recent radiotelephone broadcasting by the New York Western Electric Station. using a limited wave length, was heard by a vessel 1,000 miles west of San Fran- cisco.

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POPULAR MECHANICS 749 cCorvercer. w en AUTOMOBILE FITTED WITH TRACTOR TREAD FOR TRAVEL OVER SNOW RIALS of devices to fit automobiles for travel over snow-covered roads were recently held in France. One of the competitors fitted a tractor tread to his car, consisting of two wheels over which a rubber belt traveled. Four small intermediate wheels helped support the weight of the car and give the belt traction on the snow. WAR DEPARTMENT SUPPLIES The blankets are washed and disinfected BEDS TO FOREST SERVICE at frequent intervals. One bed is appor- tioned to two men in the summer, while One of the valuable pieces of work be- in cold weather each ranger is supplied ng done by the salvage office of the War with a separate unit, and they are car- Department is providing a supply of beds ried from one locality to another on mules. for the warmth and com- fort of forest rangers nd volunteers during rests in fighting forest res, These emergencies require the services of every available man in the region for a_ task vhich is extremely tax- ing. It is essential that during the short periods of rest which are pos- ible, each should have an opportunity to sleep in warmth and comfort. sed rolls, containing three woolen army blank- ets and two shelter halves, are now supplied eo po ae ae to the fire fighters. The ere shelter halves form a reg- A Pile of Bed Rolls at the Denver, Colorado, Headquarters of the Forest 1 Service, Where 500 Units are — Put in Readiness for Distribution to ular army shelter tent. Camps in the National Forests of Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota

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750 POPULAR TINY FRENCH PLATE CAMERA IS BUILT LIKE A PISTOL A small camera, which might almost be called a watch-charm design, has been introduced by a French firm. In general This Extra-Small Plate Camera is Sighted and Snapped like a Pistol. The Diagram Shows the Method of Shifting Exposed Plates in Holder Magazine appearance it resembles a pistol, and it is pointed and snapped in a similar manner. It carries 48 plates in two com- partments, and has an indicator which tells the number exposed. When closed, the range finder folds over to form a pro- tection for the face of the camera, and the trigger snaps up to hold the finder se- curely. The pictures taken are about °4 by 1% inch. STAGGERED ROLLER BEARINGS FOR HEAVY-DUTY SERVICE Heavy-duty roller bearings are now being made which embody a valuable principle, for there are greatly re- duced inter- vals between the rollers, thus giving Above: Heavy- Duty Roller Bear- ing with Outer Race Removed to Show Staggered Rollers. Right: View with Some Rollers Removed to Show Space Rings MECHANICS a much more continuous radial bearing. This is accomplished by cutting the roll- ers in sections, spacing them in series longitudinally, and staggering these series with relation to each other. The rollers are mounted in a cage with suitable clearance, and means for retaining them in their staggered positions. Adjustable space rings are mounted on the inner race so as to take care of all end thrust, and also to prevent friction between the ends of the rollers. In general, the inner and outer races are similar to those of conventional bearings. BRICK PAVING SERVES WELL DURING LONG PERIOD The first use of building brick for street paving was in Charleston, W. Va., in 1871, and the pavement gave good serv ice for 38 years. Another brick pave- ment in the same city has been down for 27 years and is still in good condition. One of the first bricks laid in the older pavement has been preserved; it shows a wear of less than one inch during its 38 years of service. SIMPLE GAUGE TO MEASURE OVERSIZE IN CYLINDERS For measuring with precision oversizes in cylinders or pistons, a gauge, much simpler and more easily read than the Micro Gauge for Measuring Oversize in Cylinders, Shown with One Blade of a Thickness Gauge between the Pins: Insert Shows the Gauge in Use in a Cylinder ordinary micrometer, is now on the mar- ket. Its pronged arms carry pins, one fixed and the other adjustable, the com- bined length of which, when together, equals the nominal diameter of the cylin- der to be measured. Therefore, any opening between the two pins shows the oversize of the cylinder. This opening is measured with a thickness gauge, of which several are provided, each stamped with its thickness in thousandths of an inch.

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THE GREAT AMERICAN DOG-TEAM DERBY Start of the Great American Dog Derby, Held at Ashton, Idaho, February 22, as the First Big Event of the Yellowstone Golden-Anniversary Year: Governor Davis, of Idaho, Was the Official Starter. The Dog Team Shown in the Picture was Driven in the Race by the Only Woman Competitor, Miss Lydia Hutchison. She is Standing beside the Sled, and Evidently Matches Up with Any of Her Male Rivals—in Size, Strength, and Nerve, Not to Mention Clothes. On Her Back Are Two Numbers, One for Herself and the Other Representing Snaky Gaston,” the Famous Dog-Team Driver Who was Lost a Day before the Race Finish of the Dog Derby, with the Winner, Tud Kent, Shown Dashing across the Line: The Race was Run in a Blinding Blizzard, Which Fortunately Moder- ated before the Finish. Besides a Valuable Purse, the First Prize Consisted of the Silver Championship Cup ca) TOS COPYRIGHT, UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD

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752 POPULAR MECHANICS INHABITANTS OF BORNEO EAT FLESH OF CROCODILES Crocodile meat is considered a delicacy by the natives of Borneo, and when one baa PET A get ‘ + ~ ™ 4 a= (Sd) : ae > + BLUEBERRY EXPERIMENTS GIVE REMARKABLE RESULTS Unlike most plants, blueberries thrive only in acid soil and their propagation offers an opportunity for utiliz- ing land otherwise unfit for agri- culture or, at best, requiring expensive treatment. For this reason, the Department of Agri- culture has been conducting ex- periments, for the past 10 years, to develop a superior type of berry for cultivation. Most of the work has been done at Whites- bog, N. J., where the combination of sand and peat soil affords ideal experimental conditions. It has been highly successful and hybrids have been developed which are the size of Concord grapes, and in some cases even %4 to 7, in. in diameter, though COPYRIGHT, PRESS MLLUSTRATING SERVICE Slain Crocodile Surrounded by Group of Borneo Natives, Who Consider the Flesh of the Monster a Delicacy, and Permit the Liver for His Reward Executioner to Carve Out the of the reptiles is slain, there ensues a mad scramble for its flesh, and feasts for those who obtain portions of the careass. Che liver has a flavor which makes it espe- cially desirable to the queer people. It usually is allotted to the man who took the most important part in the slaying of the monster. SOCKET WRENCH ADJUSTABLE FOR VARIOUS-SIZED NUTS Adjustable for use on from we to 4-in. nuts, a newly invented socket wrench consists of a ’ ~ shank with a i i V-shaped jaw i Y at one end > " ° and at right angles to it. On the shank slides a simi- lar V-shaped jaw, with the “V” reversed, that can be held with a setscrew in any: adjusted position. Thus the two jaws are made to grasp hexagon nuts of any size, and the tool can be used as a socket wrench wherever there is nothing to in- terfere with the radial movement of the shank when turning the nut. the wild berries are only about the size of peas. They have also been selected for flavor, juiciness, and firmness. As yet the giant berries have not become available in suf- ficient quantities for acre planting, though a number of irresponsible dealers have Left: Twig of Blueberry Bush with Berries of Ordi- nary Size. Right: Twig of the Same Bush Whose lowers were Pollinated from Another Bush sold plants, by misleading statements, which have proved a disappointment. TO STUDY STANDARDIZATION OF BUILDING MATERIAL As a means of eliminating waste in in- dustry, it is proposed to study the prob- lem of standardization as applied to building materials, with a view of simpli- fying the types and reducing the number of different sizes of various materials. Items mentioned for study include mill- work, plumbing, heating, hardware, and clay products.

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POPULAR MECHANICS RECORD VIOLENT EARTHQUAKE UNDER PACIFIC OCEAN On January 31, the seismographs all over the country recorded an unusually violent earthquake which was calculated to be at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Washington or Oregon. At some of the stations the instruments registered more violent disturbances than at the time of the California earthquake of 1906. The disturbance lasted for a ittke more than three hours, according to the record. It is worthy of note that the San Andreas fault, along which the 1906 earthquake occurred, disappears in northwesterly direction in the Pacific. COMBINED TRAILER AND CRANE HANDLES DISABLED AUTOS One would hardly expect a practical invention to come from circus clowns, hut it is two clowns that have invented combined auto trailer and crane for handling disabled machines, which prom- ises to prove highly useful. A _ hinged platform is so mounted on the trailer that a machine may be run onto it, Then, by means of a windlass, the platform is tilte«! | that the underside of the car is accessible for repairs. If the car must be taken to a garage, the trailer is hooked and the whole outfit towed up so - ele truck lo a away. A crane attachment, also operated by the windlass crank, can be used to lit the engine out of the machine. Right: Automo- bile Trailer being Used to Haul a Disabled Car to the Garage for Extensive Repairs. Above: Elevator or Crane Feature of the Trailer for Making Slight Re- pairs While on the Road J ~~ too CONSTRUCT RADIOTELEPHONE IN FORM OF PHONOGRAPH At last the radio phonograph has made A complete its appearance. radio re- ceiver, with all controls, is com- bined in one unit and set in a neat case resembling the present-day phonograph. Two suit- able con- nect- ing After Connecting to the Aerial and Ground Wire, the Radio Phonograph is Tuned In by Ad- justing the Control Disk are provided for connecting to aerial and ground, the only exterior de- vices necessary for operating. In _ the lower part of the cabinet is a storage bat- tery which furnishes power for filaments of the audion bulbs. A _ rectifier and hydrometer test set are also provided for recharging and testing, so that no detail in the care of the battery is left out. Duc to the fact that radio music is now broad cast at all times, it is only necessary to connect aerial and ground and then tune in and enjoy a concert. @ The Bureau of Mines is soon to under- take the study of the problem of the preparation of such alloys as that of 50 per cent copper and 50 per cent lead. po ts

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POPULAR MECHANICS . COPYRIGHT, UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD LAST RITES FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE “ROMA” DISASTER VW HEN the airship ‘‘Roma’”’ crashed to the ground, 34 persons were carried to their death. Because many of the bodies had been shipped for burial to homes in distant parts of the country, one body was selected to represent all of the victims. Full honors were accorded this body, and all business activity ceased as the funeral cortége moved from the church to the Casino Grounds, at Newport News, Virginia. DETECTION OF FORGERIES BY MICROPHOTOGRAPHY With the help of the microscope and microphotography, it has been possible by means of an exact examination of the ink, and otherwise, to distinguish forged writings from the authentic. But in the case of changes of figures or words in old handwriting by superimposing new pen strokes, it has always been difficult to determine which of the pen strokes pre- ceded the other, and thus to decide posi- tively which was the genuine and which was the falsification. In doing this by means of microphotography, it has been customary to place the object photo- graphed at right angles to the camera, with results that are not satisfactory. A Frenchman, very well known for his re- markable work in criminal detection, has proved that if the document be placed so that the writing is viewed horizontally, the results are very much more satisfac- tory than when the document is held at right angles to the camera. His method shows clearly which of two pen strokes, one above the other, was made last. French Microphotographic Apparatus for Detecting Forgeries: At Left is Shown a Photograph, Taken in the Old Way, of a Figure ‘“1”” That was Later Changed to a ‘4,”” Which Shows the Horizontal Stroke Apparently below, Whereas It Was Actually above, the “1,” as Shown Clearly in the Photograph to the Right, Which was Taken by the New Method

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STANDARDIZING DISHES TO AVOID BREAKAGE By G. H. DACY HE dish-juggling and glassware- smashing stunts of “slapstick” com- edy are being tried out at the Bureau of Standards _labora- nary tests that the machine-made tum- blers which cost 50 per cent less, are just as durable and satisfactory for army use as the more costly tories, where dish and glassware-dura- bility tests are now in progress, in or- der to obtain defi- nite data for the formulation of crockery and glass- ware specifications hich it is expected ill be widely adopted. A _ most novel tumbler tester has been de- vised which sub- jects glasses of all and types to service wear and rough handling such as they would he exposed to in active use. This glass- tumbler destroyer consists of a holder in vhich the different glasses are placed with the bottom side exposed. An iron ball is suspended on a metal rod like a pendulum so that it can be withdrawn different dis- and then released and allowed to ram into the hottom of the tumblers. All tumblers which vill withstand the impact of a full-swing blow are qualified as satisfac- tory. The force of the blow de- livered in this manner is equivalent to dropping the tumblers from an elevation of four feet upon a concrete floor. Heretofore, the U. S. Army classes tances Pendulum Hammer Which is Used to Break Plates Whose Durability is Measured by the Length of the Arc through Which the Pendulum Swings glasses previously used. As a result of the investiga- tions now under way, new specifica- tions for army glassware are being drawn up. In addi- tion to the direct jarring tests, many other practical and simple methods of exposing glass and dishware to rapid and effective serv- ice tests are fol- lowed in these in- vestigations. The crockery is exposed to extremes of heat and cold similar to the conditions which obtain where automatic dishwashing ma- chines are used. Study is being made of the cobwebs of cracks which occasionally develop in poorly made chinaware, to ascertain the cause and cure for these defects. Glassware is also subjected to boiling tests in order to deter- mine its suit- ability to with- stand regular and routine sterilization after use. In addition, strength are being ducted relative to the durabil- ity and adapt- ability of dif- ferent kinds of plate and win- dow glass to various kinds of service. Ap- proximately 5,000 samples of tests con has been accus- ties? different kinds tomed to pur- — Bo a of plate glass chase hand- Pendulum Hammer Used to Determine the Breaking Point of h ave broken made tumblers Plate Glass, Which is Placed in the Path of the Hammer in various for use at bar- Whose Swing is Increased Until the Glass Breaks strength tests. racks and messes in all parts of the coun- try. The experts at the Bureau of Stand- ards have ascertained by their extraordi- \s a consequence of these experiments, it is anticipated that shortly the American Institute of Architects will draw up and ore ive

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756 follow new specifications for plate and window glass. Detailed tests are also be- ing performed with porcelain and enamel- Glasses Which have been Subjected to a Boiling Test of Six to Twelve Hours for the Upper Two, and for the Lower Pair, Which Is of Inferior Quality, of Five to Twelve Hours ware in order to find out the exact serv- iceability and durability of these house- hold articles. The fact that the annual dish-breakage bill in a leading Chicago hotel amounts to more than $50,000, while other prominent hostelries report that their yearly breakages aggregate about 20 per cent of their total supplies, indicates the importance of studying and standardizing glass and dishware and of making these articles stronger and of bet- ter materials, so that they will be able to Left: Breaks under the Weight. Scale Test for Determining the Durability of Plate Glass. Right: Light Pendulum Hammer being Used to Test the POPULAR MECHANICS withstand severe usage longer and more satisfactorily. Attempts will be made as a result of these investigations to standardize the sizes of plates used and to grade, classify, and mark crockery accurately so that there will be fewer errors made in its manufacture. The Bureau of Standards is urging the potteries and dishware fac tories to adopt uniform specifications and, as far as possible, to eliminate unpopular styles and sizes of crockery and tumblers. The tests show that American-made dish- ware and glassware, such as used in the best hotels, are more durable and service- able than the best of the European dishes. Our hotel china is the best material of its kind on the market. PACIFIC COAST OF GUATEMALA TO HAVE BANANA INDUSTRY For the first time bananas are to be grown on the Pacific coast of Guatemala on a commercial scale. An American corporation, licensed to do business in that country, has acquired a plantation 15 miles west of San José de Guatemala, where it is expected soon to have 2,000 acres planted with bananas. Although the banana industry has reached large development on the Caribbean coast, it has hitherto not been attempted on the Pacific coast, because of a lack of rainfall and transportation facilities. The Amer ican corporation intends to employ irri- gation, and has completed arrangements for the transportation of the fruit to western ports in the United States. @ Those wishing further information on anything described in the editorial pages can obtain it by addressing Bureau of Information, Popular Mechanics Maga- zine, Chicago. Strength and Resistance of Various Kinds of Plate Glass

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POPULAR MECHANICS TH? WOODEN CANAL AQUEDUCT REPLACED WITH STEEL Seen the Aqueduct over the Fox River as It Appeared during the Winter Months, with Hanging Icicles Caused by the Water Leaking | through the Floors. The Bottom Picture Shows the Leaky Condition of the Floor in the Sum- mer, Thus Plainly In- dicating That the Old Structure Was in Great Need of Repairs Over the Fox River at Ottawa, Ill, is a large aqueduct which carries the waters of the Henné- pin Canal, and which contains eight 57-ft. spans? The original aque- duct *vas constructed of wood and has had to be repaired very often be- cause of the rapid de- ierioration of the water- soaked lumber. Last sum- mer the duct was leak- ' ing to such an extent 2 that the state proceeded to undertake extensive repairs, but when the water was allowed to run out, the workmen found the entire - RUBBER RETAINER EMPLOYED ON FLUE-BEADING TOOL Boiler flues are beaded to insure a tight fit in the fire box, and an Illinois man has produced a rubber retaining ring, to be placed on the tool used in accomplishing this work, which has been found to be a decided improvement. In operation with an air hammer, there is no possibility of the workman accidentally “shooting” the — —_ At the Lower Left is ) Shown the Aqueduct with a Temporary Flume Built in It for Carrying Water during the Late Winter So That Ice Companies could Obtain Their An- nual Harvest. At the Lower Right is Illus- trated the Condition of the Old Floor When the Water was Allowed to Run Out So That Repairs could be Made mie I, structure so weak that it was in danger of collapse at any moment. Con- sequently bids were solicited for the replac- ing of the old wooden channel with one of steel, which resulted in the ac- ceptance of a bid for the sum of $80,000. The work of dismantling has been started, and the building of the new duct is ex- pected to be completed in a short time. Repairs ==: - to several of the lock gates will also be neces- sary before the canal is again ready for use aS a waterway. beader, or chisel, far into the flue, if the retainer has been previously fitted on it, and the rubber is an aid in turning the tool when it has become heated. Flue- Beading Tool, Showing the Rubber Retaining Ring Which Prevents the Tool from Going into the Flue

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vo POPULAR PRELIMINARY SURVEYS EASY WITH NEW FRENCH DEVICE An instrument of French design re- duces the work of making preliminary

This Portable Instrument for Preliminary Surveys, When Carried by the Surveyor, Records on the Drums the Direction and Elevations of the Course Traveled surveys quite materially, for it records automatically on two drums the elevation and bearing of the ground covered. In operation, the assistant carries the meas- uring wire ahead; the surveyor then ad- justs the compass to give the direction, and walks toward the assistant. <A spring rewinds the wire, and in doing so causes the two drums to revolve, record- ing the elevations and direction for the distance traveled. LUMBER-TRUCK RATCHET CRANK FACILITATES UNLOADING In the ordinary method of loading and unloading lumber by platform rollers on motor trucks, the load is moved back- ward till it reaches the tipping point, and before the motor truck can be driven for-

Left: Safety Ratchet Crank being Used on Truckload of Lumber. in Place. Right: MECHANICS ward to draw it from under the load, the crank handle on the roller shaft must be taken off. This is not necessary with a new safety reversible ratchet crank, which can be left on the: shaft, and be held in the hand, on account of the action of the ratchet, while the rollers turn rap- idly under the falling lumber. This saves time, and prevents any danger of acci- dent from a crank spinning in the air, because of neglect to take it off the shaft at the proper time. SHOW PROGRESS OF BUILDING WITH GRAPHIC SIGNBOARD Considerable attention was attracted by a graphic signboard erected on a con- struction job recently. The board was erected as soon as wrecking operations started on the old building, and as the PROGRESS TO-D ATE ene “Te - ,. 4 [ The Graphic Signboard Shows That Four Operations are Completed and the “Final Touches” Just Started different operations progressed, the white spaces were gradually filled in with red, showing the stage of completion of the various portions of the work. q Blind pedestrians at Denver, Colo., are to be furnished with traffic whistles, by blowing which they may call the traffic officer’s attention to their desire of cross- ing a street. Center: Close-Up of Safety Ratchet Crank Operator Seen Holding the Crank While the Lumber is being Unloaded from the Truck. This is Made Possible by the Use of the Ratchet in Connection with the Crank

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POPULAR MECHANICS At Left Is a Side View of French Air-Propeller-Driven Cycle- Car. Inside Are Seats for Two in Tandem. To the Right Is a Front View, Showing Its Four-Bladed Air Propeller inside Its Protecting Screen PROPELLER-DRIVEN CYCLECAR BUILT IN AIRPLANE STYLE A novel cyclecar, designed on the lines of an airplane, including its means of propulsion by a large propeller mounted in front of the car, has recently been built in France. It is a four-wheeled car, with the propeller directly in front of the forward wheels, and inclosed in a light circular frame that carries a wire netting as a protection to the propeller. This is direct-connected to an air-cooled rotary engine of the radial-cylinder type. The propeller is either four or six-bladed, the former where high speed is desired, and the latter where high efficiency is preferable to speed. In the body of the car are two seats in tandem. The car does about 30 miles on a gallon of gaso- line, and it has traveled from Paris to Bordeaux, about 360 miles, in one day without any trouble. By substituting pontoons for wheels, the car can be con- verted into a hydroglider. VERTICAL SHAPER MODIFIED TO CUT INTERNAL GEARS Resembling in general appearance and in principle of operation the vertical shaper that was described and illustrated in the November, 1921, issue of Popular Mechanics, is another machine, made by the same manufacturers, that operates with a downstroke instead of with an up- stroke like the one described. These two distinct types of the machine have each special advantages for different kinds of work. The downstroke machine is specially adapted for cutting internal gears, internal splines, external cluster rears, and gears in which the teeth termi- nate near a shoulder. This work could not be done on the upstroke machine, which is specially adapted to cut plain ex- ternal gears. COAL WEIGHED AND UNLOADED BY LARGE BRITISH CRANE A British revolving crane for unloading coal cars not only picks up car and all, but weighs the coal at the same time. The car is carried in a horizontal position to the point where it is to be dumped; one end is then raised until the coal is dis- charged. This Revolving Crane Picks Up Loaded Coal Cars and Dumps Them Also, Weighing the Coal as It is Discharged

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™- rm oa it * = “ae “ss CRUDE ALBANIAN BRIDGE BUILT ENTIRELY OF WOOD ‘THIS wooden bridge spans one of the swift streams of Albania and is built entirely of wood, The bridge is more than 40 ft. high, due to the timber construction, gives the bridge an appearance very different from the supporting piers in the stream itself. craft. The rustic effect, POPULAR MECHANICS COPYRIGHT, GILLIAMS SERVICE even to the to allow for the passage of river usual steel bridges, yet the structural principles involved are the same. DURABLE REFUSE CONTAINER MAY BE MADE ORNAMENTAL For keeping streets and rubbish, grounds free detracting from the general ap- pearance of the surroundings, an ornamental waste- paper and refuse container has been placed on the market. It is a square-shaped steel can self-closing cover, through which is dropped canvas sack which is the container for ref- use thrown into the can. On its four sides are spaces for pictorial advertising posters, and above these for street names. from without PRODUCE EFFERVESCENT MILK AS CARBONATED BEVERAGE The fact that pure sweet milk is one of the most wholesome and _ nourishing beverages has led to many attempts to find a method of preserving it. A patent has recently been granted for a process ot preservation by which milk is con- with a. verted ae an effervescent beverage which may be kept for long periods, much as is now kept grape juice or ginger ale. The milk is first agitated under vacuum, at a temperature of from 95 to 101° F., for a few minutes to remove foreign flavors, and is then cooled to 40 carbonated at high pressure, and bottled. It may then be kept for months under proper conditions of temperature, and when used will be found as fresh and wholesome as when first bottled. INEXPENSIVE BOOKMARK PASTED INSIDE COVER “Losing the place” because of not hav- ing had a bookmark available to place be- tween the pages, need not perplex the reader henceforth, if he but make use of a bite simple and inexpen- sive article of this kind. The marker con- sists of a piece of paper, which is intended to be permanently pasted on the inside of the cover, and which has a flap long enough to be placed anywhere in the book.

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THE IVORY CARVERS OF BERING SEA By G. DALLAS HANNA INTER life in the frozen North is often supposed by those unfamiliar with it to be as dull as a grounded ice floe. It is pretty generally believed that the long nights are spent around a smoky seal-oil lamp with the streams of conver- sation frozen solid like the tundra. But this is a mistaken notion and far from true. When the sun sets and not come back to greet us until late in the forenoon, tl are the days when the Northland iwakens; then begins the real business of liv- ig for the en- joyment of life. Chen the sleigh bells jingle in the twilight and the moon- ight; the parties, the dances, the hunts, make one continuous season of pleasure irom about November until—well, until he outsiders and their ships begin to ippear again in the spring. The awful izzards of which explorers are so wont to tell, really do not enter into the calcu- itions of resident inhabitants to any large extent. They inspire about as much ear in the heart of an Alaskan as the crossing of a street does to the aver- ge city dweller. The summer season is looked upon as drudgery by most northerners. It is a necessary evil to be endured only because a living does 10SsSe must be earned. Most of the an- noyances of life come in the sum- iner; the toes, mosqui- the gnats, he flies, and the rains and fogs hich are im- measurably more This Very Ornate Cribbage Board was Carved from a Single Walrus Tusk with the Most Primitive Tools Boats are overhauled and put away for the winter; sleds are repaired and winter gear in general is put in shape for the season. The native villagers.of the North have a peculiar philosophy, and volumes have been written about their manners and I, however, shall endeavor to tell of a partic ular class of workers who ply their trade almost entirely in winter These are the ivory customs. carvers, of whom almost every village can boast one or more. Before the advent of the hite man, the northern natives, the \leuts, and the Innuits or Eskimos, had manufac- implements essential to Knives, spears, arrows, needles, axes, harpoons, and many of the to depend upon ivory for the ture of certain their existence. ornaments of person or apparel were made of this material. The white man brought tools of iron which, of course, soon displaced the ivory entirely, so far as utility was concerned. But the tools O superior for other purposes were also found to be far superior for the of ivory. Files, knives, saws, from the great and mysterious carving and lathes “outside” were incomparable to the flat stones which had formerly been used. The natives have found that while the ivory is no longer a necessity to them, it can be made into trinkets and ornaments of various kinds that disagreeable than the ice and snow. Walrus Ivory, Are Two to four months’ work in the summer season ordinarily suffices to provide the aver- age family with sustenance the entire year. Of course, all work does not cease when the snow begins to fall, but that which follows appeals to the people in a most unmistakable manner. Strings of Beads, Made from the Smaller Pieces of the Most the Carver, Sometimes Bringing as Much as 50 Dollars = readily sell to sum mer visitors at good prices. At King Island, a short dis tance from Nome, almost the entire male population engages in the trade, and at almost every village up and down the coast the work is carried on to a greater or less extent. The ivory used in this work almost exclusively from the walrus. Profitable Product of comes Thes 761

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se animals are still fairly common in many parts of the North, thanks to the protec- government tion which our them. for their own be shipped from Alaskan waters. In ad- dition to the tusks of the slain animals, some use is made of those which have been buried in the soil for ages and have become semi- fossilized. These are black or brown with time, and the most highly prized of all ivory. Also, in some places the tusks of the prehistoric mammoth, that phant, are used. use, but ve ae] These called “mastodon ivory” The average 4 lb., and the usable part is an outside shell from 4 to ‘> in. thick. The center is occupied by “the core,” a hard but more or less bony substance of mottled appearance. The ivory portion is much harder than ordinary elephant ivory and takes a much more brilliant polish, but does not possess the well-known “grain” of elephant ivory. The ivory carver has four stock articles of trade, for which he always finds a_ ready sale. These are beads, cribbage boards, napkin rings, and crochet needles. Besides these, a long list of sundry ob- jects, suiting the fancy of the individual work- man, could made. Naturally the work- manship cannot some of the be Chinese POPULAR Natives are permitted to kill them cannot long-haired compare whose elephant ivory are almost unbelievable. has given the skins MECHANICS Still, I have seen some paper knives with lacery work which could hardly be im- proved. And the making of a chain neck- lace, with tassels on it, of a single piece of ivory, requires patience and skill and a A Young Walrus Whose Tusks Are Not Yet ~~ Enough to Be Valuable: These Animals are Protected by but may be Killed by the Eskimos for Their Own Use B\~ A Native Carver Cutting Beads with a Sim- ple Lathe Which He has Made from Parts Salvaged from an Old Clock that of feats with with ame Laws, perfect knowl- edge of the physical prop- erties of the raw material. The greatest ingenuity of the native is displayed in the fashioning of his working tools. In one village at the mouth of the Kuskokwim River, the ivory carver’s outfit was very sim- ple. He had a sheath knife, an all-purpose implement, which was arctic ele- called into use almost constantly. A saw tusks are usually he had made of a piece of barrel hoop in the North. which he had found on the beach. It mat- walrus tusk weighs about tered little to him if it took a day or a week to saw off a tusk. He used a bow drill, just as his fathers had done, and for points he had three nails which he prized very highly. With this outfit he was able to do most beauti- ful pieces, one of which was a cribbage board. The devising of a lathe is the most diffi- cult of all feats for the native, and some queer contraptions are doing turning duty. As an ex- ample may be men- tioned one built by Neon Tetoff, a Pribilof islander, for the making of beads. The essential parts are two. brass gears salvaged from an old worn-out Russian belfry clock. The larg- er one is turned by hand, and to the small- er is attached a shaft with a sort of chuck for holding either the work or the cutting tool. . Ivory beads are about the most profit-

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POPULAR able of all objects for the native, because the market is not flooded; little material is needed, and they are easily sold at 10 cents each or $10 per string. In this work two methods are followed. In one the ivory is turned and the cutting tool is held in the hand. The bead is made and polished while turning, then cut off and drilled. In the other method the ivory tusk is sawed into cross ‘sections, the thickness of the diameter of the bead, and then the holes are drilled. The tool is then revolved while the material is held stationary. For this purpose a_ hemi- spherical tool is used, which has a guide to fit the hole in the bead. One side is cut at a time, and then the work is reversed MECHANICS n20 405 and the bead released. The truing up and polishing is a separate task. Of course, fairly elaborate shop equipment is re- quired for constructing the tools needed in this latter process, and the beads turned out are superior to those produced by the other method. Of late years I have seen considerable modern equipment assembled by the ivory carvers. Chisels, bracket saws, hacksaws, breast drills, jewelers’ files, etc., are quite common, and once in a while a real foot- power lathe is seen. But while the work turned out is eagerly bought by amateurs, it really does not possess the attractive- ness of the pieces made with the crude implements of the past. LUNGS AND ARTERIAL BLOOD STUDIED IN THE ANDES For three months a group of Anglo- \merican medical investigators studied respiration and blood changes at high al- titudes in the Andes, and ROAD-REPAIRING MACHINE RESEMBLES PILE DRIVER Resembling a small pile driver in action, an English road-working machine con- sists of a frame on four wheels, that sup- now returned to their native countries ith some scientific dis- coveries that may be of value in the treatment of diseases of the heart and lungs. At Cerro de Pasco, Peru, a mining town of 9000 inhabitants, 14,280 ft. above sea level, a lab- have oratory was established. The subjects for study were divided into three groups—the resident population of engineers who have lived several years at this high alti- tude, the natives who have been there for gen- erations, and the mem- bers of the visiting party. In every case it was found that the arterial blood, instead of being 95 to 100 per cent satu- rated with oxygen, as it is normally at sea level, was only 80 to 90 per cent saturated at this high altitude. This dis- proved the theory held by some physiolo- gists that under conditions of oxygen deprivation, the lungs can secrete oxy- gen to make up for the deficit. @ The Bureau of Mines is soon to under- take the study of the preparation of phosphor copper by electric smelting di- rect from phosphate rock. Road-Repairing Machine being Used to Break Up the Surface of the Road: he Cutting Tool and Engine are Mounted on a Swinging Beam Which Permits Operation over a Width of 8'4 Feet ports a swinging beam which carries the tamping or cutting tool and the driving engine. The beam moves horizontally across the work, and the forward move- ment is obtained by pulling or pushing the entire vehicle. The tamping weight is 150 lb., and 55 blows with a 24-in. stroke can be delivered in one minute. On surface cutting or tamping, the ma- chine will operate over a width of 8% ft., and is efficient at a depth of 16 ft. when placed beside a 4-ft. trench, or ditch.

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764 POPULAR MECHANICAL WIPER AN AID TO STREET-CAR MOTORMAN Much inconvenience is experienced by motormen when the window in front of them becomes obscured in bad glass Mechanical Wiper That Enables the Motorman, by Slightly Turning a Handle within His Reach, to Keep the Window in Front of Him Clean in Bad Weather weather, and consequently on the street cars of Milwaukee a simple mechanical wiper has been adopted. The wiper, in the form of a metal bar carrying a rubber strip, is mounted on the outside front of the car in such a manner that the motor- man, by slightly turning a handle that is located inside the car, moves the wiper radially the surface, and cleans a considerable area of the window. This wiper is installed on over 1,000 cars of the Milwaukee system. across glass ACCURATE CYLINDER GAUGE WITH REGISTERING DIAL For the use of garages and small repair shops, a portable cylinder gauge has been developed. The diameter of the cylinder is measured between two contact points and any variations are shown by the pointer on the dial. Five contact points of different lengths are provided, which ‘an be carried in the hollow handle. When This Gauge is Inserted in a Cylinder, the Diam- eter is Measured between the Contact Points, and Irregularities are Registered on the Dial MECHANICS DENSE FORESTS OF RED CEDAR IN BRITISH EAST AFRICA So greatly is the American production of pencil cedar decreasing that it is pre- dicted that in the near future the only source of supply may be Kenya, in British East Africa. Kenya is a great volcanic mountain, the lower slopes of which are clothed with dense of red cedar, said to be the largest in the world. This source of supply is as yet almost un touched. The district can be reached by the Uganda Railway, and if low enough freight rates were provided, there is no doubt that a considerable export trade would soon be developed. forests HIGH-CLASS IGNITION SYSTEM FOR POPULAR LIGHT CAR A new ignition system has been devised for a well-known small car which can be installed without dis- turbing the regular wiring, and which, it is claimed, will elimi- nate most of the trou- bles caused by faulty ignition. With this new unit the vibrator points are no longer needed, as one set of breaker points in the timer performs all functions. The con denser of the unit is wired in series with the magneto in such a way that a strong uni form current is always available at the spark plugs even when the engine is running slowly, and this re- sults in much smoother running of the car, which is always desirable. GOVERNMENT SAVES FUEL OIL ON NAVAL VESSELS Economies in fuel-oil consumption aboard ship have been worked out by navy engineers. By changing the fresh- water distilling plants from high pressure to low-pressure double-effect operation and using exhaust steam for power, a saving of approximately nine tons of fuel oil per day was made on the battleships and three tons on the destroyers. At an average cost of $2.10 per barrel, this rep resented a daily saving of $141.75 on the battleships and $47.25 on the destroyers.

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POPULAR MECHANICS 765 NEW SAFETY CODE AVAILABLE PERTAINING TO GRINDING For the use, care, and protection of grinding Poe ap a safety code, which has seen in the course of preparation for two years, has lately been published. The ponsors of the code are the international association of industrial-accident boards and commissions, and the grinding-wheel manufacturers of the United States and Canada. The new code is said to be a distinct improvement over-the others pre- viously issued by the grinding-wheel manufacturers, and contains valuable in- formation which is not to be found in iny other publication. ENVELOPE MOISTENER HAS TRAY FOR ACCESSORIES Office and bank employes will appre- ciate a new envelope or finger moistener introduced by an eastern manufacturer, vhich has a metal base containing sev- eral handy trays for rubber bands, pins, clips, etc. The moistening pad is held in a bracket so that either the top or bot- tom may be used in sealing envelopes, sticking stamps, or counting money. A a and. Finger Moistener: Left, ieee Water ontainer after Filling; Right, ‘Moistening an Envelope Flap glass reservoir, easily removable for fill- ng, is fitted into the top of the appliance, ind the whole arrangement serves as an ornament to any desk. HANDY AUTOMOBILE WASHER SAVES SOAP AND VARNISH Specially constructed for use in ing automobiles, a newly keeps the soapsuds always clean, and eliminates injury to the varnish on the car caused by undissolved soap, or what is worse, from the sand and gravel that is so often transferred from the dirty car to the 2 While it thus saves all the varnish, it is said that it also saves half the soap. ‘teas a strong galvanized-iron wash- invented bucket bucket is a screen and soap container that are raised from the bottom of the bucket so as to leave a space beneath them into which any sand or gravel drains. The Pail for Washing Automobiles: Left, "Partly in Sec- tion, Showing Sand Screen and Soap Container; Right, Screen Removed from the Bucket, with Soap Con- tainer Open soap container on top of the sand screen is cylindrical, and perforated so that all the soap must dissolve before it can get into the water. On the outside of the bucket are spring wire holders for sponges, which are thus kept off the floor. SMALL PHONOGRAPH MOTOR FITS ANY INSTRUMENT Winding a phonograph is tiresome to most people, and the introduction of a small electric motor, which has been de- signed to eliminate this work without necessitating any change to the machine, will therefore undoubtedly be appreci- ated. The apparatus is mounted on a base that permits it to be placed beside the phonograph turntable, which is re- volved by a rubber wheel, or pulley, on the motor. The motors are manufac- tured for either alternating or direct cur- rent, at 110 volts, the average operat- ing cost being but five cents per month; they are controlled by the speed regulator on the phonograph, and automatically stop when the record is completed- At the ene Left is Seen the Small Motor with Rubber Pulley, or Wheel, While at the Right It is Shown Mounted on the Phonograph

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SOME NOVEL AND LITTLE-KNOWN ACCESSORIES A Water-Power Egg Beater That can be At- tached to Any Faucet and Also Used for Mix- ing Small Cakes This Heater for the Sick Room Has a Small Electric Bulb Placed between Two Perforated Plates. A Fleece or Flannel Cover is Provided and a Heat Regu- lator is Connected in the Cord Mop with a Small |! Wringer on It So That the Dirt and Water can be Squeezed Out: An Adjusting Spring Allows the Wringer Tension to be Set as Desired Lo Traveling Clothespin Bag Which can be Moved along the Line upon Wire Supports, Thus Keeping the Pins Clean and Saving Much Stooping On This Wire Screen the Bread or Cake Cools with Air Touching All of Its Sides, ’ Which Eliminates Sogginess Combination Fork and Spoon Made of Alumi- num can be Used like a Pair of Tongs for Lifting Hot Meat, Eggs, and the Like Collapsible Enamieled- Steel Seat for Baby, Which Has This Convenient Bag Has a Removable Straps for Attaching to Or- Compartment Containing the Necessary dinary Chair or to the Seat Toilet Articles Used While Traveling of an Automobile > wishing further information on devices described in the editorial pages can

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INTENDED FOR THE HOME AND ITS MEMBERS This Polished-Iron Griddle Has a Hollow Base Which Prevents a Gas Flame from Overheating the Center, and Distributes the Heat Evenly Two Views of a Metal Drapery and Curtain Support Which Allows the Side Draperies, Val- ance, and Lace Curtain to be Hung Independently Potato Masher and Beater Made of One Slotted Bar Inserted in a Handle: The Curve in the Mashing Surface Gives Great Strength to the Appli- ance *| This Electric Cooker Is of Light Construction and Is , Especially Valuable in Sick aoa Hanger Which Rooms. Besides the Oven orks on a New Princi- Which is Used to Cook ple, as the Supporting Steaks, Chops, Fish, and the Parts are Placed inside ot Like, This Appliance Has a the Garment and Leave Griddle Fastened to One Side No Mark and a Hot Plate on the Other 7 This Rolling Pin is Operated with One Hand, Leaving the Other Hand Free to Sprinkle Clothesline Fastener That Has Three Holes » for Mounting Screws and, Due to Its Form of Construction, Makes the Task of Putting Up and Taking Down the Washfine an Easy One for the House- wife Convertible Porch Swing and Ham- mock Which is So Constructed That the End Members can be Shifted Readily from the Normal Vertical Position to an Inclined or Horizontal Position

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768 POPULAR MECHANICS HANG UP PHONOGRAPH RECORDS IN FILING ENVELOPES A new device for filing phonograph rec- ords has been patented in Germany and consists of a heavy paper envelope hav- ing a card- board hanger at the top. The bottom edge of the envelope is also of card- board so formed as to prevent the record from rolling out. Space is pro- vided for in- dexing on the lower corner of the enve- lope, so that the figures are plainly visible when the records are hung in the cabinet. DOOR HINGE SAVES FINGERS FROM BEING PINCHED Pinched fingers are a common occur- rence when children play near a door, and to pre- vent this painful in- jury, an in- ventor has constructed a new door hinge. The invention con- sists of two bases or plates, which are attached to the door and casing re- spectively, and integral cylindri- cal knuckles that have a pivotal connec- tion between the plates. A three-quarter round brass tube is fitted over the corner of the door casing between the hinges and at the ends, thus closing the space which is found upon opening the ordi- nary door. . HINGE. j 2 CASING | @When you want anything and do not know where to get it, write Bureau of Information, Popular Mechanics, Chicago. WARSHIPS TO BE CONVERTED INTO A BREAKWATER Instead of entirely scrapping 12 of the warships that have to be destroyed in accordance with the terms of the arma- ment conference, recently held at Wash- ington, it is proposed to turn them to profitable use by taking them to Los An- geles, and sinking them so as to form an extension of the San Pedro breakwater. It is claimed that in this way shelter would be provided there for eight addi- tional active battleships. ONE-QUARTER TURN REMOVES NEW THREADLESS DUST CAP Threaded valve caps on automobile tires that have to be removed by a some- what lengthy process of turning con- sume time, and are liable to stick. Now there is a threadless dust cap that avoids both these draw- backs. A quarter turn removes both valve and dust cap at once. The cap case is forced by a coiled spring upward against lugs on the base nut, and a quar- ter turn brings the lugs opposite slots in the cap and releases it. “SHORT-LEGGED” FURNITURE LEVELED BY CASTER CUP Furniture having one short leg is a source of constant annoyance in any home, and as a remedy for this common fault, a caster cup has been produced. The cup consists of two parts, each threaded so that the upper part screws on the outside of the lower. The legs of the table, dresser, etc., are placed in the cup-shaped top, and in the event of any side being low, that particular cup is screwed up until the article stands level. The device is equally useful, if the floor is uneven.

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CONVERT REFRIGERATOR CARS FOR WINTER USE HERE... "lana er CIRCULATION BLOCKED HERE NO HEAT WHERE NEEDED CIRCULATION BLOCKED HERE Above: Inthe Heated Box Car, as Ordinarily Ar- ranged, the Freight near the Stove is Overheated While Other Portions of the Load Freeze Converting a refrigerator car into a heater car for perish- Left: From the Heater, Warm Air is Circulated around the Load Below, the Lower Tier of Boxes is Spaced to Form Passages way all around the load in a car, so that a constant and able freight during freezing weather, is a recent i.ccomplishment that makes possible not only the utiliza- tion of thousands of refrigerator cars in the winter months, but a saving of the $2,000,000 of perish- ible products annu- lly lost on account of freezing while in transit. The conversion is made simply by providing an unin- terrupted passage- PAPER ON BUNKER BULKHEAD BOXES OF APPLES —” uniform § circu- lation of warm air from a heater in the center of the car can reach all parts of the load It is merely a rec- ognition of the fundamental princi ples of the move ment of hot and cold air. When the circulation of warm air is obstructed the produce at the top of the car is overheated, while that at the botfom of the car freezes. In a Properly Converted Box Car the Protecting Heat from the Stove Rises to the Top of the Car and Circu- lates around the Load, Returning along the Passage Formed between the Temporary Rack and the Car Floor, Thereby Insuring a Proper Temperature in All Parts of the Lading 769

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770 To overcome obstructions in the shape of high splashboards at the bottom of the bunkers, and floor racks with transverse supporting strips instead of longitudinal strips, an additional floor rack, with longitudinal stringers not less than four inches high, is placed upon the permanent floor rack. This temporary rack is pa- pered to the center of the car. Open bulkheads are.also papered from just be- low the openings near the ceiling of the car to the top of the first layer of boxes next the bunkers. Bunker bulkheads of the solid type with open spaces at the top and bottom need not be papered. In loading, the first or bottom layer in the stacks of boxes next to the bunkers consists of only four boxes, spaced so that the bottom boxes in the second stack cannot slip into the spaces between the boxes in the first stack. On top of the POPULAR MECHANICS first four boxes two 1 by 6-in. boards are nailed to support the remaining five lay- ers. When the car is fully loaded, paper is placed across the top of the load as far as the bracing in the center of the car, so that warm air from the heater will move to the center of the car before re- turning to the bunkers. When possible, the ice grates in the bunkers are raised and the heaters placed on the floor of the bunkers, thus providing a lower plane from which the heaters can draw their supply of cold air. By the use of this system of lining and loading refrigerator cars, adequate con- trol of fruit temperatures can be secured, no matter how low the outside tempera- ture may be. The same principles applied to box cars enable that class of equip- ment also to be used in heater-car service, with no danger of loss by freezing. NEAT, PRACTICAL BOOKMARK INVENTED BY BLIND MAN An eastern man, who is totally blind, has produced a neat and practical bookmark with a cellu- loid base, to which is at- tached a thin strip of isin- glass having a small lead weight on the end of it. The base is affixed by means of a V-slit to the top of the back pages, and the strip : is then placed on the page being read. When one page is turned, the weighted strip falls back to the second, so that there is no danger of the reader losing his place if the book is hurriedly closed. PROPOSED OIL-PIPE LINE FOR ARGENTINA Feeling that the Commodoro Rivadavia oil fields in Argentina are sufficiently proved to justfy the expense, it is now proposed to construct an 8-in. pipe line from the field to Buenos Aires for trans- porting the oil. The distance will be nearly 850 miles and the carrying capacity of the pipe almost double the actual pro- duction of the wells at the present time, but new development may alter this. TWO NEW DYES DISCOVERED IN COAL-TAR PRODUCTS A new chemical reaction which can be employed in making dyestuffs from coal- tar products has been discovered by a Canadian university professor. Two new compounds, one a blue and the other a beautiful shade of rose, have been pro- duced. The professor is now engaged in determining definitely the chemical con- stitution of these compounds, and in de- vising methods for their production in quantities suitable for manufacturing pur- poses, PISTON OF IMPROVED DESIGN SAVES OIL AND GASOLINE Pistons for automobile motors that are guaranteed never to cut or wear the cylinders out of round, and to re- duce the gasoline bills from 30 to 50 per cent, and the oil bills from 60 to 80 per cent, have several novel features that are claimed to be the cause of this superiority. Screwed on the body of the pis- ton are a head and a liner, with an asbestos gasket between them, that keeps the body from becoming heated. These are made of aluminum. Under the head in a groove is a three-piece piston

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POPULAR ring, made of special low-friction metal, behind which are asbestos packing and a anadium-steel spring, which seal the pis- ton-ring groove, and prevent oil and gaso- line leakage. WHY BACTERIA IN THE MOUTH ARE GENERALLY HARMLESS It has hitherto been assumed by pathol- ogists that the bacteria which are known to lodge in the cavity of the mouth in seething masses are disease producing, and that they are always present to take advantage of any unfortunate lowering of the powers of resistance in the human body. It has now been demonstrated by a professor at Johns Hopkins University that although the oral cavity has no elab- orate system of hairy membranes like the nose and air passages, to rid it of bacteria and foreign particles, nevertheless it does the same thing by a mechanical action of the muscular structures around the mouth that set up suction currents which remove iny bacteria or foreign particles from the mouth in from 15 to 30 minutes. These uction currents carry the bacteria uni- formly toward the rear of the mouth, without any lateral or forward dissemina- tion, and pass on without lodging on the tonsils or the walls of the pharynx—the pouch that forms the back part of the mouth. ARTIFICIAL PLASTIC WOOD JUST LIKE REAL TIMBER An artificial wood that real thing that it can be carpenters’ tools and fin- ished with a file or sand- paper, is now being pro- duced by an_ English manufacturing company. The material is known as plastic wood, and at first it has the consistency of a thick paste, and can therefore be molded into any shape. It can then be hardened by exposure to the air,‘and becomes a tough, solid, waterproof substance. It is expected to be of special use for making patterns for cast- ings. It can also be used is so like the worked with MECHANICS 771 ADJUSTABLE CRANKPIN TOOL EASY TO OPERATE BY HAND Worn, or out-of-round, crankpins can be trued up with a new hand tool, with- out removing the motor from the car, in Tool for Truing Up Worn or Out-of-Round Crankpins on Automobile or Stationary Engines without Remov- ing the Crankshaft: The Feed Screw Adjusts the Cutting Blade the case of an automobile, or when the motor is on the bench, without having to remove the crankshaft. The tool has a jaw which grasps the crankpin, and which on one side has a cutting blade that is always radially opposite to the point of the crankpin on which a hard- ened back plate on the jaw bears. Ex- tending from the cutting blade is a feed attachment, and the setting of the feed screw in connection with this is the only adjustment necessary. PIPE COILS RELIEVE TENSION CAUSED BY EXPANSION In long pipe lines for carrying oil the difference in length due to expansion and contraction is a very serious matter and must be compensated for by some means, One of the most simple methods is by forming, at intervals in the line, large for filling in flaws in tim- ber, or openings at joints, and will take paint, stain, real wood. or varnish like When the Pipe Line Expands on Account of the Heat, the Large Coils Compensate for the Increased Length and Prevent Damage coils which allow for expansion and con- traction without damage to the pipe line.

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CHILDREN’S PICTURE-STORY DEPARTMENT Here Is Decidedly the Sweetest House in the World, or at Least Sweeter than Any Other Unless It is Built as This One is—Entirely Out of Candy. The House, with Its Waterwheel and Its Interest- ing Surroundings, Is of Home- made-Candy Construction, Built by a Candymaker in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was Exhibited in This Manner in a Show Window Any Boy or Girl Who has Read —and There cannot Be Many Who have Not—Fenimore Coop- er’s “Last of the Mohicans” will Remember the Historic ‘“‘Coop- er’s Cave” at Glens Falls, New York, Where the Author Him- self Hid from the Indians. Here 4 Is the Cave, or Rather the En- trance to It, on the Bank of the Hudson River. From This Pear- Shaped Entrance, Seen in the Center of the Picture, a Winding Staircase Leads to the Cave Itself Sg _—— nn | Joy-Riding by the Dozen: This Is Not |} a Case Where Two Is Company and || Three Is a Crowd—Quite the Reverse, Se || the More the Merrier. The Wee Bit of o a Traction Engine Is the Work of a | Z |} London, England, Inventor, Who Re- || cently Caused Quite a Sensation by Ap- |} pearing on the Streets in This Manner with a Wagon Load of Enthusiasti: Youngsters. The Tractor Was on Ex- hibition at the Horticultural Hall, West- | minster

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OF MODERN ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS (- This Carriage Glides over the Snow in the Same Man- ner That Speed Wagons Roll over the Ground, by Moving the Handle Back || and Forth. It Has a Saddle like a Bicycle, Where the || Rider Sits and Grasps the | Handlebar with Both Hands \ Three Kittens That Are the Petted Mascots of the Air- Mail Hangar at Omaha, Ne- braska: Being Bearers of Good Luck, They are Allowed to Go as They Please Anywhere and Anyhow in the Hangar, or over the Airpianes, in Which They have Made Many Flights. The One at the Left, Seated on a Tailplane, is Called “Spark,” and Is Yellow—in Color Only, Not in Any Other Sense. The Two at the Right, Called “‘Con- tact” and ‘“Tailskid,” are Re- posing on the Wing of an Air- plane At the Left Is Willetta Huggins, Wisconsin's Blind i and Deaf Super-Girl, Chatting with Helen Keller, |} the World’s Most Widely Known Deaf and Blind Woman. In Many Ways They Are Two of a Kind, but Not as Regards Their Methods of Listening. ! Miss Keller Does It by Holding Her Fingers to the Speaker’s Lips, While Miss Huggins Rests Her Finger Tips on the Speaker’s Chest 773

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S74 POPULAR APPARATUS THAT TESTS MILK FOR ADULTERATION Adulteration of milk is easily deter- mined by the use of an appliance invented by a Minnesota chemist for the uring the freez- liquids. As the purpose of meas ing point of * . t J 6 seven wat | Saneeee anew eo) pun Seven wa " PRESSURES 4 leu sle), | Apparatus for Determining the Percentage of Milk Adulteration, Showing the Thermometers, Test Tubes, and Heat-Retaining Bottle freezing point of milk is —.55° Centigrade (very nearly 1° F.) below that of water, the sample to be tested is placed in a vacuum tube, similar to a heat-retaining bottle, and cooled by means of an air and ether mixture. If the milk freezes before it has been cooled to a temperature of 31° F., the presence of water in excess of the normal is evidenced, and the per- centage of additional water can be calcu- lated by means of a properly calibrated scale. @ Those wishing further information on anything described in the editorial pages can obtain it by addressing Bureau of Information, Popular Mechanics Maga- zine, Chicago. MECHANICS VEGETATION CLOTHES ISLAND ONCE A BARREN WASTE The island of Krakatoa, off the west coast of Java, has provided scientists with a natural experimental station for the study of the methods by which islands are supplied with animal and vegetable life. In August, 1883, the island was the scene of one of the most violent volcanic disturbances ever recorded, one result of which was the destruction of all forms of life on the island. Since that time it has been closely watched by scientists who have studied the return of life to the island through natural agencies. A recent expedition disclosed that the island was covered with a dense vegetable growth and that 175 different species of animal life were present. MOTOR TO OPERATE COMBINED HARVESTER-THRESHER A power plant to operate a combined harvester-thresher independently of the speed at which the machine is hauled, usually by a tractor, over the ground is a new development. A gasoline engine, with its radiator tank and other equipment, is assembled on a frame that can be sepa- rated from the harvester-thresher. The crankshaft of the motor is coupled di- rectly to the cylinder shaft of the thresher, and the other operative parts are driven by chains from the opposite end of the cylinder shaft. The speed with which the machine is operated can be regulated by the motor control. Power Plant That Operates a Combined Harvester- Thresher by Direct Connection to Its Cylinder Shaft, Independently of the Speed at Which It is Hauled over the Ground by a Tractor

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Information as to where to obtain any specified = ey materials or parts for making objects described in “4, the following pages may be had, on request, in from our Bureau of Information.—Kditor. An Arbor Press of Large Capacity By J. V. ROMIG VERY machine shop or garage doing The main member is a length of 3'5-in. any considerable repair work has an_ pipe, which has an outside diameter of 4 arbor press as part of its equipment. Most in.; it is drilled with a row of 4-in. holes, of those that I have seen and used, how- 2 in. apart, and fitted with a floor flange ever, have been small, and of very little, at each end, the over-all length being the if any, use for long work. The press. same as the height of the ceiling from described herein was designed and built the floor. The upper and lower arms are by the writer with this in view, and the castings, made from simple patterns; the result is a press of large capacity, adjust- upper arm is bored to fit the rack and able over a wide range, but not tooclumsy. gear. The rack and gear are eight-pitch, ce ~ | J , UPPER ARM S ay ar SS > > N . 7 7 ~ é 7 , Le . 10" i = , ny " : + x r F iwee \ PIVOT HOLE LOWER ARM , RAM 2”DIA. | 18" LONG ar % c im ) = Z aa 1" 8-PITCH GEAR AND RACK \ FLUTED EDGE COLUMN HANDWHEEL DETAIL OF PIPE An Arbor Press Suitable for Any Shop or Garage Where a Wide Range of Work is Handled: The Upper and Lower Arms may be Clamped Anywhere on the Column, to Suit the Work or the Operator or

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76 and are made and assembled as for any ordinary press. They should be of a good tough grade of steel. The gear may be fitted with a two or four-spoke handle, as desired. Care should be taken, when bor- ing the rack and gear holes, to bore them so that the teeth will mesh correctly. The lower arm is faced on the upper surface, and drilled for the pivot on the table. The table is also a casting, or may be made of steel plate, if a large enough piece is available; it is slotted, as shown, for POPULAR MECHANICS work of varying diameters. The clamping screws are made with a pointed end; by means of these, both upper and lower arms can be clamped in the most suitable working positions. If the height from floor to ceiling is too great for a column, or if overhead cranes are used in the shop, a base of large diameter can be substituted for the lower floor flange, and the pipe column cut off and braced at a height that may be most convenient. An Improvised Crane In loading some heavy barrels of kero- sene, the driver of a truck used a simple method of elevating them to a height Loading Filled Oil Drums into a Truck without Manual Effort by Means of an Im- : ane Crane: The Same dea can be Adapted to Other Work Where a Vertical Pull or Lift is Required where it was possible to back the truck underneath them. Two long sticks were fastened together, near one end, with a rope, and the opposite ends were placed on the ground about 3 ft. apart. A rope was slung around the oil barrel, passed . over the crotch of the sticks, and fastened to the rear axle of a second truck. By moving the second truck forward in low gear for a few fect, the barrels were lifted to a corresponding height, when the truck that was to carry them was backed under- neath and the load lowered. The same method can be applied to lifting heavy stones, or other work.—G. A. Luers, Washington, D. C. Care of Wheel-Truing Diamonds Take only light cuts with the diamond, and as the stone wears, turn the nib in the holder to insure uniform wear; then when the stone wears down to the metal setting, reset the stone so as to expose a new cutting surface. When the diamond is worn down to a small size, reset it in a holder, and use it in the tool room. Be careful not to jam the diamond into the wheel, and instruct operators not to al- low the stone to get any violent knocks, as it is very hard and therefore brittle. Never use a diamond dry, except on small wheels for internal grinding, or on tool or cutter wheels; on large wheels for cylindrical or surface grinding, direct a copious stream of water on the diamond at the point of contact with the wheel. Work Gauged Automatically The gauge shown in the drawing will be found applicable to many classes of work and will save the time necessarily required for a separate gauging opera- tion; in addition, it prevents the machine hand from turning out work that is after- ward found to be incorrect. The work shown is a sleeve with bev- eled ends, the outer diameter being held within limits of plus or minus .0l in. The gauge is made of %¢-in. flat steel, the first operation being to bend it into the form shown, the angle being about 45°. The slots are next milled, the high limit or “go” slot being milled so that the ends, when the gauge is fixed in place, stand in a vertical position, to pre- vent the work from falling through, back end first, and probably sticking. The low limit or “not go” slot is milled in the bottom portion. It may be as well to say that in cutting the slots, the gauge should be strapped on the table, on its side, and both slots milled with an end mill. The same method is used in grind- ing the slots to the finished size. Two holes, drilled and countersunk, ac- _ HIGH - LIMIT / SLOT 3gxiv2 STEEL

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POPULAR MECHANICS 7 commodate screws that hold the gauge to a wooden box. As the operator cuts off the pieces in a screw machine, he catches them in one hand and places them in the top of the gauge. If the work is below the high-limit size it drops through the slot, and if above the low limit, slides down the slot into the box. If above the high limit, the piece will not drop through the first slot, while if below the low limit, it drops through that slot and onto a piece of tin, where it immediately attracts the operator’s attention. Punch Made from Letter Press The letter press illustrated was used to good effect in an emergency when it was required to punch Ye-in. cold-rolled stock with holes up to % in. in diameter. In drilling the holes in the base of the press, the yoke 3-FT. WOOO ee was removed: -~ = holes were cut underneath the die and in one side of the bed so that the punchings could be re- moved. The die is held to the bed by clamps, while the ram is bolted to a strip of thin steel supported at the proper height at each end. The punch and die being in line with the screw, a cavity is made in the upper end of the ram screw for a steel ball, which furnishes a hard- ened bearing and reduces the friction. After extensive use, the horizontal piece of steel holding the ram and forming a spring was not permanently bent, as the amount of deflection was not more than “6 in. The extra leverage required to force the punch through the work was obtained by bolting a wooden lever to the handwheel of the letter press.— Dexter W. Allis, Whitman, Mass. 3 2x1} COLD-ROLLED STEEL @A “circular mil” is a term used in elec- trical wire measurements and is the area of a circle .001 in. in diameter. The ex- pression “circular inch” is also met with in electrical measurements and is the area of a circle 1 in. in diameter. Hence a circular inch is equal to 1,000,000 circular mils. The circular inch is equal to .7854 sq. in., and a square inch equals 1.2732 circular inches or 1,273,239 circular mils. ~ ~ Rubber Stamps for Floor Layouts Frequently, in engineering offices, it is desirable to make preliminary plans in order to show officials or clients a sug- 48-2 poor 70077) ez - “oO PLAN OF GARA GE, SHOWING TRUCKS J a TRUCK Rubber Stamps Cut from Erasers Prove Useful in Laying Out Floor Plans gested floor layout. For example, a garage of certain dimensions is proposed; this can be outlined in a few minutes, but then the inevitable question, “How many automobiles will it accommodate?” is asked. An ordinary pencil eraser is cut to represent the space that will be occu- pied by the car on the scale drawing, and, using it as a rubber stamp, the entire available area may be stamped quickly to show its car capacity. In a similar man- ner, stamps to indicate electric motors, grinders, planers, or other tools and machines, can be made and used to in- dicate, on the floor plan of a factory, various arrangements to obtain the great- est economy of space.—Robert W. Shel- mire, Chicago, Il. Clamp for Welding and Brazing Tees A clamping tool that consists of an eyebolt, rod, and strap is of special sery- ice in holding two sections of pipe to- gether at right angles for weld- ing, soldering, or brazing. All parts of the clamp are generally avail- able, and it is ap- plied to the work as shown in the drawing. This type of clamp is of particular ad- vantage in brazing, where the main re- quirement is to hold the parts without the least movement until the molten spelter sets, since otherwise the joint is invariably a failure.

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By A. J. R. CURTIS NE of the greatest factors in the tre- mendously increased use of Portland cement in the last 40 years has been the concrete sidewalk. Although the concrete walk took the country by storm about the time Dewey fought the battle of Ma- nila, and has maintained first place ever since in popular favor, a number of ordi- nary errors in construction still persist. Some of these mistakes are serious in their consequences, as shown in Fig. 2, endangering life and limb, and causing much needless expense. All, however, are easy to avoid, as the principles in- volved in laying sidewalks are simple, and the technique easy to acquire. A concrete sidewalk should be merely a collection of independent concrete slabs, laid one beside another on a firm, well- drained subgrade. In locations where surface water disappears quickly and can- not become trapped under slabs, walks are frequently placed directly on the ground. If the slabs are laid where water is likely to become pocketed under on, either a subgrade, consisting of a 6-in. layer of cinders or gravel, or tile drainage, must be used to prevent possible heaving from frost. Where the walk is placed on an earth fill or elevation, the latter must be thoroughly compacted, and in the case of clay, or other water-bearing soil, the use of a cinder or gravel subgrade under the concrete is a wise precaution. Fills should extend at least 1 ft. beyond the walk on either side and the edges should slope off at an angle of 30°. The finished subgrade should slope toward one side at pitch of 1, in. to the foot, and the fin- shed walk is usually given a correspond- ng pitch. Some of the common mistakes in side- walk construction are shown in the ac- ompanying illustrations. Failures due to lisregard, or ignorance, of the law of ex- yansion and contraction, as illustrated in ‘igs. 1 and 2, and of proper concret- ing methods, as in Fig. 6, are the most common. Concrete has an expansion co- efficient 6f about .00001, which means that for every degree Fahrenheit in tempera- ture change a piece of concrete will ex- pand or contract approximately one hundred-thousandth of its length. As a - aa 8 practical illustration, a sidewalk 100 ft. long has an actual variation in length of about 1.2 in. between the extreme tem- peratures of zero and 100° F. If this walk were put down when the tempera- ture was at 50°, it might be expected to expand one-half of the above amount it the thermometer reached 100°, and to contract as much from its original length if the temperature reached zero. Ex- pansion in sidewalks may be provided for jn ordinary straightaway work by leaving space of from %% in. to %% in. between labs every 50 feet. If a long piece of sidewalk is con- structed in the summer, without dividing it into separate slabs, the contraction in cold weather will be sufficient to make the walk tear itself apart at one or more places, and the opening thus formed will continue to widen as the sections con- tinue to shrink. The remedy for this, as well as for several other sidewalk diffi- culties, lies in making the walk a series of disconnected slabs, usually not more than 6 ft. in each surface dimension, no slab to have a greater length than twice the width. Such slabs can take whatever little movement may be required without affecting adjoining slabs. A very effective method of producing a positive division between the slabs is illustrated in Fig. 7, which shows how the slabs are laid alternately. The need for efficient concreting meth- ods has always been apparent in our sidewalks. Slipshod methods have been due largely to a failure to realize that the sidewalk really constitutes a very exacting use of concrete. The apparent simplicity of the thing invites careless methods. Sidewalk slabs are quite thin for their size, probably averaging less than 4 in. in thickness, exposing large areas to extreme conditions and often hard use without any protection whatever. In starting to lay the walk, 2 by 4-in. forms are staked firmly to the desired level, the subgrade having been properls leveled, with its surface 4 in. below the grade of the finished walk. Concrete, 1ade of approximately 1 part cement to 1, parts torpedo sand, and 5 parts of ravel or crushed stone, all pieces of the ’

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ax A ee In Figs. 1 and 2 are Shown the Result of Expansion; Fig. 3, a Sidewalk Slab Forced Out of Place by Tree Roots; the Sidewalk in Fig. 4 Failed Because of a Poor Subgrade, While That in Fig. 6 was Made of Weak Concrete, with Dirty Materials, and in Fig. 9 the Subgrade has been Undermined. Fig. 5 Shows the Use of the Trowel, and Fig. 7 the Proper Method of Laying the Walk. Curbs should be Cast as Shown in Fig. 8, to Prevent Their being Pushed Outward by the Expansion of the Walk

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780 latter above 14 in. in size, is then de- posited to a depth of at least 34% in. This concrete should be sufficiently wet so that water will flush the surface under light tamping, and should be no wetter. The surface is struck off exactly *4 in. below the top of the forms by means of a notched straightedge. The surfacing course, composed of a mortar made of 1 part cement to 2 parts sand, is placed on the base course, usually within an hour, and always before the surface of the base has dried out. The mortar is mixed wet enough to be readily workable, but not sufficient for water to flush to the surface when troweled. The surface grade is obtained by working a straightedge across the top of the forms with a zigzag motion, removing the ex- cess material and filling the depressions. After the straightedge has brought the surface to a practically true grade, the wooden float, shown in the lower left- hand corner of Fig. 5, and later the steel trowel, are used to produce a true, even surface of smooth texture. The float is merely a flat wooden trowel, the surface of which is 5 by 15 in., with the corners slightly rounded. The steel trowel has the property of drawing the fine particles to the top very readily, and for that reason should be used as sparingly as possible, as excessive troweling will, as a rule, produce slippery surfaces and hair- line checks. Single-course sidewalks are made throughout their entire thickness of a \single mixture—usually 1 part cement to 2 parts sand and ‘3 parts gravel or broken jstone—and are usually 4 in. thick. It is mot possible to produce as smooth a sur- face as in two-course work, but less material is required, and quite a little less labor. In practice, the two-course construction described above about 1 bbl. or 4 sacks of cement for 45 POPULAR MECHANICS sq. ft. of surface, while for the one-course construction the same quantity produces bout 47 sq. ft. of surface. Metal division ylates or wooden partitions provide the iImost convenient means of dividing the ‘forms to produce independent slabs. The ‘metal plates are better because they can be kept in position a few hours, and then, if kept clean and well oiled, can be with- drawn without difficulty. The slabs are frequently laid alternately, as in Fig. 7, to secure positive division. In such cases heavy paper is inserted between the slabs previously and latterly placed. The walk is by no means finished until the slabs have been cured. As soon as the surface is sufficiently hard to resist fprinki by a fine spray from a hose or prinkling can, it should be wetted, and cept continually moist for four or five days at least. Failure to cure properly, ‘and overtroweling, are the chief causes of “dusting,” and the former often leads to definite loss in strength. Some other faults in sidewalk construc- tion are well illustrated by the photo- graphs. In Fig. 3, the sidewalk was placed too close to a large tree, the roots of which raised the slab shown in the foreground. The sidewalk shown in Fig. 6 was a failure because of the use of poor, weak concrete, made of dirty materials, insufficient cement, and the poor bond between the base course and the surfac- ing. In Fig. 4 is shown the effect of a poor subgrade, which has sunk away on both sides, failing to support the walk properly, and causing a “broken back.” The displacement of the curb, shown in Fig. 1, could have been avoided, had the slab been laid over the curb section, as shown in Fig. 8; the expansion of the slab would not then have damaged the curb. In Fig. 9, the subgrade of the walk Shortening Rivets in Quantities We needed some rivets, 4% in. long and 1, in. thick, but found that the stock of this size was exhausted. There was a large supply of longer rivets on hand, however, and rather than wait for a stock of rivets of the proper size, it was de- cided to cut down the long ones. A num- ber of %-jn. holes were drilled in a 14-in. steel plate, and another and thinner steel plate of the same length and width was also provided. In use, the rivets were inserted in the holes in the drilled plate and the second plate placed over the requires has been undermined, and may cause eventual failure of the walk. rivet heads. The assembly was then turned over and clamped in a vise, with the heads of the rivets down. A cold chisel was sharpened on one side only, and used to cut the rivet ends flush with the plate. In using this method, precau- tion should be taken to prevent injury from the flying ends.—Frank Jablecnik, Chicago, Iil. @The average consumption of coal in steam boilers is 12 lb. per hour per sq. ft. of grate surface; there are 9 sq. ft. of heating surface te each square foot of grate surface.

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a

POPULAR Rocker Lever for Overhead Valves Under the above title, on page 158 of our January, 1922, issue, we published a short article describing a tool for remov- ing the tappet rods of an overhead-valve motor. We did not know at the time that this was patented; we have since been informed that it is, and our readers are therefore cautioned against making any tools similar to this. Clamping Work Usually one angle plate is applied to clamp work held for drilling or other operations, with the result that, while the work is held square on one face, it may easily tip in the opposite direction. In fact, so readily will the work tip that the workman commonly uses a square to find wheth- er or not it is true. All this takes time, and he has to tap the work with a ham- mer until he gets it just right. He then gives a final straightening twist to the clamp, and away the work slips again, not much perhaps, but enough to do consider- able damage. With the use of two angle plates, all this is avoided, as the faces must be square with each other if the angle plates are square. The one clamp grips slightly lower than the other.

Header for Kafir Corn One of the best things to use for the blade of a kafir-corn header is an old crosscut or one-man saw. OF The back of “ee | the gam. is taped sharpened by grinding, and the blade is then mounted, back down, be- tween two 2 by 6-in. pieces, these being held a sufficient distance apart by wash- ers, to leave a slot for the blade. Four legs are provided on the ends of the header so that it may be placed over the edge of the wagon box.—R. E. Deering, Clements, Kan.

MECHANICS 781 Portable Electric Testing Unit An electrical testing unit consisting of four dry cells, with one test lamp, and two pointed terminals on flexible leads, is contained in a carrier made from an empty oilcanand provided with a handle for — carrying. Two sides |¢ of the can are VY,

naees ee ee

QO, cut off level eS rN with the top of the battery OIL andthe re- BEST GRADE maining sides | ot enmnen ZA

cut as shown. The test lamp _< is mounted inside, on a wooden block, to prevent breaking. The wooden handle, which can be made from an old broomstick, is fastened to the carrier by a screw at each end. Two holes are drilled through the handle, into which the terminals are inserted to keep them out of the way when the set is not in use, and to prevent short-circuiting of the battery.

Guarding Machine Rolls Any machine that uses rollers is dan- gerous, because it is so easy for the oper- ator to get his hand in between the rolls Generally the distance between the rolls varies according to the work going through them, and this fact in itself makes the _ prob- lem of protection very difficult. The drawing shows a_ simple scheme that has saved many a hand and _ finger. The two guards not only act as guards but guides as well; they are pivoted on studs, and open or close to suit the thickness of the stock being rolled. The bottom guard is held in an upright position by means of a spring, one end of which is fastened to the guard, while the other is fastened to the body of the machine. Both guards are provided with lugs, on one or both ends, which bear against some part of the machine, and prevent them from coming into contact with the rollers.—J. H. Moore, Toronto, Can.

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$82 Cutting Sheet Metal with a Handsaw A simple method of cutting sheet-metal roofing with a handsaw without injury to the latter can be used by carpenters and HANDSAW SHEET METAL a_ SHEET METAL 2”"xa” | A Simple Method of Cut- | ting Sheet Metal, in the Absence of Snips, with an Ordinary Handsaw: The Saw Cuts Cleanly and Quickly, and is Not Injured by the Process others if a pair of snips is not available. Two planks are supported by horses at each end. A space just wide enough to permit insertion of the saw blade, is left between the planks. To cut the sheet metal, it is laid on the planks, the line along which the cut is to be made being directly over the space between the boards. The back edge of the saw is placed in the space, against the end of the metal. A piece of two by four is then placed against the underside of the planks and the toothed edge of the saw, as shown in the upper drawing. With the saw held in this manner, a backward pull on the handle starts the cut. This opera- tion is repeated until the sheet has been cut across.—Irl R. Hicks, Centralia, Mo. Tapped Holes in Thin Tubing In making an _ overhead irrigation sprinkler, some of the pipes were found too thin to hold threads into which the sprinkler jets could be screwed. The difficulty was overcome by using a center punch to make the holes, and to pull the metal into a long neck, which could then readily be tapped. In this manner the whole of the thin- walled pipe was made to take the sprinkler jets, without the delay that would have been caused in ob- taining heavier pipe—John Gormly, Norristown, Pa. , POPULAR MECHANICS Silent-Chain Sprockets as Belt Pulleys Small electrical generators for automo- bile use are almost invariably driven by silent chains running over sprockets. A fact not very generally known is that such a sprocket can be used without altera- tion to carry a belt when necessary for testing the generator, or even for regular operation on a car in emergency. Many mechanics would suppose that a flat belt would not stay on the sprocket, since it is not crowned like a belt pulley. A test will convince, however, that there is no dan- ger of the belt coming off unless it slips or breaks. The greatest objection to run- ning a belt on a silent-chain sprocket is that it is very hard on the belt and its coupling. The drive should therefore never be used except for a test or when a broken chain, which cannot be immedi- ately replaced, makes the use of the belt necessary.—Curtis Ralston, Chicago, Ill. Repairing Pump Jack for Engine Drive A deep-well pump was fitted with a jack geared to a 114-hp. engine, pumping water through a 1%4-in. pipe against a 200-ft. head. The jack was of — the ordinary commercial Pivot — type, consist- ing of a cast- on iron yoke Li through which th e —- pump rod ~PuMP — fitted and to which it was — clamped, and STOCK. two hardwood arms, drilled with a series of holes and bearing on crankpins on the gears. The yoke broke in the middle, causing the wooden arms to break also, but without damaging the pump roa, guide, or ‘the cast-iron bearing boxes bolted to the lower ends of the wooden members. As it was thought that a new yoke of the same pattern would soon break also, a new rib consisting of two arms of 114 by 14-in. iron was made. The upper ends were bent inward to meet the pump rod, and were bolted to it with a bolt and locknuts, thus eliminating the yoke. The original cast-iron boxes were bolted to the lower ends of the iron arms. When tried out, the arms were found to BEARINGS FROM ORIGINAL JACK ~ >> DRIVING GEAR

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POPULAR MECHANICS 783 bend outward, and to overcome this, an iron brace of 4 by 2-in. stock was bolted across them. As the thrust on the brace was outward, %e-in. bolts were found large enough to hold it, although rivets could also have been used. The brace was offset enough to clear the pump-rod guide casting; its corners were forged round instead of square for additional strength. Gauge for Milling Hexagons Those who have occasion to mill hexag- onal shapes from round stock will find the gauge illustrated a valuable assistant. In order to avoid cutting one side too deeply and thus spoiling the work, it is usual to fall back on the cut-and-try method, whereby it may be necessary to revolve the work in the dividing head several times before a full hexagon is cut. The depth of cut can also, of course, be figured out, but this method is avoided by many on ac- \ count of the | liability of er- ( rors creeping WORK into the cal- culation. The body of the gauge is *, in. thick, with the end cut to a “VV” of 120°, included angle, the center of which is filed away or a hole drilled to ad- mit light. A slot is cut along the length of the body, one side of the slot being exactly in line with the center of the V. Next, a piece is made to slide in the slot with a 30° angle on the end, the angular portion fitting a clearance slot cut in the body. A slight bevel is filed on one side of the sliding piece, and a flat-head screw and knurled nut, used as shown, complete the device. To prevent the screw from turning when the nut is tightened, a flat is filed on the underside of the head, to fit against the bevel on the sliding piece. To use the gauge, the sliding piece is pushed forward until the corner is in line with the edge of the shaft, as shown. The nut is then tightened, and a line is scribed on the work along the angular part of the sliding piece. This line is then clearly defined with punch marks, and the cutter set to split these in two. The work can then be milled to this depth on six sides, and a perfect hexagon, for the size of stook used, will result. SLIDING PIECE’ CLEARANCE SLOT? FLAT - HEAD CLAMPING SCREW Handy Combination Tool A handy combination tool that will find many uses in the hands of the automotive repairman or in the repair shop, is easily CLAMPING de Mos ‘ Mpa ee R SCREWDRIVER FOR ELECTRICAL WORK Bad. aes TIT Ne fon Xs) \xnire BLADE . AN RA NY —. “aa § a A rn A. \STUBBED SAW BLADE WIRE-STRIPPING TOOL COTTER-PIN TOOL A Bendy Toolholder and Outfit of Tools, Made from Pieces of Hacksaw Blades, That will Find Many Uses in the Hands of the Repairman and Auto Owner made from a piece of round steel, about 7, in. in diameter. One end of the stock is turned, threaded, the end beveled, and slotted to take the tools. A nut, with an interior bevel corresponding to that on the screw, is provided to screw over the threaded portion of the holder, so that, when in place and screwed tight, the tools will be firmly held. A set of tools for use in a holder of the type described may easily be made from pieces of hack- saw blades, a few suggestions being shown in the drawing. These, and others that will suggest themselves, can easily be shaped on a grinding wheel. Improving the Pipe Cutter A boiler maker found that boiler tubes cut off at the ends with the revolving- wheel type of pipe cutter cracked when the bead was being turned over. To over- TOOL-STEEL come this diffi- GUSTER. culty, the mov- WHEEL able wheel was removed,and for it atiiael a cutter similar to AS a lathe tool was oj §E substituted, with CUTTER results that were entirely satisfac- tory. The cutter need not be turned down against the work so hard as is the case when the wheel cutter is used.—Irwin T. Fox, Riohmond, Ind.

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Lathe Used as Milling Machine With the simple addition of a vertical feed to raise and lower the work, a lathe makes a first-class milling machine. There are various attachments manufactured for this purpose, but all that is necessary FACING CUTTER ~ (i f Compound Slide Rest, Mounted on an Angle Plate, Converts the Lathe into a Milling Machine. The Work is Held in a Tool Vise, and Standard Milling Cutters are Mounted on a Taper-Turned Arbor, Fitting into Headstock Spindle for a small lathe is an angle plate to change the compound slide from the hori- zontal to the perpendicular. This angle plate, faced on both sides, has holes drilled in it to match the circular groove in the compound swivel. The toolpost slot may be used to hold the work by tap- ping the casting to receive setscrews. A small tool vise can be clamped to the toolrest, or if a clamping table is pre- ferred, it may be used in the same man- ner. The attachment is universal, as the plate may be swiveled on the carriage or the compound slide may be swiveled on the plate, to give any desired angle. The cutters are carried on a_taper-turned arbor, fitting the lathe spindle. If heavy cutting is to be done, this arbor should be tapped to receive a long stud, passing through the headstock spindle, whereby the arbor can be drawn up tightly. Stand- ard facing, side, or end-milling cutters may be used—Edwin J. Bachman, Ful- lerton, Pa. Creosoted-Wood Silos Wood-preservation studies have shown that the value of wood silos can be greatly increased by proper treatment with coal- tar creosote. A good creosote treatment will not only increase the durability of the wood, but will reduce the tendency of the staves to shrink when the silo is empty. A creosoted silo cannot be paint- ed afterward; however, it does not need POPULAR MECHANICS painting, for the creosote protects the wood, and its color is very pleasing. Highly durable woods, such as heart cypress or redwood, do not need protec- tion against decay so much as the non- durable woods, but a thorough creosote treatment will make the nondurable woods, such as sap pine, last longer than durable species will without treatment. Contamination of the silage by creo- sote from the staves need not be feared. This is borne out by experiments and inquiry among the many farmers who have used creosoted silos. In order to be quite sure, it is well to allow the creo- soted staves, or the finished silo, to stand a few weeks before filling. The most thorough creosote treatment can be given by pressure methods. If pressure-treated wood is not available, very good results will be obtained by the hot and cold-bath treatment. If a good penetration of coal-tar creosote is ob- tained by either of these processes, it is not too much to expect the silo staves to resist decay for from 25 to 30 years. A Simple Internal Gauge When used on collars or other work of short length, the adjustable internal gauge illustrated will easily take the place of a number of solid plug gauges. The minimum diameter of the one shown is 1 in., this being the size to which the head is finished. Two %e-in. holes are first drilled and reamed in the side to take round-ended pins. Next, a quadrant is milled out as shown, and a clamping plate, with two grooves to fit over the pins, is made. A hole is drilled and tapped in the gauge, between the two pin holes, and a‘ square-headed ~— collar screw, that passes through a hole in the clamp, completes the assembly. The first pin is used for the low-limit setting, and the second for the high, the pins being set by measuring over all with a micrometer. When setting, it is convenient to have the clamp tightened on the pins just enough to hold them in place; then the micrometer can be brought down to the size required, pushing the pin in at the same time. PINS=—

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POPULAR MECHANICS Veterinary Capsules for Small Parts Empty veterinary capsules make excel- lent receptacles for holding very small parts and pieces in such a manner that the quantity and condition of the contents can be told at any time, as the capsules are transparent, and, unlike glass, prac- tically unbreakable. Used in series, the capsules, which can be obtained in differ- ent sizes, can be used to hold beads, paint or bronze colors, pins, tiny buttons, small screws, graphite, or leads. These capsules, being made of gelatin, must not be al- lowed to become wet. A simple rack for holding such receptacles in either a hori- zontal or perpendicular position can easily be made.—C. Nye, New York City. Connecting-Rod Wrench An offset made on the end of an open- end wrench, as shown in the drawing, will be found of serv- Lo wemaggit ice in removing \ ER the capscrew from \\ the wristpin-end of connecting rods. The wrench is bent in such a way that the han- dle will clear the piston skirt. Working with the hands alone, this tool makes it possible to take out or replace the capscrew without re- quiring any clamping arrangement to prevent the piston from turning.

A Feed-Water Filter A rather novel filter, made from Turk- ish towels and marsh hay, was used in connection with the Dayton river-channel improvement work, for removing sedi- ment from the river water in order to have available at all times an adequate supply of clear water for the steamboat boilers, The construction of the filter is clearly shown in the drawing. It consists pri- marily of along rectangular wooden tank, divided into compartments by partitions, through which the feed water is caused to circulate, entering at one end and leav- ing at the other and passing through consecutive filters of hay and toweling in the course of its journey. The water enters, yellow or brown with unsettled river mud, and leaves ready to enter the boilers, clear enough to drink. 785 Five compartments are shown in the drawing, but a greater or smaller number may be used, depending on the amount of sediment to be removed. The com- partments are separated by double baffle boards set about 3 in. apart, the water (INTAKE TURKISH-TOWEL DISCHARGE ee" SCREENS ~ i = | t

ih : ta — —<s <) & Gg _ <3 “ah , — = . { } 6 . ————— :

= + ~~ ——_*—_ Hav A Simple Filter for Removing Mud from River Water, to Provide Clear Water for Steamboat Boilers, Uses Hay and Turkish Toweling as Filtering Materials passing, in all cases, over the top of the one nearest the inlet and under the bottom of the next, thus always enter ing a compartment at the bottom and passing upward through the filter. Each compartment is filled with hay to the level of the cross cleats near the top. Finer screens, made by tacking Turkish toweling onto rectangular frames, are placed on top of the hay and held in place by the cross cleats. The water passing through the compartments, always in an upward direction, leaves its burden of sediment in the hay and under the towel- ing, thus preventing the rapid clogging of the filter which would result if the water passed downward. With this arrangement, it was necessary to clean the filter only twice a week—a very simple operation, consisting in removing the towels, washing them with a hose and re- placing them. It was not found necessary to remove the hay except at long inter- vals. The simplicity and efficiency of the device, which can easily be built by any carpenter, adapt it to many different situations. It must be remembered, how- ever, that it is for sediment only; lime and other soluble ingredients are, of course, not removed.—I van E. Houk, City Engineer, Dayton, Ohio. Painting on Old Walls Old walls, especially of kitchens, have a thin layer of grease and smoke upon them that may not be perceptible, but which will prevent paint from adhering properly. Before being repainted, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water, to which a little ammonia may be added, and finally rinsed with water.

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~> ie 8) or) POPULAR MECHANICS Spindle-Straightening Fixture take the centering attachment upon which the work to be straightened is sup- ported. The centering attachment is made from a piece of steel rod, which is flattened at one end and threaded at Often, in the course of the manufac- ture of articles of standard design, small shafts or spindles are used; these are \ SWINGING JAW 1, SQ.STEEL SPINDLE TOBE | the other. On the thread- SWIVEL JAW ed end is screwed a sta- t ; tionary center, which is ee ZEIV | held tightly by a locknut. ca : A = ss ' BENCH | swinging center is pivoted to the flat end of the rod, thus permitting quick positioning of the | work between the cen- ters. Also, the weighted end of the swinging cen- CENTER ATTACHMENT >—— HAND LEVER : | j fon | ter keeps it pressed "> ) | against the end of the 2 =) SWIVEL work, and keeps the cen- ——"F ( YAW | tering fixture normally in - a _.. | a vertical position. — ) > When the operator has (| pirection | placed a spindle between OF PRESSURE st HREADED u LC.R.STEEL, ROUND WEIGHT CENTER ATTACHMENT the centers, he will first . | revolve it with his fin- Sapna o | gers, and, by sighting, ye detect the point at which «f the work runs out. He now brings the high spot toward himself and by pressing down on the For Straightening Light Shafts or Spindles, in Quantity, a Fixture of This ype The Centers Holding the Work Are Adjustable Horizontally So That Any Part of the Work can be Reached Has Much to Commend It. usually made from a good grade of tool steel, centered and turned to the form required. After centering a great quan- tity of such spindles on small turret lathes, it was found, after they had been cut off, that quite a few had been cut from stock that had been slightly bent, and while they would run fairly well at the ends, due to close chucking, the cen- ter would run out so badly that they would not clean up on the machining cuts. It was decided that the common method of straightening the stock would be too slow and unprofitable, and the fix- ture shown in the drawing was made. The body of the device is made of square steel and is bolted to a bench so that the slotted end projects over the edge. A %-in. slot, cut in one end, receives a movable swinging jaw. Mounted on the top side of the base is a swivel jaw having two extending lugs, the metal between them having been removed on a shaper; this block is fastened loosely to the base by a 5%-in. capscrew. A %-in. hole is drilled and reamed horizontally through the iron base, just behind the slot, to toggle handle, exerts pressure against the work, bending it in the opposite direction. The work is again tested, and the operation repeated as may be necessary. Stripping Films from Cracked Negatives To strip the film from cracked glass photographic negatives, so that the film can be placed on another piece of glass and prints made from it in the regular manner, the film is first hardened in a three-per-cent solution of chrome alum, washed for five minutes, and then dried. Next, a 20-per-cent solution of white gelatin is made and filtered while hot. A liberal quantity of this is poured over the negative, which has previously been warmed and placed as level as possible. When the gelatin has hardened, the neg- ative is again placed in the chrome-alum solution, washed for five minutes, and placed in denatured alcohol for a half hour, after which it is dried again. To strip the negative from the glass, use a mixture of 2 oz. water, 1 oz. de- natured alcohol, and 1 dr. of commercial hydrofluoric acid. After a few minutes’ immersion in this bath the film can be

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POPULAR loosened around the edges with a small stick of wood, cut to a chisel point. When this stage is reached, the negative is transferred to a tray of clean water for a minute or two and then to another; the actual stripping is done in the latter tray, by means of the stick. After re- moving the film, it is washed in two or three changes of clean water, then laid out smoothly on a ferrotype plate to dry. The fingers should not be allowed to touch the hydrofluoric-acid — solution, which is very corrosive and poisonous. Usually it is not advisable to place the film on glass, as there is considerable risk of distortion in drying, but, if neces- sary, it can be done. A good method is to fix out an unexposed plate, and harden in formalin the layer of clean gelatin left. This is slipped underneath the stripped film while the latter is lying in water. The plate is then raised until the film rests on the glass securely. Finally, it is drained and allowed to dry in con- tact with the gelatin. = Cutting Torch Produces Ornamental Ironwork with an oxy- in the photo- veloped makes it possible to cut the metal this means, the hinges shown having been What can be done in the way of produc- | acetylene cut- Wrasa=-n9 ting torch is graph. The in- as easily as wood is cut with a band saw. cut from bronze.—Harold C. Ridgely, ing ornamental hinges from sheet metal . \ | clearly shown tense heat de- Practically any metal can be worked by New York City. Balancing Polishing Wheels It is highly important that polishing wheels be in balance. Balancing ways are made for this special purpose, and the balancing itself is usually done by nailing pieces of sheet lead on the light side of the wheel, until the wheel remains at rest in any position on the ways. It is also important that the wheel run abso- lutely true. The wheel is not necessarily true, however, even if in balance. By the use of an old file or buff stick, supported by a temporary rest, the wheel can be made to run so that every portion of its circumference will come in contact with the work. MECHANICS ~ wD 2 Scaffold That need Not be Fastened to Building When reshingling or repairing a build- ing, it is quite necessary to have a scaf- fold to work from, as a ladder does not give the prop- er freedom of movement or stability for the worker, and, unlike new construc- tion, it is not usually possi- ble to nail blocking to the sides of the house for supports. The drawing shows how a scaffold can be erected without marring the surface of the build- ing, and yet be substantial enough for all work. A piece of 2 by 4 or 2 by 6-in. stuff is placed at an angle to the building, and as close up under the eaves as possible, as this saves side bracing. Another piece is placed in a vertical position, and cross- ing the first, and the two are spiked to- gether where they cross. This is done at each end of the building, and in the mid- dle if necessary; then short pieces of sim- ilar lumber are nailed across the long pieces to form supports for the staging. A Small Bolt Cutter Sawing off the ends of bolts is slow and tedious work, and it is not always possible to use the hacksaw, because space is lack- ing. The drawing shows a clipper that can be made from two flat files, the ar- rangement be- ing such that a powerful le- verage is ob- tained. Four 12-in. files are used, their ends being annealed so that they may be drilled and the cutting lips forged. When assembled with bolts or rivets, two ordinary file han- dles are fitted to the tangs of the files forming the handles. The cutting edges should be tempered to the same hardness as that generally used for lathe tools, that is, to a light-yellow color. TEMPERED BLADES

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POPULAR MECHANICS Driving Pipe Underground It is often possible, when laying iron pipe of small diameter, to drive the pipe through the earth and save the cost and — trouble of dig- ging a trench, with the aid of aspecially constructed point, some- thing after the style of a well point. One trouble that is common to this method is that the outer end of the pipe must be protected against the blows of the ham- mer or maul used. Wooden blocks offer slight protection and damage to the threads is likely to result in spite of them. A much better method is to use a steel wedge secured to the pipe by a length of chain in the manner shown. The blows of the hammer on the wedge tighten the chain and afford sufficient grip, and the heaviest blow will not damage the pipe. Punching in the Lathe The drawing shows a rather novel fix- ture used for cutting cardboard disks in a lathe. There are three main parts, the punchholder, punch, and operating shaft. The holder is made of any convenient size, to the shape shown, the back end fitting in the toolpost. Near the front, a hole is bored to take the milled bar that operates the punch, and tangent to this hole a small hole is drilled from top to bottom. This _———s is counter- bored, the size of the punch to be used, down to the center of the larger hole, and a tapered grooveis milled from the counter- bore to the front of the holder, on the top face. The punch is made to fit the counterbored hole, as shown, and fitted with a coil spring, washer, and pin, to heep it down on its seat. A narrow slot is HELD IN TOOLPOST - SLOT FOR ___ CARDBOARD TAPERED cut in the top of the holder, in the posi- tion shown, to take the cardboard from which the disks are cut. The operating shaft is a bar, centered at both ends and having semicircular grooves milled on opposite sides. In use, the holder is gripped in the toolpost, with the shaft held between centers and driven by a dog. The lathe is run backward, and the stock fed by hand; at each revolution the punch cuts two disks, which are forced out of the hole, and slide down the tapered groove into a box. A Simple Locknut The drawing shows one of the simplest forms of locknut, that will stay in place without loosening until forcibly re- moved with a wrench. A *6- in. or larger hole, the size varying with the size of the nut used, is drilled through the side ofthe nut. After the nut has been tightened, a nickiscut across the bolt thread, using a small chisel punch as shewn. The hole serves a double purpose, as it per- mits insertion of the punch and forms a cavity for the upraised burr, which pre- vents the nut from turning. Naturally, to be the most effective, the cutting edge of the chisel should be held parallel to the axis of the bolt when raising the burrs. Grinding Troubles If the wheel glazes, the work is burned or the wheel cuts slowly, the remedies are, for the first, to use a coarser wheel; for the second, to use a softer wheel, and for the last, to decrease the table speed or in- crease the feed. If the wheel wears too fast, increase the table speed or decrease the feed; if this has no effect, try either a harder or a finer wheel. For a finish that is too rough use a finer wheel, or, in some cases, an elastic wheel; or, these remedies failing, try a little cutting oil in the grinding solution, if only soda water is being used.

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POPULAR MECHANICS Formula for Breaking Strength of Rope For three-strand Manila rope with a regular lay, and from % to 4% in. in diameter, the following computation will give the strength of the cordage: The average breaking strength in pounds equals 5,000 multiplied by the diameter of the rope in inches, and the product then multiplied by the diameter in inches in- creased by one. Thus, in calculating the strength of a 3-in. rope, multiply 5,000 by 3, the diameter in inches, and then mul- tiply the product by 4, which is the diam- eter of the rope increased by one, the total product being 60,000 Ib. This method gives the average maximum weight that the rope will hold, but the working load must, of course, be much less. Adjustable Stock Support

For a small shop, the handy stock sup- port illustrated will be found much more useful than the usual telescopic arrange- ment, since it can be used to support bars very close to the floor, as in fitting a shaft to the finished machine, or high up for pipe-threading machines and work in the vise. It is made of *4 by 1%%-in. flat stock. Two pieces of stock form the base. These should first of all be dropped at the ends enough to clear a bolt head, then bent at right angles to form feet. The lever support is twisted at right angles at one FLAT IRON

‘SQUARE - HEAD BOLT RIVET \cLAMPING NuT end, bent up- ward a little, and a “V” cut. The opposite end is drilled for the pin on which it pivots, and which, being riveted at both ends, binds the three pieces together; a similar pin, with a sleeve, is used at the other end. <An ordinary square-headed %4-in. bolt slides between the two members forming the base, the top of the square on the bolt being filed a little on the sides to allow it to enter the channel and prevent it from turning. A special clamp- ing nut is shown, which, of course, is convenient, but an ordinary nut will serve the purpose if the cost is to be consid- ered. Made to a length of about 3 ft., this support has a range from that height to 6 in. from the floor. The bars held in this support must be fed or pulled for- ward so that the pressure is kept on the bolt, that is, away from the pivot. 789 Fixture for Lawn-Mower Repairs The drawing shows a fixture that has been in use for several years in a shop making a spe- cialty of lawn- mower re- pairs. It is made from short lengths of pipe and suitable fit- tings. The dis- tance between the two half-

tees is such «y= that a lawn 4 see Gur 10 er mower of any width can be placed in the fixture and held firmly. The projecting pipe ends of the fixture fit into holes drilled near the edge of the workbench, so that it can be removed when not in use. The lawn mower is supported in the fixture by the stay rod, as shown, with the handle rest- ing on the floor.— A. W. Zimmerman, Chicago, Il. Removing Tight Screws Screws of the slotted-head variety are, at times, very difficult to loosen, especially if they have remained undisturbed for a

long time in a damp place. The little tool “HANDLE, shown in the drawing , will aid in loosening such screws without de- stroying the slot, as any attempt to hammer them off will do, thus making the job more dificult. A short piece of %-in. stock is drilled up the center with a %e6-in. drill, knurled |Z 2 ORIVER on the outside, and an Fe angular slot, *s in. wide, i Z and running into the %e-in. hole, is cut in the side. The driver is made of “%¢-in. tool steel, drilled for a “*s-in. pin, which is driven in when the two parts are assembled. With the pin at the bottom of the angular slot, the tool is grasped firmly in one hand and placed in the screw slot. The top is then lightly tapped with a hammer, which, while keeping the blade in the slot, at the same time continually presses it round in a left-hand direction, so as to loosen the screw. Only light taps of the hammer should be used, as heavier blows will not produce the desired effect.

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790 POPULAR MECHANICS Unwrapping Wire in the Lathe HERE are occasions when it is neces- sary to remove the insulation from magnet or annunciator wire, as when triple-covered wire is to be reduced to double, to save winding space, or when the paraffined outer layer of annunciator wire In use, enough of the wire is stripped by hand to allow the unwrapped portion to be passed through the spindle and at- tached to the spool at the rear, and the cotton threads are carried through the guide arm and attached to the spool on the tube, the spring be-

SPRING BOLT

INSULATIUN GUIDE ARM LATHE CHUCK T

REEL FOR UNWRAPPED PIPE

ff GUIDE BUSHING af i — F ‘ > oar bE —— = = lau |= [ome yi 7 Ya)

Where No Other Method Is Available, Insulation may be Unwrapped from Cotton-Covered Wire in the Lathe, Saving Much WOODEN WINDING REER Tedious Hand Labor :

REEL aoe COLLAR STEADY REST

ing so adjusted as to al- low the spool to turn stifly, yet without pull- ing the wire badly out of line or breaking the strands. It can be seen aia “| that, as the wire is drawn ) along, the insulation will unwind from it, pass . through the guides on _— the rotating arm and wind itself on the spool. <<} As the rate of winding on the spool will be much less than that at which the strand is unwound from the wire, there will be considerable slippage between the spool, thrust LOCKNUTS’ SPRING REEL OF INSULATED WIRE

DETAIL OF GUIDE ARM

is to be removed to convert it into single cotton-covered magnet wire. This is an extremely tedious operation when done by hand, particularly when the wire is of any length. The drawing illustrates a lathe set-up designed to unwrap the insulation me- chanically. The insulated wire is carried on a reel, or spool, held on a bolt clamped to the compound rest. A metal thrust washer, a spring, and two locknuts on the end of the bolt, hold the spool by friction and prevent it from being too easily turned. The wire is carried along above the lathe bed through a sleeve held in the steady rest and through the head- stock spindle to another spool, arranged with wooden bearings and a hand crank, and mounted on a bench or stand beyond the lathe. A piece of brass or iron pipe is held in the universal lathe chuck; fastened over the chuck jaws is a clamp made of bar iron having its end turned over at right angles, to form a guide for the insulation stripped from the wire, two guide rings being provided for this pur- pose. Next, a brass thrust washer or plate is placed on the pipe, and then a hardwood spool, upon which the insula- tion is wound as it is unwrapped from the wire. Another thrust washer is placed in front of the spool, then a compression spring and an adjustable collar to hold it in place. washers, and tube, the spool being pulled around by the insula- tion. The success of the operation will depend upon the spring adjustment and the rate at which the wire is drawn along. An adjustment that is too loose will pre- vent the winding of the insulation upon the spool, while one that is too tight will pull the wire out of alinement and pos- sibly break the strand being unwound. By reversing the process, it is possible to wrap bare wire, but a smooth job would hardly result. For special pur- poses, however, such as wrapping thermo- couple resistance wires with asbestos string, the method should be successful. For a short lead, the end of the wire could be attached to a bolt clamped to the tool block in place of the spool; then the carriage would be started moving toward the end of the bed, drawing the wire through the headstock spindle and at the same time applying the wrappirg. Here a good deal would depend upon giv- ing the carriage the proper rate of feed. Two, three, or more, layers of insulation could be wrapped or unwrapped, but only one at a time, the wire being run back and started through each time another layer was to be worked upon. @ To drill horizontal holes accurately with a ratchet drill, make the punch mark deep, and apply sufficient pressure to the drill to prevent its tendency to slip down.

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POPULAR MECHANICS Extension for Cold Chisel There are times when the only method to loosen a nut with the tools at hand is to set a chisel against one of the corners and strike it with a hammer. However, sometimes nuts are so located that the chisel is not long enough to reach them. In such cases, an extension can easily be made for the chisel by driving a sleeve, of pipe or tubing, over the head of the chisel, and inserting a piece of rod, the size of the chisel shank, into the upper end of the sleeve. Grinding Piston Rings In the small jobbing shop there is often a call for special piston rings to fit odd- sized bores of steam and gas-engine cylin- ders. To get an accurate fit in the ring groove, the sides of the ring must be ground or filed off; this usually difficult job can readily be done on the shop’s universal tool grinder. An angle plate is mounted on the table of the grinder, parallel with the face of a cup wheel, as illustrated. A piece of flat steel is clamped against the angle plate and serves as a stop, against which the outer surface of the ring rotates. The CLAMP —— stop —__C™ ANGLE pare“) Gy; ‘\GRINDER TABLE } \ pesvoes RING GRINDER A Simple Method of Grinding Odd-Sized Piston Rings to the Proper Width on a Universal Tool Grinder Solves Another of the Problems of the Jobbing-Shop Mechanic ring rests and revolves on the table slide. When the rings are cut off the ring “pot” on the lathe, one side is faced carefully and made straight and true. This face is then brought against the vertical face of the angle plate, with the opposite face against the grinding wheel. Rotation of the ring is effected by slowly turning by hand, the wheel producing a pulling ef- fect on the ring in a downward direction. When one side is finished smoothly, the ring is reversed and the opposite side touched up and ground to the exact width of the groove, less about .0015 in. This trick can be applied to many other similar jobs, and, with a little care, good work is easily done. 791 Winding the Thresher Belt by Power One of the hard jobs of the thresher- man is the winding up of his long drive belt, and a device that reduces the manual SETSCREW A Simple Attachment for the Grain Separator That Lightens the Labor of the Thresherman by Winding His Long Drive Belt on a Reel—the Tractor Does the Heavy Work effort required to do this will be appre- ciated generally. The arrangement shown in the drawing made it possible for one farmer to use power for the purpose of winding the belt on the reel usually provided for that purpose. A winding drum was made from a section of a maple log and fitted with two 20-in. sheet-metal flanges. This drum was fastened to the shaft on which the reel was fitted by a spider, which was originally the hub from the fan of an old separator. A 60-ft. length of 44-in. rope, with a loop at one end and a hook at the other, was then prepared. The looped end of the rope was dropped over a pin driven into the face of the drum, so that when the rope had been unwound, it would slip off. An arm, with a hole in the lower end, was attached to the frame of the separator to act as a guide for the rope when rewinding. To operate the device, the tractor is driven to the separator as for hitching, but only the hook on the rope is attached to the drawbar. The belt is then fastened to the reel and the tractor is driven away. The pull on the rope wound around the drum serves to wind the belt in its place. When the belt is to be unwound again, the rope is attached to the drum and thus, as the belt reels off, the rope is wound up for repeated service. @ Mercury boils at 676° F., and at that and higher temperatures it vaporizes rapidly, though mercurial vapors will rise from the metal at a lower temperature.

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792 POPULAR MECHANICS Rack for Steel Stock Boxes Every factory uses standard steel stock or “tote” boxes, to carry from one opera- tion to another materials and parts being worked upon in the shops. Usually, there are many different kinds and sizes of parts that must be accommodated, and with a variety of production, it is not advisable 4 A Rack for Steel Stock Boxes That Makes Possible Rapid Counting of the Parts, and Also Pre- vents Them from being Damaged to equip the stock boxes to handle only one particular piece permanently. Flexi- bility must be secured, and this is accom- plished by a large manufacturer of lighting plants as illustrated. A steél plate, 14 in. thick, is cut enough smaller than the inside dimensions of the steel box so that it will drop in easily. It is drilled with a suitable number of holes, depending upon the number of spindles that is desired in the box. This number will depend on the size of the parts to be placed on the spindles and the clearance necessary between the parts. Enough space should be left between the spindles so that a variety of objects of approximately the same size can be ac- commodated, without danger of rubbing or damage. The spindles may be iron pipe, of any suitable size, although %-in. pipe usually provides sufficient strength. They should be threaded for about % in. on one end, and the holes in the plate tapped to suit. After the spindles are screwed into the plate, a pair of thin lock- nuts are screwed on the projecting ends of the spindles and lightly riveted over. This provides a strong, sturdy, adaptable rack that can easily be placed in an empty box. It also allows quick counting, as anyone can tell at a glance if all the spin- dles are full and how many parts are missing.—Edward H. Tingley, Dayton, Ohio. @An arrow cut on the feed pawl of a shaper will save time and confusion, by indicating the direction in which the a will feed for each position of the pawl, Finishing Wooden Patterns In making wooden patterns, the most tedious part of the work is the sand- papering between the several coats of shellac, and, also, applying the beeswax fillet. Little or no sandpapering need be done, yet a high gloss with but one coat of shellac obtained, if the pattern is first completely covered with melted beeswax. This may be applied with a hot iron held against a cake of the wax, which, as it melts can also be guided into the places to be filleted. Care must be taken not to have the iron so hot as to scorch the glue at the joints. Little wooden chisels and round-end tools are used to scrape off the surplus wax and to groove out the fillets, the wax chips being kept brushed away with a small brush. One coat of the var- nish will dry with a high gloss, and the pattern will be entirely moisture-proof and ready for the foundry. This method will be found particularly useful with patterns of irregular contour. Combination Box and End Wrench A novel and cheaply made wrench, de- signed for saving time when used on a milling-machine vise, does the work of an open-end wrench and a box wrench. All operators of milling machines know that when the vise is bolted to the table, with the jaws at right angles to the travel of the table, the regular wrench can only be given half a turn at a time, when opening or closing the vise, as it strikes the table. To save a little time some use an open- end wrench to bring the jaws up to the work, If special jaws are being used on irregular work, the vise may require sev- eral turns of the screw to open or close it. The wrench illustrated is made from %e by 1%-in. stock, forged into the shape shown. The bent-back portion has a square hole in it to fit the square of the vise screw. The front and adjacent side are also slotted to fit the square. The remainder of the stock is finished as desired, to form a handle grip. When opening or closing the vise, the wrench is used as shown by the solid lines, but when greater pressure is re-

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POPULAR quired to loosen or tighten, the wrench is slipped back until the square hole is off the square on the vise handle; it is then swung around and pushed down un- til the end of the slot rests on the vise- handle square, and the handle of the wrench is in a perpendicular position, as indicated by the dotted lines. The wrench is then used as an open-end wrench. Writing White on Blueprints White ink, water color, or a strong solution of baking soda, are generally used for writing on blueprints when extra details are to be added and it is not desir- able to make new prints from the cor- rected tracing. A fine permanent white line may be made by dissolving a small lump of unslaked lime in water and using this liquid as one would ink. The lime water does not work like whitewash, but, like baking soda, acts on the blue ground chemically, Drill for Slate or Marble Tile setters, plumbers, electricians, and others must frequently drill holes through hard, brittle tile, porcelain, or slate at no slight ex- penditure of time and broken drills. The drawing illustrates a drill for such mt? work that is particularly ef- fective for use when large holes are to be drilled. The cutting tools, F] ; which are made ANY DESIRED iin | of tool steel, are removable for sharpening, and can be made for holes of different diameters. The edges are milled off at an angle of about 45°, or enough for good clearance, and the lips are sharpened in about the same manner as an ordinary flat drill, the sides also be- ing sharpened. When a hole is to be drilled with this type of tool, a guide hole is necessary to allow the dust to fall through. Very slow speeds are essential to successful drilling in slate, marble, and similar materials. The drills will not work as well at high speed as at slow speed be- cause of the excessive friction.—Arthur F. Cox, Chicago, III. i“MACHINE STEEL MECHANICS 793 Dissolving Calcium Chloride When mixing the brine solution for refrigeration plants, calcium chloride is dissolved in water, and many hours of FROM BRINE PUMP GRANULATED CALCIUM CHLORIDE LUMP CALCIUM CHLORIDE ‘TOP OF ICE TANK Methods of Dissolving Granular or Lump Calcium, One of the Chemicals Used in the Brine Solutions of Refrigerating Installations, without Manual Labor, the Brine-Circulating Equipment Doing the Work back-breaking work can be saved if the machinery of the plant is made to do the work mechanically. The usual method of mixing the solution is to stir the chem- ical in a tub or barrel until dissolved and then dump it into the tank, and repeat. The drawing shows two systems, de- pending upon whether the granular or lump chemical is used. If the calcium chloride is granular, punch a number of holes through the bottom of the drum with a chisel and cut an opening in the head large enough for the insertion of a hose. Then roll the drum over on the tank top, remove about six ice cans, and set it up over the opening. Connect with the brine-circulating pump, and run the brine or water through the granulated chemical, which will dissolve in a very short time, leaving the drum empty. When dissolving the chemical in lump form, take a barrel, set it up over the tank in the same way as before, and con- nect a length of 14-in. pipe to the brine- circulating system; dump in the lump calcium and turn on the brine. The liquid will enter at the bottom of the barrel, and on rising, will pass through the chem- ical and through the bunghole into the tank below. In this manner the only manual labor connected with the opera- tion is to fill the barrel occasionally with the undissolved chemical. @ Engines running under widely fluctu- ating loads should be provided with a speed-limiting device which acts inde- pendent of the governor.

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794 POPULAR Rapid Jig Clamp Drilling flat plates of square or rec- tangular shape is a common shop opera- tion, and simple jigs are, as a rule, used to hold the work, more especially if there are any number of pieces of approximately the same size to be drilled. Such jigs generally take the form of a flat plate fit- ted with bushings for the necessary holes, the work itself being located against flat- tened pins and held by two screws at : ___—=i right angles to LOCATING PINS — each other. os) | For work of accurate 2 dimensions, the double- plate clamp shown is much to be preferred to the screws, as the work is gripped or re- leased by a single movement. The clamp is made of flat stock, which should be slightly thinner than the work, cut to the shape shown, and drilled and counterbored for a round‘headed screw. Through the side of the jig body a hole is drilled for a sliding pin, which has driven in its center another pin; the latter forming a wedge that slides between the work and the taper side of the clamp. The hole for the sliding pin should be drilled as close to the top as possible and a slot cut through afterward to clear the wedge pin. In use, the work is laid in place, and the sliding pin is tapped on the end with a light hammer. This forces the wedge pin between the end of the work and the taper of the clamp; this has the effect, as will be seen, of tightening the work from both sides at the same time. A tap on the opposite end of the sliding pin, of course, releases the work.

WEDGE PIN PLATE

FLAT PLATE SLIDING PIN SLOT

Laying Out Tapered Work The work required to lay out tapered work by the methods generally used in- volves con- siderable cal- culation, and an easier method will be appreciated by the drafts- man. For ex- ample, supposing it is desired to lay out a piece to be turned on the lathe, 714 in.

MECHANICS long, 2 in. in diameter at the small end, and with a taper of 2% in. to the foot. Proceed as follows: Lay out the center line, and mark off, on this line, a distance of 12 in. At one end lay off two points, 1 in. on each side of the center line, and erect a perpendicular joining the two points, thus marking the 2-in. diameter. As the taper is 2% in. per foot, add 214 to the diameter of the small end, obtain- ing 414 in.; then, at the other end of the 12-in. line, lay off 24% in. on each side. Join these points with the points mark- ing the smaller diameter. From the small end, measure 71% in. along the center line, and at this point draw a vertical line intersecting the two inclined lines. The length of this line, between the in- clined lines, will be the required diameter of the large end of the piece.

Alarm Circuit for Open Fuses On electric circuits that supply cur- rent to draft fans, electric heaters, water sterilizers, and the like, it is important that an attendant should have instant knowledge of trouble in the circuit. Fre- quently the attendant’s station is at a distant part of the plant, and for this reason the circuit shown in the drawing was devised to give an audible alarm when a fuse blows out. Each fuse is bridged by a relay; this may be of al- most any type or size, but should have a resistance of 100 ohms or more. The contacts of the two re- . lays are L_ emer bridged and Tory CELLS connected to ohh an ordinary doorbell and dry >attery. If desired, a switch may be cut in on the bell circuit to disconnect it when necessary. The operation is as follows: Curren: flows from the main line through the fuses to the load; the relays do not oper- ate, because they are short-circuited by the fuses. Should a fuse go open, the circuit would still be continuous through the relay winding, causing the relay to operate and the alarm to ring. The pur- pose of the fuse is not defeated, because the resistance of the relay winding will not allow an excessive flow of current.— C. M. Crouch, Minneapolis, Minn. TO MAIN LINE eae SWITCH eRELAY RELAY FUSES

zz < oe TO LOAD

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ofa ImMavew a _ | y ie PB, ow. ‘e ie rn m wt ———— -_ Information as to where to obtain any specified |, \) aan base? materials or parts for making objects described in the following pages may be had, on re from our Bureau of Information.—Editor. ss How to Make a Potato-Plant Sprayer By GEORGE G. MCVICKER Wy Bae acres of potatoes are threat- ened with destruction by the potato beetle, it is entirely out of the question to combat the insects by the time-honored method of going along the rows and brushing them into a can, or cracking them between two stones, and spraying must be resorted to if the crop is to be saved, If the area planted with potatoes is small, a hand sprayer may be used, but for a large acreage the by l-in. flat iron, with one end bent at right angles and a hole drilled through it for the piston rod of the pump. In the opposite end of the rod a hole is drilled, and a handle attached so that the pump can be operated by hand, if desired. This plunger may be made of hardwood. Four projecting lugs are riveted to the wheel on the pump side of the sprayer. These lugs are so arranged as to engage work is best done by a horse-drawn sprayer. The homemade spray- er described in this article is made by mounting a suitable container, which may be a steel oil barrel, an old water tank, or something of a _ similar character, on wheels, and providing it with a pair of shafts, arranged so avuto-tire that the horse will walk — between the rows, the wheels straddling the plants. The shafts are thus arranged by placing one shaft on the outside of one wheel and attach- ing that on the opposite side at an angle. The container is fastened to the frame by iron rods, bent to fit over the con- 7 tainer, and threaded at soa F the ends, which are Gage SECTIONAL VIEW Les OF NOZZLE ~ yan —A ) SPRING C ; omitted camamtinen RODS | xf} i | ? 4 J 1 bf bp SHAFTS oe I ~ ——. _2) y >\ : \ C. - ae } re =F —3,3 passed through holes Spraying Potatoes with a Homemade Sprayer, to Protect the Crop from the drilled in the frame cross members, then drawn up tight by nuts. To maintain the necessary air pressure in the tank for forcing out the spraying solution, a three-cylinder au- tomobile-tire pump is attached to a piece of plank across the front end of the tank; this is held in place by long bolts passing through a similar plank at the rear. The plunger rod, which is fastened to the piston rod of the pump, is made from 1% Ravages of Its Insect Enemies: Air Pressure for Forcing the Spray through the Nozzles is Obtained by Means of a Tire Pump with a short vertical arm riveted to the plunger rod and push it forward until the lug on the wheel slips off and allows a spring to return the plunger. If it is de- sired to prevent the pump from working when the device is on the road, the plunger-rod spring can be detached, or the lug on the plunger made as shown in the drawing. To connect the pump to 795 a

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796 the tank, a hole is drilled in the cap, large enough for the stem of a tire valve to pass through, and this is held in place by lock- nuts and rubber washers. The piping and nozzles are made from standard pipe and fittings, and the flow of spraying solution is regulated by a globe valve; separate valves may be added to regulate the flow of individual nozzles. The nozzles are made from or- dinary pipe caps, in each of which two POPULAR MECHANICS \%g-in. holes are drilled at an angle, as shown in the sectional view. In each cap a %-in. brass ball, or a marble of the same size, is placed to make the solution form a spray. A seat for the driver can be mounted on the outboard shaft if this is desired. As the sprayer is jogged about the field, no agitator will be needed, in most cases, to prevent the heavy arsenical poisons commonly used from settling to the bottom. Brush Removes Refuse from Gutters When the eaves troughs become filled with leaves, and other litter and refuse, it is quite a task to clean them out. The work is usually done by climbing a ladder and cleaning out the gutter for a few feet, then mov- ing the ladder again and again until the work is complete. A simpler and safer method, since . no ladder is required, consists in using the device illustrated. An ordinary brush is attached to one end of a bar of heavy lead or solder, and the opposite end of the bar is fastened to a light pole of the proper length. When this is done, the lead or solder bar is bent so as to allow the brush to sweep the gutter, with the operator standing on the ground. Iron or steel can, of course, be used in- stead of the lead, if available.- Preventing Discoloration of Prints LEAD Professional photographers rarely, if ever, have trouble with brown spots ap- pearing on the prints in the fixing bath, because the prints are carried into the hypo solution free from developer. This is done by the use of an acetic-acid “check” or “stop” solution, in which the prints are immersed when they are re- moved from the developer, and before placing them into the hypo. This solu- tion is made by adding commercial acetic acid to clean water, the proportions be- ing immaterial except that enough acid should be used to neutralize completely the developer that remains on the print. The action of this acetic-acid bath is due to one of the most familiar chemical laws, namely, that an acid neutralizes an alkali and vice versa. The developer is invariably an alkaline solution, while the stop is an acid, and consequently, if the latter is sufficiently strong, the alkaline developer will be neutralized and entirely removed from the print. It is the introduction of prints into the hypo bath with developer on them that causes the dirty brown spots so fre- quently seen. Not only this, but unless the prints are completely immersed in the hypo, the exposed portion of the print will continue to develop. Remember that developer has no place in the fixing solution, and it is the oxidized developer in the latter that causes it to turn brown. By using the acetic-acid solution, and mixing up a fresh one from time to time, if a large number of prints are being de- veloped, clean prints will be obtained, and the fixing bath can be used until com- pletely exhausted. The acetic-acid solu- tion is entirely harmless to the prints, and as it is cheap, a clean stop should be used for each batch of prints. Handy Milk-Bottle Carrier Milk deliverymen and others who have occasion to carry several bottles at a time will find the carrier shown in the drawing a great convenience and timesaver. Two pieces of heavy-gauge wire or light iron rod are bent as shown, the horizontal parts being cov- ered with rubber tubing. The joints where the ends of the rods meet are soldered, and the carrier is held to- gether by a rivet at each end. By placing the bottles on the ground and releasing the grip on the handles the bottles are instantly freed.

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POPULAR MECHAN Testing Real and Artificial Silk Real silk, when burned, smells like burning feathers, while artificial or “fiber” silk has the smell of burning wood. An- other way of testing is to place a few threads from the sample into a test tube. The tube is heated and a piece of damp itmus paper held over the open end. If the sample is real silk, the paper will turn blue, but red if it is artificial. Extracting Cork from Bottle Corks that have been pushed past the neck inside a bottle or jug can be removed with comparative ease by a simple method. The vessel is filled with rather hot water, which softens the cork a little, and makes it easier to pull out. Then a large- headed nail, tied on the end of a string, is dropped into the bottle and the cork is maneu- vered so that the small end partly enters the neck. The string is then pulled up so that the head of the nail bears against the bottom of the cork and the other . 4 end against the side of the sino It i is now a simple mat- ter to run a corkscrew into the cork, which is then easily extracted.—Arthur Nelson, Chicago, Il. Planting Dwarf Varieties of Beans Dwarf or bush beans are generally the earliest and hardiest. In garden culture they are planted in rows about 18 in. apart, 2 in. deep, and 3 in. apart in the row; in field culture, in drills 2 to 3 ft. apart, so that a horse-drawn cultivator can be used. Until the blossoming pe- riod, frequent but shallow cultivation should be given. Seed of the larger va- rieties should be planted with the eye downward. Two pounds of seed will be sufficient for 100 hills of limas, and 250 to 300 hills of other varieties, and for about 100 ft. of drill; 1 bu. should be planted per acre. Beans should never be worked when they are wet from dew or rain, as this causes rust. Beans can be planted so as to obtain a succession in the crop until within about 60 days of frost. .ICS 797 Nonoverflowing Lamp Filler A length of brass tubing was fitted to the rear of the oilcan and “the joint care- fully soldered. The opposite end of the tube was then brought around and securely sol- dered to the spout in the manner shown, after flattening considerably the circular opening in the tube end. A leather wash- er was also placed under- neath the screw cap to make it air-tight. om “TIGHT CAP~ ,BRASS SOLDERED In using this can, the end of the spout is inserted into the filling hole of the oil reservoir of the lamp or stove for a short distance. As the oil runs out, air enters at the end of the tube, but as soon as the level of the oil rises to the end of the spout, the air supply is cut off and the flow of oil ceases, thus preventing the liquid from overflow- ing.—Dexter W. Allis, Whitman, Mass. Making Auto Seat More Comfortable An automobile seat that is nearly flat is not the most comfortable for long hours of steady driving, as the driver slides forward each time the car is stopped | RAISED sear / / or its speed - ii“ \ Ma / / reduced. An Ye Li upward tilt yl hie (fi given to the 1 front edge of a— the cushion \r \ Uy overcomes \ this to a great extent, and makes riding somewhat less tiring. To tilt the seat, a simple three-sided wooden frame is made and fitted underneath the cushion, as illus- trated. The frame can be permanently attached with screws, if it does not inter- fere with the accessibility of tools or other accessories carried under the cushion. WOODEN FRAME — - 2 @ The farm bell will be heard farther if placed on top of the windmill tower.

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Condenser for Auto Radiators The efficiency of alcohol in the radiator of an automobile to prevent the cooling water from freezing, de- pends entirely upon the quan- tity of alcohol present in the solution. Alco- hol is quite volatile, and when the wa- ter becomes heated the al- cohol quickly MADE TOFIT evaporates. —- =~ Beawever, if some form of condenser is used, the alco- hol, and also more or less of the steam from the water, will be condensed so that the loss will be prevented and the solution retain its cooling and antifreezing prop- erties for a longer time. The drawing shows such a condenser, made from a 3-in. pipe tee and some cop- per tubing. Two pasteboard templates, cut to fit into the ends of the tee, were made to hold the ends of the copper tubes in place. Then, melted babbitt was poured into the side opening in the tee, fastening the tubes securely in first one end and then the other. The device is made to fit the radiator-filler pipe, and should be placed pointing toward the front of the car, so that the cold air will pass through the condenser tubes when the car is in motion.—Frank N. Coakley, Buffalo, N. Y. 54-44 xe%g COPPER TUBES BABBITT 3” TEE Standard and Summer Time Shown on the Same Dial It has been the experience of residents in some communities that neighboring towns have set their time ahead an hour during the summer months, while their own town did not. Nat- urally, the confusion under such a system is considerable, as those living in the separate communities must ever bear in mind two differ- ent time standards. A commuter found that . by setting his watch to agree with the standard time in effect in his suburban town, he was continually being embarrassed by the conflicting day- light-saving time by which he did business in the city. In order to make his watch Lelie. iN RED POPULAR MECHANICS indicate both times, he had an extra set of red numerals lettered on the dial of his watch, for the daylight-saving time. These may be printed on small stickers, and stuck to the crystal of the watch, if it is not desirable to letter them directly on the dial—M. J. Rystrom, Rockford, LIl. ‘Tissue Paper as a Moth Preventive A friend of mine keeps a uniform in a small closet, and, happening to be there at a time when the uniform was removed, | noted the absence of the usual moth- balls. Upon asking him about this, I was shown a small quantity of tissue paper scattered around the closet, and also how the moths had eaten a considerable por- tion of the paper, but had not attacked the clothing. My friend said that he had never known clothes that had _ been wrapped in tissue paper to be harmed by the insects, as it appeared they preferred the paper to the cloth—Carl H. Kauf- mann, Santa Ana, Calif. Applying Screen Wire Drawing up screen wire tightly and evenly on the frame, is usually a rather dificult job, even when considerable care is used, A very simple method that permits the screen to be drawn up tightly with- out leaving wrinkles and bulges, in- volves the use of nothing more compli- cated than a wooden block of about the same thickness as the screen frame. One end of the screen is tacked to the frame, and the block is placed inside at the opposite end. The screen is laid down over the block, and, placing the thumbs of both hands on the side of the frame or at the edge, and with the rest of the fingers bearing down on the block, the latter is drawn back, pulling the wire with it. When the proper tension has been obtained, it is held with one hand while a tack is driven with the other; this operation is repeated as necessary until the wire has been applied. The screen should be laid on a table or other flat surface in order to provide a support for the block.

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POPULAR MECHANICS Cleaning Tarnished Silver Tarnished silver may be cleaned by the so-called electrolytic method as follows: Place in a clean earthenware vessel, or an enamel one in which the enamel is un- broken, a solution of 1 teaspoonful of soda ash, or baking soda, and 1 teaspoon- jul of common salt, dissolved in 1 qt. of water. A sheet of aluminum or clean zinc is immersed in the solution, and the pieces to be cleaned are placed in contact with this; both the zine or aluminum plate and the silverware to be cleaned should be completely covered by the solution. Heat nearly to boiling. When the tarnish disappears from the silver, rinse in cold water, and wipe with a soft cloth. Self-Adjusting Book Ends A convenient rack for holding the most commonly used books on the desk or library table can be made from two pieces of hardwood which are cut to form —. _WOOD | PLuss SSy t SPRING BRASS CURTAIN RODS sup- ports or ends; these can be either plain or as ornamental as the taste and wood- working tal- ent of the mes maker de- a cide. Holes are drilled in each, into which the ends of ordinary telescoping curtain rods are inserted. If there is any diffi- culty in getting the rods to fit tightly, the ends can be split with a hacksaw and wooden plugs driven in to expand the tubing. A short length of spring, having its ends secured to the opposite blocks inside of each rod, makes the fixture elf-adjusting. Rejuvenating Grass Rugs Grass rugs are largely used on porches, and for rooms in summer homes, and give an atmosphere of coolness. When- ever such a rug becomes frayed and worn, it can be brightened up, and its life con- siderably prolonged, by cleaning it thor- oughly and applying one or more coats of paint of any desired shade—H. A. Norrell, Augusta, Ga. a ‘ 99 Novel Apron for Kitchen or Shop It is only necessary to add a few eye- lets along the bottom edge of an ordinary apron to increase its convenience : materially for certain classes - of work. In use, the eye- lets are placed over a corre- sponding number of small hooks, screwed into the underside of a table or bench, while the apron is tied around the waist in the usual fashion. The move- ments of the wearer are not in the least interfered with and she can sit or stand as desired. An apron of this kind will sometimes be found of service in factories and shops; in this case the apron may be fastened to the table or bench semiper- manently, so that when the workers leave, it will be necessary only to untie the apron strings. very Facilitating Removal of Fence Posts In most soils, wooden fence posts last but a few years, and in some localities, under particularly unfavorable conditions, their life is exceedingly short. Where woven-wire fence is used and attached to the posts with staples, a great deal of labor is neces- sary to pull the staples when anew | post must be set,totakethe | place of one | which has rot- ted off at the surface. If a piece of wood, about 1 by 3 in., is placed between the fencing and the post, and the staples driven into the strip, which is in turn fastened to the post with about three nails, the whole strip can be removed from the post easily, without in any way disturbing the staples, and without the hazard of breaking one or more strands of wire in attempting to remove them. . oa >a Hetd++-++ hitt+++++

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800 POPULAR Homemade Pump for Shallow Wells For pumping water from shallow wells, a. simple wooden pump may be made, that costs practically nothing, and that is well worth the time spent in its construc- tion. A square box is made, closed at each “cylinders,” MECHANICS these sides of the box are built the two which are simply square open-top boxes, in height a little more than the stroke of the pump, but less than the depth of the water in the well; in these wooden blocks are fitted closely. A hole is bored in the center of each ii A vl | Cost, This Peculiar-Looking oy Pump is Adapted for Use in Il 4 Shallow Wells, as It will Not i It | Easily Made, at Practically No | Mud or Sand. The Insert cv 74 Shows the Valve Arrangement | \ Al / \ Stir Ur the Bottom and Pump VA s block, and a leather flap valve, similar to the ones previously made, fitted to the underside. A hole is also bored in the side of each cylinder opposite the one in the long box. The arrangement of the valves is clearly shown in the insert. Iron yokes are made and fitted to the blocks, to carry the pump rods, which are also of wood These rods are pivoted to the pump handle. One peculiar advantage of a pump of this char- acter is that, owing to end, long enough to reach the bottom of the well, and to project 3 or 4 ft. above the ground. On two opposite sides of this box, at the bottom, holes about 2 in. in diameter are bored, and over these flaps of flexible leather are fitted; these flaps are nailed above the holes, so that they hang downward over the latter. On Nails as Campfire Irons The camper usually finds it difficult to make a pile of stones around his campfire —_SSSSSSSSSFSFFSFFFEFEFEFEFEES that dvwill sup- port the cook- ing utensils and at the same time al- low sufficient space for a fire, provided the rocks can be obtained at all. The un- certainty and annoyance of the former method can be overcome by carrying a few 80-penny spikes in the kit. These are merely pushed into the ground and support the cooking utensils without interfering with the fire. Spikes of the size mentioned are about 8 in. long. —Lloyd L. Stewart, Ames, Ia. the fact that there is no suction, the pump does not stir up mud or sand, in spite of the fact that it is set on the bottom of the well. This is so because the water flows over the tops of the cylinders. The water runs from the pump from a 2-in. spout which is placed at right angles to the handle.—Chester C. Cook, Chicago, III. Soldering-Flux Containers For the experimenter using small amounts of flux, there is no better con- tainer than one made from an old tooth- paste tube. Open the crimped end of the tube with a pocketknife, and, using the blunt end of a pencil, restore the tube as nearly as possible to its original cylindri- cal shape. Clean out the interior with a toothbrush. Cut a section out of a clean lampwick, and place it in the nozzle of the tube to be used as a spreader and feeder of the flux. Fill the interior of the tube loosely with absorbent cotton then make up a saturated solution of zinc chloride, by dissolving the chemical in water until no more will dissolve, fill the tube, recrimp the end, and the container is ready for use. A container of this type will operate even more successfull) with a paste flux, in which case the cotton filling and the wick in the nozzle wil! not be needed and are, therefore, omitted. —Werner W. Baumeister, Cambridge Massachusetts.

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a WHat boy, after visiting a “Wild West” show, has not made a noose in a piece of old clothesline and set out to emulate the cowboy? Unless he has had instruction from some one proficient in the use of the lariat, however, it is probable that he has given up the attempt as useless. This is to be regretted, for besides being a typically American sport, lariat throwing is an educator of the eye, and an excellent developer of the muscles of the fingers, wrist, arm, shoulder, back, and legs. There is a good deal of fun in it, also, and it may be a very useful ac- complishment. Many a hapless skater or canoeist has been saved by the prompt THROWING THE LARIAT By JPOHN F. THORNTON Jr. called the hondoo (pronounced “ondoo” ). Make it a little heavier by winding an- other piece of wire round its curved end, as shown. The chances are that one will have to try various amounts of wire, after he has begun to practice, until a hondoo has been obtained that will give the best results. Another form of hondoo is a small iron ring, or thimble, such as is used on sails. One end of the “lass rope” is unraveled, and the loose ends brought neatly round the ring from opposite direc- tions, meeting again at the unwound part of the rope. Here they are bound tightly in place along each side of the rope with a piece of fine wire. The lariat is com- The First Steps in Throwing the Lariat, pavaing the Preliminary Swing and the Actual Cast: A Post, or Some Similar Object, is Used as a arget until Proficiency is Attained, When Some Moving Object may be Pressed into Service action of a spectator who was able to throw a rope with some degree of accu- racy and skill. The very best lariats are made of plaited rawhide. For practice, however, a rope of braided cotton or linen, “*s in. in diameter, will serve. The standard lengths for straight roping—catching objects—are 40 and 50 ft. For fancy swinging, a rope 16 ft. long will do. Double the rope at a point 5 in. from the end. Bind it by winding both thick- nesses for 1 in. with strong, light wire, as shown at the top of the full-page illustra- tion. The loop, or eye, thus formed is pleted by drawing the other end of the rope through the hondoo, so as to form a running loop, and by knotting the un- looped end, to prevent it from unraveling. Many lariat experts start with a loop about 1 ft. in diameter, and allow the rope to slip and the noose to grow larger as it is swung. It is best, however, to start practicing the throw with a large loop. Draw the rope through the hondoo until there is a noose 4 or 5 ft. long Bend the rope back at the hondoo until it lies along one side of the loop. Then grasp both thicknesses with the right hand, at a point about 15 in. from the hondoo. 801 ee a a

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802 POPULAR The little finger should be between the two thicknesses, and the third and fourth fingers round both. The forefinger should cross under one thickness and extend along the underside of the loop rope, as shown in the illustration. Take position in front of a post. Coil the slack rope in the left hand, so that it will slip off easily, coil by coil; be sure that there are no kinks in the line. Lift the noose over the head, and begin to swing it from right to left. Do not hold the wrist stiffly; imagine that it is an axle and that the loop is a wheel revolving in a horizontal plane over the head. When this movement has been practiced several times, it will be found that a quick, jerky turn of the wrist causes the loop to spread wide open. It is well to practice this preliminary swing until it can be performed smoothly, before one attempts to make a cast. The proper time to throw the rope is at the moment when the swinging hand comes round from back to front. Step quickly forward, and bring the hand, palm down, forward and to the level of the shoulder. Let the arm stretch to its full length with- out interrupting the swinging motion, and let the loop go at the post. The first cast will probably fall far short. But if these instructions have been followed, the noose will sail straight toward the mark without losing its circu- lar form—and that is encouraging. If care is taken to regulate the size of the loop, the length and force of the swing, and the angle of the throw—and if patience and thoroughness in practicing casts are exer- cised—it will not be long before one be- comes fairly expert in this, the first and most important use of the lariat. The easiest of the cowboy’s roping stunts is that of catching a man or ani- mal as he passes at full speed. In roping an animal, the forefoot is always the tar- get, never the head. The open loop is thrown just in front of the moving feet so that the side of the noose nearest the animal is‘on the ground and the other side is in the air. If the animal keeps moving a second longer, it will step into the noose and become securely caught. In roping animals use a small loop, as they will jump out of a large one. Wait until the steer, cow, or horse has passed, then it will not see the rope coming, and will be unable to dodge. If one is on foot and ropes an animal’s head, see to it that the rope is at right angles to the animal; if one is behind it, one will be pulled along by it. One should brace oneself, with the rope held tightly across both MECHANICS thighs. It is a good idea to wear gloves to avoid any risk of burning the hands. The “crinoline” is one of the most pop- ular of the fancy lariat tricks. In this stunt the rope appears as a ring, about 5 ft. in diameter, revolving around the body as a center, about waist-high. Pre- pare for this trick as follows: Holding the rope as for straight cast- ing, extend the right hand, palm upward, straight out to the side until the arm forms an angle of about 30° with the body. Now, moving the hand rather slowly, describe a horizontal circle in front of the body. When the hand is at the farthest point in front of the body, and the circle is half completed, turn the wrist so that the palm is downward. At the same time drop the loop, but retain a firm grasp on that part of the rope which is held with the little finger, now using all the fingers to hold that part, as shown by the dotted lines in one of the illustrations. Do this without stopping the circular motion of the hand. Con- tinuing to move the hand more or less rapidly in circles, widen the loop into a circle that spins round with a motion that corresponds to that of the hand. If the slack rope is twisted between the thumb and fingers of the left hand in the direc- tion in which the circle is revolving, it can be kept from becoming tangled. One will not, of course, be able to spin the crinoline after ten minutes’ practice, but persistent effort will very soon make one proficient. In ‘spinning the crinoline round the body a loop at least 7 ft. long will be needed. With the right hand grasp the loop as before, but this time about 3 ft. from the hondoo instead of 15 in. With the left hand hold the same side of the loop about 112 ft. to the left of the part which is held in the right hand. Now, with these few exceptions, take the same position as before, with the left hand just in front of the right trouser’s pocket. Such a position will leave part of the loop lying open on the ground to one side. With a long, swinging, circular motion, bring the right hand up over the head. Use the left hand only to keep the loop open until the right hand has been raised. Then, without stopping the circular mo- tion, drop the loop round the body. Con- tinue to twist the right wrist and there will be a twirling crinoline spinning round the body. Its size can be regulated by the speed with which it is twirled. A backhand throw is useful when the object is behind one. Hold the rope much as shown in the lower figures. Step back- a

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st) ee : ee ‘ » 3 A _ — wa , ‘ Pr ue 4 4 = : a — ae The Upper Figures Show the Method of Making the Hondoo and the Position for Spinnin of Holding the Lariat; the Center Ones, Dropping It over the B the “Crinoline’ in Front of the Body, the Method of Holding the Noose Before y, and the Crinoline Spinning around the Body. The Lower Figures Show the First and Second Positions in Making a Backhand Throw S03

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804 ward with the right foot, turn facing the object and swing the loop backward and up. A cowpuncher takes care that his horse’s head or tail is toward a roped animal. Otherwise he would be dis- mounted or his saddle would turn. He never ties his lariat to his saddle horn. It is a dangerous practice, for a steer or POPULAR MECHANICS even a smaller animal, improperly roped, can throw a horse and man. The real cowboy holds the end of his lariat loosely in his left hand until his animal is caught. Then he takes a couple of quick hitches round his saddle horn that will hold it necessary, or that he can cast loose if oc- casion demands. Holder for Demountable Rims A tight-coopered wooden barrel, such as an old oil barrel, arranged as shown in the drawing, affords a very serviceable and substan- . on IN PLACE t i a 1 wor k = Na bench for holding de- mountable rims while applying or removing a tire. Further- more, the clamp screws serve as a means for expanding a split rim after the tire is in place, and the height of the barrel enables a convenient working posi- tion, as no stooping is required. Four combination brackets and screw clamps, of the type shown, are bolted to the out- side of the barrel, the clamp screws being of sufficient length to make the device adjustable to rims of any standard size, and, also, to expand split rims. The brackets are forged from wrought iron. The lower extension on the brackets forms a rest for the rim so that it cannot slip off. When used outdoors, the barrel may be painted and lettered with the firm name, serving as a conspicuous advertise- ment. By filling the barrel with stones or concrete, it is almost impossible to move the device when working on it. Tee a a rrr - pn ewasea gill od WN CLAMP SCREW DETAIL OF CLAMPS Fuller’s Earth for Clutch and Brake Fuller’s earth can be applied to the clutch and brake linings of an automobile easily and thoroughly by using an ordi- nary insect-powder gun or bellows. The powder gun can be bought for a few cents and holds enough of the chemical for two or three heavy applications. Fuller’s earth, and also talc, are used in the man- ner described to remedy the slipping of oil-soaked brake and clutch linings. Razor Strop for Campers An article that the camper generally leaves hanging on a tree or loses some- where along the route is his razor strop. A veteran camper has developed an idea that makes it practically impossible to forget or lose the razor strop, by simply fastening it to the inside of his belt. A strip of a used strop, about a foot long, is cut and the ends are riveted to the inner side of the belt. The strop is thus always at hand; it is well protected, and by hooking the belt buckle over a nail or branch is ready for use immediately. There is really nothing lost by narrowing the strop to belt width, and it may be made of any length desired, so long as it does not interfere with the passage of the buckle when the belt is worn.—Robert Page Lincoln, Minneapolis, Minn. Improvement for Rolling Ladders The rolling ladders that form a familiar part of the equipment in most stores and factory stockrooms, sometimes have a dis- agreeable and disconcerting habit of roll- ing, especially if the person on the ladder happens to lean a little too far to one side. In order to overcome this objec- tion, use has been made of the attachment illustrated, in which the wheels are mounted on the ends of curved arms, hinged in a bracket made to fit one of the rounds of the lad- der. Ordinarily, when there is no weight on the lad- der the spring pulls the wheels toward the center and raises the lad- der from the floor, but as soon as anyone steps on the ladder, the tension of the spring is overcome, and the wheels are forced out until the end of the ladder is resting on the floor.—Ed- win Schubach, Chicago, III.

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Protecting Trees from Insects In summer, when it is desired that no ants, caterpillars, or other crawling in- sects, shculd climb the trees, some kind of a barrier is necessary. The simplest, and one of the cheapest, methods is to place a wide band of cotton batting around the tree at some con- venient height, fastening it to the tree with wire. The edges of the batting, pro- truding from underneath the wire, when fluffed, present an impassable barrier to any type of crawling insect or small ani- mal, the cotton not affording a foothold for the latter. Simple Price-Tag Holders For holding display cards, and the like, securely, and in such a manner that they are difficult to os : upset, a sim- | Sur ple holder can be made of stiff paper or \ cardboard. ; The stock aN from which FOLDED ON DOTTED LINE the holder is to be formed is cut into the Special Sale shape of a tri- 25¢Each angle which is then folded along its cen- ter. A slot is cut out along the center, as : shown, and the triangular projections at each end of the slot serve to hold the card in place.— Frank N. Veloz, New York City. Glossy Photographic Prints To make photographic prints with the highest possible gloss, the first require- ment is that the grade of paper known as “glossy” be used. After they have been printed, developed, fixed, and washed in the usual manner, they are squeegeed face down, on a sheet of plate glass, that has heen previously polished with a little French chalk on a cloth. The advantage of glass over the metal ferrotype plates ordinarily used is that one can look through the former to make sure that the entire print is in contact, without air bells between print and glass. However, the enameled ferrotype plates are much lighter and will not break. POPULAR MECHANICS 805 Emergency Washing-Machine Handle Many a housewife using a water-power washing machine is handicapped on wash day by low water pressure or a defec- tive or worn- out motor. Also, it may happen that the water sup- ply has been cut off for re- pairs to the mains, and there are other emer- gencies in which the operating handle shown in the draw- ing will be f ‘ js ; 4 WASHING found of great Zz | MACHINE convenience. SY, On machines of the type using a rotating-vane motor, the attachment of a suitable handle is a simple matter. The knob on top of the dolly shaft is usually held in place by a 14-in. screw through both shaft and knob; this screw is removed, and a long %%4-in. stud run through the holes. A short sec- tion of *g-in. pipe is then slipped over the stud and clamped tightly in place with nuts and washers. KNOB Wire Terminals Made from Eyelets Practical terminals for electric wires that are held on bolt-and-nut binding posts, or for spark plugs, can be made by using the eyelets commonly obtain able at stationery stores for binding papers, andthe | hand punch used with them. To make such a ter- minal, the bare end of the wire is | lo‘oped once | around the eyelet, which is then crimped in the hand punch, press- [TERMINAL COMPLETED ing the metal is pare , down tightly against the wire and making a terminal that will fit neatly over the screw and give a good contact. If solder is used after crimping, a practically solid metal terminal is obtained that will give a minimum of trouble. ee | EYELET | }

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. SUb6 Concrete Wall Adds to Warmth of House In seeking to modernize a dwelling by giving it the appearance of having a high foundation, the owner tried the experi- Building a Low Cement Wall around a House to Im- rove Its Appearance: The Owner has Found That the loors of the Dwelling Are Now Much Warmer in Winter Than Formerly ment of applying a 2-in. thickness of solid cement directly over the original founda- tion and siding. In this way the cost of the improvement was kept at a lower figure than would have been the case had the house been raised and the foundation made higher. The main precaution taken was to see that there was a firm bond between the foundation and the wooden siding. At first glance it might seem that water would drip down between the concrete and siding, thus starting rot and giving frost a chance to open up cracks. Nails were driven into the siding at the corners - of 6-in. squares, with their heads protrud- ing, up to the height of the projected auxiliary wall. The concrete foundation was thoroughly cleaned and given a thin wash of pure cement. Then the forms were made and the concrete poured. A mixture of one part cement to two parts sand was used. The top of the wall fitted underneath the edge of one of the siding boards and was finished by increasing the thickness to 3 in. and sloping it - Slightly away from the house to run off the water; the corners were reinforced with wire mesh. After the concrete had set for about 24 hours, the forms were removed, and the surface marked off in imitation of brickwork, the lines being cut by running the point of a spike along a straightedge. Keeping Linoleum Fresh A mixture of equal parts of oil and tur- pentine, applied once a week, will keep linoleum looking fresh and clean. Palm oil, used alone, is also good, although not so good as the above mixture. POPULAR MECHANICS Poppies as Cut Flowers Those who have undertaken to use Shirley or silk poppies as cut flowers are familiar with the shower of petals that follows cutting of the blossoms. Florists have a trick of preparing the poppies so that they can be used for cut-flower pur- poses. The bud of the poppy droops until it is ready to burst the green calyx that covers the flower, when it becomes erect. The flowers should be picked just before they shed this calyx, which is in two parts and splits at the bottom. The right mo- ment for picking is when the calyx has split at the bottom just enough to show the color of the petals within. Cut the poppy at this stage, and gently pick off the green covering, place the crumpled-up bud in water, and the petals will open and will not fall off as they ordinarily do. Hauling Boats from One Lake to Another Faced with the alternative of digging a canal, buying two sets of equipment for Hauling a Boat from One Lake to Another by a Minia- ture Marine Railway Is the Way a Body of Sportsmen Took to Avoid Digging a Canal to Connect Twin Lakes use in twin lakes, or continue to carry their outfits from one to the other, a body of sportsmen solved the problem by means of a one-man marine railway. An incline leads to each lake and a homemade capstan, or windlass, was located at the highest point, so that boats could be pulled up from either side. A single car or cradle, fitted with flanged wheels, runs on tracks laid on the inclines. In operation, the track is rolled into the water, the boat floated into the cradle, and pulled up by means of the windlass. Too rapid progress down the incline on the other side is prevented by means of a rope and snubbing block.—L. J. Ellison, Du- buque, Ia.

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POPULAR MECHANICS 807 Using a Motorcycle for Power { An Illinois farmer uses his motorcycle for running light machinery about his farm, and while not as convenient as a gasoline engine, it can be used where there is not enough work for a heavy engine, as inthis case. Ofcourse, the motorcycle engine cannot be run as steadily as a water-cooled engine, but is good for jobs where it can be stopped occasionally and allowed to cool. The motorcycle is run it, is mounted on the frame, and after the motorcycle is in place, the chain is re- moved, shortened slightly, and recon- nected around the sprocket on the shaft. up ontoa wooden frame- As There Is Not Enough Work to Require a Gasoline Engine, an Illinois work or platform, and when in use is supported by its stand, at the rear, and by a wooden crosspiece under the frame directly be- hind the front wheel; this latter is re- movable and is not inserted until the motorcycle is in place. A pulley shaft which has a sprocket wheel attached to Bridging Fuses The fuse is the safety valve of the elec- trical system, put there for the protec- tion of life and property. If a penny or a piece of wire is inserted when the fuse blows, that protection is removed, and the wires may grow red-hot, and even melt, thereby starting a fire in some concealed place, where it might not be discovered until too late to save the building. If a fuse blows, especially if it blows repeated- ly, notify the lighting company; or a reputable electrician, and have any de- fects corrected. Fuses of standard make only should be used, if the utmost pro- tection is to be given to the system. Clearing Stained Negatives About as good a clearing bath as one can use for stained negatives—those that come out of the pyro-developing solution with too much yellow color—is made by dissolving 60 gr. or 1 dr. of powdered alum in 20 oz. of water, and adding 1 dr. ot sulphuric acid. Immerse the negatives in this solution for a few minutes, re- move, wash, and dry. Reddish-looking spots with an irreg- ular outline are caused by specks of iron in the water, and they will usually suc- cumb to the sulphuric acid and water solu- tion alone; this may be safely used twice as strong as indicated above. Farmer Uses His Motorcycle to Furnish the Necessary Power for Grinding Feed, Cutting Up Firewood, and Other Light Jobs A good-sized fan, driven by a belt from the shaft, and mounted so as to direct its breeze on the engine, is the simple means employed to prevent the engine from be- coming overheated.—Charles Albert, Chi- cago, I[Il. Subduing the Ice-Cream Freezer Two simple means of preventing the ice-cream freezer from moving with each revolution of the crank, by holding it to some solid support, are shown in the photograph and drawing. A piece of 1 by 8-in. board is nailed to the bottom of the bucket so that the ends project about 2 in. on either side. The freezer can then be Two Methods of Holding the Ice-Cream Freezer Sta- tionary: At the Left, a Board on the Bottom of the Freezer Allows It to be Clamped to a Solid Support; Right, the Wooden Frame inside a Laundry Tub fastened with an ordinary clamp. The drawing at the right shows a frame set into a stationary laundry tub to bring the machine to a convenient height for operat- ing. A movable frame was built to fit into the tub, and a piece of wood across the bottom of the freezer, as in the first ex- ample, rests between two cross strips on the frame and prevents the machine from moving.

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A Toy Water Plane The toy water plane shown in the drawing is something of a novelty in the way of model water craft, as the hull only SPACER TUBE __ 8 t f — - PROPELLER AND SHAFT BEARING RUBBER BANDS DETAIL OF WATER PLANE IN ACTION — A Toy Water Plane That Rides on the Surface of the Water When Its Propeller is Revolving ~ rests upon the water when the propeller is not revolving. In traveling at full speed, the hull leaves the water quickly and rides with the fins on the surface of the water, as illustrated. The sides and bottom of the hull are built up from strips of pine, about 1 in. thick, blocks being used to space the sides the proper distance apart and for the attachment of the wooden supports for the propelling mechanism and fins. The sheet-aluminum planes, or fins, are mounted as shown, so that each is tilted at the same angle. The plane is driven by a model-airplane propeller, which, for a 24-in. water plane, should be about 7 in. long, and the power is derived from a motor made of a number of rubber bands linked together.—Donald W. Clark, Buf- falo, N. Y. Another Use for the Electric Fan Electric fans of the oscillating type can be made to do double duty, as an adver- tising feature of a window display. This is done by attaching a circle of wallboard or light wood around the outside of the wire fan guard. Suitable advertising mat- ter is painted on this, or small light arti- cles, such as combs, pocketknives, and the like, can be attached without interfering with the ordinary operation of the fan. POPULAR MECHANICS Using Auto Battery as 3-Battery the and weak- Knowing ness of the ordinary radio B-battery, and that the performance of the radio set de- inefficiency pends largely upon this battery, an operator devised a method for tapping the 12-volt storage batteries of a truck and car that are housed in a _ near-by garage. Two sets of wires are run from the radio set to the garage, each set ter- minating, at the garage end, in a plug that will fit in the dash-lamp socket on the car and truck. The house ends of the wires are connected to the set in place of the B-battery. When the two motors are brought in in the evening, the dash bulbs are removed and the wires plugged in. This arrangement gives a 24-volt B-battery of great power. A rheostat is used to step down the voltage to that found to be the most efficient for the particular type of vacuum tube used. The amount of current drawn from the storage batteries is, of course, restored the next day, when the motors are running.—Philip A. Wall, Bedford, Massachusetts. A Tool for Transplanting When transplanting small plants, a sim- ple device made from a tin can and a bit of stiff wire will save considerable work. One of the ends of a can is melted or cut off square, so as to pro- vide a cutting edge: two holes are punched through the opposite end and a U- shaped piece of wire is in- serted, after which the wire ring is at- tached to the ends, as indi- cated. In use, the tool is placed over the plant and the can pushed into the ground for a sufficient depth, the plant and a quantity of earth being withdrawn inside the can when it is pulled from the ground. The plants are transplanted into holes, made in the same manner, by holding the roots and earth surrounding them down with the wire loop with one hand and withdrawing the can with the other.

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Making Lead Doll-House Furniture By E. H. TINGLEY HE ease with which soft wood may be worked with simple tools, and the low melting temperature of soft lead, make an ideal combination for the boy who desires to produce metal toys. The tools required are a small plane, hammer, chisel, knife, and a ladle for lead. The lead can be obtained from any plumber, by asking for the short pieces of lead pipe to be found in the scrap pile. For the mold, any soft wood, free from knots, may be used. Blocks, of a size suitable for the toy to be made, are planed square on all faces. The blocks forming each half of the mold should be planed ~~ S \ — € we an owen # EY WN \ f f att) yy S\ 7 \ ht ‘ \y / fe ‘ j ’ ~ * t ; QQWqzuo 4 | ms A Lae eb 2 CHAIR = \ J ‘ \ { \ \ =—==!* the Molds and Subsequent Trimming, Very Good-Looking Toys are Produced to the same size, then clamped together, and holes, a little smaller than the diam- eter of the wire nails used as dowels, drilled clear through both, as shown in The blocks are then sepa- the drawings.

to be withdrawn from the molds without sticking. In making molds for tables, t! tops should not be made too large or thick, as these molds are poured, top down, through the legs, and the lead wil! Soo

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810 not remain liquid long enough to run through the leg to the farthest corner of a large top. The parts of the toy must POPULAR MECHANICS casting. The molds should be held firmly together and down on the stove lid while pouring. It is necessary that a warm metal surface, such as the heated stove lid, be used as a base, else the lead will chill and spoil the work. Lead remelted too often is not satisfac- tory for very small toys, as it becomes hard and brittle with repeated melting. The softer the lead, the easier it is to trim with a knife, to pro- duce good-looking toys. Molds Used for the Flatiron, Kitchen and Dining-Room Tables and Chair, and Samples of the Toys Cast in Them be proportioned with this in mind, and the lead kept hot, to secure good cast- ings. The lead can be melted over the gas flame of the kitchen range, and a stove lid, heated fairly hot, used as a base for Other toys than those illustrated can be made by clever boys; dumb-bells, rocking-chairs, water pitchers, tenpins, etc., can be suc- cessfully produced. The method of mak- ing the molds is clearly shown in the drawings and photograph. Vehicle Gate for a Driveway The object shown in the photograph has not the appearance of the conven- tional gate, yet, set up in the middle of a private driveway, as shown, it prevents the passage of ve- hicles, but allows un- obstructed access to pedestrians. A 4-ft. length of 2- in. pipe, with horizon- tally projecting arms formed of pipe and fittings, rests in a socket imbedded in the cement driveway. A setscrew holds the “gate” tight. When a vehicle is to pass, the setscrew is loosened, the pipe is lifted out, and replaced when the automobile or carriage has passed.—Cur- tis Ralston, Chicago, II. Driving Hornets from Nest Hornets had built a nest in the eaves of a small garage, and their presence be- ing undesirable, various means were tried to evict the potentially dangerous insects. A small plunger-type oil gun was filled with kerosene, and this was squirted onto the nest from a safe distance. The fol- lowing day the nest had been completely evacuated. The Care of Kerosene Lamps Poor light is often caused by the con- dition of the lamps and wicks. The heavy oils that accumulate in the lamp should be thrown out every month, and the lamp thoroughly cleaned. Water should not be put in the lamp, nor should the wick be permitted to become damp. The lamp should be filled and cleaned, and the charred portion of the wick re- moved each time before lighting. Oil feeds to the wick better from a full lamp, and there is less danger of gas being formed in the lamp bowl. The wick is the vital part of the lamp, so it should be of good quality, of proper size, and long enough to reach to the bottom of the oil fount. New wicks should be sup- plied every month or two. They should be dried before the fire and put into the oil while still warm. Wicks clog gradu- ally—clogged wicks make poor light; hence, economy in wicks is poor econ- omy. A smoky flame may be due to a cheap burner, or to an unsuitable chim- ney. Burner and chimney should be kept clean. Burners may be cleaned by boil- ing with water to which a little soda has been added. Bad odors are almost always caused by heating and resulting evapora- tion of the oil on the outside of a dirty lamp or burner. Kerosene dissolves various substances with which it comes into contact. These dissolved substances clog the wick, and the least water or moisture will make the

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POPULAR MECHANICS oil worthless. Keep the oilcan clean and dry. Good oil is sparklingly clear and brilliant. So-called “safety powders,” that are sold under the claim that they make the light brighter or prevent explosions, do not increase either the safety or illumi- nating power of the oil,-and more than likely do positive harm by clogging the wick. They are usually sold with positive instructions to use clean oil, keep the lamp and wick clean, and the oil cham- ber full. If these instructions are fol- lowed, the result is a bright and safe flame, but the same result would be ob- tained by following the instructions—and throwing the powder away. A Trailer for the Bicycle Cultivating a three-acre garden tract six miles from home, the gardener built the bicycle trailer shown in the illustration to carry his tools and produce back and forth. The box body is a large wooden packing case mounted on a pair of stand- A Bicycle Trailer, Built to Carry the Tools and Produce of an Amateur Gardener over the Six Miles between Home and Garden, has been Found Just as Useful When the Growing Season Is at an End ard bicycle wheels. A 10-ft. length of pipe forms the connecting link with the cycle. After the growing season had come to a close, the owner used his trailer for haul- ing chicken feed, groceries, and similar loads.—Uri V. Averitt, Gary, Ind. Testing Wool or Silk Goods If a piece of goods that has been sold for all wool or genuine silk is suspected of being mixed with cotton or linen, the truth can be found by boiling a sample of the material in a five-per-cent solution of caustic soda for about five minutes. This treatment will boil out any silk or wool and leave the cotton or linen unchanged, if any is present. By weighing the sample before and after testing, the extent of the adulteration can be found. S11 A Simple Play Pen A busy mother desired her baby to play out of doors as much as possible, but at the same time wished to restrain the A Simple Form of Inclosure That Restricts the Move- ments of Its Juvenile Occupant is Made of Fruit and Vegetable Crates of a Familiar Type movements of the child so that it would not wander off into possible danger. Be- ing unable to keep a constant watch over the child, she evolved the simple form of inclosure illustrated. Certain fruits and vegetables are packed in crates made of a number of strips of wood joined to- gether at the corners by lengths of heavy wire, passed through holes in the ends of the strips. Several of these crates were obtained and dismantled, then linked to- gether at the ends to form a fairly large inclosure, which, when not in use, can be folded to occupy a small space.—Harry G. Schultz, Teaneck, N. J. Feeding Tray for Birds At several points about his thickly shrubbed and forested yard, a western business man and nature lover has in- stalled feeding trays : for his bird guests that aS Fee remove them from the lif] * danger of cats, dogs, cc mo and other molesters. Lengths of pipe are set into the ground, and the galvanized-iron feeding trays are fitted to rods sliding in these. When the tray is to be filled, it is lowered, and when it is to be raised |-L.: so that the birds may te Yl eat in safety, the rod is —_s : slid upward and a pin is inserted through a hole in the pipe, underneath the lower end of the rod—Chas. A. Goddard, Los Angeles, Calif. 1 { | ASP iP. ra) ! | * \ ‘ | | Oy.

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$12 A Cheap Reflector for Home Photography Good indoor portrait photography is impossible without a reflector, and a good one generally costs more than the aver- i | 4 a \\ Li Tr \* LEG? } HANGER“ UPRIGHT — J —— BASE OF UPRIGHT A Reflector and Support That can be Made from an Old Camera Tripod will Equalize the Illumination and Reduce the Violent Contrasts of Light and Shadow age amateur cares to pay. However, a very serviceable article can be made from the legs of an old camera tripod. One of the old legs is sawed off to produce three pieces of equal length, about 11% ft. long, and these are hinged to the tripod head to make a short tripod. The screws that hold these legs should be screwed down tightly so that the legs will stay in the position in which they are placed. The upright is made from an- other of the tripod legs, and this requires no alteration other than squaring the rounded ends. A square block of wood, about 4% in. thick, is screwed to the ends of this section to form a base. Between the two legs, a tripod socket from an old camera is imbedded in the block. This section, in use, is screwed to the top of the short tripod. For the horizontal hanger, from which the cloth reflector is suspended, the third section of the tripod has a short piece cut out of one of the side members. By loosening the setscrew, the hanger can be extended to about 3 ft. A loop of wire or cord should be fastened near the setscrew for hanging to the upright. A piece of white cloth, about 3 by 5 ft., is used for the reflector, and a small pocket is sewed into each of the upper corners. to slip over the ends of the hanger. @ Blotting paper glued to the bottom of bric-a-brac prevents scratching polished mantels and sideboards. : POPULAR MECHANICS Protecting Fruit Trees from Frost Much of last year’s fruit shortage, especially in the midwest and northern states, was due to the fact that the trees came into blossom earlier than usual, and were damaged by late-spring frosts. The method used by one fruit grower to avoid such a happening is worthy of note. While the ground in his orchard was frozen to a depth of several feet, he hauled the refuse from his barnyard and hayloft out, and spread it upon the ground under the trees, to a depth of 5 or 6in. When the warm days of early spring followed, bringing neighboring orchards into blossom, his own orchard was as bare as it had been in the depth of winter. The heavy mulch of leaves and straw had held the frost underground, preventing the trees from budding. As soon as he was assured that all danger from frost was past, he removed the _ protecting mulch, and the trees came into blossom just late enough to miss the frost which destroyed the crops of other growers in his locality. Hints for the Model Gas-Engine Builder The maker of model gas engines is gen- erally “up against it” when it comes to making valves in proportion to the size of Simple Valves That will Operate Efficiently in a Model Gas Engine, and a Small Spark Plug That can be Made from Any of the Various Types of Separable Plug the engine; aleo in trying to buy spark plugs of a corresponding scale on the market. A 14-in. valve, made in the pro- portions of the regular ones, would have a stem too thin for practical purposes, and, in addition, would be difficult to turn on the lathe. One way out of the difficulty is shown in the drawing; the valve stem was turned to %e¢ in., for a 1-in. cylinder, and then cut away back of the head to make a passage for the gases, leaving a strong, durable valve. This makes it easy to machine the cylinder head, as it is only necessary to make seats for the valve

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POPULAR heads. The ports are drilled from the side, as shown. There are several types of mica spark plugs on the market that are made sep- arable to facilitate cleaning. Part of one of these may be used to make a neat plug for the model. The two parts of the plug are separated, and the long central elec- trode, or point, is sawed off at the point indicated, then drilled, and a piece of wire driven into the hole; this is bent to form a gap between it and the portion that screws into the cylinder. A gap of %e2 in. is sufficient. The miniature cylinder head is then drilled and tapped in the most suitable place to take the spark plug. —Edwin J. Bachman, Fullerton, Pa. A Novel and Effective Garden Mulcher Because a garden plot is free of weeds, it does not necessarily follow that it is sufficiently cultivated; if the soil becomes hard, packed by the rain, and baked by the sun, the vegetables or flowers will not thrive. Consequently it is absolutely necessary that the top soil be kept loose it the plants are to develop in the man- ner they should. For this purpose a revolving mulcher, made from the cutter reel of a discarded lawn mower, will be found better and easier to operate than a hoe. Make a pair of handles from strong material, and mount the cutter reel across the ends of the handles. Just back of the handles a box is made to hold as many stones or DISCARDED LAWN- MOWER BLADES - WEIGHT Bax ~Y A Garden Mulcher and Weeder That can be Pushed Along between the Rows of Growing Plants is Easily Made from the Revolving Blades of an Old Lawn Mower other weights as will be necessary to cause the mulcher to cut to the proper depth. In use the tool is pushed or pulled between the rows. The blades will re- volve and cut into the soil and, due to arrangement of the cutters, the ground will be loosened and stirred up quite effectively—G, E. Hendrickson, Argyle, Wisconsin. MECHANICS 813 Using Several Phones on Radio Receiver The insistent demands of friends of the radio amateur that he entertain them at an evening of grand opera or musical A Device for Connecting Several Sets of Phones to the Radio-Receiving Apparatus, Which is Located in An- other Part of the Building, Making It Unnecessary for the Audience to Crowd into the Laboratory numbers generally present him with somewhat of a problem if he has but a single pair of phone terminals on his cabi- net, and no loud-talking device. In the present case the placement of the phones in another room was also something of a problem. In order to connect the three sets of phones used, the device shown in the photograph was made. Two boards, each 18 in. long, and about 6 in. wide, were screwed together at right angles, and three pairs of binding posts were placed on the front and connected in series at the back. The connecting wires were then run underneath the base to the two binding posts at the rear. The lead from the phone terminals of the radio set were then run to the room and connected to the binding posts on the base.—W., J. McGuffage, Chicago, IIL. Tire Chains for Emergencies Repair sections for tire chains are ob- tainable for a few cents each, and these can be attached to the wheel of an auto mobile by stove bolts or wingnuts, with- out the necessity of jacking up the car. A few such sections, which should be long enough for their ends to meet when passed around the tire, placed on the rear wheels of the car, will furnish sufficient traction to enable it, in most cases, to be driven out of sand and mud. | '

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814 How to Make a High-Speed Key The “bug” or vibrating key has become quite popular with radio amateurs, and can no longer be considered the exclusive TO TRANSFORMER BAKELITE SILVER CONTACTS=~. mq HANDLE ADJUSTING SCREW | Sill 6" SPATULA ee BLADE id ! vm ; Sd | ‘ " — o BRASS STRIP AND SUPPORT 4 x4x7} BAKELITE BASE RUBBER TIP TO A.C. 11O0-VOLT LINE A Vibrator-Type Transmitting Key for the Amateur Radio Operator, Which is Built Up from Easily Ob- tainable Parts, Makes It Possible to Develop Great Sending Speed property of the commercial or profes- sional operator. This type of key was first used by wire-telegraph operators to attain great speed, and, as it is easy to build and easy to operate, it is really a great improvement over the old-fashioned type of key. The movement of the key is from side to side instead of up and down, and with a little practice amazing speed in sending can be acquired. However, the operator should exercise some judgment, and not use so great a speed that he can- not transmit correctly. The base, which is made of 14-in. bake- lite, is supported on rubber feet to permit the wires to be run on the underside, as shown by the dotted lines on the draw- ing. The vibrator, or blade, can be made from any of various materials, such as a thin, flexible nail file, hacksaw blades, and the like, although an artist’s spatula, as shown in the drawing, makes an ideal blade. The original handle of the spatula is removed, and two strips of bakelite are cut to form an insulating handle, which is held together by small machine screws, so placed as not to come into contact with the blade. A '%-in. hole is drilled near the other end of the blade, which is sup- ported between brackets of the type shown; these are formed from %-in. sheet brass, and the blade is securely fas- tened between them by a screw. Machine screws are used for attaching the brack- ets to the base. The front brackets, near the handle, are made of the same material and to the same dimensions as those hold- ing the blade at the rear. These brackets are mounted on a brass strip, and each is POPULAR MECHANICS provided with a knurled-head screw, as indicated. Coin-silver contacts are sol- dered to the tips of these screws and to the blade, at the points where it makes contact with the screws. Adjustments are easily made when the blade is in position, by merely turning the thumbscrews. When the key assembly is completed, one wire is led from the base of the contact-point brackets to one of the binding posts, and another is led from the supporting brackets at the end of the blade to the second binding post. Owing to the fact that the steel blade always tends to straighten itself no switch is needed, because, if the contact points are adjusted to a uniform distance from the blade, it will not come into contact with them when not in use. After the wiring is completed, and the terminals soldered, the key is ready to be connected in series with the supply line leading to the trans- former.—F, L. Brittin, Chicago, II. Repairing Storage Batteries Storage batteries may be repaired with- out the trouble of removing the jars from the case, and without melting the cross- bars in order to remove a set of CELL TOBE plates. A diagonal | ( cy *“"™ cut is sawed in the connecting bar, as shown, and the plates of the de- fective cell are lifted out after the sealing compound has been suffi- ciently softened. After the plates have been repaired or the separators re- newed, the crossbar is carefully soldered together. To facilitate soldering, the ends are pried up slightly and a piece of wood, or a piece of an old separator, is slid under the cut, which is then cleaned, fluxed, bent back into place, and soldered. Removing Spots from Varnished Surfaces To remove white spots from a var- nished surface, make up, in the propor- tions given, the following mixture: raw linseed oil, 4 pt.; turpentine, 42 pt., and denatured alcohol, 4% pt. Shake well un- til thoroughly mixed. Dampen a piece of cheesecloth with this mixture and rub the spots several times, or until they dis- appear. If tightly corked, the mixture will keep indefinitely.

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PRIZE OFFERS MANY PRIZES FOR POSTERS AND ESSAYS are qualified engineers and who have sold a great TO INCITE KINDNESS TO ANIMALS variety of machinery for a number of years in Sout! America and Asia have been placed in charge The For the best humane posters and essays illustrating division aims to be of the greatest possible service to e idea of kindness to animals or human beings, American manufacturers and exporters of machinery, imerous cash prizes are offered by the American and with this object in view, will establish as close Humane Association, Albany, N. Y. This is the contact as possible with these interest An explana national contest that succeeds the state contests, sim- tory pamphlet has been published by the division. lar to the one for Massachusetis, announced last onth in this magazine. The national contest is open everyone, everywhere. It is divided into eight FOUR YEARS’ UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP roups, as follows: group 1, for school grades 1-4; OFFERED HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS roup 2, for school grades 5-8; group 3, for high- Z : hool grade 9; group 4, for art students, and anyone For the ; thir l consecutive year, a four year uni not in other groups; groups 5 and 6, for any person versity olarship being offer 9 gh-schoo horn before May 20, 1903; groups 7 and 8, for any students to encourage them in the study of highwa person born after May 19, 1903. In each group there economics, according to an announcement issued b ' ill be three prize s: first, $25; second, $15, and the Highw iy and Highway Tr ansport E tus ation Com third, $10. Special prizes of $10, $5, and $3 in groups mittee Phe s holar ship is awar . i tor the be t essay 6 and 8 will be awarded for the best cartoons with on the subject: “How Good Roads are D ee the words “Be Kind to Animals” published in any My ‘. ommunity.” _ say 2 are - ., to : ex cet I 700 newspaper or magazine. Three additional prizes, open words in length, and must be in t i¢ hands of a high. 1 | ‘ j tar _ suman school teacher or principal mot later than May 1. A to all groups, will be awarded for posters or human one ge Pe cal” aed luding bot bl essays by pupils in U. S. Indian schools; also a prize students of high-school gra e. including b publi of $25 will be given by the American Society for the and private schools, are eligible to compete E Lys Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, New York City, must be writter tae per m inuscript form, with tl the best poster suitable for publication by their ew school, and 7 ne a6 iTess « ‘Se contestant in ety, and two other prizes of $10 and $5, given by ya tical gen he . = "Sabi ; e Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty hs vie — ‘ ‘ ! “ . ibliograp : 8 t Animals for the ao . posters showing tl cruelty me ~ e iH ! : t , Het a ; ¥ a. f trapping animals for furs. s : TI 2 les of the contests are as follows: A com- ' c Commi 5 W I Ju Washing petitor may .submit any numbe r of Posters, maximum Ss e 22 by 28 in. Grouy iber in which poster is ntered must appest on front and back of each draw AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY OFFERS wit! name and address of artist on the vac cae, eatin aus Se tial, wenemel ted, cnscinen AID IN RESEARCH WORK ON GLASS i t the Pos Depa > ri i For tl! enrouren = f air’ te 1 — or ncouragen esea work on glas ‘ : Sree ld Iban ; wags H Bldg Albany, N Y the research committee of the Glass Divi mm of tl * to be received not ater than Ma ' 1922 American Ceramic Societs fiers to PI glass o Besides the above prizes, others are offered for any desired composition and form, free of charge and , to be mailed not later than 6:00 p. m., May without limitation, to investigators in this field The to the Association’s Essay Contest Department nly obligation put upon t recipient is that of pul follows three prizes o1 995 $15, and $10, siven ition of the result of |} investigat ns preterab by the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of aa cia al tea Man Ae Society, P Cruelty to Animals for the best essays written by saihn! teateeiial iin) tneciaahedh th ve vata eh joy Scouts on the protes on of animals opt 1 to following tneahers of t ocuinine os haaaiiel oy Scouts everywhere; also $50, given by the National - © Ralttean Cnentne Claas Wail Cocsinn 1. Y \ssociation of Audubon Societies, of which $25 will Ee W. Washbare. University of Tifimcs Urbane, Tit awarded to a Campfire Girl and $25 to a Girl or R. B. Sosman, Geophysical Laboratory, Was! Scout for the best essays on the protection of birds. In these contests, essays must not exceed 800 words length, and must be signed with the author’s name ind address, MANY VALUABLE PRIZES TO BE AWARDED TO FOSTER BETTER-BRED LIVE STOCK FOUNDATION TO HELP TOWNS To stimulate the production of better-bred live stocl ington, D. C. ESTABLISH PLAYGROUNDS $5,000, d vided rengg p Ags - is - be awarded at thx cattle show to be held in November at the Sourbon Of interest to every town and city in the country - . Stockyards, Louisville, Ky. Entries will be open t a new foundation, established in New York by all farmers and breeders of Kentucky, Tennessee. Geor William E. Harmon he corporation is to be known gia, and Alabama. There will be fat-cattle, as well as he ¢ “oO d t las ft s j t © “ iets ee 7 ¥ . : " rn is the Harmon Foundation, and has f 1 its object tocker and feeder awards. For the encouragement he application of sound business principies to many of boys’ and girls’ clubs formed for feeding « attle 1 ocial movements, such as helping towns to establish special class has been added to the sh Seago I playgrounds, and - advancing loans to college stu- prizes will be awarded ot a value of $1,500 Anyon ents through the organization of mutual-aid societies. desiring more information should write to the Bourbon ’ Fos “all he > . > 7 _ , ete : The foundation will be guided by the principle of Stockyards, Louisville, Ky. elping people to help themselves For the present the entire time of the staff is being spent in helping “ wns to establish Sea but — on : Vision PRIZE FOR BEST NAME FOR A MACHINE vocational guidance, and of counsel to social organ- izations in financial matters, will be organized. THAT SAVES WOODWORKING LABOR For the best name for a new woodworking combi nation machine that saws, planes, bores, grooves NEW INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY DIVISION makes miters, and is handy for all kinds of repa , IN DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE work, a prize of $100 is offered. The contest is not limited to woodworkers, and everybody is eligible to In the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce send in any number of suggestions. The name should there has been organized the Industrial Machinery be descriptive of the machine, and easy to remember Division to provide American manufacturers of machin- It must be received by May 1, 1922, written clearly ery with adequate government assistance. The new with sender’s name and address on any postal card ot division will give attention to every kind of machinery piece of paper, and addressed to Advertising De part in any branch of industry Im order that the division ment, Hutchinson Manufacturing Co., Norristown. may be thoroughly practical in its work, men who Pennsylvania. 815

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816 POPULAR MECHANICS GOOD TASTE IN MUSIC CULTIVATED sities are awarding more valuable prizes than others, BY MUSIC-MEMORY CONTESTS and this naturally attracts the “tramp athlete.” If all schools and colleges would agree on standard awards, Very popular, and in practice in a large number of preferably in the form of medals, the tramp athlete schools now, is a form of contest that cultivates good would soon be a thing of the past. musical taste in the school children and others. It is alled a “‘music-memory contest.” The object of these ontests is to cultivate an appreciation of good music, CONTESTS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED o_o promoted by musical and literary clubs Medals, Diplomas, and Money Awards: Announced i peration with the schools. The method of pro : oa , M : cedure is to select some 30 or 40 classical-music num August issue, 1921; awards offered by the Franklin bers. These are played and sung before the con- Instituie. testants, and interesting information regarding them For Service to City of Philadelphia: Prize $10,000; and their composers is told to the audience, whose announced September issue, 1921; awarded in spring business it is to make notes, and memorize it. This or summer of 1922 by Edward Bok, former editor of continues for about two months, when the examina- The Ladies Home Journal. tions begin, to determine which of the contestants Model in Clay by Students of Chicago Art Insti- recognizes the music, upon its recital, and can give tute: Prizes, $1,000, $100, and $50; announced No the best account of its origin and its composer. vember issue, 1921; closes April 15, 1922; address, Sinema Daily News Office, 15 N. Wells St., Chicago, Ill. NATIONAL “REPAIR IT NOW” CAMPAIGN ji One ee for Best, Motor: Fr emg ve < ss oe; Ss - 4 *SS, i DIRECTED AT MOTOR-CAR OWNERS anuary issue ; closes June 923; address, Aero Club of France. Aimed at the automobile owner, there is being Best Slogan Describing Razor: Prize $500; an directed from Chicago a national “Repair It Now” nounced January issue, 1922: closes June 30; address, campaign. The object is to impress upon the motor- Durham Duplex Razor Co., 190 Baldwin Ave., Jersey ist that repair parts, repair men, and everything con- City, N. J nected with repair work are easy to get—now, and American-History Essays: Prizes, $3,000 for pro- that later on they will be difficult to get. Local fessors, $2,000 for specialists, $1,000 for school-teachers, campaign committees are being organized to promote $1,000 for students, and $500 for undergraduates in the campaign by means of advertising, bill-posting, U. S. colleges; announced March issue, 1922; closes and parades. May 31. Address, Knights of Columbus Historical we Commission, K. of C. Bldg., 199 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, Mass. STANDARDIZATION OF ATHLETIC AWARDS Best Susie of a Song Prize $100 —w : i : 2 cee IN ALL COLLEGES IS ADVOCATED April issue, 1922; closes July 1, 1922; address, D. A. With the object of eliminating professionalism Clippinger, 617-18 Kimball Building, Chicago, Ill. among college athletes, it is advocated by George Man-Propelled Airplane: Prize 20,000 francs; an- I.. Rider, athletic director of Washington University, nounced April issue, 1922; closes September 13, 1922; that all awards in any kind of athletics should be address, Maison Peugeot, 80 Rue Danton, Levallois- standardized. At present some colleges and wuniver- ‘ Perret (Seine), France.

in answering prize offers please mention Popular Mechanics Magazine

NS NAS “AVIA “00 V7 NI nS SNA | (aio | | aiid Om eros » eee ARMORED TRIPLANE CARRIES ONE CANNON AND SIX MACHINE GUNS ‘THE latest development in American aviation is this triplane in which all vital parts are protected by armor. As armament it carries a cannon firing a one-pound shell, and has also six machine guns which can be fred in practically all directions. In addition, it carries 10 bombs, and when fully loaded weighs almost five tons. It has a flying speed of 105 miles per hour and a climbing speed of 600 ft. per minute.

| & 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 Magazine, Chicago. [Editor.]