Popular Mechanics 1927-03: Vol 47 Iss 3

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| POPULAR MECHANICS | MAGAZINE WRITTEN SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND IT 8600 TRADE MARK GREAT BRITAIN Ne 410426 CHU & Pat Orr

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ATKINS SILVER STEEL HACKSAW BLADES Econaruca! i i rea a hey t eee. Ss @ ®@ anger Qe 2 At LEAST SITIES as LONG AS ANY OTHER HACKSAW BLADE Oakel a f or Man Says on - These ~ 23 ry © New Hack Saw Blades z at Your Hardware Store’ OW—At YOUR Hardware Store—You can get the wonderful NEW Atkins Hack Saw Blades of “‘Silver Steel’’ for hand use. Actual tests show these NEW blades cut SIX times longer than any ordinary hack saw blade. They hold If your dealer cannot their edge better—cut quicker and easier—save you supply you, tell us what . ‘ kind of metal you are time, money and material. cutting, enclosing 25: . re will st a eae ‘ It pays to be sure the name ATKINS is on the blade. Atkins sample “SILVER leads in saw development. Look for the counter display shown STEEL” blade above At Your Hardware Store. x *°» ATKINS & CO., Est. 1857, 426 So. Ills. St., Indianapolis, Ind. Leading Manufacturers of Highest Grade Saws for Every Use; Saw Tools, Saw Specialties, Plastering Trowels and Machine Knives

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POPULAR MECHANICS ADVERTISING SECTION NEW! Eveready Layerbilt “B” Battery No. 486, the Heavy- Duty battery that should be species for all loud-speaker sets. ———aeew ' = DY > Nm a ge The Layerbilt pat- ented construction reve aled. Each laye r is an electrical cell, making automatic contact with its neighbors, and fille \ ing all available space inside the bat- tery case. DIFFERENT! For greatest economy all loud speaker sets require’ the new Eveready Layerbilt'B’ Batteries Ir WILL pay you, in conve- nience and reliability as well as in dollars and cents saved, to use this remarkable battery. The reason for the Ever- eady Layerbilt’s surprising performance lies in its exclu- sive, patented construction. No other battery is like it. It is built in flat layers of current- producing elements, making practically a solid block. The layers make connection with each other automatically, and occupy all available space in- side the battery case. Layer- building packs more active ma- terials in a given area, and makes those materials produce more electricity, Every loud-speaker set should use Heavy-Duty bat- teries, for they alone offer economy on modern receivers. When you buy new “B” bat- teries be sure to get the Heavy- Duty size, and remember that the Eveready Layerbilt has proved to be the longest last- ing, most economical of all Heavy-Duty batteries. Our laboratories are con- tinually testing batteries and in all our tests we have yet to find a battery that is equal to the new improved and radically different Eveready Layerbilt “B” Battery No. 486. The development and perfecting of this remarkable battery is an outstanding bat- tery-building achievement. It is the result of many years’ experience plus the facilities and resources of the pioneer manufacturers of all dry cell batteries. NATIONAL CARBON CO., Inc. New York San Francisco Unit of Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation Tuesday night is Eveready Hou: Night—9 P. M., Eastern Standard Time woNn—-Chicago woo-—Davenport Minneapolis wrar—New York WJaR-—Providence WEE!I—Boston WTaG—Worceaster WwFi-—Philadelphia woR-Buffalo WCAE-—Pittaburgh wsai—Cincinnati wTamM—Cleveland wwi-Detroit rCcoo WCCO } gt. Paul Ksp—St. Louis wRro—Washington wuy—Schenectaay wHas—Louiavill: wsp—Atlanta wsM—Nashrille

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A Modern Magic Lantern That Reproduces Thousands of Stars and the Whole Solar System on a Dome, to Show the Movement of Heavenly Bodies

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Popular Mechanics Magazine REGISTERED IN U. S&S. PATENT OFFICE WRITTEN SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND IT MARCH, 1927 No x HELLO LONDON! == an American says “Hello” when he picks up his telephone receiver, reas an Englishman usually opens the ersation with “Are you there?” be- an international question early in uary, when regular transatlantic radio- phone between service opened York and London. was ith the new service, every subscriber New York can telephone anybody in lon over his own house or office ne connection—provided he is willing vay the price. The long-distance rate idon is $75 for the first three min- or any part thereof, and $25 for each mal minute. And if the connection blished but the person ot in, the transatlantic hone companies ve $10 for report- that fact. kngineers on sides of the lantic have in more less regular munication nce 1923, but is not un- a few weeks o that the mpanies were idv to an- sunce the ervice to be ificiently re- ible for gen- ral use. It still necessary to llow for itmospheric nterference by ‘Phone Spans C7ftlantic time the connection may be interrupted For the present the service will be in op eration from 8:30 a. m. to 1:00 p. m, New York time, corresponds to 1:30 p. m. in London, that being the only part of the day when the busi which to 6:00 p. m. ness hours of the two cities coincide. Unlike the usual telephone line, where both parties talk back and forth over the same wire, the first transatlantic telephone employs two routes, separated at place by many hundreds of miles, though both sides of the conversation are carried on New 1 the same : ork When the wavelength. subscriber speak voice passes through re and Point, L. I., where it goes \. on the air Wroughton, England. From New York to Rocky Point, there pound for is seventy miles ot land wire; then a 3,300-mile jump through the air across the sea, and a final land trip of ninety wire miles trom Wroughton to London. As the E1 lishman ig- Starts to reply,theap- paratus is auto- matically switched and his voice goes northwest from London eighty- emitting the harge for any Where American Words Take the Air; the Outdoor Tuning In- ductance at the Rocky Point Transmitting Station on Long Island five miles by land wire to

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354 POPULAR Peart Ten-Kilowatt Radio Broadcasting Tube and a Vacuum Repeater Tube Used to Relay Conversation MECHANICS are handled abroad, so they would be miliar with the procedure of setting up t connection overseas. For customers, the telephone engine: advise that talk across the Atlantic sho be carried on in quiet, even tones, with: shouting, and in the well-modulated vo used in conversation with a person int same room. London may be placed in telepho: communication with Australia, South A{ rica and Canada within a few weeks, a: at a much cheaper rate than that charg: for the New York calls, owing to the { that the Marconi short-wave beam over Wires for Long eee ROCKY POIN TRAN. STA. Map of Atlantic Phone Service; the Loading LU . Long-Distance Transmis- sion, and Early Phone Coil for Rugby, where it is broadcast to be picked up 2,900 miles away at Houlton, Me., and sent on the final lap, 600 miles down the coast, to New York city. The switching on and off of the two circuits, done auto- matically as one talker stops and the other begins, permits the company to econo- mize in ether space by using a single wave band for both sides of the conversation, instead of two separate bands, as would otherwise be necessary. Telephone girls at both terminals of the service were specially picked for hav- ing the voices most suitable for radio transmission, with low steady intonation, so as to avoid excessive variation in the frequency of the sound waves. They were then taught the names of the differ- ent exchanges in the city at the other end, and given lessons in the way ordinary calls \ paratus is available, instead of employin: the long waves, as is done on the present transatlantic service. Experimental tele phone calls to Canada, a distance of 3,00) miles, have been carried on for some time and occasional successful experiment have been made in reaching Australia, distance of 12,000 miles from Londo: Eventually it is intended to link every part of the empire with the British isles. HIG

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HIGH-SPEED ELEVATED ROAD FOR AUTOMOBILES tesy the London Motor Artist's Drawing of New York’s Proposed Four-Mile Elevated Motor Road from the Canal Street Docks up Eleventh Avenue toward Riverside Drive

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POPULAR Model Cathedral Fashioned with Pocketknife and Scroll- saw; Figures of Apostles in Center SEVEN-FOOT CATHEDRAL MADE OF OVER THOUSAND PIECES Tiny chimes play eight different tunes, the hours are tolled and the figures of four Apostles march slowly through a curtained door as the music sounds in an electric-lighted model cathedral, seven feet high. Pocketknife and scrollsaw were the principal tools used in fashioning the model, which contains 1,080 pieces of wood of sixteen different kinds, painted in twen- ty-seven various shades and colors. The model was finished in about nine months, the designer devoting only his spare time to the task. ANCHOR FOR AIRPLANE CARRIER WEIGHS FIFTEEN TONS To hold fast the navy’s aircraft carriers, anchors weighing fifteen tons have been ordered. This is in keeping with an axiom of the sea that for every ton of ship, there should be a pound of anchor. Tests are being made with a type of stockless an- chor which is said to provide greater hold- ing power without a corresponding in- crease in weight. MECHANICS TINY ANIMAL WITH BIG BRAIN Sit FOUND IN OCEAN Too small to be seen by the unaided eve. a tiny animal discovered in ocean water has a nerve center or brain more com; than that of the bee and it can buil new house for itself in less than two 1 utes, according to Arthur S. Campbell, the University of California. This er ture is found by the million but is so c: cate that it dies in twenty or twenty-five minutes after being taken out of the wate: Little has been known of it except thro: its shell, discovered in the stomachs larger organismis. MOUTH ORGAN AND HARP IN ONE LATEST MUSICAL NOVELTY Players of harmonicas can produce thei: own accompaniment on a novel inst: inent on which a California inventor | applied for a patent. The mouth o1 is inserted in a slot on the harplike | of the outfit, and its tones issue from t! sound hole, blending with those of strings. Cords are played with the of keys, the fingering being simple. instrument is said to be suited especi: for accompanying a human voice ani with it, two persons can achieve most the effects of a five-piece orchestra. Playing the Combination Harp and Mouth Orgar Note the String Keys for Left Hand

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POPULAR MECHANICS ~ SECRETS OF ORIENTAL ART REVEALED BY SCULPTOR introduc- rarre color effects, has been brought om the orient by Allan Clark, a \merican sculptor who spent three in the Far East. He not only rf differ but em- icquers and gold leaf to get un- In a bust of Mme. i he carved the work from mahogany shed it in black old ] ething new in sculpture, uses ( ‘ent-colored woods, | effects. Galli- and red lacquers eaf, while the face itself is done unusual olive tint. A large comb hed in red lacquer and a Chinese draped over the diva’s shoulders, blue and gold, the colors The oriental effect not is carried out in the decorative colors, head and face itself are given a tinctly treatment. While in ‘orient with the China expedition from rvard, Clark ples there, ne in green, he original. Chinese visited the ancient cave spent much time with the tors of Japan, studying their stage cos- ies and effect, and also made studies old inlay work in Java, Korea, Siam, bet and Burma. CAGED WOLF GETS EXERCISE BY JUMPING FOR MEALS lo give a timber ficient exercise, wolf in a Texas zoo park officials have in- talled a pole upon which the animal's ‘al of raw meat is placed, just high ugh to necessitate expert jumping be- Allan Clark at Work on One of His Painted Wooden Heads, Modeled in Oriental Style; Below, His Orientalized Head of Galli-Curci it Walkine fore the wolf can about the capture cage does not give the animal sufficient exercise for the muscles on its back and keep it in good physical condition. The shoulders, the keepers say, to lack is supplied by the daily jumping. VEST-POCKET TOBACCO CASE REDUCES WASTE Holding supply of tobacco, a dav’s an attractive metal case fits the pocket and has a double lid, fording a vest one af- small through VM hich pipe aperture or c1ig- aret paper may be filled without spilling. To replenish the carrier, both lids are opened.

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POPULAR Fog Horn That Produces the World’s Most Terrible Noise and Can Be Heard Forty Miles TERRIFYING MAN-MADE NOISE TO SAVE SHIPS IN FOGS A new type of fog horn, whose makers boast that it produces the most terrible noise ever heard, is being installed in Brtish and Canadian lighthouses to save ships from destruction. Some idea of what the noise of the fog horn is like may be gained from the fact that one installed at Cape Race, Newfoundland, has been heard forty miles out at sea. The giant horn, which is operated by compressed air, is called a diaphone. WIRES HUNG FROM BALLOONS TO TRAP AIRPLANES Experiments are being conducted by the United States army on a balloon-and- wire plan for protecting cities and other areas from airplanes. The balloons are to be sent to altitudes of several thousand feet, and from each, strands of small steel MECHANICS wire of great strength are suspended. The wires are intended to tangle airplane ; pellers and other parts, causing the c: to fall, and are so fine that they are in ible beyond a short distance. WILD DUCKS CAUGHT BY HAND ON BAITED BOX Mexicans along the Rio Grande h devised a clever scheme for catching wild ducks that alight where the river is too deep. A _ hollow box, with holes punched in the top to hold ears of cor or other grain, is placed on the water. Mexican dives beneath it and stands wit! his head hidden from view by the floatin and apparently harmless box. When a duck alights for the bait, the hunter stic| his hand from beneath and grabs the b Game wardens declare that one man . catch as many as fifty ducks in one d by this method. TRIPLE-GAFF HOOK FOR BIG FISH PREVENTS ESCAPE OF CATCH Devised especially for ice or still ing, a triple hook, easily attached to line, securely traps the fish and holds until landed. The hooks are self-adju ing for various sizes of fish and not o prevent escapes but also protect the | Fish in Gaff, Showing How the Three Hooks C! about Head near Gills from breaking. A slip loop holds the g: any desired distance above the baited ho:

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POPULAR MECHANICS HOPE OF SEEING BY f Seven Lights Television Pro- by Means of Dr. E. F. W. Alexanderson Reproduce Moving Ob- jects by Radio ¢ t s ) radio ission of the actual elevis ion—the a distant ly practical with equip- lready available, provided the ap- person ent—is entire can be speeded up sufficiently, ac- i to Dr. E. F. W. Alexanderson, of General Electric company and the Ra- » Corporation of America. He estimates t it will take about ten years, however, bring television to the point where it render a useful public service. he problem is entirely one of speed. his laboratory he has transmitted a lio picture in two minutes, as compared h the ten or more minutes taken only a But before movies, or an actual event, tted satisfactorily, each or sO ago. of an can be trans- separate pic- re must be painted on the screen in one- teenth of a second, the same rate at hich a movie projector operates in flash- the pictures on the screen. “It is easy enough. to design a television tem that will transmit something like 10,000 picture units a second,” Dr. Alex- nderson says. A picture unit is one of the irts in which a picture is divided for ransmission, the photo-electric cell send- ng each unit as a separate electrical im- while the receiving apparatus, a ight valve, turns the impulses back into ulse, 359 RADIO BROUGHT NEARER FACT light and projects them one after the other on the screen, but so rapidly that the eye sees them all as one picture. “The images obtained with 40,000 units a second,” the engineer explains, “are so crude that they have no practical value. Our work has shown us that we need an operating speed of 300,000 units a second to get sixteen complete pictures in that time—so the problem is simply one of perfect- ing photo-electric cells, light valves and radio modulators of transmitting impressions at tl Dr. Alexanderson’s projector in that he instead of a single one. Each of the is unique 1° .4 separate lights, utilizes seven lights scans the picture, and paint it it sees, but the light that all converge, and blend so that they produce an optical image of wh: arranged their beams illusion of a single picture, with the seven parts fused into one good image. In his experiments he has found a way to eliminate ture transmission. by = intr “threshold valve” nothing is °.1 with nic ™ oducing a so that static interference into the circuit the value fixed received unless signal strength exceeds the current by the valve. When radio-picture entertainments ar- rive, however, he suggests that static, fad- ing and other transmission difficulties may be overcome by what he describes as “brute force,” which is simply the linking up by wire of many radio stations to sup- ply sufficient power for good results.

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360 POPULAR MECHANICS THREE-WHEELED CAR RUNS EIGHTY MILES AN HOUR Pat Tricycle Auto . Which Develops Jf <5 ¥

High Speed and Saves Fuel, Run- ning Forty Miles on a Single Gallon of Gasoline

Forty miles on a gallon of gasoline is the record made by a three-wheeled auto- mobile owned by a New York woman and said to be the first of its kind introduced in this country. It has a_ two-cylinder motor and develops a speed of nearly eighty-five miles an hour. PEARLS ARE GROWN ON FARMS FROM EGG OF PARASITE On display recently in a drug-store win- dow in Little Rock, Ark., were 2,000 pearls produced at a river farm near by, where the gems were grown for the market. They were raised from tiny seed pearls transplanted from a mussel into another bivalve. The seed is formed, not around a tiny grain of sand, as is widely believed, but around the minute egg of a certain kind of water parasite. Pearls cannot be produced in all waters because this para- site is not found everywhere, according to a pearl expert. After the seed has been transplanted, seven vears are required be- fore the pearl is ready for gathering. The transfer operation is a delicate one. If the seed is placed too near the edge where the shells of the mollusk come together, it will be cramped and ill-formed. If two seeds are too close together, a slug will result, caused by the pearl-producing ma- terial growing over both. The substance is deposited in layers, one each year. When

pearls are peeled, this structure is appa: ent, as the material breaks where the ye growth begins. The mollusks can pu themselves about with a sort of foot whic! protrudes from their shell, but their speed scarcely exceeds a few inches an hour. | they become too active, a wire fence sometimes placed around their beds t restrain them. In all, there are some 11!) variations in the luster and color of th: pearls so that grading is an exacting tas! SAFETY AIR-BRAKE INDICATOR TO HELP PREVENT WRECKS For railway trains and street cars, a western inventor has devised an indicato: which tells if the air brakes are not work ing. It consists of a signal, attached to the end of a freight or passenger car, and is so adjusted that, when the air is applied it protrudes from a housing and shows the engineer or other members of the crew that the brakes are responding prop erly. If there is a defect, the signal will not appear. The visibility of the signal and its sim plicity have led to its approval by the me- chanical departments of several roads.

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\NY EARTHQUAKES THIS YEAR SCIENTIST PREDICTS irthquakes will shake the world in places during 1927, according to the lictions of Raffaele Bendani, an Italian forecasts of such occur- attracted wide attention in Southern Europe, Central erica, particularly in the isthmus re- n, and the Greek archipelago, will be lar whose es have years. ted by temblors early in the year, he. lares, while the summer will witness turbances in Japan, Mexico, the Pacific ist not far from regions visited in 1909, in the central Mediterranean area. ring the second half of the year, earth- takes will be registered in the Antilles vell as the Philippine and Aleutian is- ds and the southern coast of Alaska, endani predicts. Also, volcanic erup- ns will take place in Central America | central Asia, he believes. PICTURES IN COLORED ICE RIVAL BEAUTY OF STAINED GLASS Lacking snow for building houses and children found a ort even more amusing in making beau- ‘ul windows of colored ice. Upon panes i ordinary glass, little walls of putty were en, Chicago school Colored-Ice Design on Pane of Glass fastened to make the designs and into the spaces thus marked off, mixtures of cold- water dyes in different colors were poured. After freezing, a firm, transparent “win- dow” was formed. The crystalline struc- ture, visible when the pane was held to the light, added to its beauty. POPULAR MECHANICS 361 a A ET ee | ZZ — ancneveeanieypomete ct lM ge f Entrance to Palatial California Home, Showing the Imported Spanish Door Which Cost $5,000 FIVE-THOUSAND-DOLLAR DOOR IN CALIFORNIA CASTLE Castles in Spain, or at least parts of them, are being brought to America to beautify homes here. One of the features of a res- idence near San Diego, Calif., is the ma- hogany door which was imported from Spain at a cost of $5,000. The dining table brought from an old Spanish castle. Moorish and Norman designs have been incorporated in the structure as well as more modern notes, such as the pipe organ back of a loft above the huge fire- place. Ornamental light brackets at the door add to the beauty of the entrance. was also HOBOS CAUSE OF HOT BOXES ON RAILROAD CARS Vagrants cause the railroads troubles, but one of the most various serious and vet least known is their contribution to hot boxes and consequent delays to trains. This they do by removing the waste from the journal make fires. The material provides a lasting, hot blaze and boxes to is often stolen while trains are in the yards or on the sidings

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Pe reer te tomes me nr aoe neni cme een 362 POPULAR MECHANICS SKATERS PRACTICE ON PLANKS FOR WINTER SEASON To keep in training for the ice-skating season, German experts practice in a Skating Lessons in Summer on Slip- pery Planks plank-lined trench which has a turf bot- tom to break the force of falls. The boards are smooth and slant at an angle to give effective drill in balancing and movement. NAVY’S RADIO STATIONS GUIDE EIGHTY THOUSAND SHIPS An outstanding example of the remark- able growth of wire and wireless com- munication is seen in the service rendered by the United States navy. Fifteen years ago, the headquarters office in the navy department was manned by one telegraph operator who stood only one watch of eight hours daily, assisted by a part-time messenger. Today, the staff numbers 139, including skilled land-wire telegraphers, radio operators, communication traffic spe- cialists, accountants and executives, who maintain reliable service with vessels any- where on the seas. Last year, more than 14,000,000 words were handled. Of this number, nearly 5,000,000 were for other branches of the government, weather re- ports, market quotations, financial mat- ters, and the like, resulting in a saving of about $850,000. In one year, 83,171 ves- sels were furnished a total of 184,206 di- rectional radio bearings by the navy’s fifty-six radio-compass stations located on both coasts. This service was fur- nished American and foreign vessels alil and doubtless prevented many disaste: Among recent outstanding achieveme: of the department are the efficient ra communication with the MacMillan Amundsen polar exped tions and the internation ice-patrol reports. The service is now being an plified by broadcasting weather maps to ships. CAR SPEED CHANGED WITHOUT STEPS BY CONE GEAR A type of gear box, de veloped in England, gives a continuous range of speed changes without th: steps or stops incident to the shifting of gears of the usual type. Both the driy ing and the driven shaft have two cones, with ridge-like teeth the inner side, which engage the side slid ing laminations of a driving chain. The distance between the cones on each shaft is variable, so if they are held close t gether the chain is forced up to the edg: of the cones, while if they are spread apart the chain slips down toward the center \ screw device with two arms, working on the same principle as a carpenter’ clamp, takes care of the adjustment of the cones, forcing one pair together while al Inside of New Gear Box, Showing Cones and Chains lowing the other pair to spread apart, or vice versa. The speed range, from a step down to a step up, is limited only by the size of the cones. A reverse gear is in- corporated if desired.

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POPULAR MECHANICS 363 © P. & A. British Ironclad ‘‘Warspite”’ and Its Double Funnel; This Arrangement Affords More Room for the Conning Tower Which Also Presents Several New Features TWO-IN-ONE WARSHIP FUNNEL LATEST NAVAL STYLE One of the most noticeable features of the British warship “Warspite” is its new tvpe of funnel, a single opening being rovided for two smokestacks. The plan s said to give reduced visibility at long range, thereby helping to protect the ship rom gun fire. USE OF ELECTRICITY IS DOUBLED IN FIVE YEARS That the present is rightfully called the electric age is apparent from government reports showing that during the five years between 1920 and 1925, the consumption of electricity throughout the country in- creased by fifty-one per cent and in some states as much as eighty-five per cent. In actual increase, the: middle Atlantic states were ahead with 5,950,000,000 kilo- watt-hours, while the increase for all the 22,315,000,000 kilowatt-hours. states was Other sections showing high increases were the east north central with seventy- eight per cent, the west south central with seventy-nine per cent and the increase Pacific states, where the amounted to fifty-eight per cent GARAGE FLOORS KEPT CLEAN WITH GREASE ABSORBENT fe i oer | ee 7 Oil and grease b+—44 are said to be re- moved quickly trom the garage floor with the aid of an absorbent material now on It is scattered on the the market. spot, pressed into the oil and then swept up, leaving substance is non- The clean. the floor combustible and may be used several times until saturated.

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364 POPULAR MECHANICS Recording Instrument on Table at Rear Registers Warmth of Girl’s Blush METER THAT MEASURES BLUSH TO IMPROVE BUILDINGS Engineers interested in the proper warming and ventilating of buildings have developed a heat meter which is so sensi- tive that it will record the effect of a blush. The instrument is being used to determine factors in heat transmission and is ex- pected to afford data for better building. FENCE IS BUILT FOR DAY ONCE EVERY SEVEN YEARS For just one day, every seven years, a fence is erected around a small triangular plot of sidewalk in front of a large office building in Atlanta, Ga., in accordance with the state property laws. They pro- vide that land used for public purposes for seven entire years at a stretch be- comes the property HOW AN AIRPLANI FLIES Seventy-five per ce: of the sustaining pow: that keeps an airpla: up is represented by su tion on the top surfa of the wing, according t engineers at the gover ment flying field in Day ‘ton, Ohio. They explai: that the wing acts as “splitting” the ai: and sending it streamin, back and up almost ver tically. This rush of ai creates a partial vacuut above the wing back of the thickest part, and it is this vacuu combined with the pressure of the air be- neath, which does three-fourths of the sustaining work, the engineers assert. wedge, LETTERS ON SHEETS OF WOOD ADVERTISE LUMBER PORT Writing paper made from sheets of spruce veneer, so thin it takes a pile of eighty to make one inch, is used by the Hoquiam, Wash., to advertise the city as the world’s chamber of commerce of leading lumber market. The’ veneer, which is produced by a box and basket manufacturer for use in his product, is flexible, folds easily and takes typewriter ink as well as any linen or wood-pulp paper. Hoquiam, which is an Indian word meaning “Hungry for Wood,” got its name when the Indians observed that of the public. This particular piece is privately owned and to prevent its becoming part of the public’s posses- sions, it is fenced off for one day, de- feating the letter of the law and pre- serving the owner's title. A brass plate in the walk bears the inscription “pri- an enormous pile of driftwood collected in the harbor on both flood and ebb tides. The city won the leadershipin the lumber market in 1924, when it was the first port toship more than a billion board feet in a sin- gle year, and in 1925, the business exceeded that figure vate property.” Letter Typewritten on Sheet of Wood So Thin It Can Be Folded; Note the Dark Grain Marks by approximately fifty per cent.

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CE IS MADE WHILE SUN SHINES FOR MOVIE SET From Summer to Winter in a Few Days; Dutch Scene from the Motion Picture “‘The Red Mill,” in Which Canal Was Frozen While Sun Shone; to Care for Expansion, a Moving Bulkhead Was Built, and the Freezing Plant Was Large Enough to Supply a Whole City

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POPULAR MECHANICS through Mouth to Warn Pedestrians SWAN AUTO HISSES TO MAKE PEDESTRIANS STEP BACK Motorists in India like originality in their cars, so one wealthy owner has had | ike a swan, while the front springs end in grotesque heads rem- a special body built iniscent of the griffins carved on medieval buildings. A multi-toned has been provided for emergency use, and the usual exhaust horn warning signal is given by the swan opening its mouth and hissing in realistic fashion at pedestrians who get in the way. ‘The hiss is provided by exhaust vas from the engine. headlights, Instead of the usual a single globe surmounts the swan’s head like a crest or comb, and a smaller lamps is fitted around its throat, forming a sort of necklace. ring of REINDEER INDUSTRY IN ALASKA BRINGS LARGE RETURNS More than 350,000 reindeer, distributed in 110 herds, are now being kept in Alaska, according to the department of agricul- ‘ture, and the average between thirty-three and cent annually. increase is forty-five per Within recent years, the raising of the animals has become an im- portant industry. They are known as “three-way” producers, useful for food, clothing and for transportation, and in some sections, are supplanting the dog teams for hauling. The cost of produc- tion averages only about $1 a year for each reindeer, while prices of $10 or $12 gross are realized in the butche markets. 1925, pounds of were Alaska. The government is endeavoring to improve methods of Between 19] nearly 2,000.00 reindeer c= ported and meat f ror control an management of herds and the grazing facilities. It is said that the can afford pasturage for at least 3,000,000 animals country FINS ON SHIP’S HULL INCREASE SPEED To reduce fuel consump tion and increase the speed of ships, wing fins attached to either side of the hull have been devised by an English engineer. on an interesting and probably littl known feature of navigation. With the ordinary form of ship water flows upward The idea is based to the propeller so that part of that unit's + work is to make the flow of water move in a horizontal direction. the fin is to deflect the streamline hori zontally without reducing the speed of the water to the propeller. tachment on a The purpose of lests with the at resulted in a twenty-five-per-cent reduction in fuel con motorboat sumption, while the astern speed was it ¥ Deflecting Fins Attached near Propeller Are Said to Reduce Fuel Consumption and Increase Speed creased by about twenty per cent. In ad- dition it was found that the steering qual- ities of the vessel were improved in a quite considerable degree.

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POPULAR MECHANICS ARVING A MOUNTAIN TO TELL NATION’S STORY Models Illustrating How Faces of Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln Will Look When Carved on Natural Stone Monument; a Huge Tablet Will Be Inscribed on the Other Side of the Mountain On Mt. Rushmore, in the Black Hills of uth Dakota, Gutzon Borglum, the ulptor, is preparing to tell, in gigantic mbols, the story of the development of nation. One side of the natural monu- ent will bear the figures of Washington, the creator,” Jefferson, “the expansion- t,” Lincoln, “the preserver,” and Roose- elt, who, in the words of Mr. Borglum, n completing the passage to India by il canal, fulfilled the uilding the rophecy of On the west Panama Columbus.” ide, in letters four- een feet high, will ve carved a huge tab- let bearing the great dates in the history of the United States nd simple state- ments of the signifi- of each. The of the men will be 200 feet high. The sculptor chose the theme for this work from the Loui- siana Purchase, which led to the ex- pansion of the tion, and traced its history back to the copper plates buried cance hgures na- One of the Presses That by the agents of the French king in taking possession of land, in 1742. near Pierre, S. Dak., MONTHLY MAGAZINE FOR BLIND HAS SIXTY PAGES \s a result of special presses and other apparatus developed by a blind man, per- sons who suffer a similar affliction are able to enjoy appearance Ww: vas 0 Prints the Magazine for the Blind, and. a Sample Page a monthly successful that it first has increased and is national circula tion. For the first their lives, nany blind subscrib- able advertise- and magazine. Its been to sixty now pages time in ‘rs have been to read other to the usual publication. of their reading matter 1 to some ments matter common Heretofore, most ¥ been limited books, in localities few of these and have been obtainable. The magazine printed is in raised characters.

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5658 BEAUTY MASK PROTECTS GIRLS IN BASKETBALL GAME Members of a New York girls’ basket- ball team have found various types ot Taking No Chances of Basketball Spoiling Her Looks; Girl Player with Face Mask masks effective in protecting their faces and hair during strenuous equipment includes boxing headgear and football helmets, but a divers’ games. The modification of a proved shields the entire face and has openings for the eyes and the mouth. headpiece has popular. It especially HOUSE FRAME HEAVILY BRACED TO RESIST HURRICANES Last year’s storms in the south taught the builders valuable lessons and have led to the adoption of new styles of construc- tion. One, illustrated here, developed by the southern pine association, is notable Specially Braced Framework Intended to Reduce Damage in Case of Severe inds; an Outcome of Recent Hurricanes POPULAR MECHANICS for the fifteen points of bracing that provides to insure greater rigidity strength. The cost is said to be but per cent more for lumber and five per cx more for labor over the usual metho for the framework only. The type sho here is suitable either for wooden, stuc; or brick-veneer finish. MANY LIVES SAVED BY RADIO IN STORMY YEAR AT SEA Losses at would have greater than they were during 1926, }h it not been for the radio, mariners d clare. The year was marked by unusu severity in storms. Incomplete figure show that more than 400 craft were lo in the Florida hurricane and nearly 160 in Havana harbor in the Cuban blow. F the first three months, Lloyds registé showed 124 vessels lost as compared wit 105 for the first three months of 1925 Last October, the British sloop “Valeria turned turtle, but the cruiser “Capetow1 summoned by the SOS of the radio ope: ator, who went down with the sloop, rived in time to save nineteen of the 103 persons who the ill-fated shi Wireless played an as important, althoug sea been f were on not so spectacular, part as human being in the rescue of the men from the “At the and officers of the Roosevelt.” During the gen strike in England, more than 1,000 vessels were allowed to sail without rad operators, although the policy was chal lenged by the house of commons. A few tinoe” by “President eral crew ships must rely on themselves, as before the days of the wireless. Producer,” The “Mancheste with a cargo of cattle, had no radio equipment. The steering gear broke dur ing a January storm and for weeks the vessel was adrift. The cattle had to be thrown overboard. The ship was finally found, after a month, by a Dutch tug and towed to the Azores. probabiy The tragedy would have been prevented, had the “Manchester Producer’ been fitted with radio equipment.

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POPULAR MECHANICS MODEL DOLL’S PALACE VALUED AT HUNDRED THOUSAND Fashioned on a scale of one inch to the foot, an elaborate model palace ex- hibited in New York is valued at more than $100,000. It covers an area of sixty- square feet and is twenty-seven inches high. Details, such as the furni- are carefully reproduced. three cute, See... MEN OF TODAY ARE BIGGER THAN KNIGHTS OF OLD Stories of conquests by the brave knights of old often leave the impression that all of these 369 Rooms in the Tiny Doll’s Palace Showing the Detailed Furnish- ings and Decorations; Every Piece Has Been Built on a Scale of an Inch to the Foot for a woman, and the odd helmets, lets and other gaunt- accouterments were of correspondingly small size. SHORT-CIRCUIT TESTS ON WIRE SHOW CABLE STRENGTH High-tension electric wires were pur- posely short-circuited during recent tests in Chicago to determine what type of best suited to withstand such emergencies without danger of communi- cating the rupture to other cables in the same line. The experiments were made in connection with the establishment of a 132.000-volt cable is elec- men must have been of giant physique. That this is not the fact is shown by a collection of armor recently sold by the Chicago historical society. Of several suits of steel, none was big enough for the average-sized twentieth - century man. One was so smill that it was tric-power ring a- bout thecity, part of which will be run underground. Lines carrying 12,000 volts were chosen for the demonstrations,and the results indicated that the type ofcon- duit now used is not short- circuiting, the only broken by serious damage be- ing the burning barely large enough Smoke from Short-Circuited High-Voltage Wires away of the cable.

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370 POPULAR MECHANICS Church Front Whose Creator Escaped a Death Sentence by Making the Work Last a Life Time ARTIST EVADES DEATH DECREE BY CARVING CHURCH The Cathedral of Zacatecas, Mexico, has one of the most elaborately carved church facades in the country, but the work of carving was never finished. The stone carver who started the work, later committed a crime and was sentenced to death, but given a reprieve to complete the job, after which the sentence was to be carried out. Knowing that his life was safe so long as the church task lasted, the carver worked out such an elaborate de- sign that it could not be finished in one man’s life time, so he finally died of old age, and the church was never completed. FLYING TORPEDO HAS RANGE OF ONE HUNDRED MILES Designed to hit targets 100 miles away, an aerial torpedo was ready for use by the United States just before the close of the war, it has been revealed. Details of the mechanism are being kept secret, but it is now known that plans were in readi- ness to put out 10,000 of the flying guns, and experts declare that they would have been extremely effective against armie and, fortifications far out of range of an other kind of ordnance. THERMOSTAT FOR SPARK PLUG AIDS IN STARTING AUTO Regulation of the spark gap is achieved in a plug recently introduced by means o a thermostat epntrol which makes it easier to start the car. It is set to give an opening of .015 inch when cold and .030 inch when hot, the smaller gap facilitating a start after the motor has cooled, and the full opening providing the proper con- dition for normal operation. The change is produced by a piece of metal that ex- pands and contracts. FUEL-SAVING AIR PROPELLER TESTED FOR OCEAN TRIP Wings ninety feet long, four air-cooled motors of 225 horsepower each, and a special type of propeller with many blades, are proposed features of the new airplane that is being planned for a non-stop flight from New York to Paris. One of the advantages of the propeller is that it re- quires less fuel, according to reports. The ship will be designed to prevent a repeti- tion of the disaster that overtook the Examining the Many-Bladed Propeller Proposed for the Airplane to Make Another Transatlantic Flight Fonck-Sikorsky plane when it crashed to the ground and was burned as it was starting for France last year.

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Young Prize Porkers of the Government Experimental Farm Line Up along the Fence to Pose for the Camera at Beltsville, Where Uncle Sam Studies Farming Problems Scientifically How Uncle Sam Runs World’s Finest Farm How Tough a Steak Is and Other Puzzling Problems of Animal Industry Solved at Agricultural Proving Grounds I OW tough is a steak? Most every- body has applied the tooth test and has his own scale of judging, but as teeth and jawbone power differ, no two might agree. So Uncle Sam has set out to standardize the study of meat on delicate recording machines. That is just one of the thousand and one farm problems that are being solved at the Beltsville farm, near Washington, claimed to be the world’s finest. The navy runs a proving ground where it tries out new cannon, and Beltsville is the prov- ing ground of the American live stock and allied industries. If farmers could always marke jheir beef cattle when the meat is at .s best. the higher prices would mean millions in additional revenue. So the government is seeking to determine what makes the best meat and when it is at its prime. If every sheep had just a bit more and bit thicker wool, the crop would put millions more in sheep raisers’ pockets. Therefore Un- cle Sam at Beltsville is investigating wool. If all pigs, by proper feeding, could be shaped up with firm flesh before market- ing, the large quantities of soft or oily pork which burden the market would be eliminated, and the hog rancher would have a surer income. The department of agriculture farmers are working on that, too. There are scores and hundreds of these farm problems, the solution of each of which means a very important farm relief, for it puts money directly into the farmer's pocket through his own effort. But aside from the specific problems, the government farm is investigating many more to establish important theories in animal raising. For example, 40,000 guinea pigs, the progeny, through twenty-six generations, of the criginal family at Beltsville, have been studied, and the greatest collection of genetic records ever gathered prepared to fix the basic laws of inherited traits and characteristics. The findings are important not only because of the financial value to stock raisers, but they may even throw light on the inherit- ance traits of human beings. The proving farm has found how to

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2 POPULAR MECHANICS Apparatus Used to Test the Pulling Power of Farm Horses; in the Interest of Better Live Stock the Experimental Station Studies the Value of Various Sizes and Breeds of Animals in Order to Formulate Standard Specifications for the Best Horse for Each Farm Purpose; the Government Has De- veloped the Morgan Breed, Also, for Cavalry Mounts and Artillery Horses, and Is Now Experimenting with Crossbreeding of Other Strains Milking Stand Developed at Uncle Sam’s Exper- imental Farm for Use on Milk-Goat Ranches, Re- lieving the Milker of Tiresome Bending

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POPULAR MECHANICS

a fraction of an inch to the ige wool growth of a sheep. means more money for the er, and probably cheaper hing, too. The machines that the strength of meat fibers he effort to eliminate inferior, h and stringy products from market will pay dividends to rancher, and they likewise promise of cheaper food for consumer. all the pests and parasites infest live stock can be elim- ted, as many already have en, both farmer and consumer iin will profit. And so it goes all the list of experi-

rough ental work. Folklore and scien- ~ All Eggs Laid by Hens in the Beltsville Flocks Are Marked for Identification So That the Parentage of Every Chick Is Known c fact are being tested out side side. Just recently, the department, ter exhaustive experiments, announced it the common belief that planting of existing strains. suld be done during certain phases of hood of the zebra, it was thought a cross e moon had no foundation in fact, thus <ploding another fallacy that has been hbserved by millions of small farmers. A mg time ago the same investigators took asses, up the problem of the danger to swine’ but, while they were rom glass bottles in the refuse fed to workers, they inherited the bad belief that of both sides, and so had to be abandoned They tested as draft animals. Developing milk goats to new food product, useful also in the cu Another field of work is the developing of new types of animals through crossing Because of the hardi- between it and the domestic mule might produce a better grade of work animals. Imported zebras were mated with common and the zebroids raised and broken, strong and good tempers them, for it was an ancient powdered glass caused death. the belief by feeding glass to all kinds of inimals, and found it didn’t harm them. nrovide 1 Te

The Most Detailed Genetic Records Ever Assembled Have Resulted from the Study of 40,000 Guinea Pigs, Covering Twenty-Six Generations of the Original Family

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374 POPULAR MECHANICS of some diseases, the department has im- proved the breed of goats to the point where two 110-pound animals will yield as much milk a year as a 1,100-pound cow. 3eltsville boasts a model abattoir suit- able for a small city. In this modern plant, swine, sheep and cattle, fed at the co-op- erating state experiment stations or at Beltsville, are slaughtered and _ studied. Valuable information has been gained which has revolutionized certain practices of the packing industry. In the poultry establishment, more than 7,500 chickens of four popular breeds are raised annually. By careful selection and proper crossing, pullets and hens have been produced which now lay from 250 to 300 eggs a piece in one production sea- son. The breeding and feeding tests have added millions of dollars to the profits of the American poultry industry. Methods of controlling pests and parasites have been perfected, new and satisfactory sys- tems of feeding have been developed and all the important riddles of egg farming have been solved as they have arisen. Uncle Sam has proved that he can grow out-of-season chickens as well in confine- ment under artificial conditions as on t range. Translated into terms of the r: taurant menu, this means that you can ¢ joy the finest broilers in the dead of w ter even though their production forme: was restricted to the period of the poult: pasturing season. Codliver oil, yell corn, sunlight, green feed and certain mi: erals hasten growth and make tender me By trap-nesting the flocks and breedi: only from the best pullets, the governme: flocks are increasing marvelously in eg producing ability. Gains of as much as ( to 75 eggs in a single generation have be: recorded by painstaking selection and mat ing. Uncle Sam trap-nested 1,200 pullet and 500 yearling hens during last fall a: winter, which is typical of the extensi\ scale upon which this work is conducted The completely equipped model dai: farm specializes in four leading breed produces milk for research and experi mentation and delves into cow-farmin perplexities which would never, otherwis« be attempted. A twenty-five-year breed ing experiment is a topliner. It is a com parative test of the merits of line breed ing as contrasted with outbreeding. Even a Model Abattoir Is Operated on the Experimental Farm, and Experts from Various Organizations Judge the Carcasses for a Final Check on the Meat Animals Grown

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POPULAR MECHANICS One of the Latest Units for Travel in the Skies, the Five-Engine French Flying Boat Which Can Carry Twenty Tons of Bombs; Note Men in Front of Central Motor FRANCE BUILDS GIANT PLANE WITH FIVE MOTORS Claimed to be the biggest hydroairplane the world, a new ship, constructed in ecret by the French government, is »wered with five big air-cooled motors, id is capable of carrying twenty tons yi bombs in addition to its crew and equipment. Some idea of the size of the hip, which is a monoplane built on the thick-wing principle adapted for all-metal ircraft, is gained by comparison with the ize of the two aviators standing in front f the central engine and propeller. HOW CROPS PREVENT EROSION SHOWN BY TESTS Interesting demonstrations, illustrating how crops prevent the soil from wearing away, have been conducted at the Missouri experiment station. The test field was a small plot with a slope equivalent to 3.68 100 feet. inches to each Under average rainfall of 35.87 inches, it was shown, by collecting the run-off in tanks and weigh- ing the sediment that ran off, a cultivated field without a crop would wear away at the rate of forty-one tons to the acre each That meant that it would take but twenty-four vears to remove seven inches of surface soil over the entire acre. Sod land lost but .28 ton of dirt per acre each year. Where wheat year. was grown contin- uously, the loss was 6.6 tons, a corn plot was reduced by 17.8 tons, while a rotation of corn, wheat and clover lost only 2.3 tons to the acre, showing that an alternat- ing system of planting not only prevents too rapid depletion of the soil in richness but reduces its erosion. AUTO CAP WITH SLITTED VISOR PROMOTES MOTOR SAFETY German automobile drivers are wearing a special cap with a long visor that has slits in it to permit seeing through and yet shields the eves from the glare of ap- Copyright, Henry Miller Wide-Visored Motorist’s Cap with Slits Which Prevents lare from Reaching the Eyes the in the lights. It also protects face from wind, is comfortable and, proaching daytime, is a shade from the sun

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376 POPULAR MECHANICS OBSERVER ao Jr / RADIO ANTENNA Capturing the Message with Radio Antenna AIRPLANE PICKS UP MESSAGE WITH LEAD “FISH” When the two-way radio apparatus failed, observers on the ground were per- plexed as to how they could give instruc- tions to occupants of an airplane during recent army maneuvers. The problem was solved by tying the dispatch in a tobacco sack weighted with small stones and attaching that to a string about twenty feet long, which was held taut by two men. The pilot, informed by the panel signal to stand by for instructions, descended close enough to see what into the cockpit. This method is now in general use for communication in the air corps when the radio sets do not work and when the panel signals will not ¢ sufficient data. e STOVEPIPE MADE INTO ARMOR TO SUPPLY COLLECTORS Collectors of medieval armor have so depleted the genuine supplies that clever forgeries of stovepipe and sheet iron are appearing on the market, according to reports. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced protection against suc! frauds in the form of a two-reel motion picture which is to be shown twice a d: illustrating what constitutes a genuine “tin suit.” The layman is surprised to learn that a coat of chain mail weighed only about thirty pounds and that a co: plete suit of armor worn by a knight weighed less than the pack carried by an American doughboy during the World War. Some of the suits of chain mail co: tained a quarter of a million links. Rust and other traces of old age are applied to the fake suits with acids and it is re ported that some unscrupulous dealer exhibit the bogus suits in old castles to help deceive the gullible purchaser. The armor-making capitals of the world wer: Milan, Italy, and Augsburg, Germany. EXTRA REAR WHEELS FOR AUTO AID WINTER TRAVEL To help push the auto through mud and snow, an extra pair of rear wheel that can be attached as quickly as a tire is changed, has been devised. They are chain-driven, was going on, then returned presently with the radio an- tenna unreeled. As he approached the men holding the string, he throttled the engine, allowing the lead “fish” at the end of the aerial to hang more nearly vertical. It caught sprockets connect ing the extra and the original pair of wheels, and fortrav- el through deeper snow, a pair of run- ners is slipped un- der the front wheels. Tests through drifts and mud have provedthe complete success of the ar- the cord and the to for M - message was hauled Extra Rear bea ag rey bP or More Trac rangement, accord- ing to reports.

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[TY OF THE FUTURE TO BE A FOREST OF TOWERS ~~ = " MEE Wen x a . * st Pose . Peete st F Pe «Pon —_ * é ‘esa Se a i th aad -~ hana ln Sea a * ° tat ° eg “ee —% apes: - ne ag eee An Architect’s Vision of the City of Tomorrow; Sketch of Future Skyscraper Center by Hugh Ferris; “‘Cor- rugated Towers” with Tapering Tips Increase Effect of Height

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"* 378 POPULAR MECHANICS @ Th ve } it wu a are ui Atlantic City’s New Convention Auditorium, Which Will Seat Forty Thousand People and Be Big Enough for Indoor Football Games and Similar Large Sporting Events CONVENTION HALL WILL SEAT FORTY THOUSAND Atlantic City is building a convention hall to seat 40,000 people, expecting to have it completed in time for the sum- mer conventions this year. The enormous auditorium will be 350 feet wide and 650 feet deep, big enough not only for con- ventions, but also for indoor football games, circuses and athletic events of all descriptions. Thirty thousand visitors will be seated on the main floor and stage and another 10,000 in the balcony. Radio am- plifiers will be installed so that everyone can hear the words of a speaker. The stage will have a space for permanent exhibits of various sorts. The building will front on the boardwalk. Parking space in the base- ment for 1,100 automobiles and two res- taurants with room for 1,000 diners will be other features. PAINTED PART OUTLASTS WOOD OF ANCIENT SIGN How paint keeps wood from weather- ing was graphically illustrated by an old “no hunting” sign. The letters, orig inally painted in red on a smooth surface, after a period of exposure, stood out in relief because the bare wood had gradually worn away. This width of 100 feet and a depth of fifty, while the wings will be 180 feet wide on either side, suffi- cient to handle enor- mous pieces of scen- ery. In addition, was not brought a- bout by rot organ- isms but by the re- peated swelling and shrinking from changes in tempera- ture and alternate rain and sunshine. there are to be fine While paint is not dressing rooms and A Natural Etching on Wood: the Painted Letters com pletely proof scenic and lighting equipment. The front section of the build- ing is to contain space for art exhibits, and a small hall with a seating capacity of 3,000. Above it, other rooms will provide Stand Out in Relief against Weathered Background against moisture or fungi, it-affords an excellent protection against weathering, since it retards the absorption of dampness sufficiently to lengthen the life of the wood itself.

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H DEPOSIT OF POTASH FOUND IN SOUTHERN OIL FIELDS st deposits of potash, sufficient to for the world’s needs for 1,000 years, rding to estimates by United States logists, have been discovered in the es taken from oil welis in Texas and Mexico. The material lies less than ) feet below the surface, and analysis ws that it contains nearly fifteen per of potassium salts valued for fer- rer. This is said to be richer than that m the famous mines in Prussia and sace, where large quantities of potash e been found at depths ranging from 500 to 5,000 feet. With the late proc- es for taking nitrogen from the air and wealth of potash close at hand, the nited States will be less dependent upon eign countries for fertilizer supplies. SCHOOL FOR FASHION MODELS AIDS STYLE DISPLAYS Before mannequins are fitted to dis- lay hats and garments in some of the rger model shops, they must undergo pecial training. This is given under the es of critical observers, while the can- dates endeavor to learn the proper walk nd carriage by balancing books on their eads as they parade. Other details, such * movements of hands and arms, are so considered important. Oraa Candidate Models Learnin Heads; a Fashion-School Stunt POPULAR MECHANICS to Walk and Pose While Balancing Buoks on Where Tourists Enjoy Views of a National Park; the Observation Tower at Hot Springs Resort U. S. HAS AN “EIFFEL” TOWER FOR PARK VISITORS Popularity of the Hot Springs national park in central Arkansas has increased, from the tourists’ point of view, because of the observation tower the government has erected on the top of a mountain. Although it is but 165 feet high and, with the summit below it, gives an elevation but two-thirds as high as that of the famous Eiffel tow- er in Paris, it affords an excellent view of the sur- rounding country. An el- evator carries visitors who do not wish to climb the stairs, and the struc- ture is strongly built of steel and concrete. Last vear, the.park counted 265,000 tourists, a number comparing favorably with the 220,000 American trav- elers who were tered in Paris. regis-

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Stalactite Hall in New Zealand Cavern Which Is Lighted by Myriads of Glowing Worms That Spread Their Webs from the Walls and Light Them to Lure Their Prey into Reach Exploring Fairylands of the Underworld . AVES filled with gleaming stalactite columns hanging from vast cham- bered roofs and lighted by the gleaming torches of myriads of glow worms have been discovered in New Zealand and are being opened for public exploration. The system of limestone caverns, which in ap- pearance and extent rival the famous Mammoth cave group in Kentucky, is unique in that the surface of the ground is equally remarkable, with pits and foun- tains and other scenery that resembles the Yellowstone park. Most remarkable of all, though, are the glow worms that illuminate the glistening stalactite halls with a ghostly light. The worm is the only known one of its kind that is an insect eater, and its lighting equipment is used to lure food into its web. The cavern ceilings and walls are covered with millions of the webs, each coated with a sticky substance. Ina slen- der tube in the center of the web lives the larva of a fly, which lights up its home with a pale glow to attract the midges flying above the underground rivers that thread through the caverns. The glow worms apparently have a keen sense of hearing and are easily frightened, for if a word is spoken by the visitors or a strange sound is made the myriad lights flick out as abruptly as though an electric switch had turned them off. After silence is restored, there is a pause, and then they come blinking on again. The cavern group for many years was the homeland of the savage Maoris. It was not until little more than thirty years ago that the caves were discovered by white men. Now the New Zealand gov- ernment has erected a rest camp at one of the caves, called Waitoma,and constructed an automobile road from the nearest rail- road, six miles away. A second of the caves, called Ruakuri by the Maoris, is only a short distance from the Waitoma. —=

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POPULAR MECHANICS Glowing Threads That Are Really Stalactites Covered with Glow Worms Suspended from the Roof of Waitoma Cave Where the Fly Larva Uses Its Light to Trap Insects for Food, Above, and, Below, an Under- ground River Flowing through Ruakuri Cavern, the “Cave of the Dogs,” Where the Maoris For- merly Hunted the Wild Animals for Their Fur

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382 POPULAR MECHANICS eleven years The last sunspot minimum was in 1922. Since that time, conditions should have grown progressi worse, reaching a climax about 1928, when recep- tion should improve the sunspots disappear WATER ABSORBER FOR SOIL TO AID PLANT GROWTH Plant growth is limit: in many regions, not cause of insufficient mo ture but because th rainfall runs off or evapo rates too quickly. A ma- terial which promise productive cultivation in Elks’ Club Building in Los Angeles, Showing Combination of Architectural Styles and Use of Figures for Decoration HANDSOME CLUB BUILDING COST TWO AND A HALF MILLION Unusual architectural features have been combined in the Elks’ new club building in Los Angeles, recently completed at a cost of $2,500,000. From the central por- tion, several stories rise in diminishing masses, suggesting the skyscraper, but the two wings of the building are designed along the lines of a monument, with arches and human figures. Gothic, Roman- esque and Renaissance styles are applied in it, while the roof of the clubhouse has a patio, following the Spanish traditions of California and permitting a view of the surroundings. A lodge room, 135 feet long and seventy-five feet wide, and a $50,000 organ are outstanding features. POOR YEAR FOR RADIO DISTANCE EXPERT DECLARES In the opinion of Dr. J. H. Dellinger, chief of the radio laboratory of the bureau of standards, the year 1927-28 will be the poorest for long-distance wireless recep- tion since 1922. After this period, an im- provement will be noted until 1933. His views are based on a sunspot cycle of these semiarid sections has been introduced by a Michigan circuit judge. In effect, it provides millions of tiny reser- voirs to retain the moisture where it can be reached by the plant roots. It is a min eral substance and is to be applied at the proper depth in lump, powder or emulsion form, to establish a water-holding layer. Marked success with it has been reported from experiments in which lawns and goli courses have been treated. KNIFE THAT USES RAZOR BLADE HAS EXTRA ATTACHMENTS Several usefu! articles are com bined in a pocket- knife that employs a discarded razor blade for its cut- ting edge and is flat, to take up but little room. Bottle opener, corkscrew, twine and cigar cutter, anda nail file and cleaner are included, making the knife a small --BOTTLE OPENER CUTTER ~~ NAIL FILE ~~ NAIL CLEANER compact article. When closed, the blade is safely shielded. PI I) !

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POPULAR MECHANICS For Air Journeys between Africa and India; the Three-Engine Plane That Flies between Cairo and Karachi; t Has a Speed of 117 Miles an Hour PLANE FOR ORIENTAL AIR LINE SPANS EIGHTY FEET Latest developments in flying are rep- esented in the monster airplane for the ne between Cairo and Karachi, linking \frica to India. It has three engines de- ened to keep the plane aloft at a speed 117 miles an hour, is fifty-six feet long ith a wing span of eighty feet. The craft of the so-called “Hercules” type. CUT DOOR IN COW’S STOMACH TO ANALYZE FOOD To solve a question as to the cow’s di- estive processes, investigators at the Pennsylvania agri- sumed, since it was believed that the vi- tamine was manufactured during diges- tion. To determine this, the incision was made in the stomach in such a way that samples of the organ’s contents could be taken for analysis. The operation was per- formed with the aid of local anzsthetics. OIL SHOT FROM SIPHON BOTTLE LUBRICATES AUTO SPRINGS Squeaky portions of the body, the springs, automobile and other places dif- ficult to reach, can be easily lubricated without soiling the fingers or clothing by a special oil which is shot from a bottle with a strong siphon action. The contents of the unit is under cultural experiment tation have cut an pening in the stom- ch of a live animal 0 that its food can be analyzed. The contention was made that the cow’s milk would con- tain vitamine B even when that sub- stance was not pres- considerable pres- sure and the outlet mechanism is so ar- ranged that a pene- trating stream is di- rected until almost the last drop has been used. The out- fit is recommended for prevention of corrosion on _ bat- ent in the food con- White Line Indicates a Stream of Oil Being Shot at Auto Spring tery terminals, loos- ening bolts, etc.

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Huge Ore Crusher’s Size Shown by Figure of Man at Upper Edge MILLION-POUND ORE CRUSHER SHIPPED TO CHILE Shipping experts had to prepare special equipment to handle two gigantic ore crushers which were sent from Milwau- kee, Wis., to a mining company in Chile. The ponderous units each weighed about a million pounds. tla FIND GOLDEN CALF’S ANCESTOR IN ANCIENT STATUETTE Among other articles of roval treasure taken from the tomb of a king of Pales- tine who ruled some 3,700 years ago, was a statuette of a golden calf, fifteen or eight- een inches high. It is thought to be the forerunner of the idol of Moses’ time, 500 years later. On a breast ornament, also taken from the tomb of the unknown monarch, was a design of the Egyptian cow goddess, probably the prototype of the golden calf of the Hebrews, according to Dr. James H. Breasted, of the Univer- sity of Chicago. All the treasures were of Egyptian workmanship, showing that the culture of the Nile was dominant in Pales- tine and that the king probably was a vas- sal of pharaoh. The gold on the statuette is thin and worth only a small sum. 384 POPULAR MECHANICS CITY-OFFICE NEEDS STUDIED TO CURB OVERBUILDING Four square feet of « fice space per capita is t normal requirement an average American city, according to find ings of the national as ciation of building owners and managers. A surve was made recently to de termine the causes r sponsible for the over- production of office space in many cities, followi: the building boom of the last few years. It wa shown that cities whic! are capitals of states do not absorb commercial! office space in the same proportion as other cities, chiefly owin to the fact that a large amount of busi transacted in state offices. The bank clearings, business done and the pop ulation were found to be important factor: in determining the office space needed. ness is RUNNING-BOARD CAN CARRIER SAVES AUTO UPHOLSTERY Adjustable to cans of different sizes, a carrier attached to the automobile run ning board, clamps milk cans, egg crates and similar articles securely and make it easier to load and unload them, as they do not have to be lifted so high. The sides that grip the can are lined with leather for greater safety. The carrier also spares the in- terior of the car, which is often damaged by the practice of trans- porting shipments of cream and other produce inside. Several brackets may be attached to one running board. @Stainless steel is being tested by the army ordnance department in rifle barrels.

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POPULAR MECHANICS IW MOVIE THRILLERS OF AUTO RACE ARE MADE Motion-Picture Camera Attached to Front of Auto for Recording Facial Expressions Racing Scene; It Turns Automatically Secured to the radiator of the car and urately focused, a motion-picture cam- is adjusted to register the expression 1) the driver’s face. The plan has proved especially effective in taking racing scenes, ir instance, when much of the action can be told by facial and other details. AIRPLANES TO CROSS ATLANTIC IN ROUND TRIP A WEEK Interest of the flying world is being di- rected toward Germany, where two pri- > firms are ite lioht ont preparing airplanes for Atlantic with a view toward establishing regular schedules and than 100 eekly round trips. with [ the ships are ex- pected shortly. A full-size s across the irrying more passengers on Tests one ot model al- ready has been con- structed. Both com- panies are incorpo- rating new principles in the flying craft. One type has two bodies, each seventy- eight feet long, spread of feet and total car wing Model of Boat with Self-Bailing Svstem and Venti- lating Unit, to Prevent Sinking of Driver during a ing surface of approximately an acre and a half. 1,000 horsepower each, will weigh, without fuel, thirty-five and one-half tons and will carry 2,700 gallons of fuel. For its 100 passen- It will have four motors of gers, sleeping cabins will be provided and the crew teen. will number twelve or tour- The other plane has been described as a “flying wing.” huge hollow weight is In effect, it is to be a unit so that the proportionate parts of the carrying surface instead of be arranged distributed to ing concentrated in one or more bodies. AUTOMATIC BAILER FOR BOATS TO PREVENT SINKING Designed especiall ill craft sucl leasure, life and fishing boats.,an auto matic bailing svstem is intended to quickly rid a vessel of wate even if it carries at In con this safety ventilator ha eXcess load. nection with been constructed ti prevent the entrance of water without hin- ‘ . ‘ ' daering the air supply

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Gleason, Goal Keepe: of Princeton’s Ice Hockey Team, in His Heavily Padded Suit Roller-Skate Hockey Re- quires an Outfit like That of the Ice Game Friedman, Michigan Football Star; the Helmet, Shoulder, Hip and Leg Pads Are the Chief Parts of the Player's Armor Cricket Captain G. E. W. Bow- yer, Wearing Lattice Leg Guards and Finger Protectors Dempsey Sparring with Tommy Loughlin; Both Wear Ear Masks

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Type of Gas Mask Worn by Students at niversity of Calitornia iring Instruction in ane CHEERS Gen. Smedley Butler, of Philadelphia Police Fame, Poses in Baseball Catch- er’s Uniform; the Latest Masks Are Designed to Afford a Less Obstructed Vision and to Slip Off More Easily than the Old Ones Lieut. Comm. a id Found Need of Warm Clothing in Arctic Flying Coach F. Darrie Ulat in the Latest Armor for Ancient Sport of Fencing Goggles and Helmet Are Impor- tant Units of Motorcycle Racer's Equipment

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odd POPULAR MECHANICS WHY YOU CAN’T BELIEVE ALL YOU SEE IN MOVIES Reality and What the Camera Made of It; an Interesting Example of the Art of Picture Faking; at the Left, Adjusting the Model Ship for the Scene at There flashes on the silver screen a bit of tropical of white sand, a little bay opening out into the ocean between two sandspits on each of which palm trees rise. seascape, a beach Along the shore glides a ship such as Columbus com- manded. “Looks like Florida,” a spec- tator remarks, “but where did they get the ship?” It wasn’t Florida. There was There were no palm trees. It was just a good job of magnifying minia- tures, a process frequently used in the mo- tion-picture studios and that novice with his own movie camera can with much enjoyment. The ship was a_ twenty-inch The “ocean” an artificial about twelve square and six or eight inches deep, and the sky and hori- zon were represented on a canvas screen standing in the water. Sand and twigs with a bunch of feathery leaves to imitate the palm trees were used for the beach. The palm no ocean. one the pract ice model. was pond, feet the leaves in Right foreground were borrowed from a gen uine tropical film and double-printed into the scene in making the positive. The shi; was navigated by black threads under th: water. The camera was set sufficiently close so that the scene covered the entire “frame” and was cranked at high speed REMINDER CHART FOR MOTORIST TELLS WHEN TO CHANGE OIL Hung on the garage wall, a disk chart helps keep-a record of oilings and tire changes on the car. An inner card is di- vided into a series of numbers from 500 to 40,000, represent- ing mileage, and by turning it, figures ap- pear at intervals of When Did You Last Change the Motor Oil?, This Disk Tells and Shows When a New Supply Is Needed 500 to 2,000, to de- note when it is time to renew the cylinder oil, light machine oil and cup grease. A similar record is pre- sented at the upper edge of the chart on another disk, to keep track of the when each tire been changed. time had

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we RSHIP GONDOLA AN BE USED AS MOTORBOAT Yetachable from the elope of an airship, an etal car can be used motorboat. It is structed of duralu- . the aluminum alloy, the propellers are ve the water. In other ticulars, it is operated h like the ordinary ter craft. It is thought 1 | t the arrangement will of great aid in emer- ncies, as it can be ‘kly disconnected for cue work along the ast and attached again to the airship ull, which can be withdrawn to a safe listance from the shore, while the car is eing used on the surface. SLIDING PANEL FOR AUTO DOOR AIDS SIGNALING Opened much more quickly and easily than the regulation auto door glass, a liding panel allows the driver to reach into mail boxes or give arm signals with less trouble. It is installed simply by low- Mail Carriers Find the Sliding Panel Easier to Open than the Glass of the Auto Door ering the main glass, slipping the frame in place and cranking the door pane up until it comes firmly against the inserted unit. For winter driving, this arrange- ment is considered an improvement, as it permits ventilation without admitting too much cold air. Paul Krebbing with His Model Merry-Go-Round, Made in Spare Time POPULAR MECHANICS 389 MODEL OF MERRY-GO-ROUND RUN BY ELECTRIC MOTOR Most of the features of the standard- size apparatus are duplicated in a tiny merry-go-round a California craftsman has completed. It is operated by an elec- tric motor, tiny horses and goats gallop and tubs move while music is furnished from a small organ. Electric lights and a dancing doll are additional details. URGE REFUGE FOR GAME BIRDS TO PRESERVE SUPPLY Creation of bird sanctuaries throughout the country, where wild fowl may nest and feed in safety, is proposed in a federal game-refuge bill, and sportsmen are rec ommending its adoption to check the rapid decrease in the number of birds. The plan includes the establishment of public shoot- ing grounds, adjacent to the preserves. According to experts ducks in the western part of the country are threatened with es tinction, unless ways are found to com- bat a form of paralysis which afflicts them after drinking contaminated water. Thi lisease is widespread near Great Salt Lake It afflicts other marsh birds as well as ducks and, when least prevalent, takes a toll of 30.000 to 100.000 vearly. while more than 1,000,000 ducks alone are killed in the worst vears. The salts in the waters have made them poisonous to the fowls. The malady does not prove fatal if the birds 1 can get to fresh water in time

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390 POPULAR MECHANICS GIANT CRUSHER FREES SHIPS LOCKED FAST IN IC}: Car Ferry ‘‘Sainte Marie’? with Its Plow Raised Ready for an Attack on the Ice Jam in the St. Mary’s River; for a Time, the Blockade Threatened to Trap the Crusher Equipped with a huge plow that can be raised or giant car ferry “Sainte Marie,” built to keep the route be- tween Mackinaw City and St. Ignace clear of ice, nearly met its equal in a jam that tied up more than 100 vessels and cargo valued at $25,000,000 early last December. With engines racing at top speed, the bat- tering ram was launched in repeated at- tacks against the frozen barrier before the blockade was finally broken. lowered, the Three pow- erful tugs assisted by vanking a steamer into the opened channel, thus releasing other ships. The car ferry’s huge size, generally an aid, was a handicap to a de- gree, for it had to be managed cautiously lest its bulk become trapped in the ice and the tie-up still further complicated. The jam occurred in the St. Mary’s river, the gateway from Lake Huron into Lake Superior. Great cakes of ice, wedged be tween the narrow cuts on each side of Neebish island at the head of the river, formed the difficult barrier. AIR-MAIL PILOTS EARN AS HIGH AS NINE THOUSAND YEARLY Good pay as well as the lure of excite- ment, partly explains why there is such a large waiting list of candidates for posi- tions as air-mail pilots. Salaries range from $4,000 to $9,000 a vear. There is a between $2,000 and $3,600, depending upon the length of service, and, base pay of in addition, a mileage rate for service. For daylight flying, pilots are paid five cents a mile between Cleveland and Cheyenne, six cents between Cheyenne and Reno, and seven cents between New York and Cleve- land and Reno and San Francisco. The scale is doubled for night flying. Not long ago, two superintendents of flying fields returned to piloting, attracted by the pay and the excitement of the work.

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POPULAR MECHANICS AWAII FEATHER CAPE IS VALUED AT MILLION ‘ne of the wonders of National shington is a nial \perty of vs. It is made of upon thou- nds of tiny feathers and valued at $1,000,000. e garment pre- nted to Commodore J. Aulick, of the United tates navy, in 1841, by museum in cere- once the Hawalian cape, susands Was ing Kamehameha III one of the hand- mest specimens of the Ma nd is rt of feather-cape mak- Skilled the birds, a species now ex- ng in existence. unters captured net, and from each was tuft of hree to five little feath- for which a equivalent to $1.50 obtained only a ers price a Was paid for three. They were arranged so smoothly that the finished cape resembled plush. rhe worked in red The cape is forty and one-half feet around the lower edge and twenty-three inches about the collar. From fifty to 100 years were required to complete it and Without Twisting crescent design was and yellow feathers. inches long, eleven only kings were permitted to wear it. Gar- ments such as this were in reality a refined form of war paint. Their primary use was as a military decoration. Worth a Fortune; the Feather Cape Once Owned by Hawaiian Kings and Worn at Formal Ceremonies or Turning the Head, Several Different Views Are Pre- sented from This Multiple Mirror SPECIAL MIRROR FOR STYLES SHOWS MANY VIEWS Profiles, silhouettes and front views as well are revealed by a multiple mirror devised. At buver, f ill look French fashion expert has one sitting, a prospective hat instance, can see how the piece v from many angles MAGNETS LOCATE SUNKEN AUTO LOST IN DEEP POOL Following a fatal automobile accide in an eastern city, the car, which had fallen into a deep pond and disappeared, was lo- cated by a simple and ingenious expedient. Several magnets were tied to rope and dragged along the bottom in a line from the tracks left by The holding the cable felt a tug when the mag- the wheels. men nets were attracted to the steel of the car and the auto was soon hauled from undet thirty feet of not far vater, where it had stopped from shore.

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shed would you like to stan over the mouth of a hole couple of thousand feet deep waiting for twenty quarts of nitroglycerin propelled by a flood of black oil, to come up and hit you in the stomach? John Larkin, one of the best well shooters in the west, had that experience a few year ago, and lived to tell about it. It wa just one adventure in the life of an oil man, where the drillers shake hands with death every day. Larkin had been employed to improve a well which had been flowing by fits and starts, like a Yellowstone park geyser. The improving process consisted in drop ping five-gallon canisters of explosive down the casing and then firing them off by a “chaser,” a heavy metal weight sent speeding down the sand line by which the nitro was lowered. The well was gushing every half hour. Immediately after one gush had subsided, Larkin eased down the first can of explo- sive and touched it off. After the next flow of oil ceased; he sent down a second bomb and exploded that. Still the well didn’t work right, so he waited until after another oil spurt, and began to lower the shot canister. Suddenly he felt the weight on the line ease up, and realized the well had begun to flow, and the twenty quarts of nitro was riding back to the surface on top of a speeding column of oil. There was time to run to safety before the * can blew out of the 392 i Va

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mouth, but Larkin began iling in the shot line, trying to ep up with the approaching ll. As it drew near he leaned er the well mouth, caught the in his arms, while the deto- tor cap buried itself in his stom- so far that it left a scar the t of his life. Yet Larkin rolled ear, while a column of oil urted over the derrick top. Shooting wells is only one of e many hazardous occupations nnected with the getting of isoline to keep millions of auto- obiles running. The stuff is ingerous to everybody that han- es it, from the driller in the field the tank-wagon driver who ours it into the filling-station eservoir. Ina western state, one ummer afternoon a couple of ears ago, an oil worker climbed the ladder of a steel tank contain- ng 55,000 barrels of gasoline. He tarted across the roof of the tank. A flash of fire shot into the heavens ind the ground trembled. When the moke cleared away, underwriters found part of one of the victim’s shoes half a mile away. On the heel was a little iron disk. The verdict was that this had hit the head of a bolt on top of the tank and — Oil-Well on the Derrick Floor Unclamping the Tools from the Cable ee Firemen Fighting a Blazing Gusher, Above, and Drillers had thrown a spark, igniting gasoline vapors and causing the explosion. Another day a drilling crew was at work in a well which was not thought to be near an oil-sand zone. One man was working on a platform in the upper part of the derrick. Suddenly there was a rumbling 793

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394 POPULAR MECHANICS Drilling on the Brink of a 900- Foot Chasm, at South Mountain, California, Where Unusual Obsta- cles Add to the Danger of the Crew Searching for the Hidden Treasure f | 2am Foes * sry’ sound. The tools and drill pipe beean coming up out of the hole. The men on the derrick floor ran. The man higher up jumped out into space. He chanced to land in a sump hole that was half ful mud and water, and was but slightly jured. The derrick and equipment strewn all over the surrounding landsc by the gas blowout which followed These are mere incidents in the d; work of the oil-well driller. They ha been happening since Col. E. Drake completed America’s first oil \ at Titusville, Pa., August 27, 1859. T) hole was sixty-nine feet deep. It p: duced twenty barrels of oil a day. T ever vears ago California gave the world deepest producing well—E. J. Mile Athens No. 6. It flowed 1,000 barrels the first day, from a depth of 7,591 feet. One of the greatest spectacles in the hi tory of petroleum, and one which thrilled thousands of well as tl men who drilled the hole, was staged o1 the Maricopa flat in central California seventeen years ago. The Union Oil com pany took over from a small outfit the Lakeview No. 1, a hole 1,655 feet deep crooked as a dog’s hind leg, and full of battered casing and tools. The stuff the hole was passed by sidetracking, and the hole was drilled to 2,200 feet. While the crew was drilling ahead, heard the sullen rumble of gas, and scur spectators as ried for the open. Quicker than a cyclone takes the roof off a barn, the derrick dis appeared. of petroleum, and within an hour rivers of The sky became a black blotch oil were swirling out across the flat desert country, as though there had been a cloud burst. While the well gushed oil several hundred feet into the air, at a rate which estimated at from 65,000 to 90,000 barrels a day, the oil men grabbed mule teams and scrapers, and built temporary earthen reservoirs wherever a gully prom ised to hold a few thousand barrels of the geolden flood. Finally a high embankment was graded up around sixteen known as “the cornfield,” and the oil was drained into it. The company estimated that the well spouted 9,000,000 barrels of oil before it was brought under control In the Signal Hill field, at Long Beach, Calif.. two crews were recently drilling The holes was acres, wells on adjoining town lots.

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POPULAR MECHANICS 395 Pulling the Sucker Rod from an Old Well _ ee . a oe ~~ - eginning of the End of the Derrick, When a Well the Osage Reservation in Oklahoma Developed a Gas Blowout and Started to Collapse ae wd Showing How Gas Can Be Forced down the Well at the Left to Increase the Subterranean Pressure and Drive the Oil up the Well at the Right; at Right Is a New Style Drill That Sinks and Reams a Twenty-Four Inch Hole, While the Top Rollers Enable It to Cut Its Way Back Up through a Cave-In ap Ot

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POPULAR MECHANICS was used to shoot off the elevators 1 ing on the casing which was being low: when the fire started. After three tempts, one side of the elevator was s away. A steel dome was then rolléd to a point over the well, but the | melted the metal. Finally a ratchet w! was rigged up, and men pulling the tached line succeeded in closing the va and the fire went out. At the edge of Ferry lake, just nort! of Shreveport, La., a 700-foot oil blew out and gouged a crater in the ea: more than 100 feet in diameter, and t! caught fire. The then began flowing salt water. Many e perienced oil men wu: dertook to rig equi ment to shut off t! Sinking the Well Casing, Above; a New Type of Electric-Driven, Self-Con- tained Motor Drill, Right, and, Below, Crew Starting a “Fishtail” Rotary Drill down the Hole gas, but failed utte: Every time the salt water filled the crate it put out the gas fir The salt water kille were about forty feet apart. One crew, drill- ing below 2,600 feet, felt the drill stem jumping, and stopped to investigate. It was found that the rotarv bit which was drilling the hole on the adjoin- ing lot had drifted over to one side and actually drilled a hole through the side of its neighbor’s casing and started down the same hole. The variation from vertical, in the meandering hole, was forty feet in going down about 2,200 feet. When holes are so crooked that the casing gets stuck and cannot be removed, the drillers fre- quently take a fresh start with the drill, alongside the top of the obstruction. This is called sidetracking. A bolt of lightning out of a clear sky, when the sun was shining, hit the old Caney well, just south of the Kansas state line, in what used to be Indian Ter- ritory. This happened twenty-one years ago. The well caught fire and burned for many days, the gas flow being estimated at 75,000,000 cubic feet per day. A cannon all the timber in that neighborhood, an people took to touc! ing off the gas to evap orate the water, so was a case of fire water and gas, lasting for seven years. The state offered to pa $5,000 to anyone w! could shut off

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POPULAR MECHANICS Twisted Ruins of a Heavy Iron-Pipe Line, Which Had Been Buried Underground Before a Leak Caught Fire and Blew the Steel Tubing into These Strange Bends and Loops but no one succeeded in earning the oney. Finally the government took hand, and put out the fire. Mexico furnishes one of the most no- ble instances of a gas blowout. It oc- urred at Dos between Tuxpam nd Tampico, in 1909, starting from a seep- ve of fuel oil toa boiler. This fire burned x weeks, and during that time the well owed millions of barrels of water near ie boiling point. Fluid and flames from his blowout rose 1,500 feet in the air and ere visible eighty miles out to sea. The estimated flow of oil per day, from this ole, was 125,000 barrels. There are many ways to treat oil-well fires and gassers. If the gas pressure is not too great, live steam is sometimes em- ployed to smother such a fire. lly it is blown out by dropping a shot of high explosive over the mouth of the well. Sometimes a well is capped. As a rule each case requires individual treatment and considerable mechanical ingenuity. Fishing jobs, as they are termed, give oil drillers a great many real thrills. Some- times the drill unscrews itself at the bot- tom of the hole and falls off. Sometimes the drill collar is lost. Occasionally the bailer drops off and falls into the hole, or some other piece of equipment gets lost Bocas, Occasion- in the hole. At such times the crew can only try first one fishing tool and then another (there are scores of different kinds), and keep fishing until it either catches the fish or gives up in disgust, sidetracks the fish and proceeds with a crooked hole. Fishing jobs at 2,500 feet have been known to last months and occasionally a year, while in a 6,800- foot hole in southern California the crew recently picked up a lost drill thirty-three hours. If the hole is not too deep, a skillful driller can often tell by the feel of the fishing tools how to carry on such work, but in the deep holes he can only keep fishing and trust to luck. Occasionally, when a solid formation will permit it, the drillers lower a batch of wax or other sim- ilar material and take an impression of the condition. From this they can sometimes study the problem and devise some new mechanical method of solving it. The limit, in fishing jobs, was recently reached at Abilene, Tex., where the San- gor Oil and Refining company, according to well-authenticated reports, employed a human fishhook to save a well. An eight- een-inch hole, down 110 feet, had a bit lost and wedged at bottom. After working for days the crew gave the hole up as lost. several collar in

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398 POPULAR About to turn away, the head driller seized Dick Rawleigh, a little negro boy, who had been looking on. He offered Dick $25 to go down the hole head first and get the bit. snakes in the hole, but he was finally pre- vailed upon to tackle the job. Dick was afraid that there were The drillers rigged him into a harness, strapped his legs together, and then lowered him head downward, with a hands. cable in one of his The first trip down he remained several minutes, but failed to hitch onto the bit. After being pulled up and shown how to fasten his line, he went back down with the cable, and that trip he caught the fish, and saved the hole. This incident is re- Texans as one of their out- standing heroic episodes of the oil fields. counted by The drillers generally get a thrill out of the job when they undertake to drill out a shot of high explosive which has been covered by a crumbling formation in the hole. Depths must be gauged to a nicety and tools run with the utmost caution, to avoid drilling into the shell and perhaps exploding it at the wrong level. The most modern form of. oil-well shot is T.N.T., ered in canisters on the line low- sand and = MECHANICS fired by dropping a “chaser” down line, or perhaps with a time-clock me anism in the torpedo itself, or else by electric spark control] Most of th with the tir explode the charge if ot] methods fail. from a switch at the surface of the earth. shots are now equipped clocks to Drilling deep wells nowadays provi special thrills of its own. A few yea ago the Standard Oil company drilled 7.200-foot hole at Santa Fe Springs ar got a fine supply of nothing boiling water, bi else. The world’s record f depth, however, is held now by a Chat lor-Canfield Midway Oil company hole Brea-Olinda, Calif., which has reache 8,046 feet and will be sunk to 10,000, nothing happens to the equipment. A that depth tically impossible, while the danger of on pi | a fishing job would be pra being necessary is very great, as the strai on a rotary drill increases with the lengt! of the drill rod. Despite the fact that the well has bee: drilled past 8,000 feet and may go to 10,000 the oil company doe not really get oil at such depth. All it is seek expect t ~r Crater Left Where a Derrick Once Stood; Gas Blew Out the Well, and the Inset Shows It Burning at Fire Is a Constant Menace Which Takes Heavy Toll of Life and Property Night; } ) ing is a better knowl-

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POPULAR MECHANICS of the strata two miles down, some first-class experience in well drilling. At 8,000 feet temperature in the well ‘hed 233 degrees Fahrenheit, had been increasing at the e of one degree each fifty feet. Yeep or shallow—it’s all the e. Those who drill oil wells, as those who go sea in ships, ride with the per of souls, and garner a vest of thrills, perhaps com- | able only to those which are perienced by deep-sea divers, emen, miners, and others who rk at hazardous occupations. down to ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK CONTROLS CITY’S STREET LIGHTS Street lamps on part of the sys- m in St. Louis, Mo., are turned at sunset and off at sunrise an astronomical clock without e aid of human hand. The in- trument adjusts itself to sea- mal variations, saving current nd eliminating the need of an ttendant except for an occasional leaning. At the proper time in he evening and in the morning, contacts on a drum in the clock operate the circuits which carry the lighting load. [In case of trouble, protective relays are provided for every kind of emergency. or inspecting and testing, the system also an be operated by hand. HOLDER FOR CHECK-BOOK STUBS PREVENTS BLOTTING Keeping the tubs out of the way while making out checks is often a bothersome task, but the trou- ble is eliminated by a little spring holder that is eas- ily inserted and quickly removed. It holds the used stubs away from the new one, permitting free entry and decreasing likelihood of blotting. The House of Pictured Walls in Prague; Designs Were Revealed hen Workmen Removed Coating of Paint and Dust LOST TREASURE OF PICTURES FOUND ON HOUSE WALLS While at work, not long ago, on the ren- ovation of an ancient building in Prague, or Praha, as the Czechoslovakian capital is now known, repairmen uncovered an art treasure that had long been hidden. The walls of the structure were decorated with skillfully designed figures, producing an effect similar to that on pottery, and, when the outer coatings of dust and paint were removed, the lost pictures were clearly re- vealed. They had been worked in plaster, a resemblance to bas-relief being obtained by laying a coat of white over one of black and then removing enough of the upper coating to expose the black in the desired designs and patterns. @ There are more than 22,000,000 automo- biles in the United States, or about one to every five persons.

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400 POPULAR MECHANICS Drawing of Rotary Photo Printer in Use; Arrows In- dicate Direction of Turning Table; Light Control in Lower Front Panel ROTARY PRINTER FOR PHOTOS SAVES TIME AND EXPENSE For photographers, a rotary printer, fit- ted with six 100-watt lamps and a pilot light, makes 900 prints an hour and is ad- justed to give exact alinement and perfect margins with little trouble. The lighting is controlled by a cranking device, and a fan keeps the negative from curing and the plate glass cool under continuous printing. The entire outfit can be run in or out of the workroom at will so that there is no lifting. It is said to do the work of five or six hand printers. COAST-TO-COAST AIR MAIL IN DAY PROMISED SOON Loss of but one business day on air- mail deliveries between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts is the aim of the post office department, and realization is promised as soon as the last leg of the route, be- tween Salt Lake City and the Pacific coast, is lighted. That will permit planes to leave at the close of the business day in- stead of in the morning, and to deposit mail on the opposite side of the continent in time for early delivery on the second morning. Under such a schedule, Satur- day night’s mail from New York would get the same service to the Pacific coast as to Brooklyn, and San Francisco would have as favorable delivery to New York as to Oakland. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1926, government-operated routes carried 353,641 pounds of mail, and 2,256,137 miles were flown, nearly a m lion of them at night. Receipts have been increasing at such a rate that the total for 1927 promises to double that of 1925. Ay cording to Postmaster-General New, the authorization of individual contracts for transporting the air mails greatly stimu lated commercial aviation and led to an extension of the service. The government is now considering a route down the At lantic coast for direct service between Boston and the tip of the Florida penin sula, with possible extension to Cuba. MILLSTONE USED IN MEMORIAL TO REVOLUTIONARY HEROES Stones from an old gristmill have been employed in a monument to Revolution ary War soldiers at Honesdale, Pa. One forms the base against which a bronze tab- let, bearing the names of the men, has been placed, and part of the foundation for the upright section is formed by a sec- ond stone. The grooved surface of the upper one produces a decorative pattern about the tablet. wt MEP TRE : Old Gristmill Stones Adapted to an Artistic Purpose; Revolutionary War Monument at Honesdale, Pa. _ Biwi AE

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POPULAR MECHANICS As the Monorail Tug Would Appear over Water; the Persons on a Grass Plot, AERIAL MONORAIL OVER CANAL TO PULL CANAL BARGES lowing barges by a motor car sus- ended from a monorail over a canal or one side, is the interesting system test- recently in Germany. During the ex- periments, a boat load of passengers was lragged over a smooth grass plot to show how the outfit would perform when put to work with water barges. 1 MARCONI SEES NEW RADIO ERA IN SHORT-WAVE BEAMS Short-wave wireless, sent around the world in a narrow beam by his system of directional aerials, will revolutionize radio communication, \larconi. according to Senator Beam transmitters have already heen installed in England to connect Great Britain with Canada, South Africa and \ustralia. The short-wave station, which needs much less power because the signal is concentrated in one direction instead of being spread to all points of the com- pass, can be installed and operated for about one-tenth of the cost of long-wave wireless, with the result that it will bring considerable reduction in the cost of send- ing messages. The powérful beam, which sent immense distances even in daylight and without much static inter- ference, also promises to help solve the can be — Experiments Were Conducted with a Boat Load of and Proved Successful problems of wireless picture transmission and, possibly, television, according to the inventor. The beam apparatus is shielded on one side by a curtain of wires which blanket that side, so that signals go ir only one direction. BLOTTER TIP ON FOUNTAIN PEN HELD BY POCKET CLIP Fitting on the end of the fountain-pen cap and secured by the clip that fastens to the pocket, a number of little blotters are al- wavs available just as an is provided for the pencil user. They are in that a new one can easily be ex- eraser layers, so posed and, besides ink, the cushion they form helps protect the pen cap against breakage. absorbing @The Popular Mechanics Bureau of In- formation readers of this magazine. dresses of manufacturers and articles described, and any other details in our possession, will be promptly furnished service to all Names and ad offers its free dealers in by the Bureau.

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AQUATIC HARVESTING MACHINES RECLAIM SWAMPps How France Clears Swamps, So That Fish Destructive to Mos- quitoes May Be Propa- gated; Harvesters That Cut Marsh Weeds and Clear the Water of Aquatic Growths a Center, Circular Knife for Shearing Plants and, Above, Operating the Cutter; Below Is Combination Clipper and Rake to Remove Grass

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POPULAR MECHANICS [AT IT MEANS O RUN A TRAIN the popular mind, engineer of a train little to do but keep eves on the track and hand on the throttle e the fireman shovels In reality, their involve much more n this, as is shown by urvey of a 200-mile on an eastern rail- d. <A careful count kept and revealed t, on the trip, the crew 5,123 individ- acts and expended foot-tons of ort: The steam throttle was operated 28 times: whistle, 268: brake valve, 99: lower valve, 1,100; air fire door, 945; bell nger, 200; sand leech, 80; right injector, 700; left injector, 30; water-gauge tests, 10, and equalizing brake and discharge rformed irty-eight Besides all these activities, there as the road to watch and all its signals. 1 7 A~ae } Live, JZ SECRET OF SWIFTER AIRPLANE SOUGHT FROM TROPIC FLY Airplane designers have turned from tudy of the gull and the soaring eagle to . Brazilian fly for suggestions that may lead to faster aircraft. Squad of Schoolboy Traffic “Police,” Classes March from One Room to Another & mm Appointed to Keep Order When SCHOOL’S OWN TRAFFIC POLICE KEEP ORDER IN HALLS A squad of student traffic policemen has been appointed at a high school in Boston to keep order and prevent loud talking while classes pass through corridors from one room to another. The force is under the supervision of the principal, but has its own officers. The members wear dis- tinctive belts and shoulder straps on duty. SECONDHAND AUTO ON ROOF SERVES AS SHOP SIGN

The insect is about the size of a bumble- bee and is said to fly it the rate of 815 miles an hour, about half as fast as a rifle bullet. An Ameri- can naturalist, stand- ing beside a canyon in Brazil, tracted by the insect when he saw it flash past him, a blur of orange. Search re- vealed that it was a variety of deer fly. Engineers are now studying the stream- was at-

As a substitute for the usual painted or lighted sign, an auto- mobile-repair man in a western city placed a secondhand car on the roof where it would attract the at- tention of passers-by. The auto good for further service and cost less was no than a new sign, sav- ing more than could have been realized had the car been sold for junk. © One of the prod

lines and motive plant of the insect. Out of Date but Still in Service; Ancient Auto on Roof as Repair Shop Sign ucts of petroleum 1s glycerin

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amessing iles | [= you toss a penny once or a hundred times, the chances are exactly equal that it will fall with either head or tail uppermost. But at the end of your hun- dred tosses, or a thousand or a million tosses, the total number of heads and the total number of tails are sure to be almost the same. That last fact is the basis of the law of averages, a curious rule that can be ap- plied to picking a site for a store, stock- ing it with meals, goods, planning insurance restaurant and a hundred other ac- selling and one tivities. M ost knows everybody that insur- rates are de- from elabo- ance cided .December 11,. he knows jus rate calculations .based on past expe: ence, a system of averages by which t company can bet with surety not on yor life—for you are like the penny tosse once, and may either live or die—but « the average lives of a vast number of pe ple, a whole day’s tossing of the pen: as it were. But would you believe tha when the restaurant chef serves beef hash with poached corner Frida man orders to prepare, because his past record tell him many customers the res taurant will have on that day and date, and what proportion of them will want corned-beef hash with poached egg? The records of egg on how how a large hotel or show just that. restaurant By consulting them, it i possible to order a day or two in advances the ingredients of every dish to be served, with assurance that the amount will not be far out either way. That chain stores, par- ticularly those dealing in cigars and drugs, have a et. liabit of being found on More People Will Walk Down One Side of a Street Than Will Patronize the Other, So the Chain Stores Get the Average Totals before Picking a Location for a New Establishment 404

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Strangest : best business corners town practically every- ne has observed, but do u know why? Their cation is not a matter f chance, but one of -areful calculation. They first make actual counts of the number of people passing a given point, ind then, from past ex- perience and the law of averages, calculate what proportion of the pass- ers-by would be cus- tomers, and even what their average expenditure When the Weather Man Reads His Recording Thermometer He Is Contrib- : : — uting to Tables of Averages Used by Many Merchants each day would be. If you were entering the millinery busi- ness you would be told by manufacturers that you should have in stock only a small percentage of women’s hats that are large and a great number that are small. If you sell ready-made clothing, you will be told to stock a certain percentage of stout sizes for fat men. If you are selling shoes and doubt the advice given you by the manufacturers, you might play a little game by way of testing out the law of averages. Stop, say, 500 persons on the street at random and ask them the size of their shoes. Then, in order to try out the law, go to another city or to another street, and ask another 500, and your answer will check up with the advice of the shoe manufacturers, and the two streets will give you the same results. All because each 500 will have practicaliy the same percentage of people who wear num- ber nine shoes. To get a working understanding of the law of averages for your own purposes, 4 - for your own home, you begin by keep- ing records. It is certain that the accurate knowledge possessed by life-insurance companies is all a matter of accurate records. It may be that Lloyd’s will take a risk as to the weather on a certain day when a championship fight is to be held out of doors. The promoter is obliged to choose a holiday in order to attract the largest crowd. Next he goes to his insur- ance broker and takes out a policy cover- ing his loss, should it rain. The insurance company in turn asks the weather bureau for data covering some fifty years of records as to the state of the weather, say, on Labor day. On the basis of the records, the company is bound to win in the long run. It is protected by the law of averages. And speaking of the weather, what is apparently more fickle? “Every time you plan an outing it rains,” you say, but it is far more likely that the records of the weather bureau will show that your 7

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406 POPULAR MECHANICS chance for a clear, pleasant day will be pretty generally even. The weather bureau of every city in the United States is being constantly used in order to help business. Recently a great company making electric fans sent to all its agents throughout the country elab- orate charts which, based on forty years’ records, told just when to advertise fans, when to stock up and how many days of the year fans would be ex- pected to sell. This was all based on weather condi- Insurance Companies : : Know from the Law me % « of Averages Just ee About How Many Auto- mobiles Will Be Wrecked This Way tions—humidity, rainfall, heat, and so on. Newspaper publishers are showing an uncanny understanding of the law of aver- ages in relation to the weather. They have learned, for instance, that a newsboy will sell 149 papers on a clear Sunday morn- ing, but when the weather threatens to be disagreeable they will print more, for the same boy will sell 211. Thus the weather report means more than a mere announce- ment each day. Then there are the department stores. They have a sale planned which must at- tract a certain number of people in order to dispose of a certain quantity of goods. ‘But what about the weather?” inquires the manager of the advertising direct: Either the weather bureau or past sto records will be consulted, while the adve tisement stands ready to be run on la: minute orders. Sut, strange as it m: seem, it is not the downright rainy da that worries the management so much : a stormy or threatening morning. In fact according to the law of averages, M: Jones will sally forth on a fair mornin to buy through the lure of the newspaps bait. Should she, however, encounter shower along about noon, she will decid to stay in town to eat her lunch and, be cause she has nothing else to do, will bu more merchandise than if the day had remained clear. On the morning of April 3, 1917, men smoked more cigars than usual. All that day they continued to consume _ large numbers of cigars. In fact, Tuesday April 3, was a record-breaking day for cigars all over the United States. This was really most sur prising because, as a rule, Tuesday is ; a dull day in the ‘e tobacco business. According to the law of averages, men stock up on Saturday and replenish on Monday. The reason was that on the previous night the presi- dent had appeared before a joint session of congress and delivered his message asking for a declaration of war. The next day men read their papers and became more thoughtful. Much ordinary business was forgotten and men were inclined to smoke and talk and sit and think. Thus the law

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verages throughout nation was proved he conduct of all the n St. Louis is a well- »wn hardware firm t is constantly making e use of the law of erages. For example, h day they take the le stacks of sales slips it come in by mail from e men on the road and igh them. Thus they now without further udy, just how much oney the sales repre- nt. Each ounce of the ttle slips means so many One slip may be ora bill of goods mount- ng into thousands, and next may cover a quarter’s worth of nails. But two equal stacks of the slips average a cer- tain amount which, ex- perience has shown, varies but a few cents. This same company gathers all sorts of other information be- cause it has found that each has its place in the successful operation of business. For example, they ask their men to send in daily reports on the weather, temper- ature, rainfall and on crop conditions. They even arrange to get information on the state of fhe weather in England. In getting this, they are merely obtaining advance knowledge as to certain business that the law averages assures them will be theirs in time. For an unusually warm, rainy spring in England will mean an earlier demand on English manufac- turers for pruning shears, scythes and such articles. This in turn will mean that the manufacturers will be less able to make prompt shipments such to America. Wholesalers in this country, therefore, must either get their orders in early or arrange to get the goods from some other source. Also a rainy March lars. he of ot goods and April in any section of the United States means that there will be a big demand for scythes and sickles and lawnmowers in June. POPULAR MECHANICS 407 People Who Leave Their Change Contribute an Average of Twenty Dollars Day to the Circus, the Law Reveals Under the law of averages, a certain num- ber of men out of each thousand will buy lawnmowers, but the number who get new ones depends upon how luxuriously the grass grows. Just soa dry spring and sales of garden hose have their relation. In the treasury department at Wash- ington there is a man who plays with the law of averages and obtains answers to legislative questions which will affect the whole United States. This man is Joseph S. McCoy, who is listed merely as an ac- tuary, yet, although not in the public eye, he takes a set of figures and another lot of numbers and puts them together ac- cording to the law of averages and so finds out what you and your neighbors will do as regards income taxes, tariff and a lot of other things. When the Underwood tariff bill was be- ing drawn, McCoy called upon to give information as to the way people would pay the various amounts. The wanted to know just how much money the bill would bring in. It happened that on one item the tax was Was congressmen

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108 POPULAR ten per cent and some had planned on in- creasing it to thirty per cent. It was Mc- Coy who estimated with wonderful pre- cision how much the tax would bring in and whether a certain item could be made to bear the higher or the lower tax. Then congress wanted to know what the population of the United States would be in 1910. They asked in 1901. And when the census was completed it was found that McCoy came within one per cent of the count. At other times McCoy was asked regarding the number of men who belonged to clubs when a tax on clubs was being considered, and regarding the people who go to the movies. His answer to these questions was simple. He inquired of every man that he met to how many clubs he belonged, if any, and he asked his wife how often she went toa movie and asked her to ask her friends. Thus, by counting on human nature in Washington, he was able to learn what women in Kansas and California would do. His estimate as to those who go to the movies was that 12,000,000 people do each day. Some of the motion-picture MECHANICS producers at first disputed his figures, | when they checked up by their own re ords, they admitted that he had obtain an accurate estimate. When you go to the circus, you and the others will contribute about $20 day because you go away from the tick window without your change. Circus m: have found out that these walk-awa are worth that much to them and the count on it. But the bigger the crow and the more excitement, the more chang will be left. In many cases it is the habit of people to do certain things that hay made men and women, able to appreciat the fact, rich. The cigar store and the chain drug stor: can tell from year to year what their losse will be as judged by the weather. A cer tain velocity of wind will mean so mu and rain will mean so much. Accordin; to the weather, they know how many me: will use the telephone; therefore they place the instruments so that people must go through the store in order to reach them and, perhaps, be induced to buy something they see in passing. Photos © Nat'l Photos Uncle Sam Knows Just What He Can Expect to Find Each Year in All the Packages Sent to the Dead-Letter Auctions for Sale, as a Result of Figures Compiled over Many Years _—

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POPULAR MECHANICS 109 \Y STOPS THEFTS OF [AMONDS AT MINES rkers in the South African nd mines are easily foiled eans of X-rays when they yw choice stones in an ef- to steal them. The rays re- the diamond as it registers he photograph. Another od the miner-thieves some- attempt is to hide a gem in ep cut on their feet. By giv- he workers six months va- n each year, less dissatisfac- has arisen and consequently er attempts at stealing, ac- ing to a representative of the th African government. ELECTRIC TOASTER BORN OF “HIGHBROW” TESTS + Not long ago, learned investi- ors were engaged in labora- tests, trying to determine hich metal burned up at the owest rate under the strain of Now Used as a Summer Residence; the Country Church with ; Omaen , ront Veranda Remodeled into Vacation Home rrying an overload of electric- No one knew at the time, but these STONE CHURCH IS REMODELED ‘periments were to give the world the INTO SUMMER HOME electric toaster. The heating element in ese units so successfully resists the cur- Abandoned by the congregation, a New ent that it lasts along time and has made York church, built of native field stone, he toaster a practical household aid. was purchased and remodeled into a sum- \cademic arguments over electricity and mer home. The structure was altered but ther matters are still in progress,and the slightly on the exterior and the inside was esults, while not all adaptable, are often divided into rooms and fitted with mod- pplied for the general good. Some scien- ern conveniences. tists believe that the electron can be still further divided into ystems of its own ind the opposition offered to their ar- ruments recalls that, for a long time, cholars held the tom to be the small- est particle of mat- ter, but have now abandoned that the- ory in view of the evident structure of atoms in negative ‘ RES Curving Lashes with the Curler; Gentle Pressure . and positive charges. Applied for a Moment or Two Is Sufficient for days. EYELASH CURLER IS THE LATEST BEAUTY AID Without heat or cosmetics the eve- lashes can be curled by a simple hand in- strument that clamps them between soft pads. By applica- tion of gentle pres- sure for a moment, it bends them into a curl that will last

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TRIPODS TO REPLACE CAGE MASTS ON BATTLESHIPS O16 RE e S eT e3 le ti 1t\ « e t | Battleship ‘Florida’ before, Above, and aiter, Below, Ex- i] | tensive Alterations; One Cage Mast and One Smokestack 4 Have Been Eliminated vs | | | | | : P| | } , 11] el — ye mae ee. -. ane eaeinee- ul a in ———— =a on ee al rion Silhouette of the Texas i: — a oes Substitu- a —— tion o ripod Masts and — the Airplane on Its Cata- : pult Amidships BI fic ha ot Ww th or | th — D ti 410 ti

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) WARSHIPS ARE Rk BUILT TO MAKE | ONGER CRUISES o keep abreast of the es, radical changes e been made in the iipment of three Unit- States battleships and erations are in prog- ; on three others. The exas,” “Arkansas” and lorida” have been re- odeled. The “New rk.” “Wyoming” and tah” will be ready for ity in their new form a few months. The dernization program, en completed, will in- ease the cruising radius the six ships to that of e other twelve battle- ips of the fleet. The exas” was converted POPULAR MEC HANICS m a coal to an oil rner, additional plat- was placed on the rotective deck as defense against aerial mbs and high-angle gunfire, a powder- ipulse catapult was installed for launch- ¢ airplanes, “blisters” were added to the nderwater hull for submarine, bomb and nine protection, and the mainmast was emoved and replaced by a low mast just forward of the number three turret, while new tripod mast was installed between turrets three and four. There is now but ne smokestack instead of two and the age or latticework masts have been re- placed by tripod masts. BLOOD PUMPED BY ELECTRICITY AFTER HEART STOPS Possibility of prolonging life by arti- ficial circulation after the heart and lungs have ceased to function is seen as a result of experiments by Russian investigators, who have devised an electrical apparatus that takes over the duties of the natural organs. Blood was kept flowing through the severed head of a dog for half an hour. During this time, signs of life were no- ticed, such as opening of the eyes, reac- tion to light and movements of the ears. Double-Purpose Weapon for Police, the Combination Flashlight and Revolver, to Surprise Criminals and Aid in Firing FLASHLIGHT AND GUN IN ONE TO AID CRIME WAR To throw light on the target, a revolver is fitted with a strong flashlight. The weapon is intended especially for police use against marauders in the dark. HANDLES FOR WOMEN’S HATS LATEST LONDON FAD To save the crown ofthe brim less women’s hat now in vogue in London, stiff felt handles have been attached So that the hats may be more easily re- moved. Thev are made to harmon- ize with the other trimmings @ The light from Sirius, the dog star, is equivalent to about forty times that given off by our sun.

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oe - oo ae Ceremonial Kiva, or Round House of the Ancient Pueblo Dwellers, After the Ruins Have Been Excavated and Partially Restored; the Southwest Indians Were the First Apartment-House Builders Digging Up History with a Pick OWN in the southwest they dig up their unwritten American history with a pick, dust it off with a whiskbroom and piece it together bit by bit like the fragments of a broken pottery bowl. The direct descendants of the ancient Pueblos are still living in the region, al- most as primitive a people as their fore- fathers. Many of them are employed dur- ing the summer to work on excavations of the ruins of their former homes. Of their prehistoric ancestors they know nothing except a few legends. It is up to the scientist in charge to write the history of these forgotten peoples from the relics of their life and customs which they left behind them in the abandoned villages. An archeologist approaching a_ site which he intends to excavate, first makes a detailed description, with photographs, of the undisturbed ruins, measuring the area of the mound and the height at vari- ous points. From the appearance he esti- mates the original height of the walls, the nuntber of rooms in each group with the location of kivas, or circular council cham- bers, and the ground plan of the village. 412 He collects all fragments of pottery which he can find on the surface and then en gages a crew of Indian or Mexican labo ers to do the excavating. The workmen first clear off the loose stones left exposed on top of the mound These they pass along from hand to hand to a spot outside the mound proper where they will be piled, perhaps for restoration purposes later on. Then the men start t» work with picks, shovels and wheelba: rows to clear out the earth that the ruins. They brush off every scrap of pottery, bone or wood. covers If the rooms are to be left open, the “bone diggers” carry off the filling of earth and stones. The archeologist usually digs out a burial site himself. He works slowly with a trowel and inspects every bit of dirt removed. He uncovers the bones with a soft brush, replaces pottery and othe: mortuary offerings surrounding the body and photographs the remains. From such discoveries he can tell not only the stature, age and sex of the person buried, but something of the culture of the times in which he lived.

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POPULAR MECHANICS Crumbling Ruins of the Balcony House, at Mesa Verde, as They Were Found by the Archzologists, Above, and, Below, the Same Site After Restoration Was Completed; Many of the Pueblo Dwellers Erected Their Homes under the Over- hanging Walls of Huge Natural Caves, and in This Way They Were Protected from the Complete Ruin That Befell Homes in More Exposed Sites; the Caves Not Only Gave Protection from the Weather, but Limited Attack to the Front

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114 POPULAR MECHANICS INVENTING SOUNDS TO INTERPRET MOVIE DRAMAS Playing the Three Consoles of the Mighty Organ, All Parts of One Unit, and Some of the Instruments It Con- tains, Sleigh Tones that tell stories are the pipe or- gan’s contribution to the movies. Its hundreds of voices are the result of many experiments by skilled musicians and craftsmen who are constantly seeking new effects and combinations for better inter- pretation of the films. This is illustrated in the instrument for Roxy’s theater in New York, the largest unit organ ever built for a playhouse. Its resources are so vast that three organists are needed to operate it. For this purpose, it has three specially designed consoles or key desks. Many tones impossible to the or- dinary organ are produced by this instru- ment, which is essentially a great organ and an orchestra in a single unit. One set of pipes plays the peculiarly shrill tones associated with oriental music and danc- ‘chimes, orchestra bells and harp. ells, Chimes and Sets of Drums ing, and the note of the post horn, a special trumpet often used with the tallyho coach, is also reproduced. The organ con- tains a complete set of drums and traps for symphony or jazz music and every known percussion instrument including the piano, marimba, celeste, xylophone Sleigh bells are seldom heard in the streets, but this organ contains a whole set of them, which are jingled by the action of small bellows. Special trap effects to fit scenes in the pictures afford realistic imitations of an aeroplane, train, automobile horn, siren and many other cbjects. Practically every tone color of the symphony orches- tra can be reproduced. The organ is of the electro-pneumatic type, that is, tricity is used to convey the impulse from elec-

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POPULAR MECHANICS and compressed the power by which echanism that pro- the tones is oper- FECTS OF HEAT ON WORKERS everal time-honored have been shat- ed and the importance maintaining proper ospheric conditions factories, foundries mines has been em- sized tests con- ted by the bureau of nes and the public- to the work- by service as ects of heat on In the course of the ts, it was discovered t a robust man, ipped to the waist, could work for an definite period without injury in a tem- erature of ninety degrees Fahrenheit ith a relative humidity of 100 per cent. \nother experiment showed that drink- ng ice water in large quantities after long xposure to high temperature and great ertion was not harmful. One man drank quart in fifteen minutes without jurious “effects. The investigation also ealed that sweat dropping into the eyes optical any a common cause of rouble among workers. A mall quantity introduced ; nto the eye, when nor- ; the or- become caused in to nd inflamed erspiration the arms and as found to be even sore / and from chest — more harmful. The experimenters rec- ommended that vorkers who are ex- posed to great heat wear sweat bands to protect their eyes. The tests were con- ducted in laborato- \ ries and care full v © Henry Miller Trapped by the Camera; Flashlight Photo Young Deer Took of Itself When It Stepped on Hidden Trigger in Brush DEER TAKES OWN PHOTOGRAPH WITH HIDDEN FLASH Carefully concealed in the underbrush, a camera and flashlight registered an ex- cellent photograph of a young deer feed- ing in the Pocono mountains of Pennsyl- The flash trap hidden in the leaves. Similar photos are vania. was sprung by a not. uncommon, but few show the subject at such close range and accurate focus. X-RAY GAUGE MAKES EXPOSURE SAFE To prevent injury to patients through exposure to X inten- rays + of too great sity, a gauge devised physician in the rays by a 5 h Ow s the and them consumed ina Che in- is intended Vienna strength of being used how much of has been treatment strument not only to safeguard the patient but ‘also to reduce waste of constructed rooms. Dr. Strauss of Vienna with Gauge by Which He Meas- ures the Intensity of X-Rays the precious rays.

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116 POPULAR MECHANICS FRONTIER DAYS LIVE AGAIN IN KIT CARSON HOME KIT CARSON Kit Carson’s Home, Where the Noted Indian Fighter Spent His Final Years, as It Looks since the Restora- tion; Photos of Carson and His Grave in the Cemetery of the Ranch Restoration of part of the home of “Kit” Carson, scout, plainsman and Indian fight- er, at Taos, N. Mex., has revived interest in one of the most romantic figures the west has produced. Three men of his day stand out in history—Buffalo Bill, Jim Bridger and Carson—and because of his unusual prowess as a marksman and his daring as a scout, the latter, though he died in 1868, is as well known as Col. Cody himself. rushed Long before the first gold miners overland to California, had gained his place as the most famous man among all the trappers from the Mis- sissippi to the Pacific and from the Cana- dian line to the Mexican villages in the south. Born in Missouri, he Carson f went west at the age of eighteen, in 1826, accompany- ing a party of traders down the Santa Fe trail. From that time on until his death, he spent practically all his life in the heart of the Indian country. His ranch at Taos, where he made a few brief visits between almost continuous Indian wars, became the rallying point for the scattered white settlers whenever they were threatened by the Apaches, so the restored house has historical interest aside from having been his home. When Carson and his both died, in 1868—his death the result of privations while fighting on the Union side throughout the war-—the place was al lowed to fall into decay. gradually eroded the adobe walls, so that only three of the ten rooms the ranch house contained have been restored wite Rain and wind so far, ALUMINUM STREET-CAR BODY TO INCREASE SAFETY Decrease in the operating costs of street- railway systems and greater safety for passengers are foreseen in a street car of aluminum. All parts except the windows, doors, wheels, axles, springs and gears are of this material in an alloy said to be as strong as steel but only one-third as heavy The windows and doors are made of plate glass, which has proved effective in auto mobile manufacturing the cars, the alloy is heated until it has the consistency of jelly, then it is through that give it the shapes. A car exhibited in Cleveland, Ohio, weighed only 34,000 pounds, about service. In forced dies desired four tons less than the ordinary steel car

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same size. According to officials of ilway company there, this reduction oht will effect a saving of fifteen per n the consumption of electric power, economy of some $150,000 in Cleve- every year. ONE BUILDING ACCOMMODATES CHURCH AND APARTMENTS nvenience and simplification of the neing problem are sought in a combi- | m church and apartment building tructed in an Ohio city. The audito- Sunday-school and other rch departments are in the front por- and the living quarters at the rear ntals from the apartments are expected rooms over all the interest and deferred pay- nts on the church debt and, when this been cleared, will provide a steady me. The apartments have been ar- nged in such a way that they can be nverted into additional church quar- when the need arises. The minister his family will occupy one suite. SYNTHETIC COAL FROM RUBBISH CUTS FUEL COSTS Rubbish, e treated old shavings and other waste with a special liquid and essed into bricks for fuel by a Viennese hemist. The pieces are said to give a a wagon load of the material Rubbish Convert- ed into Chunks of Fuel; the Material Is Pressed and Treated with a Liquid to Aid Combustion POPULAR MECHANICS 417 MEMORIAL BRIDGE OF CONCRETE NEARLY MILE LONG Concrete Arches of the Memorial Bridge between Fort Snelling and Mendota, Minnesota Dedicated to Minnesota ; lost their lives in the World War. the con crete bridge, between Fort Snelling and Mendota, over the Minnesota rivet reet long and 200 feet above the surtace at the center span. Exclusive of sidewall it has space for five lines of vehicle abreast. The foundations extend to rock at an average depth of eighty teet below the ground level The viaduct be of great service to persons in the sout! } P 1 _ ern part of the state by iking Minne ipolis more acces 11 le DECK FOR CHILDREN ON LINER SIMPLIFIES TRAVEL Caring for small children while on ocean voyages has been simplified on two steam ers in the New York-California trade by the addition of a special deck for the youngsters Here they can play game dig in sand boxes and otherwise amuse themselves in safety under the supervision of an attendant.

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418 POPULAR MECHANICS automatic banks have been installed an incentive to the youngsters to sa Each child has a card for registering deposits and, when a certain amount reached, a city savings bank credits sum to the child on its account. iS PNEUMATIC STREET-CAR WHEEL STANDS HEAVY TESTS Promise of improved street-car service is seen in a pneumatic wheel which h: withstood severe preliminary tests 3altimore, Md. It consists chiefly of a: inflated rubber tube in a metal containe: around the hub of each wheel, the weight of the car being borne by the tube, whi does not come in contact with the rail German School Boys Depositing Money in Classroom Heavy pressure tests failed to break tl Bank; Amounts Are Registered on Card rubber. Engineers believe that the whee BANKS IN SCHOOLROOMS HELP if successful, will permit further improve PUPILS SAVE MONEY ment in the adoption of roller bearings, feature which has not been practical b: School children of the United States cause of the jolts and jars. banked more than $20,000,000 during the last school year, official reports from the 11,371 schools where savings systems have been instituted, show. The sum represents Savings « power are also anticipated. AUTO HAS CATERPILLAR TREAD the deposits of more than 4,000,000 boys FOR TRAVEL IN MUD and girls, or eighty per cent of the total Automobile and tractor are combined enrollment in places where the system is ina car introduced in England. It has in operation. According to W. Espey caterpillar tread on each side and is low Allig, of the American bankers’ associa- ered or raised by the motor. When it tion, the plan was, in a large measure, the in contact with the ground, the mai outcome of thrift inspired during the wheels are elevated and the car is pri World War. In many Berlin schools, pelled by the tread. When Caterpillar Unit Is Lowered, Mair Wheels Are Elevated and Car Is P: pelled by Tread; the Change Is Quick Made Back to the Big Wheels { Ordinary Travel

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Prof. Colin G. Fink, Preparing an Ancient Bronze Statuette to Determine the Amount of Restoration Needed _= your doctor if he knows how to 4A keep a mummy in good health. Ora tone tomb. Or a bronze warrior. He ill want to know what the joke is, and iy remark that such things don’t get sick. But at the world’s greatest storage suse of “dead” things, the Metropolitan \luseum of Art in New York, one of the problems is a constant battle with ease, and an expert staff is kept con- tantly at work detecting and preventing ilments which may cause the ruin of riceless art treasures. Years have been pent im this research and, only recently, ures and preventives have been found hat will preserve exhibits for a longer me than has heretofore been possible. (he experts say the difficulty is not in find- ing exhibits but in maintaining their health after they are brought to our un- iriendly climate. \ sick hawk is now under observation in the office of the curator. It is a beau- tiful bronze thing, priceless, and older than Christianity. The nearest it ever came to being alive, except perhaps in the imagination of some worshiping Egyp- tian, was when it was molten metal. It lay preserved for centuries, but the un- healthful American climate has been too 0 Alive Art Treasures ¢ Dead Centuries By JOHN CHAPMAN much for it, and now no physician visit- ing his millionaire client could give a more thorough examination than the curator gives the hawk every day. There is a little pin point of decay on one of the bird’s bronze feathers. It is the dreaded bronze disease—a kind of cancer. Just what causes it is not yet ex- actly known, but it is contagious, and one case of bronze disease may threaten the life of other unprotected exhibits. In seeking a cure, the Metropolitan called in Dr. Colin G. Fink, of Columbia university, who has developed almost magical meth ods for the restoration of apparently hope- lessly corroded ancient treasures. Bronze disease shows itself by a fine green dust at the base of the platform on which the exhibit is mounted. The erains are so fine that unless the bronze is incased in glass they will blow away. Thus comes the contagion. If such dust is found, the bronze is minutely examined, and an area, sometimes no larger than a pinhead, spotted where the bronze is rough in appearance and lacks the beautiful luster which perfect metal shows. How bronze disease starts has not vet been determined, but Dr. Fink has noted that when a speck of lampblack or coa soot is placed ona cl 3 1 tne speck soon becomes the center of a ean sheet ot copper, corroding area. He believes it mav be caused by a trace of sulphuric acid in the carbon speck; or it might be the action of one of the constituents of the atmos phere, such as ammonia. In Dr. Fink’s process against bronze disease, as well as with restoration of cor- roded bronzes, the object is hung in a weak solution of caustic soda by means of soft-copper wires. The negative pole of a direct-current lighting circuit is at tached to these wires, and the current is applied, the positive poles being iron ob jects hung on either side of the bronze Under the electrical influence, a laver of spongy copper takes the place of the dis

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420 Bronze Head from Ancient Greece Being Placed in the Vat for Electrolytic Treatment to Restore the Original Metal eased spot, and this is brushed off. Then the bronze patient is given a coating of lacquer, which does not change its color, but must be renewed every four years. Ancient finds for museums do not usu- ally arrive in a perfect state of health. Many of them have been victims of chronic disease for centuries, and the change often aggravates these ailments and cuts short the lives of the exhibits. Bronzes present one of the biggest prob- POPULAR MECHANICS lems. Often, archzologists will find a perfect specimen like the hawk, which develops no ailment until it has been on exhibit { years. More often, bronze statu: ornaments and utensils are in an apparently hopeless state of c rosion when discovered. Old Egyptian bronzes have been buried in peat mud, water o: Sahara sand. Those found in peat mud are well preserved Water bronzes are slightly co: roded. It is in bronzes dug out of the earth that most trouble i encountered. Egypt was onc: an ocean bed, and its sandy soil i filled with salts, the action « which causes corrosion. Suc! bronze has been found to hav: an outer porous green crust whic! is not bronze at all, but copper silver, tin or lead compound Beneath this, there is usually a core oi copper oxide, which is smooth and stil bears most of the imprints of the creating artist’s handiwork. 3efore scientists took up a detailed in vestigation, the outer crust often knocked off by mechanical means, o1 taken off with acid which might injure the precious smooth metal beneath. Now with Dr. Fink’s process, the outer crust i cleaned off by electric action, and the was Bronzes, before and after Restoration, Showing an Egyptian Statue and a Dog and Its Family; Center, Prof. Fink with a Completely Corroded Bronze Made in Egypt 3,000 Years Ago

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POPULAR MECHANICS +21 ut core within revealed. In this way, n es that have been completely cor- ” and have no trace of their original have been restored to beauty. corroded bronze object is hung in electrolytic bath until free emission indicates that the corroded part een broken down into porous copper. . comes the ticklish part. After a ; 11 washing, the object is examined, ~ . it looks as if there were hard metal ith the copper sponge, the sponge , ped off with a soft brush. If it is - rent that corrosion has gone all the through and there is no bronze be- the object is rapidly dipped into k nitric acid, and then into water. , hen the smooth oxide surface stands ealed, with much of the long-dead art- - craftsmanship engraved thereon, the ect is treated with a chemical which es it the beautiful color of ancient nze, and dried in an oven. Then a uer covering is applied. Nearly everyone has seen in some mu- is beautiful iridescent glass—perhaps ; “or . , : “i . , Enjoying a Dance in Airplane at Altitude of 2,000 elic of buried Pompeii, or an Egyptian Feet; Music by Phonograph or Radio si vase. This glass, which has taken its P lescent sheen through centuries of DANCING IN AIRPLANE’S CABIN il, may quickly decay when brought LATEST TRAVEL LUXURY light, due to the condensation of water ‘m the atmosphere. Such glass must Dancing among the clouds is now al- , : . » literal reali he air line be- given a protective coating before it most a literal reality ee ee m 2 n be exhibited tween London and Paris, for there is a Even stones from supposedly imperish- mall ballroom space in the cabin of one e tombs will waste away in unhealthful of the new ships where passengt 2 " . : > nNrinog 7 a) rl ] . 1} > eum atmosphere unless preventive ©"JO) themselves during the cle ( ‘ ; a ee ne, 7 sures are taken. Limestone is most tograph was taken at -,000 Ter to have a chronic disorder which, if | neeieenes | t cured, will cause the stone to crumble HIDDEN SAFE IN WALL OR FLOOR | ty to ruin. The source of the ailment RESISTS THIEVES AND FIRE fain traceable to salts in the earth. hese salts penetrate the body of the For installation in homes or offices, a ne, and moisture will bring about decay. safe with removable lock boxes, can be When the museum receives stones from _ almost entirely con ie buried tomb, the surfaces to be pre- tj cealed as it has no ved are treated with a special solution protruding parts hen the stone is carefully lowered into Phe tumbler ck mersion tanks so that the surface to be has more than 130, reserved is barely out of the water. Days 000 combinations nd weeks of soaking, with frequent which may be inges of water, gradually draw out the changed in a few | ilts. Then the stone is dried, and soaked ~ seconds by a simple in paraffin until it will absorb no more. " adjustment. Tofur Often a section of a tomb will absorb ther protect the safe against damage by everal hundred pounds of melted paraffin. fire it is insulated with asbestos

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POPULAR MECHANICS Views of Observation Bus, Showing the Sliding Top SLIDING TOP ON MOTOR COACH GIVES OVERHEAD VIEW Tourists are able to enjoy an unob- structed view of the scenery along the Apache trail in Arizona from a motor coach with a top that slides back, con- verting the vehicle into one of the open type in a few seconds. The roof is made in sections of light steel. operated by chains trolled by the driver. When pulled back, they rest over the baggage compart- ment. At the slight- est indication of stormy weather, the driver can crank the three moving sec- tions back into posi- The units are with a crank con- tion above the pas- sengers. Reclining seats also aid the Sensitive Recording Instrument Which Registers i in Machine Movement, Helping Pm 4 s a ere iy # Segeeag tS ta pie + ds . ss poe nnd occupants, as they permit an upward look without discomfort. The sliding top ha been designed to eliminate rattling regard less of its position. THRILL INDICATOR ALSO TELLS MACHINE TROUBLES Irregularities in the motion of machines of almost any kind are registered on a sen sitive “thrill” indicator so that inspector may detect trouble and make adjust ments beforea break down. The unit pic- tures action ia a tab ulated code on a strip of paper, and any ab- normal jars or vibra- tions are clearly shown. The indicator is also adapted to the study of movements of the human body. Irregularities to Locate Trouble

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U cs le ts POPULAR LACIERS GROWING IN EUROPE TO LOWER TEMPERATURES? [hat the earth’s temperatures may be ected by the increase in the size of ciers in the Alps, is the possibility ad- need by a French scientist. From a ries of measurements, it has been de- rmined that glaciers in French Savoy ve been advancing seventy to 150 feet vear and have gained in volume from 5,000,000 to 250,000,000 cubic feet at the ime time. Some of the huge masses of e are 600 feet thick. One of the most teresting glaciers is the Bossons, the entral one on Mount Blanc. Instead of lvancing in a mass, it has an oscillating ovement, going forward first on one side hen on the other and in the middle, ke a heavv man who throws his shoulders rward alternately as he walks. STOP METER FOR AUTO TESTS STRENGTH OF BRAKES \ccurate measurements of the efficiency the auto brakes can be taken with he aid of a small meter, which is placed level in the bottom of the car or held rmly against some convenient support. Readings are taken on a dial which shows, by numbers, in how many feet the vehicle ould have stopped had it been moving t a speed of twenty miles an hour when kes were applied. In making a st, the auto should be run at between fteen and thirty miles an hour and then ] © bra brought to a full stop. The reading is taken when the dial momentarily pauses. The in- strument can be read when a stop is made from ten miles an hour. It is of handy size and weighs about one pound. @The Popular Mechanics Bureau of In- formation offers its free service to all readers of this magazine. Names and ad- dresses of manufacturers and dealers in articles described, and any other details in our possession, will be promptly furnished by the bureau. MECHANICS Sculptor Standing beside Heroic Statue of Washingt Shown in Dress of a Civilian WASHINGTON IN CIVILIAN DRESS PORTRAYED IN STATUE Almost all statues of George Wash ington show him in military dress, but a monument recently unveiled in Port land, Oreg., departs from the tradition in that it displays the father of his countt in civilian attire. The bronze statue is ten feet high, and is the work of Pompeo Coppin, a New York sculptor. LIGHTED HOUSE-NUMBER PLATE HELPS PROTECT HOME Easily installed and illuminated by curt rent from the doorbell circuit, a lighted house-number plate is visible at all times, aiding callers and also helping to guard the premises. No expensive conduit ts necessary as wire may be run from the re flector to the bell transformer, and the 1] t light operates at so small expense that it may be left going day and night.

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OF SCIENCE HELP MOVIES GIVE VIVID A New German Film, Based on the Old Robot Story, in Which a Mechanical Person, Created by an Inventor, Becomes a Frankenstein Monster, Has Been Produced in Germany, Utilizing Novel Electrical Effects in an Unusual Manner; at the Left Is the Mechanical Wo man, and, Above, the Heroine, Who Is Imprisoned in a Glass Cage and Used as a Model by the Crazed Inven tor; Below He Is Seen with the Model and His Own Creation Taking Form in the Background; a Tesla Coil, Producing Artificial Lightning Effects, Transmits Glowing Brush Discharges along the Wires Leading from the Cage Courtesy

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CTURE OF A WORLD RULED BY MACHINES Two Views of the Wonderful Electrical Effects Achieved Is Rotwang, the Engineer of the by Employing a High-Fre- n, Ready to Throw in the Switch Which quency Current of Tremen- tarts the Machine for Modeling a Mechan- dous Voltage; the Living ical Figure from the Living Heroine Model Is Visible in the Glass Cage Shown Below The Sphere

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126 POPULAR MECHANICS MAN-CARRYING KITE IS STEADIER THAN BALLOON Demonstration of the Kite’s Strength and Views of It in Flight; More than 200 Successful Trials Have Been Made with It, Lifting 186 Pounds Steadier in the air than a balloon, and less easily damaged, a huge kite devised by a western craftsman has been tested for observation purposes. It is said to have lifted 186 pounds. One of its useful features is that it maintains a nearly stationary position when aloft. More than 200 trial flights were made with the kite and, according to the testers, its maxi- mum capacity for load-lifting has not yet been reached. Among possible uses suggested for it are included the taking of aerial photo- graphs where a flying machine is not avail able, and, for observations during actual warfare, it would be able to carry an air man to a sufficient height to get informa tion, while the kite would not present a

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POPULAR MECHANICS a target as the ordi- balloon. It has a heeled carriage and ‘ing on the upper part lar tothose of a plane. AUTO “PEP” COMES HIGH More than one-fourth f the gasoline which the otorist buys is used to tain a quick get-away, cording to Prof. A. C. Villard of the University f Illinois. In the average utomobile, the maxi- um power is realized hen the carburetor is et to mix twelve pounds air with one of gaso- ne. This, however, is it the most economical ixture, as there is not nough air to burn all the isoline. The most eco- omical mixture, the one which all the gasoline s consumed, is when six- een pounds of air are ixed with one of gaso- line. Demanding “pep” rather than economical operation, the motorist sets his carburetor to give the “one-twelve” mixture, even though, in so doing, he sacrifices twenty- five per cent of the heat value it is possi- ble to get out of the fuel. PENCIL HELD BY FINGER CLIP TO PREVENT LOSS Keeping the pencil always in readiness ior use, a clip holds it to the finger and vet permits free use of the hand for other pur- poses. It is in- tended chiefly for messengers, clerks ind draftsmen, fits either the right or 5 left hand,and pre- | | vents the annoy- ance of mislaying the pencil, which usu- ally happens when it is most needed. Interior of Home in Far North, Showing the “Staircase,” a Split Log with Holes for Climbing Up and Down HOMES NEAR TOP OF WORLD HALF UNDERGROUND Dwellers along the Pacific shores of northeastern Asia, near the Arctic circle, and in other parts of the frozen north, have strange houses partly above and partly below ground. The cellar portion is shielded from the cold and warmly lined \ ladder stairway. feature of these abodes is the It is with holes in it for simply a plit log hands and feet. COLORED SAILS ON ICE BOATS REPLACE NUMBERS Instead of the ice identify racing club, the different The plan proved effective, as the could be using numbers to boats of a sails were colors. boats considerable dyed distance were distinguished at a and the differences in registered on shades also photographic plates.

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Gas Tank of the Polish Army, Carrying Cylinders of Poison Chemicals, Which Are Spread through the Megaphone - Like Projectors Gasoline Cavalry Displaces Horses British One-Man Tanks, Armed with Machine Guns, Are Capable of Traveling | AYS when armored knights went forth to battle on steel-clad horses recently when the British demonstrated newest weapon, one-man tanks, to replace cavalry horses. Equipped with both caterpillar tread and rubber-tired were revived army its wheels, either of which can the little are capable of making thirty miles an hour on s1 and can place that a | there much quicker. Added to that advantage, the gas l behind instead of a be placed in operation at tanks will, 100th roads. be ridden, and ¢ y =~ or — ) any iorse can et the cav: man on oline steed is completely sheltered bullet proot steel, and rifle or sword carries a one- man machine gun capable of firing than 100 shots wieldy more a minute. Unlike the un- hand rifle, the machine curely mounted on the tank, eun, se- can be oper- ated while charging at full speed. On a road or over smooth ground, baby tanks ride the on three rubber-tired Thirty Miles an Hour wheels and are handlebars, small wheel in the rear. steered by motore type operating the single When the w heel are raised and the caterpillar tread brought into the handlebars do tl steering in the same way that an ordin caterpillar truck is managed. Demonstrating the gasoline cavalr action, same fore a meeting of the the British army latest big mounting five revolving turrets, dominion premiet 1 also brought out al tanks. There were four machine guns and one armed with a thr They better armed used in the late war, were real moving pound gun. 1 bigger and than any‘ yet capable of sut prising speed and able to go anywhere and over any kind of country. Another regiment of the big forts car ried the latest type of anti-aircraft gun mounted to fire at high angles and capable of sending shrapnel shell against enemy planes thousands of feet up in the air. In

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POPULAR MECHANICS 129 “Gasoline Cavalry” of England, Mounted on One-Man Tanks, Advancing to the Attack at War Games Played before the Dominion Premiers; Note Anti-Aircraft Tanks in the Rear

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130 POPULAR MECHANICS between the big tanks and the baby cav- alry, were whole companies of two-man Small Two-Man Tank, Above, and at the Right, a Movable Fortress, the Great Five - Turret Battle Tank; Above It Is a Tractor Tank Haul- ing a High-Angle Anti-Aircraft Gun tractors, carrying heavy machine guns and with one man to operate the tank while the other tends to the gun. The caterpillar tread also was applied to all forms of army transport. In one display, a big field gun was dragged along by ten horses, while the gun crew trudged behind, making two and a half miles an hour. Past the plodding horses flashed huge tractors, pulling the same type of gun at thirty miles an hour, with the en- tire gun crew riding the tractor, s¢ ] in actual war, arrive 1 instead sound they would fresh and a battlefield tis tired out from a long march. Batteries of anti-aircraft guns mounted on rubber-tired wheels followed, drawn by fast tractors. After them came cars, standard touring cars and limousines, except that rubber-shod could be lifted clear of the road by low- ering a caterpillar tread, so that they could staff their wheels cross any kind of rough ground and go through ditches and _ trenches same ease as a tank. with the Gasoline armies are attracting more and more attention in all the European coun- tries. Recently the Polish army brought new form of tank carrving huge steel cylinders on its roof, each filled with out a tremendous Above the cylinders, a pair of megaphone like horns release the gas and send it out in dense clouds. poison gas under pressure Leading an infantry at tack, it is thought the gas tank might put most of the enemy out of action, so the soldiers following it would only have to “mop up” and take over the trenches HAND-POWER LETTER OPENER SAVES OFFICE TIME For the office where the volume of mail does not justify the installation of a power letter unit is worked on somewhat the same principle opener, a_ hand-operated as the larger machines and is said to give satisfactory results. It consists of in arrangement ot steel cutters disk thzt is against the sharp and a fitted edge of the en To slit the container, the opener is run along the edge been adjusted. \ eli ype. simpl \ There is no danger of damaging the contents. after it has

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POPULAR MECHANICS 431 CROOKEDEST RAIL LINE WILL BE AUTO ROAD Steps have been taken transform the Mt. imalpais and Muir oods railway, in Cali- rnia, into a motor high- ay. The line, known the “crookedest in the orld” because of its 287 was built in 1896, make available to tour- the scenic panorama ible from the top of Tamalpais, and, for ears, the little cogwheel engines have chugged heir way to the summit vithout an accident or interruption in service. he guest books in the tavern at the beginning urves, of the line, show that persons from practically every country in the vorld have made the trip up the moun- tain on the tiny, twisting railroad. It will be reconstructed into an auto toll road, it is thought that such a thoroughfare will be of greater service. VACUUM SANDER IS PORTABLE AND ELIMINATES DUST Operated from an electric-light socket. a portable sanding outfit is equipped with a vacuum unit which takes up the dust and also prevents clog- ging or gumming, as when used on old varnished 1 OoTSsS, desks or other furniture. It is especially idapted to new loors, but will perform all classes of work from eavy-duty roughing or plan- ing to the finest finishing, the man- ufacturers assert. It weighs only thirty pounds and the motor is designed for power and long life. Giving the Elephant Seal Its Morning Ration of Fish; the Three-Ton Creature Has Been in Captivity Less Than a Year THREE-TON ELEPHANT SEAL FED FROM KEEPER’S HAND Most seals in the zoos have to swim for their food, but the 6,000-pound elephant specimen in San Diego, leans leisurely against the fence and swallows its meal of fish directly from the keeper’s hands. The huge creature was captured about a year ago on Guadalupe island, off the coast of Lower California. WHY WOMEN ALIGHT BACKWARD The tendency of women to al a street car or ight from other vehicle while facing to the rear is explained by an eastern scientist on the grounds of heredity. He declares that when our ancestors sat in trees, the mother carried her offspring on her left hip with her arm around it, leaving the right arm free for protection This fixed habit has been retained through when a woman in stinctively loads her left arm with bun dles, the right hand is free, but since the the ages so that now, exits are almost always on the right, she naturally turns to the rear in using her right arm and hand to steady herself while alighting from the vehicle.

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132 POPULAR MECHANICS CHAIN-BOUND SACK TO SAVE THE LIVES OF DIVERS introduced to revive t] occupant by restori: the pressure to a poi: near that at the dept! to which he merged. The pressur is then decreased slow! so that the diver ma be accustomed to the was sul gradual change. In ad Rapid changes in pressure are likely to have ill effects on divers. For instance, a too sud- den ascent from a great depth and the conse- quent decrease in pres- sure often result in faintness, giddiness, neuralgia and more se- rious symptoms. To prevent these afflictions, a special dress, or sack, has been devised in which the diver is placed after he comes up. The top is screwed on tightly and compressed air is DOUBLE SPEED OF AIR MAPPING WITH NEW LENS Aerial photographs for mapping pur- poses can be taken in half the time merly required with a new lens developed by the bureau of standards. This is but one of the contributions the bureau has made to American progress during the last The organization’s activities in- volved the making of nearly 180,000 tests with a fee value of $675,046; contact was maintained with industry through eighty advisory committees, and a large number of research were sent to the bureau representing thirty-six industries. Development of a process which has in- creased the life of paper currency and a device to hold radio stations on their as- signed wavelengths are among the out- for- year. associates Placing Diver in the Chain Sack and Administering the Compressed Air and Oxygen After Bag Has Been Sealed dition to the compressed air, oxygen released into the dress in carefully regu lated quantities. when The subject is released normal air conditions are reache standing accomplishments of the bureau Savings in the production of commonl used articles were reported as a result of practices recommended by the ment experts. A committee has ard building code under work. gover! a stand VACUUM PHOTO-PLATE CLEANER SAVES TIME AND WORK Operating on the vacuum prin ciple, a cleaner for camera plates, de vised at the bu reau of agricul- tural economics, simplifies the work and insures better results.

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LF COURSE ON OIL FIELDS HAS UNIQUE HAZARDS If has been placed within the reach veral hundred employes of a Califor- ‘il company by the conversion of tank ; and fields into courses. The idea inated when the construction pro- 1 on a large tank-farm site was aban- ed after eight of the reservoirs had n erected. The tank bases were flat smooth, making satisfactory greens, the earthen dikes, intended for fire s, proved excellent bunkers. Holes derricks on one of the fields form effective hazards and, on one of the urses, the presence of a number of rat- nakes lends additional interest to the ie. It is said to be common for a ver to kill one or two snakes while iking one round. The courses are kept n condition by company employes and in- lental expenses are defrayed by small mnthly assessments on the persons who e using the grounds. STEEL ARMOR FOR AUTO TIRES REDUCES PUNCTURE ILLS Advantages of both a solid and a pneu- matic ‘tire are said to be derived from a ectional steel armor, which is covered with a strip of hard rubber and placed The outer coating Besides re- over the regular tire. is vulcanized to the armor. Tire Armor at the Left and Assembled at Right, Showing Outer Strip of Hard Rubber isting punctures, this arrangement is said to make the car run more easily, and there re no more jolts than with the ordinary tire. A postman’s auto, fitted with the ar- mor, ran 50,000 miles without a flat tire. POPULAR MECHANICS 133 Big Plant Where Gasoline Is Absorbed from Domestic as; General View of Extracting Units FUEL FOR AIRPLANES SALVAGED FROM GAS MAINS By means of a new process, high-test gasoline, especially suited for airplane fuel, is being salvaged in large quantities from ordinary natural gas intended for domestic purposes. As the gas passes through the incoming mains, it is diverted into huge absorbers, which gasoline and send the ‘ way to the consumer in even better con- dition for use, since it will not the kitchen utensils. The process is con- extract the ‘dried” gas on its blacken sidered especially interesting because con- ventional tests that the gas had a negligible gasoline content. Two plants are now being operated in California and one in Wyoming, and the product is being marketed to a number of airports or mixed with lower grades to make fuel for automobiles. The equipment for the largest plant occupies nearly three acres and has a capacitv of 15,000 gallons of gasoline a day. show ed The apparatus is so nearly automatic that only two men are required for each eight-hour shift. About 50,000,- 000 cubic feet of gas passes daily.

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134 POPULAR MECHANICS BEAUTY AND UTILITY COMBINED IN SMALL GARAGES Efforts to get orig- inality and beauty into a family garage have led to many un- usual buildings, far removed from the usual shed type. The one pictured at the top of the page is of French-Norman architecture and par- ticularly adapted for a home with large grounds, for the cor- ner tower provides adequate storage space for the garden tools, hose and sim- ilar equipment. The building is of inex- pensive construction, the wooden frame being covered with cream-colored stucco, set off by rough wood finished in a dark- brown stain, while the upper lights of the doors are crossed by olive-green spindles. \{n unusual weather vane topping the tower, showing the cow jumping over the moon, adds a novel touch. For a home of rustic type or in a rustic environment, the second garage, giving the appearance of a reconstructed antique, is quite suitable. The roof not only is concave in the sides, but the peak is as sway-backed as a hard-worked horse. The sides are finished in dark-brown stu: with gray-stained beams adding the ti worn touch, while the roof shingles stained in brown, red, blue and tan, termingled at random. A third type, employing a pattern up in stone, is built of rough cobblesto: of various sizes, while the woodwork painted white, with dark-green trim, latter being offset by the bright red of ¢ tile roof. Garage architecture has progresse long way from the days of the woods] type, and in m modern designs, same care and atte tion have been plied as in planni the house itself. FISH THRIVE ON IODINE Fish in po treated with iodi: showed more ray growth than othe: according to report of tests at the Ka sas hatcheries. S¢ eral experiment were conducted w the chemical a stimulant to develo ment, while comp isons were made wit fish kept in untreat« water.

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POPULAR MECHANICS 435 -Y-FIGHTER SKELETON SHOWS RELATION OF PARTS Visitors at an exhibition in : drid obtained a clear idea of arrangement and mechanism . huge airplane for battle pur- ses, aS it was shown in skel- n form with most of the uipment installed. The metal \ NYPL | \ irtesy The Sphere Skeleton of Huge Fighting Plane Shows Rigid Bracing of Wings, Position of Fuel Tanks, Cockpit and Other Features; Exhibited at Madrid Exposition bs and braces, wing structure, position ing too much,” moving the hands to signify f guns, fuel tanks, pit and other features a wagging jaw; “disgust,” holding the were plainly observable. nose and waving the other hand at the a offending object as if to say, “go away.” SIGN LANGUAGE AT SAWMILLS The ue changes — little except as modifications ot machinery necessitate SUBSTITUTE FOR TALKING new “words,” and the system is used with To make themselves heard above the few variations in most large sawmills. noise of the saws, workers at the mills > ive developed a curious sign language. > Rubbing a stomach signifies approval, HULLER FOR PEAS AND BEANS ro ahead” or O. K. If the boss is about, SAVES HOUSEWIFE TIME troking the chin or combing an imaginary Preparing peas or beans for cooking can ustache gives warning. “Stop” is in- be done in less time and without staining licated by holding orinjuring the fingers up one hand, palm with the aid of a orward; “sleepy,” papas > ree simple huller that head to one. side Sheller That Saves quickly removes the ith hand = against —— contents from the ir; “help wanted,” pods. It is clamped geht hand on muscle to the kitchen table ' | left arm which is and turned with a bent to indicate crank. Rollers press trength; “it’s rain- the peas or beans ing’’ or ‘going to into a dish, while the rain,” hands spread pods fall aside. A ut, palms down, wider huller is fur- hile the fingers are vorked to indicate and may be run by : falling drops; “talk- hand or by motor. nished for lima beans

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Ps ad ~ a, “ Shot into the Air; the Plane Has Just Left the Traveling Carriage, Which Is Visible at the Left End of the Catapult; to the Right, the Smoke from the Powder Charge Is Seen How It Feels to Be Shot from a Gun Aviators Fired into the Air by Gunpowder Catapults Saved from Broken Backs or Necks by Padded Rests A TERRIFIC blow to the solar plexus. - The stomach wall driven in by a crushing blow from the air. Head held tight against a padded back rest that keeps the neck from snapping off. A tingling sensation through the muscles of the stomach and abdominal walls. That’s how it feels to be shot out of a gun while sitting in the pilot’s seat of a fast little scout plane. The gun is the new gunpowder catapult of Uncle Sam’s bat- tleships. From a standing start to sixty miles an hour in fifty feet and in a fraction of a second is the record, and such an ac- celeration would break a man’s neck and back if both were not carefully protected. These catapults have replaced earlier equipment operated by compressed air. Their advantage lies in the sureness of operation and the much higher speed at- 436 tained by the craft in a shorter distance If you have ever been jerked off you feet by the sudden starting of a street cai —a starting that probably doesn’t exceed more than ten miles an hour in fifty feet —you can get some idea of how it woul feel to reach a speed of a mile a minute 11 the same distance. The little single-seater scout and con bat planes, which are the main aerial arma ment of battleships, have been specially designed to meet the terrific strain on the pilot’s body during the fraction of a sec ond he is taking to the air. The whole back of the seat is a deeply padded, form fitting cushion, extending up into a head- rest, also deeply padded, that just fits the head and neck. When the pilot takes his place, he carefully squirms around until he establishes perfect contact from seat

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POPULAR MECHANICS Good-Sized Fighting Plane Strapped in Place on the Catapult Carriage, Above; the Catapult Revolves So That It Can Be Pointed into the Wind without Changing the Course of the Ship, Unless the Wind Is Dead Ahead; Below Is the Original Catapult, Used by Prof. Langley in His Un- successful Effort to Fly His Airplane = lx i See \\ MM, ae = 10) 75 ms em:

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438 cushion to top of head, then gives the sig- nal to shoot. The plane itself is mounted on a car- riage on the catapult runway. The pow- der charge is touched off by electricity, and forces out the piston which operates the launching gear. Like a shell from a big gun, the airplane, with engine turning at flying speed, flashes across the deck on its carriage, whips loose through its own momentum and darts over the side, sink- ing in a slow glide momentarily until the propeller gets a good “bite” in the air and pulls the ship upward. The operation is over in a few seconds, but until the pilot has done it many times and learned to control his stomach muscles, he rides away with a tingling sensation that lasts for some minutes. The craft catapulted from battleships POPULAR MECHANICS are sea planes, with landing pontoons so that, when they return, they can drop into the water alongside and then be hoisted aboard. Successful launching expe ments have also been made with flyi: boats, having boat hulls. The aire: carrier “Langley,” and the two new c riers being added to the navy, also w have planes with regular landing whee so they can fly back and alight on th: broad, unobstructed decks. Arresti: gear developed by the navy bring them t a stop within a few feet after the whee touch the deck. The aircraft carrier turned so that the plane can head into t! wind and drop on the deck at the ster straddling arresting-gear cables, whi carry hooks that pick up the drag loa first a small amount and then gradual! increasing weight until the plane stops. MILLION-DOLLAR PIER HOLDS HUNDREDS OF AUTOS Wide parking space for cars is one of the features of the recreation pier recently constructed at St. Petersburg, Fla. Autos _ ~ can be lined along nearly the whole lengt! of the way from the mainland, and ther is additional room for them at the end o the pier, where a pavilion and other cor veniences for visitors are provided. Th: improvement cost about $1,000,000. Where You Can Take Your Auto with You to the Beach; the Million-Dollar Recreation Pier at St. Peters- burg, Fla., Showing the Pavilion and Roomy Parking Spaces

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POPULAR MECHANICS 439 ‘LDING TOWER AIDS FIREMEN AND OIL-WELL DRILLERS odeled upon the principle of the col- ible periscope, a folding tower, de- ped by a California inventor, is said ave possibilities of wider application improved service over similar units iuse of its compactness when folded | the rapidity with which it can be ex- For an oil derrick, for instance, inventor asserts that it can be con- icted to be raised 150 feet high and yet be not more than twenty-five feet en collapsed. For a fire-fighting tower, ould be made to rise to 500 feet, going at the rate of 100 feet a minute and ing a carrying capacity of 2,600 pounds. ded. NOVEL COMPASS TELLS TIME ON ANY SUNNY DAY \ timepiece that requires no winding, tells time through a combination of mpass bearings and the angle of the n, is a recent invention. It is compact, that it can be folded and carried in the cket like a watch. It comprises a small mpass and a revolving plate, with two arms, the ertical plate being held at various angles by a _ notched bracket, to com- pensate for differ- ences in latitude. A table of correc- tions furnished it gives the compass variation at points through- out the country, so that the instru- ment can be turned until the with needle points to the true north. The table is re- volved, after being set at the ngle for the latitude, until a sun beam lls on a hair line. A pointer then shows he correct time. The instrument can also e used to take accurate bearings on dis- nt points, proper a feature that makes it useful hunters and fishermen, campers, ‘outs, others. bov woodmen and many These Roses, Molded of Butter, Are Accurately Col- ored and Difficult to Tell from Real Ones FLOWERS MODELED OF BUTTER IN REFRIGERATOR STUDIO Working in a heavy fur coat, cap and tall Russian boots, a San Francisco woman models realistic blossoms in but- Her studio is a refrigerator and her gardens flourish on ter for display purposes. ice. Vegetable dyes are used to reproduce the colors. Careful study of the nature of the substance has enabled the sculptor to achieve successful results even with very small flower designs. TRIBUTE PAID “BUFFALO BILL” IN LOG MUSEUM In honor of the late William F. Cody, “Buffalo Bill,” a log museum patterned after the famous “T IE” ranch house of the great scout is being constructed in Cody. It will be made fireproof to W vo. protect the and ex- hibits which will be housed there, to re- flect, as far as possible, the wild west of “Buffalo Bill’s” time. the museum will be opened and dedicated in June, when the official opening of Yel- valuable souvenirs It is expected that lowstone park occurs in Cody.

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ODD UMBRELLAS SEEN IN NEAR AND FAR LANDS Umbrellas in the Far East Are Designed for Shade Rather than for Keeping Off Rain © Keystone View Co, Big Ones and Little Ones, the Umbrellas of Civilization Are Made to Fit Every Occasion Big MHeaddresses Re- quire Much Protection, Even Though the Um- brella Is Almost as Big as the User Japanese Umbrellas Are Bowl-Like Hats, While the Breakfast-Food Ef- fect Is Worn to Shed Rain

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‘ >

ANKS ARE SUNK INTO POSITION TO SAVE DIGGING When a New Zealand contractor en- suntered extremely soft soil while making <cavations for large concrete sewage inks, he’ suspended digging operations, uilt the tanks at ground level and then unk them to the required depth by allow- ig them to settle of their own weight plus hat of railroad rails piled on top of them. t was only necessary to remove part of he ground within the diameter of the inks which were thirty feet across and wenty-two feet high. During the work, n interesting find was made in the form f trees imbedded in clay, apparently re- ains of a submerged forest. NATURAL GAS SUPPLIED HOMES IN STEEL BOTTLES For households in localities where city as is not available, supplies of the natural product for cooking and heating are fur- nished in steel containers which are re- filled when emptied. The gas is in liquid form in the drum, but returns to its orig- inal state, when released at the burner, with an admixture of thirty-nine parts of iir. It is said to give a hot, blue flame that forms no carbon or soot, and the cost compares favorably with that of manu- factured gas, about one and one-half cents per burner hour. - In home installa- tions, two drums are furnished, one being kept in re- serve for use when the other is taken to the service sta- tion for refilling. Outfits of portable type are obtainable forcamping.

PAPER RAINCOATS Raincoats of waterproof paper are among the most recent articles to be made of this material. A thriving Wisconsin firm is turning out 15,000 of the garments yearly. Other products include kitchen aprons, vests for hunting and fishing, school-book bags, slippers for bathing beaches, radiator covers, children’s caps and golf caps. A crepe variety, specially treated, has proved effective.

POPULAR MECHANICS 441

Vincent Lopez and Jeanne Gordon Demonstrating the Possibilities of New Horn HORN IMITATES HUMAN VOICE WITH CONTRALTO NOTES One of the latest orchestral novelties is a huge horn that is said to produce tones similar to those of the human voice. This is most noticeable on contralto registers, according to reports, a demonstration be- ing given while an opera star sang as the horn was blown. FUEL MIXER FOR SMALL CARS SAVES GASOLINE Gravity plays an important part in the operation of an automatic fuel regulator for small automobiles. It is adjusted to provide a richer mixture when going up hill and a lean mixture on down grades, so that waste of fuel is avoided and the right strength is furnished when needed. It is eas- ily installed, tak- ing the place of the hot-air stove on the motor. The needle valve in the carburetor should be turned down about one-quarter turn and the spark lever advanced four or six notches after the mixer has been put in.

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Typical Pirogue Trail through the Louisiana Marshes; along Such Narrow Waterways the Boat Trappers Place Their Traps for the Millions of Muskrats That Inhabit the Swamps By BOB BECKER | pabinenapapiail pelts that a few years ago 4”2 were considered worthless to the trade but are now the backbone of America’s fur industry; and the largest muskrat ranch in the United States where some years ago a few French-speaking trappers operated —these are the most recent developments in the Louisiana muskrat business, which today produces approximately 50 per cent of all the rat pelts used by the manufac- turers of furs. That these unusual and dramatic changes in America’s fur indus- try should take place in a subtropical part of the United States which, according to popular belief, is a poor producer of good fur, is another interesting angle of the Gulf coast development, as_ heretofore Canada and Alaska have been considered the heart of America’s fur production, and one would naturally look to the north country for the latest and most scientific innovations in growing and handling fur. 442 And as if Louisiana were not doing enough to produce muskrat skins on a large scale and along the most scientific lines, it offers to the fur men a novel labor-saving device in the clothes wringer. Down there in the great coastal marshes where more than 6,000,000 rat skins were taken in a single season (1924-5), the French-speak- ing Cajan trappers use an ordinary clothes wringer to flesh the pelts, an operation that no section of the country had ever thought of before the coastal trappers showed the way. Mile after mile of coastal marshes with lagoons, lakes, ponds and luxuriant aquatic growths; millions of ducks, and other water birds; soft-voiced, easy-going Frenchmen, whom trace their origin to the Acadians whose tragic story has been immortalized in Longfellow’s “Evangeline”; muskrats so abundant that their moundlike homes of cut grass look geese some of

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Ane Sywampian ike haycocks in a meadow—this is Loui- iana’s rat country, an area so foreign in .tmosphere because of the use of French that the visitor has the impression that ie has entered a part of France instead of being on American soil. In this land ‘f Cajans, ducks and French drip coffee, have evolved the most modern methods of rat ranching, all in line with trict conservation. You travel way to the western border of Louisi- ana to see what has been called the biggest. rat ranch on the continent. Orange, Texas., just across the Louisiana line, was my destination when [ started out for this ranch which is owned by the Starke land company. There C. O. Leedy, the manager, provided a speedy launch our party and then down a winding river we sped to the heart of the rat country. From the river vou enter upon a system of man-made ca- nals dug by the company so that their ter- ritory (approximately thirty-five by fifteen miles in extent) is accessible to trappers. After seeing the broad sweep of the Louisiana marsh which extends along the Gulf coast you can readily understand why Louisiana produces more pelt bearers than any state in the Union, and even exceeds the total fur take of all the provinces of the Dominion of Canada together. As far as you can see there is nothing but water for ay Sf i / Cajan Trapper and His Catch; the Cajans of Swampland Are the Descendants of Longfellow’s Evangeline and Other Acadian Exiles and then more water; other types of swamp vegetation; ponds, bayous, little lakes, mud, ducks, muskrat houses, and aquatic grasses and an occasional “chenier” or ridge. That ridge business fools the visitor at first. In most any part of the United States a ridge is a decided elevation. Down there in the flat, monotonous “aquatic prairie,” a ridge is just a little rise that dominates a part of the marsh from the magnificent elevation of two or three or ' four feet! Here a few cattle are placed 443

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POPULAR to feed upon the rich grasses, but sometimes it is a race between the stock and the wild geese for the grass as countless thou- sands of these big game birds con- sider the cheniers their cafeterias. In this fascinat- ing lowland coun- try the Starke company has de- veloped the most serviceable pelt- drying method that has ever been seen in the land of muskrats. Apply- ing up-to-date business practices Surplus Fat Is Squeezed Off in aCommon Clothes Wringer, Top; Above Is a Typical Trapper’s Camp Pitched on Stilts to Keep It from Sink- ing into the Swamp to the fur business—which is probably the oldest industry in the world, as even in the Stone Age early man killed the beasts of the field for their pelts—the company constructed a drying house which means easier handling of skins, and more per- fect pelts when the buver comes around. They built a long shed with a good that no rain could penetrate. giant rack, capable of holding 70,000 pelts on wire stretchers, was con- structed in such a way that it could be rolled out of the shed onto a platform on sunny days or pushed root SO Then a into rainproof MECHANICS when inclement it impossible to dry skins outdoors. quarters weather makes This ingenious rat-drying “train” is today the most outstanding progressive step toward production and efficiency in Louisiana’s giant muskrat business. In the past, the trappers always hung their skins on racks outside their tents or cabins. They were usually at the mercy of the weather. The result was many a spoiled pelt. Louisi- ana’s newest large-scale rat ranch has abolished this wasteful primitive method by the invention of this exceedingly prac- tical drying rack. To follow a trap line is like a trip through an overpopulated bird land. In the north, running a line in a marsh means walking from one set to another. Down in the Louisiana marsh, the trap- pers find it either impossible or far too hard work to plow through the water and sticky mud, so they cut a narrow “trena” or channel through the vege tation. Along this highway their Fur Buyers Visit the Trapper’s Camps to Inspect and Purchase the Drying Skins

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POPULAR MECHANICS 445 raps are set and the entire string is made ‘cessible by a pirogue or shallow-draft luck boat. Where the water is but a few nches deep on the floor of the marsh, he trapper brings in a horse, hitches it ip to the little pirogue and rides on the rena highway which is lined by tall grass nd quacking waterfowl. lhe most interesting feature, however, not the value of the pelts taken from he marsh. It is the conservation policy insure that the coastal arshes will always produce a rat crop hat runs into the millions. In 1924-25 he pelts harvested from the marshlands ere valued at $5,142,896.95. the small Louisiana rats were scarce, ow- leveloped to Last season An End View of a Loaded Drying Rack with 70,000 Skins, Hauled Out into the Sun; at the First Hint of Rain the Pelts Can Be Whisked Inside in a Moment ing to a drought. They brought an ex- ceptionally good price. Dame Fashion has decreed silver muskrat a popular skin for ladies’ coats. This kind of fur grows on the body of the Louisiana rats; were valuable. Facing a short rat crop the Starke company inaugurated a con- servation policy on their big ranch, with the mandate that there should be no trap- ping in order to conserve breeding stock for this season. so they This brought into action something that the had not seen before—“muskrat wardens,” liv- ing in small shacks built on stilts above the marsh. They patrolled the lowlands to see that the no-trapping injunction was strictly obeved by every one. native trappers Drying Sheds Are Built like Huge Aircraft Hangars, with Racks That Run on Railroad Wheels and Track, and Each Capable of Holding Many Thousand of the Pelts

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446 DRUG SIGN ON MAIL BOX AIDS “SHOP EARLY” CAMPAIGN & | KROTKI DRUG I " ed Copyright, Herbert Photos Parcel-Post Box Used for Drug-Store Sign; the Other Side Bears a “Shop Early’’ Reminder Converting the sides. of a parcel-post receiving box in front of his store into a billboard, a Massachusetts. druggist ac- complished a double purpose in painting a sign on the box. He advertised his firm and also aided the post office department’s drive for early mailing during the holiday season by including in the sign a message urging early buying. Permission to use the box in this way was granted by the local postmaster. LOST TOMB OF EARLY MARTYRS FOUND AT EPHESUS Workmen clearing away debris around the excavations at Ephesus recently un- covered what scientists pronounce to be the long-sought catacombs of the early Christian martyrs, the “seven The story goes that seven young Christian men, about 250 A. D., hid themselves in a cave to escape their pursuers. Their refuge was discovered and the entrance to the cave blocked. Nearly 200 years later, a shepherd discovered the cave, found the inmates and awoke them from the sleep that had seized them shortly after their imprisonment. The em- peror Theodosius II heard of the marvel, hastened to the cave and is said to have known as sleepers of Ephesus.” POPULAR MECHANICS listened to the martyrs’ narrative of hoy they had been kept alive, as a confirmatio: of belief in the resurrection of the dead After they had delivered their message they again fell asleep, the legend has it In the ruins of the tombs, many lamps o designs depicting early Christian scene were found. DIGGING CANAL WITH DYNAMITE CHEAPER THAN DREDGING Dynamite scored an effective victor) over dredges in constructing a drainage canal beside a road through swampland in Louisiana. In less than half a day, a channel was blasted out while a month would have been required, had dredges been used, engineers report. The charge was set off by electricity, the sticks of dy namite, placed along the canal site, being connected with wires. By the use of a button, an excavation ranging from sever to ten feet deep and between thirty to fort) feet wide was instantly made along the highway. Contractors estimated that the work would have cost $1.50 per cubic yard by dredging. With the dynamite method the cost was twenty cents per cubic yard PATIENTS’ PORCH ON A PIVOT TURNS WITH SUN Small living porches at a Dutch tuber- culosis sanitarium are built on pivots so that they can be turned toward or away Turning the Porch to Admit More Sunlight, a Feature of Dutch Sanitarium from the sun as the patient needs or de- sires. The unit is closed on three sides and is just large enough to contain a re- clining chair or bed, table and bookstand.

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POPULAR MECHANICS 447 AIRPLANE WING ON BOAT INCREASES ITS SPEED a ee Oe I ER re ae — ‘Miss Spitfire V,” with Airplane Wing Attached, Made Fifty-Eight Miles an Hour in a Recent Test; the Boat, without This Aid, Previously Sped at More than Forty-Seven Miles an Hour A speed record made by the motorboat Miss Spitfire V” was increased by over ten miles when an airplane wing was at- tached to the craft. In a race off San Diego bay, the boat attained-the speed of 17.05 miles an hour and later made fifty- eight miles with the wing. HOUSES ARE BUILT OF BUBBLES MIXED WITH CONCRETE Suilding with bubbles suggests an im- practical fan¢ey, but a California inventor is doing exactly amount of solid material used. Cubic- foot blocks weigh from fifteen pounds to 150 pounds each. In the uncured stage, the mixture is like soft cheese. It may be sliced with a wire or sawed, but when it has set, it is like any other cement prod- uct, yet has several distinctive features. Nails can be easily driven into it without causing breaks or fractures. They may then be withdrawn, while the hole is filled with cement mortar, and inserted again, thus becoming firmly imbedded. The ma- terial is said to be excellent for insulation purposes, is highly that, with the aid of concrete, and al- ready has several dwellings and a schoolhouse to show for his plan. rhe bubbles, im- prisoned in a special lather or foam, are mixed with the ce- ment and partly re- place the usual ag- cregate of sand and pebbles. The result is literally a bubble- stone, the porosity and lightness of resistant to fire and can be adapted toa wide variety of forms, such as blocks, slabs, tile, boardsand shingles. It is successfully employed for floor fill, reinforcing, par- titions, decorations, pipe, refrigerator and incinerator in- sulation. The build- ings already made of the bubble mix- ture are of grooved blocks, bound to- which may be varied according to the Preparing the Bubble Foam Which Is Mixed with Con- crete, to Form New Building Material gether with steel rods and cement.

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448 POPULAR MECHANICS FOREST OF DOMES FORMS QUEER ROOF OF CHURCH The Church of the Seven Naves, at Cholula, Mexico, Has Sixty-Four Columns, Forming the Seven Naves, and Surmounted by Forty-Seven Domes, Giving the Roof an Unusual Appearance \ church roof consisting largely of for- of naves by sixty-four large columns. ty-seven small domes, an unusually odd which in turn support the many small architectural arrangement; is one of the domes of the roof. features of Cholula, Mexico. The church ee \ icl Vas O > of se ake over 4 “ seit fe sbi: “sm SHIPS BUILT IN DRYDOCKS ARE lead ; EASIER TO LAUNCH it ordered enforcement of the law against foreign priests, is called the “Church of The old way of building ships on shore the Seven Naves,” because, instead of the and then sliding them into the water may wide clear spaces typical of Gothic archi- be abolished as a result of naval experi- tecture, the interior is split up into a series ments with a shipbuilding drydock on

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0 10,600-tonships, POPULAR Thelaunch- h 1 ch und.

s W have | for generations rown more and nsatisfactory as ships increases. uire k to el while it is slid- elaborate support he water, and, hen it is hard to due strains on rts. while, after p has left the ways lem of stopping larly if the shipvard is on a When the air- rier “Lexington” was launched ver, 1S serious. iver, itattained a speed of nine- feet a second as it left the ways. © the ship to a stop an elaborate of chain drags was used, requiring lerable expenditure of time and Che navy shipbuilding drydock, other hand, cost less than a well- building way, and when a ship pleted, it 4s only necessary to dock with water, open the gates the hull out. A dock for ship- ng is smaller and cheaper than an > + drvdock, which must » allow the biggest ship to pass be deep s sills, a requirement that necessi- forty feet of water over the sills now. hed, / “Nitro” and “ were laid and com- hed about the +1 feet biggest nineteen the needs but accommodate v dock to for the hull as higher. While “lin it and were ( ¢ < without ructure, en- guns and in- fittings, is lighter than pleted ship, ence floats ] 2 P dock Was construction, lv to be 1e dock was ted. MECHANICS

149 Huge Kite Made for the Crown Prince; It Resembles Dragon and a Bird Japanese Both a BIG KITE FOR JAPANESE PRINCE MODELED AFTER DRAGON Kite flying is both a and a mony in Japan, and expert craftsmen are trained te sport cere » construct elaborate pieces for use on holidays and other occasions. Not long ago, a huge dragon kite was made especially for the crown prince. It has wide, curving wings on each side of a dragonlike center. STUDY AUTO’S JOLTS AND JARS WITH JIGGLING CHAIR To learn more about the secrets of the auto’s movements, a “bucking broncho” in the form of a jiggling chair has been set up at the bureau of standards. Its movements can be amplified to varying degrees and the vi- brations increased 100 to 1.000 minute. Tests from made with human subjects show that some vibrations a small as one to two one-thousandths oi inch, are very igreeable to cer- iutoists, while do not motions tain others no- tice whicl The Jiggling Chair to ae Test Auto Jolts als much stronger.

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0 POPULAR MECHANICS RADIO LINKS ARCTIC OUTPOST TO CIVILIZATION Private Ulen, His Home in Wiseman, Alaska, and His Do Head of School Board and Radio Operator, He Although he is but a private in the nited Stat mv. llme I. Ulen is ree enized the most important residet1 W ise } 1 Alas] Ol t} ( Arctic circle, for he 1 ‘ ( itor ¢ the ] rthest nort radi t 1¢ ] oug ] the ttle ( f ( tive est 1 O1 t he out cle ¢ ( ( ( ’ ’ kK ¢ kK The ’ nee 1} cle f he ce 1 | { ¢ Or +¢ , ‘ dt P the ‘ ce ‘ ROUGH STRIP IN ROAD CENTER AIDS AUTO SAFETY ly place ot the white-painted line down le center of automobile roads a raised of rough pavement has been pro g Team; as United States Commissioner, Postmast Is Town's Leading Citizen ‘ wid he ufficiently low To pert ,IT ( 7. © over it In case of necessity. but discourage drivers from takine . , 11 side of the road, especially on curve porters of the plan declare. TOY BLOCKS OF SOFT RUBBE! PREVENT ACCIDENTS — Childret ike ( \ the bl hout sequent | personal In} and damage to ‘ — turniture lhe hazards are eliminated in a new forn block. made ot ott, sponge rubly stamped with figures and _ letter ] whiel ‘ 1 he vashed when soles

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POPULAR MECHANICS 151 \ SWIVEL GRIP TO FASTEN SPRING (5 — oz EDAD PREVENTS BREAKAGE 1gs are securely fastened to doors, ts and other articles by means of a ‘klv adjusted grip, in combination with el hook that permits turning to pro- bs ¢ the life of the spring and give bet- ; r results. The base of the fastener is fit- | with a number of curved arms, which inserted between the coils at the end 1\ the springs. They serve to equalize the |, preventing undue strain on any one ‘ rt. and hold securely, vet can be re- ? ~s ved easily without damaging the coils. STEP PLATE TILTS TO SERVE AS LUGGAGE CARRIER % [quipped with a strong spring con- 4 Albert Goff, Carving Figures and Designs from Clay Bank with Trowel, the Only Tool He Uses led in the hinge, a step plate for the running board can be tilted back and CARVING FIGURES IN CLAY BANK cage held between it and the side of ARTIST’S OUTDOOR HOBBY - the car. The spring maintains a tight grip With n the piece, so that it is not likely to fall ut. and no ropes or straps are needed. a trowel as his only implement and a clay bank as his studio, a mid-west ern artist has attracted considerable at he plate is easily attached toany running tention by the carvings he makes as at rd and has rubber lining to prevent ; outdoor diversion Ile has not stucie ring the articles and to help hold them. sculpture and makes no pretense at fin ished work, but his hu man and animal figure are rendered wit ‘ } ‘ h. grea accuracy. Much skill is required in planning and cutting a group so that the bank will not cave in RULES OF THE SKY i Trafhe rules for ay Auto step Plate with Spring, and How It Tilts Back to Hold , Things oi “i Various Shaves and ators have heen compile by the English air min istry, governing the que ~ tion as to what tvpe ot cratt has the rig! ot way and applving to less important d tails For instance, flvers are required t carry safety matches, are not allowed t take dogs alone. cannot drop le iflets tro. their planes and must not maneuver in way likely to cause annoyance to person on the ground. This would automaticall prohibit flving close over cities or above great crow ds of people vathered at show or athletic contes:s. The traffic rule of the skv there, ts that aeroplanes must give wa to airships and balloons, while a balloon riven the rieht of iv over an airship

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( te RS for the draining of Lake Nemi ; den nd t.on of Caligula’s Larger Galley as It Probably Appeared When Moored at the Shore of Lake Nem Where the Mad Emperor Used It as a Country Palace Emperor’s Treasure Ships to Be Raised Italians Plan to Drain Lake to Recover Art Objects Hidden by Sinking of Caligula’s Royal Barges and torn away everything the grap] fifteen miles from Rome. have would fasten on. Premier Mussolini, to an museums t¢ Draining of the lake mav resul recover ; complete restoration of the sma f priceless at reas ir and its refloating a permanent ed down 1.900 vears of Roman 1 Cwsar ner engineering inasmucl than nd fr: ec toppe ad 11} lowed to refill Phe two roval bar¢g whicl partly in connection with relig nonies and partiv as pleasure perors household. |] larg he emperor. we really j n of whicl a : r ag ing palaces. | vy were anchores the fifteenth century. | , t he shore [ uded of deck httings Z cold vhoch is now bein other als | Ww ive iormed lored +} hott of ; <. ne: n front of a temple of Dian © unearthed he t striking marvel of nda yn vial « S<pressi naval cor trvctioy. on olin

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POPULAR MECH Lion Head with Bronze Medusa Head with g Ring, Recov- Snakes, One of Re from Lake ered Treasures Bronze Statue of Caligula’s Sister Found on Galley Left, Head Suggesting the Wolf of Romulus, Which, like Many of the Other Objects Was Made Use.ul by Adding a Bronze Ring between Its Augural Hand in Bronze, Still Teeth ; Above, Ruins or - a Fragment of the ‘ Temple of Di ana, Goddes se End It Once Graced = a, — Which On ‘alicula’ > . the Shore beside i Caligula’s Ship Where the Emperor Were N ging t Wt 4 ° neir producing in th mosaic pavements, ter- untains, statues and decor- hooks, j inging up some and gold all the splendor and some metal ornaments. mansions on the Pa! ns believe that the j ze, gold, silver at » their embellis] isible for their ear of them ts found torians, but their men | trom antiquity 7 “| the renowned ar Leon Battista Alberti. to

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14 POPULAR Seutonius, “he surpassed all the prod that ever lived in the devices of his proiuse expenditures: inventing a new nd of bath, with strange dishes and sup- pers; washing in precious unguents, both arm and cold; drinking pearls of im- mense value in vinegar, and serving up ior his guests loaves and other victuals modeled in gold.” Caligula became emperor in 37 A.D. His bent for the gorgeous and bizarre probably reached its height in his pleasure galleys. Investigation by divers indicates that the ships really were country estates, with decks surmounted by marble palaces, columned temples, numerous elaborate baths and galleries, and even carefully tended terraces, planted with growing trees and vines, as well as shrubs and flowers. The emperor also owned a pair of wonderful galleys with poops studded with precious stones and sails of many colors, built for tours along the sea coast, but, being subject to seasickness, he pre- ferred the quiet waveless expanse of the MECHANICS ] hen he went vachting. | ing in the great marble banquet hall oj S- ua ce inland iahKe W imperial barge, however, was not alwa pleasure to the emperor's guests, for host had a peculiar sense of humor t found outlet in slaying his supper c panions. Seutonius relates that one ni: at dinner the emperor burst into laught and the consuls who reclined on couches on either side of him asked \ was the matter, to which the mad m arch replied that he was amused at thought of how easily he could have b their throats cut! When he was killed in 41 A. D. b tribune of the Praetorian guard there general rejoicing in Rome. It Mussolini’s project succeeds, thou: the reconstruction of the scene of a ¢ sar’s pastimes may astonish the world | its magnificence. The museum will unique in that the works of the long de. artists will be displaved in their origi: surroundings, just as they were when t emperor and his guests used them. fe fr A Diver Sent he Ruins ot the Larger Galley Sketched the Cross Section of the own Down to Inspect at the Leit Metal Ship Fittings, Including Nails, Stanchions and Bits of Terra Cotta and Wooden Parts, Recovered fr: the Lake; Note the Mortise and Tenon Used by the Roman Builders rs

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POPULAR MECHANICS 155 FINING PROCESS SUITABLE FOR COMPLEX ORES lex ores. which ot be economically ordinary proc- reduced to bars ved metals which he Id to smelters, method developed vestern chem- heir svstem is a combination of itions, said to be adapted to vorkings. A uction plant near | Wash., repre- ts an investment of 3.500 and employs en. but is said be operating at a \fter smelting, 1 is available i a —_ ————— Ss avaliable 1n -ontaining lead. zine Miss Gertrude Stroobaut Directing Assembly of Roxy Theater Switchboard ( tar ng ea ; on at Chicago Plant Where It Was Made = per, gold. silver, bis- ntimony, which has been pro- THIRTY TONS OF SWITCHBOARD ed at a purity of 994 per cent from FOR NEW THEATER out of mines in northern Idaho. One 1 : : ghts sufficient to illuminate a citv of chemistry instructor. 15.000 e inventors of the process is a high- I to 20,000 persons are controlled en through a single switchboard for the new SPECIAL TRUCK FOR BUILDERS Roxy theater in New York. It contains KEEPS STREETS CLEAR between six and eight miles of wire, weighs approximately thirty tons and has ell Vhile erecting a building, a western 1.200 controls. A feature of the installa- ractor kept the streets free from tion is the dimming mechanism his red materials by installing a special permits a great saving in space. The track system to haul brick, board is but twenty-one feet long, where- rtar, tile and other supplies from a_ as, with the usual type of dimming de- distributing point to the workmen. vices, it would have been seventy-five feet rtar was mixed long, to afford the om the ca | same service An ulding and then | additional point of ken to the masons interest is that a ge portions, young woman made eeded. Trucks practically nine- ere loaded with tenths of the draw- ick ai he vard Ings for the com- nd removed from plicated board and e wheeled plat- | helped supervise its ms at the scaf- | assembly. Only ds vhere they L part of the equip re hoisted in as oe ee ee ee ment is shown ia a Loaded Brick Carriers Are Hauled to Building Directly | | init. thet + “ ~ the phnortovrt iph from Yards, Saving Piles in Stree t >

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156 POPULAR MECHANICS EXPERT SCOFFS A’ BORN-FLYER IDEA Anvone with aver intelligence, after a hours of competent struction, can learn operate an airpl:; alone, according to Alan Cobham, the Br ish aviator. He decl: that there is little si: laritv between milit: and commercial fly and that to succeed the latter, a person at not have to be a “be flyer.” Six clubs in Er l are turning out lant ators every week, he ports. Army fivers required to take diffic tests because of the da: gerous maneuvers the Airplane Suitcase Open Showing Removable Compartment and Bars like must perform in batt Those of a Wardrobe Trunk to Hold Garments SUITCASE AS WARDROBE TRUNK FOR AIRPLANE TRAVEL (Constructed on the lines of a wardrobe trunk, a suitcase has been devised with a view to adaptability to airplane travel. It especially serviceable. however lor ourneys by rail, boat or auto because of its compact size and large’ capacity. quipped ith hangers, retainer bars, ompartment travs and other trappings ta trunk, it is small enough to be slipped under a sleeping-car seat and is light and durable. One size will hold twelve dresses, ree pairs of shoes and fort two other tems, while the largest size will contai our men suits i hirt her garme SCRATCH-PROOF AUTO BODIES OF COLORED METAL Vlaterial f¢ ce aute mobile bodies that (love not show scratches and has a suTtace resembling glazed porcelain 1 eported io have been discovered bv a German electrical engineer through a process of tlloying aluminum with other metals. The result is said to be a “built-i1 finish that Cal he produced 1} T ng’ coro service, and it has be: said that only a born flyer could pa Such examinations are not necessary commercial flying, Sir Alan points out at says that the common idea that there “something wonderful” about flying, is 1 well founded. The era of private airpla: OW nership 1S rapidly approaching, he heves, and it promises to revolutionize o habits as much as the universal owners! of automobiles has done. SPRING LOCK FOR BOLT NUTS PROTECTS THREADS lo secure t] nut after it | been screwed on the bolt a le of twisted steel quickly attache Besides prevent ing the nut fro1 he ComMIng loose protects t] \ / thread It easily removed @A “bug bourse” has been established Berlin where insects are bought and so for study

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Airplane Views of Ur of the Chaldees, Where Abraham Started into the Land of the Israel- ites; Above, the Base of the Shrine Tower or Ziggurat, a Forerunner of the Modern Skyscraper. near Which Were Found the Oldest Dated Stones

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POPULAR MECHANICS COBWEBS MADE TO ORDER ADD REALISM TO MOVIES and dangling from lamps and beams. The work was slow and laborious, and the: the intense heat of the studio lights soot melted the filmy webs away, so that it had to be done over again. Then a movie mechanic, watching candy-floss machine, got an idea and mad the first electric spider. A two-bladed far pte x ¢ * h 5 al > Own Spider- Neb, Above, Is Duplicated in More Lasting and Easily Pho- tographed Strands by the Cobweb Machine nvented in a Movie- udio Shop; Below Is he Machine, and, at the Right, a Mechanic Is Adding Realism to the Old-Home Set by Stretching Tiny Strands ross the Lock and

was added to an electric portable drill, and in front of the fan was placed a pair achine that make ‘tter cobwebs of cups, with a space, where they join a spider can produce recently was ‘led a patent in Washing if is driving the spider ou through which the cobweb material, a tr ‘lee 7 e : : 3 . 1 ton. Elec- mixture of liquid rubber, glue and ether, of his own can ooze. The air from the fan drives iness because the movies want their the heavy liquid off in strings, which hang webh< j » hurrv i x] he - ] se ani, « - ° rahe Px ve ina hurry, just w to whatever they touch and dry qu-ck id, for pl ‘aphic oA ae 1) la afPrliiie 1! ved | thine iteelf HUMAN-HAIR STOCKINGS WORN al thing itself. a ical : oa ae ca BY RICE-FIELD WORKERS several vears Special CODWeD Make;rs been employed to build the realism {n a Japanese household the hair comb sets representing ancient and dusty ings are saved until there is enough to With a pot of glue and a stick make a pair of stockings. The strand iled long strands patiently through are spun into long threads and woven and built cobwebs across corners 1 ce of \ irvine au il ties. the hest ot

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POPULAR MECHANICS 1

eagerly sought orkers in the rice hese stockings orn over the ordi- : ’ } hose the peietl be- e subjected to con- exposure in the in- ed rice fields. OREST RANGER’S BRIDGE AIDS IN FIRE FIGHTING hanks to a forest ers ingenuity, autos now be driven across e Chetco river, in the kivou national forest Washington, and

ter access cained to

region in case of fires Painting Toy Horses, Freshly Cast from Shrapnel That Was Intended fo: Guns of War; Tons of the Metal Are Being Used made irom SHRAPNEL TURNED INTO TOYS igh materials taken from the woods, AS PEACE-TIME SERVICE other emergencies. structure was largely ma ] timber piers, stringers and cross mem- with three-inch planks hauled from Another instance of war materials bein; e nearest sawmill and laid lengthwise. used for the purposes of peace een ; les fastened to the piers serve to keep an kneglish factor where shrapnel re e wheels on the planks. The bridge is moved from hells 1 being melted used by the half dozen settlers along cast into tov models of horses and othe e road who aided in the undertaking animals. Nearly 300 tor of the met as been prepared for the casting ne a, "ky an irge staff of ¢ tsi emploved 11 ork of producing, paint nad fit | thre teresti aL r exer ect te ICE SAW.RUN BY SMALL MOTOR

TRAVELS STRAIGHT LINE | nted o1 ed runne nad Ope | | ( ‘ r , ‘ 1 t | oy | t < t 3 {} e¢ } 1i¢ cit elie ; { { 4 1 } et 4 1 ( eC ¢ t] é t ‘ l¢ tral me « 1 r t | ct iber issue ‘ Popu Mecha ‘ cutte Was ¢ oneou deseribed 3 ds ‘ prope ed | hie 1) ( oe Helping the Auto through the Mountains, a Forest ae : Ranger's Bridge in the Siskiyou National Preserve . ; :

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TRAFFIC LIGHTS SEEN ON THE OCEAN HIGHWAYS Traffic Lights at Sea Are Sometimes Run Down by Reckless “Drivers,” as This Mast of a Ship That Failed to Heed the Warn- ing Signal Shows Automatic Gas Buoy, Showing the Underwater Tank That Holds the Fuel, and, at Ritht, Ty»ve f Lightship Employed ff English Coasts Light and Revolv- ing Mechanism of a Lighthouse, at Left, and _ St. Catherine’s Light, off the British Coast, at Right; So Many Birds Are Attracted to the Beacon That Perches Have Been Erected for Them around It

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POPULAR MECHANICS lf RSES’ SHADOWS IIDE TROOPERS FROM AIRMEN letting their horses e, dismounting and ng in the shadows of beasts, a troop of cav- men successfully es- red detection by air- en during a test at the Riley cavalry school. e country near by was tock-raising region so t the presence of a iber of horses in one ld did not attract at- ntion and the animals re permitted to wan- at their will so that e irregular formation From Furnace to Dance Hall; Rustic Pavilion over Old Gun Forge, Where Couples Swing Merrily to Music by Radio eceived the observers in plane. Blankets, saddles and other DANCE HALL IS BUILT ON TOP | juipment blended with the color of the OF OLD FURNACE | irses so that thev were not noticed. The | e was the idea of the commander Ruins of a furnace near Carlisle, Pa., 7 ncaa used bv the early settlers for forging gun | -SOLOR AS BLOOD-POISON CURE have been converted into a moonlight dance hall for which music is furnished radio. he structure also serves as al Progre : in treating hlood poisoning observat n tower tor the state toreste | ith dyes has been reported by Dr. John - - "Churchman of Cornell universitv. The BOXES ARE HUNG IN CIGAR CASE phtheria bacillus was shown to be quite FOR NEATER APPEARANCE ceptible to gentian violet, which was ed in freeing the a aiainaatn = Selection is more putation stumps American war ounded of this in- ection, and lis- sed knee joints ere sterilized with i/¢©” same dve. Ani- ne dyes are also roving effective in he treatment of urface infections. here is little evi- lence that the sub- tances kill living pacteria floating in the blood, accordad- mg to Dr. Church- an, but they alter he course ort thre | net ee ae : ‘ ‘ : ood porsontl Terraced Cigar Cabinet Gives Better Display

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For Making Tea or Coffee, This Adjustable Ironing Board Can Attachment Fits Ordinary Pot or Be Raised or Lowered to Vari- Electric Percolator; After Water ous Heights, Permitting Use Seeps through Contents, Handle While Sitting Down, If Desired Is Raised, Permitting Liquid to to Rest the Feet; It Folds Up Drip into Pot Flat for Storing in Small Space Pusher on Kitchen Fork Gently Removes Food without Breaking or Sticking. and Protects Fingers trom Burns Compact Ironing Outfit with Cord, Carried in Washable Bag, Is Convenient in Trav- eling; the Handle Is Detach- able and the Iron, Turned Up- side Down, Slips into the Stand Portable Radiant Heater Burns Gasoline, a Gallon Being Sufficient for Eight Hours’ Steady Use Pump on Right Supplies Air, and Gas Is Generated Quickly

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Broiler, with Pan Below to Catch Juice for Gravy, Eliminates Fires and Smoke While Prepar- ing Steaks Safety Knife Sharpener Is Shielded, to Protect the Fingers, and Is Said to Give a Keener and More Durable Edge without Wearing Down the Steel Folding Kitchen Table on Wheels Is a Serving Cart and Stand in One Article; Rub ber Tires Prevent Noise and Scratches; the Top Is of Enameled Steel Bath Stool Has Compartment and Adjustable Rest Inside for Shining Shoes and Storing Equipment; Rub ber Tips on Legs Protect the Floor

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POPULAR MECHANICS PLANE FOR NIGHT FLIGHTS HAS SLEEPING BERTHS —— es PILOTS CABIN FOR NIGHT FLIGHTS LY SENET I — : - Diagrams of the Sleeping-Car Airplane — = * oo Showing How Berths Are Arranged: Space wt / ae © ol sy : . S ARRANGED at Rear of the Cabin Is Washroom top. The average user thinks of heat and cold as two separate things, but the bottl be lowered manufacturer knows he is passengers. only one factor, heat, which is why uggage are bottle neck is alwavs made as small ot the possible, vet of sufficient size to proy room tor introducing the contents. liqu ds or foods can be kept warm for a longer time by turning the bottle upsid down, to get the neck leakage at the bo tom One manufacturer of large vacuut HEAT IS HARDER THAN COLD epee = for n ilk found in eae TO KEEP IN VACUUM ments that the rise in heat in the content ot a five-gallon can was sufficient to pro to keep things cold than hot duce a temperature difference of as much uum bottle Che explan ition lies is two or three degrees between the mill tendency ot heat to rise, and the fact in the bottom part of the container and opening of the bottle is at the that at the top.

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POPULAR MECHANICS S. PRODUCTION OF GOLDFISH TWENTY MILLION YEARLY re than 190,000 persons in the United es are engaged in fisheries or the fish- ndustries, a business that represents nvestment of $202,000,000, according ] e annual report of the bureau of fish- Fish culture is steadily developing this country, supporting the conten- hat an acre of water can be made to dluce as much nourishing food as an land, the report About (),000 worth of trout eggs are produced re of shows. commercial firms each year and sur- is fish are marketed at good prices. The nual output of goldfish is approximately 1,000,000, valued at $350,000. More than 0,000 acres of oyster-grounds are under e, from Massachusetts to Florida. CONVICT RAILWAY COACH HAS CELLS FOR PRISONERS German prison officials are taking no inces at letting convicts escape while railroad journeys. A special car, with heavily barred doors and big locks, used when prisoners are to be trans- orted. The method presents an interest- ing contrast to the custom in this and me other countries where convicts ride in ordinary cars with guards. Henry Miller Interior of German Convict Car; It Is Essentially a Prison on Wheels Young Sculptress beside Model of Her Friend: the Bust Forms an Attractive Garden Piece GIRL MODELS CHUM IN CEMENT AS GARDEN ORNAMENT As a mark of esteem for her girl friend, a young woman in Illinois modeled her portrait in cement and set it upon a slen- der pedestal in the garden. She took the idea from Lorado Taft’s statue of “Black- hawk” on the cliffs of the Rock river. HOUSES TO RESIST CYCLONES MUST BE WELL BRACED Engineers of the lumber manufacturers’ association have pointed out two precau- tions that should be followed in building a house, to make it as strong as possible against tornadoes. The suggestions were developed after inspection of the destruc- tive effects of hurricanes in the south. A first requisite, the engineers hold, is that the sills of the building should be strong- ly anchored to a monolithic concrete foun- dation which should be as and deep as cost considerations will permit. In the the roof structure should be stronglv bolted or nailed to the massive place. second for the take effect under the eaves. wall and afford little opportunity wind te

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POPULAR MECHANICS Using the Wind to Aid the Skis; Kite Pulling Runner over Smooth Snow KITE CARRIED BY SKI RUNNER SERVES AS TRACTOR Ski runners prefer calm days as the wind often proves a serious handicap. But a way has been found to harness the breezes by using a special kite. It is held by five guy strings which keep it at such an angle that a wind of moderate strength will cause it to pull the ski run- ner along on smooth snow or ice. ICE PLANT TO COOL REINDEER IN SOUTHERN PARK To keep six reindeer in a Dallas, Tex., park cool and comfortable, an ice plant with ventilating system is to be installed in a_small inclosure on their lot. The plan was adopted when one of the animals died shortly after arriving from its northern home, owing to the heat. FAULT-PROOF HOUSE TO SHOW WAY TO BETTER HOMES To demonstrate the best in building a moderate cost, a test dwelling, near Ne York city, is designed to be proof agains: fire, sound, moisture, heat and cold. Ma terials were selected and used with a view to reducing expense. For instance, the cost of using brass for water-supply pipe: was offset by a saving in brick, both whok and broken kiln-run being employed fo: facing. The builders were instructed t: lay up paneling on the outside chimney in a way to save time and cost. A con crete foundation was laid, and light steel beams were imbedded in the brick walls to carry gypsum floors and partition-wal! fill. The steel framing was installed to prevent structural sagging. The house i: intended to convince prospective builder that it is practical to erect, for a reason able amount, a type of dwelling that will not entail high maintenance expense and yet will be comfortable and attractive. It is thought that such an abode would in spire the confidence of investors and stim ulate home building and owning. TIRES PUMPED AS AUTO RUNS THROUGH HOLLOW SPOKE Automatic pumps that inflate the tires while the car is running, and whenever the pressure gets below a certain point, have been introduced to prolong the life of the tire and save the motorist timeand trouble. The pump is contained in a hollow steel spoke of the wheel. The valve of the inner tube fits into this spoke. A plunger is actu- ated by a short rod extending from the side and coming in contact with a cam on the front axle. With each revolution of the wheel, the plunger makes a complete stroke. The pump is regulated according to the strength of its spring. For instance, if the tire pressure goes below thirty-five pounds, the plunger will begin to pump in air until the normal pressure is restored.

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POPULAR MECHANICS 467 Redwood Forest of Today; Fossil Oak Leaf; Prof. Chaney Studying Fossil Specimens, and a Giant Petrified Tree; from Relics Such as These, Scientists Endeavor to Picture the Past FOSSILS GIVE PICTURE OF LIFE MILLION YEARS AGO Redwood forests 1,000,000 vears ago covered a much wider area than they do ww, according to Prof. R. W. Chaney of the University of California. This is the mnclusion from fossils found in parts of the state where the trees long since have disappeared. Petrified trunks and im- prints of leaves give investigators clues to the character and extent of vegetation many centuries ago. RADIO ATTACHMENT FOR PIANO ELIMINATES MICRGPHONE Connected to the sounding board of a piano, a radio unit permits broadcasting music from the instrument without a mi- crophone and, in receiv- the seli-playing apparatus. In broadcast- ing, the unit is connected directly to the amplifier circuit and, for receiving, it is wired to the radio set. HIGH BRIDGE SPANNING CHASM TO SERVE MOTOR TOURISTS Motorists who desire to visit the inner regions of Idaho will be spared a long and dangerous grade crossing over the Snake river by the high bridge which is being constructed over the stream near Twin Falls. It will be 1.400 feet long and 476 feet high, one of the loftiest in the world. The cost is estimated at $650,000. The Snake river is famous for its bridges. Just a few miles upstream from the one now under construction, a suspension bridge, 345 feet high, spans the canyon. ing, converts the piano into a huge loud speaker. \ccording to reports of experiments with the de- vice, it improves the tone qualities, especially of pi- ano numbers, while the metallic sounds and mi- crophonic roaring are en- tirely eliminated. Manu- lacturers see a stimulus to the piano business as a result of this invention, and some are planning to substitute it, a radio set and talking machine for Sketch of High Bridge over Snake River as It Will Appear When Finished; It Will Link Two Counties

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Forest Rangers Weighing a Sample from the Five-Foot Snowfall in Holy Cross National Forest, Colorado, in Order to Determine Its Density and Water Content Fighting Summer Fires with Winter Snows Danger Periods Detected and Warnings Issued as Result of Survey That Keeps Check on the Moisture I OCATIONS for next summer’s dan- + gerous forest fires are being picked out now by forest service rangers and ar- rangements made to fight the conflagra- tions that will be started by lightning, and bar campers from the government forests during the danger period. Ability to pick out in the winter the places where the following summer’s worst fires will occur has come as one re- sult of the extension of the weather bu- reau’s work to the forestry service. The conditions which cause forest fires to reach dangerous proportions are the di- rect result of light snowfalls during the winter, so constant check of the weather during the last few months has given the rangers a fair idea of what the coming summer’s work will be. The weather-reporting service in the national forests is only three years old, but already it has uncovered so much im- portant information about the effect of 468 low relative humidity and wind condi tions on forest fires that the service ha hopes of mastering the subject thoroug] ly and of enabling the rangers to antic pate danger and be prepared to snuff out bad fires as soon as they break out. Start ing in the western states, the fire weather warning service issuéd during the summet months has been extended to all the north ern and eastern states having either na tional or state forests. From Washingto1 a careful check is kept on conditions | each state, and, whenever they approac! the combination which has been found to be most adapted to spreading fires, a spe cial warning is sent out, and wardens and forest rangers recruit their forces and pre pare to give fight before the fires spread Snowfall surveys made during the win ter form the main basis of the service. Weather-bureau markers, laid off in feet, have been erected throughout the forests to measure the depth of winter snow, and

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POPULAR MECHANICS 469 Regular Weather-Reporting Stations Are Maintained throughout the National For- ests; Little Latticed Houses, Like That at the Right, Protect Thermometers and Delicate Instruments from Damage, Yet Keep Them Exposed to the Weather; Below Is a Typical Station with Elec- trical Wind-Velocity and Other Record- ers, Which Write Their Own Record from Minute to Minute on Clock-Driven Charts in. Some Distant Ranger Cabin The Amount of Moisture That Falls as Snow and Rain, and the Rate of Evaporation Are Impor- tant in the Forests Above Is the Weather Tower at the Rocky Mountain Experiment Station Where Seedlings for Re- forestation Are Grown

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470 POPULAR MECHANICS in addition the rangers who take the fre- quent readings also carry scales and a tube in which they take up a sample of the snow and weigh it to get its density —the gauge of its water content. After the snow has disappeared, they continue to check the moisture in the ground, to determine whether the and fallen leaves and pine needles are damp enough to prevent their burning. At the same time daily readings of the relative humid- ity, or moisture in the air, and the wind velocity and direction enable the weather bureau to calculate exactly when the danger period arrives and ends. The value of the weather service, how- ever, is not confined altogether to fire prevention. One of the most complete weather-bureau observation posts in the country has been installed at the Rocky mountain forest-experiment station, a huge government nursery where seedlings for reforestation are raised and forest problems studied. Wind direction and velocity recorders, high and low-tempera- ture thermometers, recording barometers, psychrometers for measuring humidity and other instruments, are checked daily, and their readings compared with the growth of the trees, to-determine the effect of various kinds of weather on plant growth. Here, the forestry service starts its seed- moss 4 lings in greenhouses where the daytim temperature is kept at seventy-seven d: grees and that at night at fifty-seven, fi: it has found that this range is best suite to the plants. It likewise knows that t! yellow-pine seedlings should be plante on southern exposures, where the groun temperature at midday may be thirty t fifty degrees higher than on the coo northern slopes, where the spruce an Douglas fir thrive. The fire-warning service has been successful that many of the lumber cam in the west shut down immediately whe: dangerous conditions are reported, in o1 der to avoid possibility of starting a fir: from sparks from the engines. One lun ber operator, who declined to heed warning last year, lost $60,000 worth o logs and equipment in a fire that occurred the same day the warning was issued. ELECTRIC LIGHT ON HEN COOP TO FOIL THIEVES To stop further thefts of his fowls, Texas poultry raiser placed an electri light on the coop and adjusted it in suc! a way that, when the door was opened the high-powered bulb was illuminated and a bell rang. The arrangement proved successful, according to the police. Photos Courtesy U. S. Weather Bureau Snow Markers Are Only Painted for Five-Foot Depths; Frequently the Forest Ranger Has to Dig Down to Find the Board, and Then Measure Up to the Top of the Snowfall

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POPULAR MECHANICS EW RAY TO STOP ANCHOR ICE faving had marked ess in destroying ice s by blowing them up thermite, a_heat- ducing mixture, Dr. ward T. Barnes, of cGill university, is en- ivoring to prevent the mation of anchor ice, t which accumulates ir the bottom of open ter. For this purpose, has devised a lamp ich projects a special intended to imitate inlight in keeping the iter below the surface J ee from ice. Tests of e ray in the upper St. river to supplemented by the taking of photo- raphs of ice “growing” under water. An rdinary camera, shielded to keep out oisture, and a special optical device to htain proper lighting, were prepared for this particular work. iwrence were MORE POPS PUT INTO POP CORN BY IMPROVED EAR Pop corn with ears only three inches long but having nearly 1,000 kernels to the ear has been devel- Oblique Picture Taken with New Aerial Records Time, Altitude, Angle and Other Information Camera, Showing Strip Which AIR PHOTOS RECORD THE TIME, PLACE AND HEIGHT An English aerial mapping camera not only photographs the ground, but on a strip at the edge of the same negative notes the time, the altitude, the angle at which the picture was taken, gives the film a serial number and provides a space for special identification marks, including the title and date. The set to take pictures automatically at be the tor camera can interval ped by an lowa corn specialist through crossing a stub variety with a high grade of sweet corn. It is said to vield twenty - four sacks of po pp ed corn to the pound, the nary kind gives but twelve or fifteen sacks. In the lection process, chief hereas ordi- se- the objectives maximum vield per acre, ten- derness and flavor, were proper any height, the negatives given so that when separate are assembled they will cient] overlap suff to permit matching the parts, or it be ated independent- ly to take snapshots between the can oper- timed In ad a small elec exposures. dition, tric lamp with red globe, placed in front of the is operated by , pilot, er | the ? camera, lighting five and maximum . . lturis number of kernels. PoR;Corn Culturist with Variety; It Has Nearly 1,000 Kernels to the Ear seconds before each Sample Ears of the New exposure.

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POPULAR MECHANICS When the Swimming Pool Becomes a Game Table; Playing Water Billiards with Floating Balls Gives Many Opportunities for Trick and Fancy Shots BILLIARDS IN SWIMMING TANK LATEST WATER SPORT As a diversion between swims, a game of billiards played in the water with balls that float and a regulation cue, has been found popular in a California city. The motion of the pool adds to the difficulty of the shots and allowance has to be made for the resistance of the water, but play- ers declare that the game affords as many opportunities for the exercise of skill as does the table variety. DOUBLE REAR-VISION MIRROR PROMOTES MOTOR SAFETY An unobstructed view of the rear of the road is furnished both the driver and the other occupant of the front seat from a Double Rear-View Mirror Casts Reflections from Side of Road as Well as from Behind double mirror now on the market. It is easily adjusted to prevent headlight glare from behind, does not interfere with the windshield wiper and its back is protected from the weather by moisture-proof pads. The glass gives a view through both side windows as well as from the rear. GREYHOUND AS COYOTE KILLER HELPS PROTECT SHEEP Trained greyhounds have been en listed by western sheep raisers in the wat against the coyote. Two of the dogs made a record in a few weeks last fall when they killed twenty-two of the marauders. Their speed enabled them to overtake the swift coyote and they learned how to work to gether, one dog grabbing the prey by a hind leg while the other sprang at its throat. In severe winters especially, the coyote does great damage to the flocks and it is a menace to poultry the year around. The government and the state co-operate in efforts to exterminate the animals. Professional hunters and poi soners are employed, and in most western states a bounty is given for a coyote scalp. At certain times of the year, the pelt is valuable for fur. The use of greyhounds is considered unusual, for although the dogs were known to be faster than the coyote, many did not believe that they would be a match for the brutes when cornered, for then the coyote, generally a coward, is a savage fighter.

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You Can Build This Box-Type Loop By HERBERT C. McKAY ORE and more sets are being designed for use with a loop, and this efficient nd convenient collector of energy is grad- lly replacing the troublesome outside erial and ground. Many radio owners re not aware that almost any set using ve or more tubes will work with a loop, nd, by making a-few changes, practically ny set using a vacuum tube detector. Loops are of infinite variety, but the type most favored is the box or solenoid. (he pancake or concentric form is highly lirectional, but slightly less sensitive than the box type. While the latter is usually quare in shape, it has been found that, hy making the vertical sides longer than the horizontal, the loop will be more efficient. This allows more wire in the ver- tical plane, and as the total length of wire that can be used is limited, the advantages are obvious. In making a loop, the maximum capacity of the condensers in the set must be taken into consideration. If small .00025- mfd. variable condensers are used, the total length of wire should be abo A Simple, but Attractive Box Loop That May Be Made at Home ‘ig. 3 d be about from Scraps of Wood, Some Wire and a Brass Rod tg. ; 160 ft., for 00035-mfd. condensers, 112 ft., and with .0005-mfd. condensers, about 86 it. A variation of about 10 per cent either way will not matter greatly. Aside from the wire length, dimensions may be varied to suit the builder's indi- vidual taste. The loop shown in the illus- tration and diagrams, was made from odds and ends, vet the finished assembly pre- sents a neat appearance. The materials required are: Two pieces of 3¢-in. ply- wood, 7 by 14 in.; one broomstick, 26 in. long; 6 ft. of lampcord, three binding posts, sufficient loop wire to suit the con- densers in the set, and a phone or horn plug. The two end supports and the feet are cut from the plywood. One piece of plywood is laid out as shown in Fig. 1, and supplies one support and two feet, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The other piece is laid out in the same manner, but only the support piece is cut from this. Before boring the center holes in the supports, the broomstick is cut to length and the lower end tapered; then the hole in the lower support is drilled so that it will be a tight fit on the stick when driven on 2% in. fromthe end. The top support is bored a drive fit for the top of the stick. Before mounting the supports, lay out and saw the wire slots. Starting at the center of each support, square marks across the circular edges, ™% in. apart,and make a saw cut on each mark, ex- actly 4 in. deep. This completes the supports. The foot piece shown in the lower sketch, has a Y by Y-in. notch cut in the center of the upper edge: the other foot has a similar notch in the lower edge, so that the two pieces lock together at right angles. After the joint has been glued and the glue has set, a hole is drilled vertically through the joint to take the spindle of the loop. The hole should be a close, but not a binding, fit for the “s-in. brass spindle; the bottom of the broomstick is drilled as shown in the diagram for the spindle.

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POPULAR | In the assembly, the bottom support is driven onto the stick, then small round-head wood screws are driven into the stick just above the support. Next, the upper support is forced into place, taking care to keep it parallel with the lower one, and a heavy screw is driven into the top of the stick to act as a wedge. The assembly is stained to match the cab- inet, and, when this is dry, a coat of shel- lac is applied. two After several hours’ drying this is followed by several coats of good furniture wax, well polished. Three binding posts are mounted on the lower support, as shown in Fig. 4. MECHANICS WOOD _ | SCREWS “4]~ m7 ‘BOTTOM END SUPPORT Using standard silk- covered loop wire, one end of the coil, and solder it to one of the outer binding posts. Wind the wire in the slots, stretching it enough to prevent sag. bare When all the wire is wound on the frame, solder the free end to the other outside binding post. The center binding post is connected to a separate lead taken from the exact center o1 the winding. Scrape the insulation carefully so as not to cut the small wires, and solder this lead carefully. If the wire is of the enameled type, the enamel must also be scraped off before soldering the connec tions. Set the loop on the foot piece, and it is ready for use. Sets that are not designed for use with

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oop, will, of course, not give as much ume with the loop, and its use is not ised for long-distance reception with ts of this type. Fig. 5 shows the neces- ry connections for using a loop with the linary tuned r. f. sets, without disturb- the wiring of the set. An ordinary rn plug is connected to the outer loop ds, and the set may be used either with e loop or the outside aerial. The dou- circuit jack makes this a very simple eration. When the loop is used the ining coil is cut out entirely, the loop ids going direct to the grid and filament, ith the condenser (not shown) shunted.

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POPULAR MECHANICS 475 The jack is placed anywhere convenient on the front panel near the tuning coil. The center binding post on the loop is used for superheterodynes, and sets using a three-tap loop. This center tap is useful with sets employing the common two-tap loop, as one of the outside leads can be dropped and the center lead used, making the loop tune sharper and cut out troublesome local interference. A good loop decreases static, and its directional effect is a great aid in tuning out interfer- ing stations. Weak signals are built up by turning the loop so that it points to the transmitting station. also

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A476 POPULAR Switch Permits Selection of Speaker A device for switching from one speaker to another, or from speaker to headphones, the sketch. The danger of reversing polarity when dis- is shown in accompanying = A j = CORD-TIP/ JACKS SWITCH -— Above, Switch Box in Use, Showing Leads Run to Speakers of An Lower Right, X-Ray View of the Various Types; connecting and reconnecting leads, and all other inconveniences, attending such connections, are eliminated by the use of this simple switch box. Make a small wooden box out of '%4-in. stock, 5% in. long, 3 in. wide and 134 in. high, outside measurements. One side and the top of the box are made of scrap bakelite. A hole is drilled at one end of the top panel to take a small rubber bushing, for the leads from the set. Six cord-tip jacks are then mounted in a row on this panel, as shown in the diagram, to receive the tips from the various units; binding posts may be used in place of the jacks, if desired, but the latter and more convenient job. The bakelite side is now drilled to take a switch lever, and switch points and stops are mounted as shown in the lower right-hand view. The wiring is very simple, and is indi- cated in the diagram by the dotted lines. A single phone cord, having tips at one end, makes a neat connection from the switch box to the set. One lead of this cord is connected to the switch lever; the other lead is connected to every other jack. The remaining three jacks are con- make a neater Box MECHANICS nected separately to the contact points The wiring inside the box should be don: with flexible, insulated wire, so that, wher the box is assembled, there will be n danger of breaking the wires, or acci dentally making a short circuit. Then the two bakelite sides of the box are screwed in place with small wood screws, after which the box may be stained to match the used in the cabinet. It is also a good idea to glue a piece of felt to the bottom of the box, to pre vent scratching surfaces on which it may be placed. This little switch box is also practical for the dealer for use when demon strating speakers of various types. In this case, the number of pairs of jacks used will correspond to the number of speakers to be dem onstrated.—W. J. port, Til. | wood Langan, Free Novel Insulator Is Self-Cleaning interesting antenna imsu- lator of the self-cleaning type has recently been put on the market by an English manufacturer. Radio fans living in cities or industrial regions fre- quently will have noticed a gradual de crease in signal strength if their sets are connected to an outside antenna. This is caused by a deposit on the insulators which allows part of the energy to leak to the ground. The new insulator overcomes this difficulty by means of a small wind propelled fan, as shown in the illustration. The hard-rubber insulating rod is kept permanently polished and free from de posit by the action of the fan, which is kept rotating by the slightest breath of wind. The center of the fan unit ts formed by a hard-rubber bushing that fits easily over the central rod, the rotary unit traveling back and forth on this rod as the wind changes. direction For the British navy, large insulators of this tvpe have been developed, some having a diameter of 18 inches.

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Latest Radio Facts and Freaks Locating Inter- ference from Power Lines with Galvanom- eter and Loop Receiver World’s Smallest Airplane Transmitter Is Built from Scrapped Parts Midget Radio Set Dis- played at London Show The New Broad- casting Station Palisades, N. J., Is Built to Resemble a Receiving Set

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cNew-Pertect* Jone Six (las Important impr a Frank L. Brittin V7! E made no mistake in naming the \ described in the issue; it has proved ne of the most popular sets ever de- rned in Popular Mechanics radio lab- itory. We could not improve the ne, so we tried to improve the set in ery other possible way. The result is a ceiver equal in many respects to a su- rheterodyne; it is as easy to build as ordinary three-tube set, does not howl hen tuning from one station to another has, in addition, increased range and etter selectivity. \n output transformer is used between he power tube and the loud speaker, thus creasing the handling power of the latter nd with a good speaker music is faith- ully reproduced in all its original beauty. ‘erfectly balanced resistance-coupled amplification, low-loss r. f. coils, and a mple means of suppressing oscillation ike this a real set for music lovers, while iere is plenty of volume on distant sta- tions for the DX added. to mplicity of op- Perfect-tone Six, ember, 1925, lans, eration and good electivity hose who built he first model ill find no hange in nal parts neces- y, the only ad- ditions orig- required being a few fixed yndensers, an sutput trans- ormer, a 200,- -ohm varia- ble-resistance, r. i. choke coil, and some changes to be made in the resistance-coupled amplifier. The A and B voltmeter is optional with Copyright, 1927, Popular Mechanics Magazine Top and Bottom Views of the Completed Receiver; Angle at Which the Coils Are Set the builder. Do not use the wiring of the old model, but remove all wires, and re- build the set to conform with the new circuit. For those who are building the set for the first time, all details are shown in the photos and diagrams. The circuit is very simple and anyone who can solder two wires together can build the set. The full-page simplified wiring diagram shows all instruments in their relative positions, and the connections both above and be low the subpanel. set, carefully study starting the this diagram and the photos. Do not attempt to the set from the latter; they are not for that pur- and it is impossible to Betore wire pose, trace wires in a small photo. When select ing the parts, fol low the specifica tions carefully; good parts must be used, for no highly efficient instrument can be built poor parts. with Use solid wire solder, Note the and paste flux. 10-cent tins, This paste comes in small and should be used very

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180 POPULAR MECHANICS sparingly ; a minute amount applied to the connection is all that is required. Full- sized drilling templates for the panels are available for those who wish them. Mount all the instruments on the front panel first, as shown in the photo above the schematic diagram. The phone jack below the horn jack may be leit out if desired, as the volume may be reduced for phones with the variable resistance or with a mod- ulator horn plug. It will be noted in the wiring diagram that no connections are made to the small jack. For those who wish to connect it for phones on detector output only, all that is necessary is extra leads tapped off the B and P input posts of the amplifier unit. This, however, is not advised, as it adds undesirable wiring to the set, and is only suggested for those who requested it on the former model. Assemble the instruments on the sub- panel in the positions shown in the photo; the r. f. coils should be placed at an angle of about 58°, but the exact positions of the other parts are not critical. Place soldering lugs under all terminals that are to be connected, and, when mounting the lugs on the output transformer, be care- ful that they do not tovch the case; then mount the brackets on the subpanel. The front panel is now screwed in position, a smail brass angle bracket being used at the rear center of the subpanel for an ad- ditional support. Two similar angles hold the C-battery in position, just in front of the amplifier unit. The set is now ready to be wired. If the amplifier unit is not provided with C- battery posts for the last stage, these posts must be added. An inspection of the un- derside of the unit will show that one re- sistor terminal is connected with the A- negative post on the last tube socket | means of a short metal strip. This metal strip and its screws are removed, ai two small binding posts are substituted for the screws. ‘The negative side of the C-battery is then connected to the post on the resistor clip and the positive to the negative-A post on the last tube socket. The location of these C-battery posts i clearly shown in the large wiring diagran Make all leads on the underside of the panel as direct as possible from point to point. Note that the leads to some of the tube sockets are connected to the ends oi! long screws through the socket bases This cannot be done with all types of sockets, and if the sockets are not of type that can be used in this manner, place soldering lugs under the binding posts and drill holes in the subpanel so that the wire may be run up to the lugs. As little wire should be used in the circuit as possible, and it will be found that by keeping the leads separated it is not necessary to use spaghetti. Most of the fixed condensers as well as the r. f. choke coil are mounted under the subpanel. The .5 mfd. by-pass condenser is mounted flat against the back of the front panel in the position shown, and held in place by the subpanel bracket. When the wiring is completed, connect the A-battery and test out the filament circuit by placing one tube successivel) in each socket. It will be noted that one 1 front panel, 3-16 by 7 by 26 in. 1 subpanel, 3-16 by 9 by 25 in. 1 set Thorola coils, type 43, for r. f., .0005 mid. 3 variable condensers, .0005 mfd. (any good straight-line capacity type, not straight-line fre- quency ). 1 Samson rf. f. choke coil, type 85. 1 Centralab radiohm, 200,000 ohms. 2 Bradleystats. 1 push-pull switch. 1 Hoyt type 17, or similar type, A and B volt- meter, 0 to 7.5, and 0 to 150 volts. 1 standard open-circuit jack. 1 Gem jack, open circuit, short type. 1 spring-suspended socket, X-type. 2 sockets, X-type, and sood low-loss make. 1 Yaxley, midget, aerial switch. 1 S-M output transformer, type 221. 1 three-stage resistance-coupled, a. f. amplifier unit; Daven, Lynch or Muter, with resistors arranged as shown in diagram. 1 pair Benjamin brackets. MATERIAL LIST _~ by-pass condenser, Sangamo or Tobe-Deutsch mann, .5 mid. Sangamo fixed condenser, .006 mfd. Sangamo fixed condenser, .002 mfd. Sangamo fixed condenser, .0075 mid. Sangamo fixed condenser, .00025 mfd., with gridleak clips. tt 1 gridleak, cartridge type, 2 meg. 7 binding posts with engraved tops. 1 strip brass, 1-16 by % by 6 in., for small brackets. 1 C-bhattery, 7% to 9 volts. 2 Daven MU-20 tubes. 1 Daven MU-6 tube 3 tubes, 201-A or 301-A type. 17 6-32 round-head, brass machine screws, % in. long. 4 6-32 round-head, brass machine screws, 1% in. long. 10 6-32 round-head, brass machine screws, 8 in. long. 10 2-ft. lengths No. 14 round tinned-copper busbar. doz. soldering lugs, long round-hole type. =

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POPULAR MECHANICS stat controls the ector tube, and the er the two r. f. es, but the A-bat- supply is taken ectly to the ampli- unit as the MU- bes used here re- re no rheostat. But tubes of any other | than those spec- d in the material t are to be employed the amplifier unit, automatic iment con- 181 as possible. A clamp on a cold-water pipe makes an excellent ground for the set. A good loud speaker used, as a speaker will not should be poor bring out the real tonal value of the set. To operate the re- ceiver, turn the switch to the “short” aerial position for locals, aerial and to the “long” tion for distant stations. Turn posi Ai A2 SHORT LONG ' VOLTMETER > je GROUND> Sw. 0075 +45 +90 +135 B B B S LOUD -SPEAKER JACK 742 T0939 -VOLT C-BATTERY ‘a Above, Partly Assembled Panel and Subpanel; Below, Schematic Diagram of Set for Those Who Prefer to Work from One of This Type a ballast or an amperite, is nec- essary at the point marked X in the sche- matic diagram. This is in the direct A- negative lead to the unit. If 201A-type tubes are to be used, employ a 34-amp. filament control, and if a power tube other than the ones specified, use a l-amp. Do not attempt to place mixed tubes of the standard and MU-types in the amplifier When the filament circuit is found to be correct, connect the B-batteries, ground and aerial wires. Use a single- wire aerial, 80 to 100 ft. long, including the lead-in, and as short a ground wire unit. on the filament switch, plug in the speaker, and slowly turn on the rheostats until a faint swishing sound is heard in the speaker. Rotate all the dial til the station comes in clearly; now ad volume control to ;, in step, un just the radiohm or give the desired volume, and turn up the rheostats to the point that gives the best results. It will be found that the dial readings will be about the same for all sta tions, if each that it reads 100, or the highest dial reading, when the plates of the condensers are all in 1 This adjustment can be made with the dial is adjusted so

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POPULAR MECHANICS setscrews holding the dials in position on the condenser shafts. Large blueprints of the wiring diagram, as well as full-size drilling templates of the front panel and subpanel, may be ob tained from Popular Mechanics radio de partment, 200 E. Ontario st., Chicago, for 15 cents. Specify blueprint No, 118. Radio Log and Clock Combined Two necessary accessories for the radio set—a means of logging stations and a clock or watch to check the time of the various programs listed—are combined in the handy device shown in the illustra- tion. The construction of the mounting is simple. Cut a piece of 4-in. bakelite or cardboard tubing 2 in. long, and square the edges with a file or sandpaper. If cardboard is used, it may be painted black to match the bake- lite front disk. The latter is cut from a piece of scrap bake- lite so as to fit in- side the tubing. Cut out a hole, the size of the watch crystal, below the center point of the disk, smooth the edges with a file and bevel both sides. The Left, Front View of Completed Unit, Station-Logging Disk Indicated by Dotted Lines; Right, Section watch is held in place by means of strip of spring brass, mounted as show: at the right. A switch lever or rheostat shaft is used above the watch, to a disk of celluloid or bristol which the stations are to be marked. A small slot is cut in the front disk at a point near the edge of the cellu loid disk and the edges are beveled neatly The station disk is mounted on the shaft by means of a nut on either side, to hold it firmly in position. The disk is turned by the knob and the stations are through hold board on various logged the with a pen or vencil. The base of panel in. long wide, in slot is a piece material, 4 and 2 in which two holes are drilled and countersunk for flat head machine screws to hold the tubing and to mount the

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POPULAR MECHANICS » for the watch. This may be of the and the assembly looks on or near the set. lar variety, When Buying Storage Batteries Remember that the storage battery must liver sufficient power to operate the set a reasonable length of time: ampere- ur capacity determines the storage bat- ry’s value. If this capacity is accurately presented, the buver knows just what rvice to expect. The capacity of a stor- ve battery depends upon the amount of tive materials which the battery con- tins, and the integrity and skill of the lanufacturer determine how well the lead lates and the acid solution, which con- itute the active battery elements, are roportioned to each other. The size of he case is no indication of capacity; a large box may contain less active material, nd therefore less capacity, than a smaller ise designed by another manufacturer. Weight is another uncertain indication, nor is the number of plates always a good ndex of battery capacity. For example, types of storage batteries, each iving a capacity of 100 amp.-hr., have heen designed for radio use; one has 9 plates, another has 11 and another 13 plates. All have a true capacity of 100 amp.-hr., and are good batteries. irious Tube Has Built-In Cushion \ new tube designed to prevent micro- phonic noises due to vibration, has a ring of soft resilient crepe rubber in the base of the tube in the po- sition shown in the illustration. With this mounting, set and loud- speaker vibra- tions will not reach the tube and interfere with the tonal The tubes are de- igned to fit any standard socket and have the new X-type bases, so that no change in the set is necessary to use them. quality, it is claimed. ad re ~— > Double-Range Voltmeter, Showing Method of Testinz B-Batteries; Below, Mounted on High-Range Stand Pin-Jack Voltmeter Has Double Range \ practical double-range voltmeter of the pin-jack type is now available for use with any type of receiving set. The in- strument is made in two combinations: 4 to 160 volts for use with sets operated with 3-volt tubes, and 8 to 160 volts for use with sets employing 5-volt tubes. The stand is equipped with a pair of 30-in. perma- nently attached flexible cables for testing the batteries or locating circuit troubles \ pair of pin jacks are supplied with each instrument in order to permit the user to mount them on the panel if desired. Some manufactured equipped with jacks for this type of voltmeter: the pin jacks should be connected directly to | sets are already the filament terminals on the bases of the tubes whose voltage is to be measured. @The tinsel speaker cords is loud and is very difficult to solder, as it has a tendency to burn. and broken, used in phone easily Hence it is best to replace a horn or phone cord with a new If a tip wind a short length of fine wire around the bared tinsel broken one. comes off, end before applying the soldering iron Be sure the iron is not too hot flux sparingly. and use

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484 POPULAR MECHANICS Radio Armchair, Showing Lid of Receiver Compart- ment Open Armchair with Built-In Receiver A novel radio receiver in the form of an armchair was exhibited at a show re- cently held in London. Each arm of the chair is a wicker box containing radio ap- paratus, the set on one side and batteries on the other. Placing the headphones within easy reach, the listener-in may en- joy radio entertainment without leaving his chair—H. T. Wilkins, London, Eng. Variable Condenser Employs Shaft of Insulating Material A variable condenser employing a bake- lite shaft strikes a distinctly new note in construction of such instruments. This condenser is of the straight- P line-frequency type. The construction details are in- dicated in the diagram, § gi e@ Cross - section view, No. 1 showing the shaft of solid bakelite; No. ? TTT peeeenetene bushing, act- ing as a for- ward bearing and mounting stud, and No. 3, the rear bearing. The insulated binding post, with spring wiping contact for the rotor plates, is shown at b a 2, the brass. 4; No. 5 is a brass contact ring fastene: to the shaft. The shaft furnishes the in sulation between the rotor and stat plates. The instrument is mounted in ; U-shaped frame, eliminating the usu: side strips of insulating material and thei attendant supporting ribs, and permittin: the use of an all-metal frame. The bake lite shaft is claimed to be practically wea proof, a diameter reduction of only .00- in. being noted after a test of 250,000 revo lutions made on a stock shaft. Headphone Kink for the Deaf Headphones may be fitted with wide mouth nursing-bottle nipples for sound concentration. This method has bee: employed successfully by a member of the staff of one of the large broadcasting sta tions. By this simple expedient, radio pro grams are now enjoyed by deaf person who otherwise would not be able to hea: them. The nipples are slipped over the phone unit in the manner shown in the illustra- tion, the small hole at the end of the nipple first be- ing enlarged to about % in. Phones so equipped are comfort- able to the ears. The same kink is suggested for DX listeners, enabling them to pick up faint distant sta tions —O. W. Timm, Eagle Rock, Calil Test Lamp for Storage B-Batteries The average owner of storage B-bat teries has little or no facility for making correct tests on each cell, a procedure that really is of great value, especially after the battery is a year or more oid, for then single cells quite often have become defective, rendering the whole battery in- operative. The ordinary pocket meter with a scale reading to 50 volts is of little value when endeavoring to ascertain the condition of a single pair of plates, as they seldom register accurately with so little pressure across the terminals, but a

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POPULAR MECHANICS 185 lamp possesses all the desirable fea es that the meter lacks. Get a 3-volt hlight bulb and solder a short length tiff copper wire to each of the two ntacts on the base. Test your battery e cell at a time, by touching a wire of - test lamp to the positive and negative inals. The little bulb should burn th almost normal brilliancy if the cell der test is in good condition and irged, a dim glow or no light at all in- cating a defective cell. If only two or hree cells ina block of 48 volts are found efective, they may be shorted out by sol lering or twisting a bit of copper wire om positive to negative of each offend- CONDENSER unit, without noticeably affecting the ficiency of the B-battery as a whole.— Walter Briggs, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Screw Forms Panel Marker Che simple panel marker for dial setting hown in the drawing consists of a small lat-head machine screw mounted directly bove the dial. The head of the screw is ountersunk flush with the panel, and the lot is then filled with white lead or simi ir substance. To lay out the hole for the marker without scratching the _ panel, clamp a piece of heavy wrapping paper to he panel over the position of the dial. Locate the hole for the condenser shaft, ind draw a vertical line through its cen- ter. Place the dial temporarily on the haft and STOVE- trace the out BOLT> line of the ‘ lial on the paper. At the crossing ol the outline of the upper half of the dial with the ver- tical line, lt! make a cen- ter - punch mark, deep enough so that the drill will not slip when drilling the hole. Remove the pa- per, and drill, and countersink the screw head hole, then place the marker on the panel.—Geo, F. Helpap, Saginaw, Mich. Homemade Back-Mounted Dials Back-mounted dials with a small por- tion of their edges projecting through the panel for localized control of variable condensers and other units are usually GEAR WHEELS.~, FACEPLATE, BRASS OR ALUMINUM. £ *, TO Homemade Back-Mounted Dial That Can Be Easily Made at Small Cost confined to manufactured sets, since they have not been generally available to the home builder. However, the experi menter can obtain the same general re sults with the gear assembly shown in the illustration, at small cost. A gear taken from a telephone magneto, or one of sim ilar type that may be found about the workshop or secondhand store can be used. The teeth are ground down, and painted in various colors, so that stations can be logged by color. The faceplate is of brass or aluminum, the slot or “win dow” being cut to suit the gears. By us- ing telescoping tubes for the condenser shafts, several of these wheels may be placed together, or they can be spaced across the panel as desired. How to Rejuvenate Dry Cells Dry cells are never realiy dry; they con- tain a moist paste. This fact explains why the cells run down if kept near radi ators or in other warm places. Frequent- ly the paste, or “electrolyte,” dries up be- fore the other exhaustible elements of the batterv weaken; if holes are then punched in the zine covering of the cells and the entire batterv soaked in a strong solution of salt water, thev will often show marked signs of rejuvenation for a short while

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486 POPULAR MECHANICS Preventing B-Eliminator Hums Hums are a frequent source of annoy- ance in many of the cheaper types of B- — , 7% ; 135+ STAGE 1 | STAGE suce | ; ek we TO — Bak --CONNECTION WIRES SEALED IN COVER “JAR COVER -GLASS JAR --CONDENSER Above, Wiring Diagram Showing Condenser to Be Added in Dotted Lines; Below, Condenser in Jar eliminators. This annoyance can be done away with by means of the simple home- made apparatus to be described. Without going into the theory, the filter of the eliminator does one of two things. It either short-circuits or chokes the hum left in the current from the rectifier. In the more expensive eliminators, these two functions are combined in the filter, while in the cheaper types the filter is usually designed to short-circuit the hum only. The wiring diagram given herewith shows the hookup of the higher-priced instru- ment, and a variable condenser is indi- cated across the first-stage choke coil, in dotted lines. The condenser makes that stage function in the same manner as a wave trap would cut out objectionable stations. If your eliminator does not contain a condenser of this type, it is easy to build and install it in your present equipment. Obtain a .001-mfd. variable condenser with end plates and insulation of bakelite. It need not be of the newer type, an old straight-line capacity con- denser being quite suitable. Next pro- vide a covered glass jar that will hold the condenser so that the rotary plates may be moved in and out without obstruction Mount the condenser on the underside 0} the cover, with the shaft projecting through the top so that the rotor can be turned when the condenser is in the jar Fill the jar with distilled water and place the condenser in the jar, taking care that the water covers the topmost plate of th: condenser completely. Seal the jar so that no water can spill and you have a con denser of about .081-mfd. capacity, as the dielectric constant of distilled water i 81 times that of air. Connect the con denser in the position shown in the dia gram, and adjust the circuit under oper ating conditions. Turn on all the tubes in the set, and listen for the hum in the loud speaker. Slowly turn the variable condenser from zero to maximum, listen ing closely for the hum to die. No special care need be taken with the connection wires except that they should be sealed in the cover of the condenser.—Arthur Ken nedy, Paterson, N. J. A-Battery Cell Tester of Novel Design A cell tester for the A-battery that is used exactly like the cell tester for auto motive use is now available. The pointed metal prods, shown in the illustration, are pushed into the terminals of each cell in the battery, and the read ing is noted on the small meter conven iently mount- ed at the end of the handle A specially designed scale gives directly, the different conditions of the battery. The meter has its zero in the center, so that no attention need be paid to the polarity of the prods in use. This instrument permits the operator to obtain the correct reading of each cell in the battery under load conditions,

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iT A Trunk for Your Outboard Motor By JOHN EDWIN HOAG NE of the greatest advantages of the outboard motor for ] overs of water rts is its portability. This advantage, yever. is lost to those iter locations on trains, ve no suitable container who travel to because they in which the otor can be shippedas baggage. Railroad egulations prohibit accept her than trunks, or har baggage and these n rder and sufficiently subs tand the rough handling. ck of proper containers, ance of parcels idbags, as per- lust be in good tantial to with- Thus, for the most outboard otors have to go by express. This Trunk for the Outboard Motor Accompan.es the Own- er to the Lake at Ordinary Baggage Rates, Saving Con- lerable Money for Express \fter paying out a lot of money, the writer decided to solve the container prob lem once and for all. The result is the trunk shown in the accompanying pho tographs. The trunk itself is a good sub stantial one of the “dress” model, of suf ficient length to take the outboard motor Into the bottom of this trunk I built the assembly of oak partitions and block ing shown in the illustrations. The mo tor fits into this without removing any part other than the steering handle. More- over, it is held absolutely immovable It is supported against rubber pads at the

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488 ends of the cylinders and the top of the flywheel. It is also held by the screw clamps by which the motor is ordinarily attached to the stern of the boat, and by a slotted oak block that holds the end of the propeller shaft. The crosspiece to which the screw clamps are secured is of 2 by 4-in. wood. The ends of this fit into slotted members at the two sides of the trunk so that the member is removable. With this ar- rangement, packing and unpacking of the motor are easy. REINFORCING In packing it is — ~ POPULAR MECHANICS >> 2%4 OAK CROSSPIECE gage regulations. It also affords space for tools, clothing, gasoline and oil con tainers, and all the usual equipment that every out-board-motor owner needs. It should be mentioned that all woode: fittings for this assembly are made o clear, straight-grained oak, and are se cured to the main walls of the trunk wit! round-head brass bolts, put in from the outside, then riveted over the nuts and soldered on the inside. The cost for wood and hardware, exclusive of the trunk it self, and labor was about $6 only necessary But this cost to nest the mo- | will be more tor into posi- than repaid by tion. The cross avoiding the. member is , usual expres: slipped into ' charges on the place and the a very first trij motor clamps afield. Another screwed down great advan- upon it; the I tage is that ev- motor is then erything need immovable no : ed for the mo- matter how o oF el 9 2s tor is at hand roughly the TeUTTT ets ebb at all times, trunk is han- Laon and that all dled. In re- COMPARTMENT equipment can moving it trom Interior Fittings of the . Trunk, Showing the Large the trunk, the Space Left for Other Mo- screw clamps tor Equipment are loosened, be kept under lock and key at the camp; this the cross member released and the mo- tor lifted out. After that, it is about half a minute’s job with a screwdriver to re- place the steering handle, and the motor is ready to be put into service. To gain additional strength, and pro- vide convenient packing places for tools and other equipment, an oak partition is built down the length of the trunk. Thus, all motor duffel, and most of an ordinary camping outfit, fishing tackle, etc., can be packed in the bottom of the trunk. The regular trunk till is then for clothing and lighter articles. The advantage of this trunk arrange- ment over anything commercially mar- keted is the fact that the motor is carried as a unit virtually ready to use. It is not necessary to pack it in a half-dismantled condition, and the arrangement provides a method of packing that complies with all requirements of railroad or steamship bag- available is sometimes very desirable. The time to equip your trunk is right now, so as to have it ready for the first summer trip. Extension Grips for Door Handles The inside door handles on Ford closed cars, models 1919 to 1923, project through the top of the door just inside of the glass There is so little room between the handles and the glass that it is difficult to grasp them quickly, and finger marks are made on the glass. A pair of extensions for use on the spark and throttle levers can be attached to the handles on such cars, as they are of the same size and shape as the throttle lever and will furnish a much bet ter grip. The extensions are clamped with setscrews and usually remain tight on the handle. A piece of heavy cloth may be coated with liquid glue and dropped over the handle with the ends hanging down.

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POPULAR MECHANICS \hen the extension is pressed down over his and the screws tightened, it will be (irmly held. The handles of later models re shaped differently and do not lend hemselves to this improvement. Why Varnish Blisters Outdoors Outdoor varnished surfaces frequently blister. This is due to the treatment of the wood before the varnish is apphed. Amateurs employ shellac for almost everything and this substance has been used to seal the grain of many doors and other fittings outdoors. However, shel- lac applied to such purposes is fatal to the permanence of a job. The reason is that heat of any kind will raise the shellac, causing blisters. Oil and other substances can be used to seal the grain just as well as shellac, so there is no reason for tak- ing any chances with it. A Bootjack for Overshoes Did you ever stand out on a cold porch, trying to force a rubber off one foot with the toe of the other foot? I often did and that is why I made the bootjack shown in the drawing, and fixed it so I could fasten it on our porch every winter, when needed. There is not much to its construction, and it helps you to get in- to the house quickly.—T. H. Duffy, Ju- TOP VIEW OF BOOTJACK niata, Pa. Carrier for Storage Batteries For garage and service-station use, an old pair of ice tongs makes a handy tool for lifting and carrying storage batteries. To fit in the fingerholes of the battery case, it may be necessary to grind down the ends of the hook slightly and round them off. Wrapping them with tape will also help in sustaining the grip and pre- vent marring of the surface of the battery. Novel Lamp Shade As a decided novelty in the line of lamp shades we cut parchment to the proper Novel Lamp Shade Made of Parchment and Orna- mented with Signatures size, then ornamented it with the signa- tures of friends. When the shade completely covered with names, it was mounted in a frame and two coats of spar shellac were applied to give it a finished appearance. After this had dried, the edges were bound with tape and the shade was complete—James Clark McGuire, Jr., Albany, N. Y. was Keeping Floorboards Tight Rattling floorboards in an automobile are very annoying. It is, however, an easy matter to remedy this. Remove the rear right-hand bolt from the top of the gear case, and substitute a enough to pro- ject about % in. above the floor. Seat the stud and then screw a nut down over it. This will act as a lock and hold the gear- case cover down tightly. A hole is then drilled in the floor to ad- mit the head of the stud, and a large iron washer and wingnut are provided to keep the floorboards tight. stud long FLOORBOARD --’ . GEAR-CASE COVER-’

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190 POPULAR Western Orches- tra Successfully Uses Old Auto Brake Drums for Chimes Orchestra Chimes from Auto Drums Have you noticed, when relining the brake bands on the rear wheels of your car, the clear, silvery tone the brake drum produces when you accidentally strike it with the hammer? A western-orchestra leader uses the drums for playing beauti- ful chime solos and a number of obbligato accompaniments. So excellent are the re- sults obtained that the orchestra has adopted them as permanent parts. Here is a valuable suggestion for amateur or- chestras, which cannot afford to purchase a set of manufactured chimes. The brake drums on different automobiles size and hence in pitch and tone. Pedrose, Seattle, Wash. vary in L. W. Detérmining Amount of Water in Storage Battery The storage battery of an automobile is likely to be the most neglected part of the car for it is usually tucked away in the least accessible place and the car own- er forgets to add water to keep it in good condition. It is easy to construct and install a dash signal that will tell at a glance when it is time to refill the battery. Drill a small hole in one of the rubber vent caps and force a short lead strip through this aperture, allowing it to pro- ject downward until it dips into the elec- trolyte and almost touches the top of the MECHANICS separators. Remove the prepared ven cap and caretully fill any holes around the lead with hot sealing wax, being sure to leave one small pinhole through which gas may escape when the battery is charging If your car has the negative terminal ot the battery grounded to the frame, screw the cap with its lead electrode in to the top of the cell nearest the positive end. Fasten with solder a length of well insulated copper wire to the exposed end of the electrode and extend it to a push button, mounted in any location convenient to the driver’s hand, and then to a 6-volt 2-cp. lamp on the dash. As there is sufficient solution in the battery, this lamp will light when the but- ton is pressed, but when the liq uid drops too low the lamp will fail to respond. Some electric ground the positive wire, and this must be determined at the start, for, if your car is thus wired, it will be necessary to screw the prepared vent cap into the cover of the cell nearest the negative end. long as systems “Dumb-Boy” Aids Riveting Mechanics often need a helper to hold a heavy hammer under the surface of a plate which is be ing riveted. How- ever, help is un- necessary if a “dumb-boy” of the kind shown in the drawing is used. It consists of a piv- oted arm on a tri- pod, with a sledge hammer fastened to one end of the arm and a counter weight to the other. The hammer 1s ad justable and can be set at different angles and held there b means of a thumbscrew. Holes at the other end of the arm allow the counter weight to be hung at different points to vary the pressure of the hammer against the underside of the plate being riveted Of course, the tripod is also made adjust- able to various heights.

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How to Make a Magnetic Maze Puzzle By H. F. GOODWIN ERE is an easily made maze that is sure to interest the puzzle fan, as it so arranged that the maze itself is invis- le to the operator. It is simple in con- truction, can be made ina short time and nvolves practically no expense except for the magnets. The other materials needed ire some cigar boxes, which any tobacco lealer will be glad to give you, three paper lips of the kind illustrated, some strong clue and a sheet of thin but tough card- hoard. The four magnets needed should be of the horseshoe type, about 2 in. long, ind can be bought in any five and ten- ent store. RAISED SQUARES PAPER CLIP -MAGNETS ~'* Wiha SLIDING Wy! Yr A A CHECKER First remove the cover from a perfectly sound cigar box. The best box for this purpose is one having metal hinges on the cover and a flange running around the top over which the cover fits. After re- moving the cover, the flange should be planed off. Then take the bottom piece of another bex, making sure tliat it is per- fectly straight, and trim the edges so that it will fit snugly in the bottom of the first box. This forms the floor in which the pegs are inserted. Now take four mag- nets and glue them together so as to form one magnet of the required strength. In order to slide freely when the box is tilted the magnet is furnished with sliding feet. These are simply the heads of the brass paper clips, the prongs of which have been cut off with scissors, and are glued to the bottom of the magnet as illustrated. Mt act A. NWA) i! sw io Se. 7, An Easily Made Puzzle That Will Take a Lot of “Solving” and Provide Amusement for Hours at a Time

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12 When the magnet is ready, p'ace it on the floor of the box and move it around the inside edge of the box, marking its height with a pencil. This should be done very carefully. With the floor still in PLANED OFF place, cut out ar “ty thin strips of Pr_PENCIL wood, which, when glued around the in- side edge, will come exactly Li Liz even with the MARKING MAGNET HEIGHT = pencil, marks. This ledge COVER RESTINGONLEDGE forms the sup- port for the cardboard cov- er. With the floor and ledge Le 4 in place but SECTION THROUGH PUZZLE not fastened permanently, take a pencil and dot the floor where the pegs are to be inserted, using the magnet as a guide. These dots should be placed in staggered rows, and it will be found, by a little practice, that they can be placed quite closely, as the inside edge of the magnet slides around and pivots on the pegs. Take out the floor and insert the pegs, which should be only about one half the height of the magnet. Return the floor to the box and glue in the inside ledge. Now you are ready for the cardboard cover. This should be cut so that, when laid flat in the box, it is supported by the ledge. The cardboard is ruled off into checker- board squares and has two squares on diagonal corners raised on small pieces of cardboard so as to allow the iron man or checker to slide underneath. These raised corners are decorated, respectively, with a diamond and a heart cut from old play- ing cards. A smaller diamond is glued on the face of the iron checker. sefore permanently fixing the cover to the box it is advisable to try out the puz- zle. This can be done by placing the magnet in the box and, while holding the cover on with your fingers, tilting the box back and forth so as to see if the magnet slides freely, using the iron checker as an indicator. Though the magnet should be unhampered in its action, it is very impor- tant that the cardboard cover be laid di- POPULAR MECHANICS rectly on the magnet so that they touch Now is the time to make any alterations that are necessary. If everything is correct, put in the mag- net and place the cover in position; then glue strips of wood around the inside edge. Have these strips even with the top and extend them down so as to almost, but not quite, touch the cardboard. This allows for a slight give to the cover so that the magnet will not be bound. If desired, you can use the hinges that came with the cigar box to make a hinged flap, as shown in the illustration. This permits the re- moval of the cardboard cover at any time. The object of the puzzle is to move the checker from the space under the raised square marked with the diamond to that under the square marked with the heart by merely tilting the box. It will be ap- parent that the movement of the checker is controlled entirely by the concealed magnet which prevents the checker from sliding along any other path on the check- erboard than the magnet follows in the box. The magnet becomes hooked upon various pegs and the operator, being un- able to see these posts or to know what is impeding the progress of the checker, will have great difficulty in bringing it into the desired space. In tilting the box, one caution should be observed and that is not to jerk it too abruptly so as to cause the checker to leave the magnetic influence. If this does happen, the checker can be anchored again by simply letting it slide over the cover until it comes to rest over the magnet. Quick-Acting Thumb Latch An ordinary thumb latch usually fails to work if the door to which it is attached is quickly shut. This annoyance can easily be eliminated by attaching a safety pin to the door to form a downward- acting spring, as shown in the drawing. By this means the latch will be snapped down into its seat even though the = door may be slammed shut violently—Dexter W. Allis, Asbury Grove, Mass. SAFETY PIN

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POPULAR MECHANICS Protecting the Canoe for Ice Travel Canoes on runners solve the transpor- tion problem of northern Maine guides | settlers during the ice-breaking period THREE CLAMP -~. 2° FLAT IRON » { RUNNERS J of spring. Without such an arrangement, t would be impossible for weeks to cross the large bodies of water at that season, which would seriously interfere with their iood supply. The method of fitting a canoe for this service is to make a cradle of 2-in. strap iron into which the canoe fits. The cradle is securely fastened to the boat by means of clamps at both ends and a set of hangers, about 4 ft. from the ends. Three lengths of 2-in. strap iron, extending the entire length of the bot- tom, constitute the runners. When there are open stretches of water to be crossed, the cradle does not hamper handling the canoe with paddles. Upon reaching ice, the craft is run upon it. The iron cradle protects it from injury by the rough ice, Strap-Iron Cradle Protects Ca- noes against Injury from Ice in Northern Streams, and Also Forms Runners Underneath Which Make It an Easy Task to Push the Canoes over the Ice and, acting as runners, makes it easy to push the canoe over the ice to the next stretch of open water. Using such an out- fit, the woodsmen can transport a heavy load for a long distance with comparative ease.—Sam E. Connor, Auburn, Me. Removing Ink Stains from Wood Floors Ink stains can be removed from pol ished or bare wood surfaces in a few mo- ments. For a polished or varnished surface, mix powdered pumicestone and linseed and rub the spots with a piece of felt or heavy-bodied oil to a light, creamy mass, cloth dipped in the mixture. Always rub with the grain and continue until all the ink disappears. On a wood apply repeated coatings of liquid oxalic acid with a brush. The liquid is made by dissolving a tablespoonful of oxalic-acid bare floor granules in 1 pt. of hot water and is used cold. doses, This acid is poisonous only in large but care is recommended neverthe less.—Francis W. Henry, Pottsville, Pa.

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194 POPULAR MECHANICS Hammer for Use on Polished Surfaces It is impossible to hammer on a polished wooden or metal surface without making dents. An ordi- nary hammer will never do the work unless the head has been padded in a suitable man- ner. The kink shown in the drawing will be found satisfactory. Purchase a rubber crutch tip and force this over the head. Now you can do the work without any dan- ger of marring the finish. Improving the Pipe Smokers will find that a pipe can be improved by drilling a small hole in the bowl, as shown in the accompanying illustra- tion. The hole should be no larger than the diameter of a pin. Be- sides insuring a_ nice, cool smoke, this will al- so help the draw.—E. E. Burgess, Jr., Balti- more, Md. Temporary Repair for Leaky Vacuum-Tank Float Occasionally the float in the auto vacu- um tank will spring a very small leak and load the float with gasoline. When this occurs far from a service station, it is con- sidered a difficult repair job. One autoist, however, overcame the trouble in a novel way. The tank head was removed and the float and mechanism taken out. The float was placed on a hot stone and the leak located by the jet of vapor forced out. The opening was enlarged slightly so that the gas could be poured out. Then a soft match stick was carefully whittled to fit the hole and driven in until the hole was well sealed. A drop of water swelled the wood, and there was then no danger of its coming out. After the tank had been re- assembled, the driver reached home with- out trouble and the repair lasted until a permanent job could be done several days later.—L. B. Robbins, Harwich, Mass. How Amateurs Can Read Fast Code Amateurs who cannot receive the code over telegraph sounders can take down fast messages accurately by using a strip of paper, about ™% in. wide, and a strip of carbon paper of the same width over it The end of the paper is inserted between the bar in the sounder and the frame that it hits against. As the sounder goes up and down the paper is slowly pulled through it, and deciphered afterward The dots and dashes will show plainly, as well as the spaces between words. If the paper is pulled through too fast or too slowly, it will be hard to read. With a little practice in pulling the paper through, any amateur can take down messages practically as accurately as an experienced operator, although, of course, he will have to take his time in deciphering them, at least to begin with.—Thos. F. Johnson, Cureo, Tex. Soap Pencil Keeps Paint Off Panes Numerous articles have been devised for the removal of paint from window panes, but prevention is better than cure, and by using the simple soap pencil shown in the illustration, it is an easy matter to prevent paint drops from sticking to the glass. Cut a bar of laundry soap to a wedge shape and use this to make a wide mark on the glass along the edge of the sash. With or- dinary care, this will keep painié off the glass, and spots on the soaped part will come off when the soap is washed away after the ¢ : paint is dry.—G. E. Hendrickson, Ar- gyle, Wis.

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How to Make a “Radio” Cigaret Box By H. C. ‘YHIS cigaret box is one which will be 4 welcomed by the great army of radio In appearance it is a small, one-dial but when the dial is turned in ther direction, a cigaret is delivered at e top of the cabinet. The parts required e given in the material list on page 496. [he slopes and guards are first made. he slopes are set against the back panel, eir upper ends % in. from the top, and e lower ends 1 in. lower than the upper. \ greater slope will allow the cigarets to ind against the sides of the hfts, pre- enting proper operation. The beveling f the edges of these pieces presents the vreatest difficulty in making the box. This rendered easier by first attaching the lopes to the guards, leaving square edges rojecting. When the two are fastened together, the proper bevel may be provid- elver, McKAY ed by plane and sandpaper. These slopes are perfectly plain except for the bevels. The guards are 3% in. wide, 35 in. high and made of %-in. plywood. A central slot is cut in each, as shown. This slot is 3% in. wide; it starts 3% in. from the bot- tom of the piece and is 2% in. long. In the guard and slope assembly, all joints should be glued. They can be further strengthened by the use of l-in. brads, set slightly below the surface. The inner slopes, with their guards, are set against the rear panel and secured to it by screws, making sure that these assemblies con- form strictly to the outlines inscribed up- on the rear panel before assembly. The lifts are also made of %-in. mate- rial and cut as shown. The central hole has upper and lower edges rounded, while the sides are square. The two long slots, This Cigaret Box Should Please the Confirmed Radio Fan, Since It Looks Like a One-Control iis A we ae Receiver; Note the Suggested Headset Ash Receivers DEE me o

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196 POPULAR MECHANICS cut near the edges, are for the springs. When the piece is completed, two screw- eyes, with a maximum outside diameter of % in., are set in the upper ends of these from one end and tapped for a 6-32 ma- chine screw. A piece of square brass bar, \% by % by 7 in., is bent in the center to form an angle of 165°, At the exact cen-

GUARD AND SLOPE ,4REQ. 1

Cs. 55 i | “ HINGES; | 3 c > 4

LAMM COUT BNI

7 WAM MALIN MOORE PAID! 4,

CENTER PANEL, 21034" - ---- ‘ee BRASS LEVER & — J f 35° - —— BRASS LEVER SHAFT y,

slots. The lift is then set against the guards already placed, and -two more screweyes set in the bottom of the box, in positions corresponding to the two in the slots. It will be noticed that the top of the lift is concave. The springs used in assembly are “se by ¥%4 in., of very light wire. Two springs are placed in each lift and attached to the screweyes already placed. When the lifts are in place, the outer slopes with their guards are put in the same way as the inner ones. After this is done, the lift should be free to rise and fall with not more than M4 in. clear- ance on each side. The assembly is now laid upon the workbench, back down, and a \-in. hole bored % in. deep in the exact center of the back panel. A '%-in. round brass rod is cut 514 in. long. A hole is drilled 2 in. Sectional Views and Details of Construction of the Dial-Control Cigaret Box; Note Rounded Edges on Top and Bottom of Lift Slots ter, a hole is drilled and tapped for a 6-32 machine screw. A %-in. 6-32 machine screw is set in this bar. The bar is then inserted through the lift and guards, at one side, and thrust far enough to allow the other end to be inserted in the lift and guards on the opposite side. It is then raised to the round bar, centered and the screw set into the bar. This is somewhat awkward, but a short screwdriver will fa- cilitate the operation. Before proceeding farther, tilt the bar first to one side and then the other, to see if the lift drops to its lowest possible position when the bar is entirely depressed. Wher in this posi- tion, the top of the lift should be barely below the tops of the slope, so that a ciga ret will roll into place. Then reverse the motion of the bar and see if the lift is raised from % to 3% in. above the level of the top of the back panel. If so, the bar

MATERIAL LIST 1 top, 12 by 5% 2 ends, 5 by 5 by by 3 in. 4g in. bottom, 12 by 5% by % in. back, 1034 by 5 by % in.

2 outer slopes, 234 by 3% by %& 2 lifts, 37-16 by 34% by % in. 2 inner slopes, 2% by 3% by 1 guard, 35 by 3% by % in.

T piece of brass, 4% by 4% by 7 in 4g in. in. 1 1 1 center panel, 1034 by 4% by % in. 1 front panel, same size as back. 1 %-in. round brass shaft, 5% in. long 1 3-in. radio dial 2 3-16-in. coil springs, 34 in. over all Screws, stain, black enamel.

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POPULAR MECHANICS ). K. The central panel has a %-in. hole ts exact center. It is set in place and ewed to the guards and slopes. Be ry careful that no screw goes so near that the wood is forced out inst the lifts which would bind them | prevent proper action. Then the sides e put into place and screwed to the back nel, the bottom, the outer slopes and e center panel. lhe top has two slots “6 in. wide and 46 in. long cut in it, to correspond ex- tly to the position of the lifts when thev re raised. It is best to set the top in lace temporarily, raise the lifts, draw a ne around them to mark the position of the holes and then cut the slots with these marks as a guide. The top is then fas- tened to the box with+a pair of hinges at the rear. Try the lifts and see if they rise and fall easily. Stain and finish the box in any desired manner. The front panel has a 4-in. hole bored in its exact center. It is given a coat of black paint and then a coat of black enamel. This is allowed to dry be- fore the final assembly. When the whole hox is thoroughly dry, the front panel is et in place and fastened. The %-in. round har should extend from ™% to % in. from the front surface of this panel. A 3-in. radio-condenser dial is set upon this shaft and the box is complete. Place eight or ten cigarets in each side of the box. When the dial is turned slightly in either direction, one cigaret will be delivered at the top of the cabinet. If desired, a small door can be made in one end as indicated. edge Rubber Cup on Shaving Brush To prevent lather from running down one’s arm when using a shaving brush, a_ rub- ber washer attached to the brush will be found to be convenient. The washer may be cut from a discarded inner tube and, when stretched over the ferrule of the brush, forms a _ cone- shaped cup, which catches the lather. RUBBER DISK Repair for Split Table Top Split table tops can eas- ily be repaired by means of metal inserts driven into the edge as shown. The metal insert is a piece of thin sheet iron, bent to an S- shape. It is driven into the edge of the table after pulling the edges of the break together with a large carpenters’ clamp. It is, of course, also a good idea to run some glue down into the crack before clamping. Carrying Spare Valves Often the motorist puts the small tin box containing extra valves under the seat in the tool and later, when he needs a valve, finds the box has been crushed by the tools and the valves box scattered and damaged. A good place to put valves in is the pump handle. Drill a hole in it, as shown in the illustration, and provide a cork, that fits the hole snugly.—G. A. Luers, Washington, D. C. Electric Drill Used for Cleaning Automobile Bodies Auto bodies finished with ordinary paint often become dull while the paint is still smooth and hard. A coat of varnish can be applied with good results without re moving the paint in such cases. A rotary wire brush held in an electric drill makes a fast tool for cleaning and smoothing the surface. A brush of ordinary stiff- ness will not roughen the paint.

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POPULAR Improvised Level for Farm Use In laying out portions of the farm, sighting for building foundations, laying SCREWEYE ~ Improvised Level Made from a Carpenters’ Proves Satisfactory for Farm Use Square drain tile, etc., a surveying level is useful. An improvised one, which is easily and cheaply made from a carpenters’ square, is shown in the illustration. Drill a hole in the long leg of the square, 5 or 6 in. from the corner. Choose a stake, about 6 ft. long, and saw a slot down in the cen- ter at the top and bolt the square in it as shown, using a wingnut to make it ad- justable and providing some washers to take the wear. A short length of steel wire, bent at right angles, is soldered to the corner of the square so that one leg points vertically about 1 in. and the other extends horizontally the same distance. A small soldered to the front end of the square so that its center will be at the same height as the end of the ver- tical wire at the corner. Hang a plumb bob from the horizontal wire as indicated and arrange the cord just clear of the ver- tical edge of the square. To use the level, push the stake vertically into the ground and point the level toward the target. which is held by an assistant. Set the square in such a position by means of the wingnut that the cord holding the plumb bob will hang parallel to the vertical side screweve is MECHANICS of the square, which makes the horizonta side perfectly level. The target is raise: so that it can be seen by sighting throug the screweye in line with the vertical wire like sighting a gun. A straight line fro: the horizontal edge of the level to the point sighted on the target will then als: be perfectly level—L. B. Robbins, Har wich, Mass. Removing Iodine Stains and Grease Spots Iodine is a stand-by in the home first aid kit, but care is needed in its use, to avoid spilling it upon fabrics, on which it makes disfiguring stains. One of the sim plest and best means of removing suc! stains from white goods is the following Soak the cloth in clean limewater, whic! has been heated to the boiling peint, a few minutes’ immersion usually being suffi cient whether the fabric is new or old, then rinse the cloth carefully in clear water before drying. Grease spots of ani mal or vegetable origin also may be re moved by soaking in limewater, rinsing with clear water and finally washing the fabric with soap. Simple Method of Conserving Heat One can hardly realize how much heat is lost by radiation from several feet of furnace smoke pipe. Several years ago | found a method of utilizing this heat. pipe, about 1 in. larger in di- ameter than the smoke prpe, S ] i ppe d the latter as shown in the drawing. The lower end was left open to admit air while the up- per end was closed by stuffing it with asbestos pack- ing. A small pipe connects the upper end of the sleeve to a hot-air pipe. It is well to make a slip or telescope joint here so that the pipe can be removed for cleaning The sleeve around the smokepipe should be well covered with asbestos paper —W O. Hendrickson, Argyle, Wis. ASBESTOS PACKING was over

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POPULAR MECHANICS Preventing Squeaking Brakes Novel Wren House Nearly every autoist has suffered the ae ply erent noyance of squeaking brakes. In most School Superintendent ses the work of relining the brakes can traced to the owner’s garage, or else to carage employing inexperienced me- inics. In either case, noisy brakes uld have been prevented by attention one or two details. One is the setting the copper rivets holding the lining. rojecting rivets scraping on the brake rums is the principal cause of squeaking nd the preventive or cure is obviously » hammer down the rivets well below the urface of the lining. Of course, the roper tools must be used to do this with- ut injuring the lining. The best rivets to use are the tubular type. Another cause ‘ noisy brakes is a brake band bent out of true, so that the ends are drawn in against the drum before the main part of the band. Any lining near the end of the brake band is soon worn off and the metal Small Bungalow for Wrens ends scrape on the drums, which makes noise and wears down the drum. Care in Unlike most other birds. wrens like to relining, adjusting and equalizing the jive by themselves and a small house es brakes at the time of renewal is well worth pecially suitable for them is shown in the the effort in the saving of trouble, money photo. It consists of a base upon which and annoyance, not to mention the pos- six cigar boxes are mounted, each having sibility of accidents which might result a small hole drilled or cut in one end, as irom the failure of the brakes. indicated, to provide an entrance for the birds, and a wooden roof over which as- Desk Drafting Board phalt shingles are laid to add to its appear- : ance. A miniature fence is made of col It happens occasionally that the desk ored wooden balls, has to be used for drafting and the sliding - ZZ drilled for nails, with leaf on one side can be adapted to this which they are at- purpose as follows: Brass clips are ' tached to the base. screwed to the top of the leaf so that they YY fy The balls are also will grip the paper a) hy | drilled to receive securely when it is osi\ | f lengths of light dow- slipped under them. > 2 ¥ el rod for the hori- \ small T-square ‘ _ VE A 7 Wi w zontal members of can be made from a 4 CAZES >. *-®& q the fence. The roof l2-in. rule, with a y " . is tied to the corner crosspiece screwed \ ~ @\ posts with heavy on, as indicated. _ gm as Ree twine and an orna This arrangement, of eget Br eS _— #4 wmental flag is fas- course, presupposes _AAAA Zz the use of the stand- MA Z 7) D+ BRASS CLIP - tened to the peak. ard 8 by 10-in. office Creer. G10 make a storm paper or some simi- A078 PETRLTTY PETLPTPY EPS TPS APSO ;;; door from a screened lar size—Deane B. one, tack a strip of Caldwell, Cedar Rap- om ‘4 roofing paper over ids. Low; Sliding Leaf of Desk Used as Drawing Board with he scree aNESy a. Brass Springs to Hold Paper the screen.

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POPULAR MECHANICS AGITATOR. WHEEL ~— Handy Marker for the Tennis Court Improvised Tennis Marker An efficient tennis marker can be made from materials that may be found in the junk pile of almost any garage. The one vas made from an oblong box, with a small shaft for an axle, to gears, shown in the illustration which were keyed three timer ones for wheels and a smaller one to act as an agitator for the marking material. The two large small wheel ro- tates in a groove in the bottom of the box and its gear segments feed the lime out of a tin spout the width of the line to be marked. This device overcomes the great- est difficulty of the sifter type of marker in that it can be filled in a short time.— Maurice E. Miller, Addison, N. Y. Chain Used as Bottle Cleaner Cleaning bottles seems to be one of the bugbears of housework. An _ excellent method is to use a small chain. Tie a string to one end of the chain and then drop the chain in and hold onto the string from the outside. Pour a little water or other cleaning liquid in the bottle, close the opening and shake well. will scrape around and The chain remove all the sediment. This method will thoroug! clean milk and vinegar bottles, kerose1 reservoirs on oil stoves and the like. Stopping Rear-Wheel Grease Leaks When Ford rear wheels leak grease, usually indicates that there is an exce sive amount of lubricant in the differentia housing and this should first be deter mined before attempts are made to stop the leak. it should be removed and, in order to di If the grease is thin and gritty, this, it is necessary to draw it out with grease gun having a long spout, as there are no provisions for draining the differ ential. The grease should be kept to the level of the filler plug, but if it still con tinues to leak at the wheels, new felt wash ers should be put in. The wheel is re moved and the outer axle-shait roller bearing hooked out with a piece of stifi wire. The washers may be jammed far into the axle housing with a long screw- driver or rod, and the bearings replaced together with the customary outer felts In replacing these, it is a good plan to lubricate them with cup grease, as thi prevents friction, which otherwise might destroy them very quickly. However, new washers will not always stop bad leaks If so, leather washers cut to fit the axl shaft should be used in addition and some times will be found quite effective. I: _———————————— some cases long piece oO} heavy wire, twisted around the axle, will sto] the leak. It acts like a screw in force ing the greas¢ back into the differential Probably the most effective method of ending this annoyance is that of drilling a %-in. hole in the bottom of the axle housing, near the innermost end of the outer axle-shaft roller bearing. This admits air into the housing, causing a back pressure, and thus effectively stops the leak.

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POPULAR MECHANICS Flowers Preserved with Celluloid [he curator of the Academy of Science Lincoln Park, Chicago, recently hit up- a scheme that is worthy of attention of who are interested in preserving flow- He discovered that a coat of liquid liuloid, or collodion, over the mounted ecimen will give it just the protection ‘sired. The solution is poured into a allow pan, and the mounted specimen immersed in this until the celluloid has ‘ttled on the plant and card. It is then thdrawn from the bath and hung up to ry. A clip of any sort can be used to ttach the card to a string. piece of lrippings. Put a plate paper beneath to catch the The use of the liquid celluloid in many cases has been found to restore faded colors and bring out their original freshness. The coat of celluloid protects the plant from dust and moisture and, in case the card gets soiled, it can be sponged off without harm to the plant. If the col- lodion gets too thick due to evaporation, add a little ether, which can be purchased at a druggist’s—H. H. Slawson, Chicago. Handy Clothespin Holder Paper bags for carrying purchases, pro- vided by exhibitors at fairs and by many storekeepers, can be made into clothes- pin holders by simply oval cutting an hole in each side, as shown in the illustration. The bags them- selves are too deep for this use, but when openings are made as suggested, + to 6 in. from the bottom, the hand is easily inserted to pick a pin. The type of bag referred to is that fitted with string handles. By using a hook bent to an S-shape the holder can be sus- pended from the line and slipped REINFORCING STEEL Streets in a Western City, Designed to Carry Off Storm ater, Save Cost of Storm Sewers Street Design Saves Storm-Sewer Cost One western city, exposed to heavy rain- falls of comparatively short duration, but where snow is unknown, has found that, in many cases, it can save the cost of storm-sewer installation by building the street pavements with concave surfaces in- stead of convex, as shown in the illustra- tion. This doubles the area available for carrying flood run-off without requiring the construction of high curbs at the sides. Because of the short duration of the rain- fall the streets are never impassable for more than an hour at a time. The pave- ments are built on grades steep enough to prevent the de- position of sand and silt. Steel re inforcing should be placed in the concrete near the center of the slab and should be bent upward at the edges so as to tie the curbs to the roadway. @One noise can be elim- inated by cutting a piece from an old inner tube and fas- tening it behind the lock holding a more car along it with ease. Paper Bag with an Oval Hole Cut in Each Side Makes a Handy Clothespin Holder spare tire.

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Make a Hammered-Copper Plaque By E. R. F you are artistically inclined and would like to do work in hammered copper with figures in bold relief, as illus- trated in this article, go to a hardware store and get a few ordinary nail sets, at a cost of 10 cents each, an 8-oz. and 13-oz. ball-peen hammer and some pieces of No. 18 cauge sheet copper, having these pieces cut to the size of the plaques. Be sure that the sur- face of the copper is not scratched or marred as this will ruin the work. First get a pic- ture or design from a newspaper or magazine, or, if you can draw some satisfac- torily, make it your- self. Trace the design on the surface of the copper by using typists’ carbon paper. Go over the weak carbon lines with a soft lead pencil to them out clearly. Hold the lower jaw of a wood clamp ina bench vise securely, and bring the upper jaw of the clamp down over the design, to protect it while the background is being forced down about % in. from the edge of the design. In doing this, the work has to be shifted a number of times in the clamp, and care must be taken to strike only the background at this stage of the job. A wooden punch and a hammer are used to bring 502 HAAN do this, as shown in Fig. 1, while a shor piece of dowel rod will allow you to ge into recesses of the background, as show: in Fig. 2. The piece of copper will be di torted considerabl but the design wi stand up rough! in relief. Lay th plaque, face up, o1 a double thickne of corrugated card board obtained from an old and you will be able to improve the rough outline with the dowel and b OX puncl hammer, Hammered-Copper Work Is an Interesting Hobby and Copper Plaques in Bold Relief Appeal to Those Wh Are Artistically Inclined shown in Fig. 3. The reverse side of the plaque is shown in Fig. 4. The next step is one of the most impor tant in the whole process—that of anneal ing the copper. By pounding and stretch ing the plaque, the copper becomes ver) hard and brittle, which makes it extreme- ly difficult to work, and if the work is continued while the copper is hard, it may be cracked. is heated to a cherry red and immersed in To overcome this, the plaque water. This makes it so soft again that it can readily be bent and hammered. The heating can be done by holding the plaque

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POPULAR MECHANICS a gas flame, over a coal fire, or by lving the vn in Fig. 7. flame of a blowtorch, as iving the plaque, face down, on a ible thickness of corrugated cardboard, pe the design by using wooden punches hammer, the faces of the punches ng slightly rounded to prevent sharp ts in the design, where these are not nted. Now use the ball-peen hammer the background, as Fig. 5. s hammering is done on an anvil or shown in ivy piece of steel and, after the back- ound is hammered, the plaque is again nealed. The nail sets are ground down, hown in Fig. 6, and the ends are pol- ed to remove the grinding scratches; this is not done they will show up on Take punch No. 5 and, irting about % in. from the design, inch the background down, until you e copper. ve come to the very edge of the de- en, as shown in Fig. 8. Here it is nec- as the design can a few misdirected be careful, easily be spoiled by sary to This Work Can Be Done at Home with a Ball-Peen Hammer, Woodworkers’ Clamp, Vise and a Number of Nail Punches Ground to Suit the Work blows. Anneal igain and proceed out the plaque by bending it by hand and also by triking it on the back- ground. A der can be made along ; to straighten 14-in. bor- 503 Give the finishing touches to the shape of the de- a straight line, about % in. long. sign from the reverse side of the plaque on corrugated cardboard as before. Get 15 cents’ worth of liver of sulphur from the drug store and crush the pieces to powder form, dilute them in water, and apply this solution to with a brush, as the background shown in Fig. 9. The copper will turn black where the solution touches it, so be careful not to get it on the design. Get pol- ishing cloth and proceed to polish the fig- ure. some fine jewelers’ If available, use a buffing wheel for a finishing polish, and also buff the black coloring from the high spots of the back- ground. Then apply transparent lacquer. the edge of the | plaque with punch No. 12, which produces

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504 Clamp to Hold Inner Tubes Makes Quick Repair on the Road Possible Handy Inner-Tube Clamp When repairing inner tubes on the road, a clamp of the kind shown in the drawing will be found convenient. It consists of a base of l-in. wood and a length of %- in. strap iron, bent to a U-shape to fit snugly around three sides of the wooden base. The ends of the iron clamp are drilled and it is then attached to pivot on one end of the base, as indicated. In use, the tube is placed on the base, with the place to be patched in the center, and the clamp is then brought down to hold the tube securely while it is patched.—Vin- cent J. McMurtry, Chicago. An Underwater Flashlight When something is dropped into a dark cistern or a shallow well, or when for any other reason it make a becomes necessary to dark water, place a pocket flashlight in a fruit jar and screw down the cover, with a new rubber ring in place, to make sure that it is watertight. The lens of the light should point toward the bottom of the jar and the jar must be weighted so that it will sink. Bind waxed cord securely around the neck of the jar to hold it. The wax will prevent the cord from slipping. An interesting use of the search in POPULAR MECHANICS underwater flashlight can be made night from a boat, if the water is smoot or if a “water telescope” is available. the water is fairly clear, fish below the j: can be seen or the bottom can be exan ined if the water is not too deep. A wate telescope is simply an open tube withou a top and with a piece of glass fastene: in the bottom. an undisturbed Its purpose is to provid surface without tions through which to gaze. The use thrusts the closed end into the water Looking through it, he can see objects a‘ great distances under the surface. Fisher men in the West Indies use the wate: telescope, and the glass-bottomed boat of the Bermudas and Santa Catalina ar: built on the same principle-—Edwin Tar- risse, Washington, D. C. reflec How to Break In a Pipe To break in a new pipe. remove the stem and make a plug of soft wood to re place it. Then fill the bowl with hot—not boiling—water. Let it stand for one o1 two minutes and repeat the operation hali a dozen times. The last time leave the water in the bow! overnight. Wipe it dry ghe next morning, replace the stem and the pipe is ready to give you an enjoy) able smoke.—H. Z. Sanders, Tulsa, Okla Keeping Crease in Coat Sleeves When coats or dresses aré suspended from hanger A for any lengt! 4 of time, the body of the garment may preserve its shape, but the sleeves soon become wrin- kled and lose their creases To insure the neat appear- ance of the entire gar ment, it is only necessary to insert one of the spring devices shown into each sleeve These springs are made from heavy wire “TWISTED ENDS SOLDERED

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POPULAR MECHANICS ent to fit inside the sleeves so as to tretch them a trifle, as indicated, the ends eing twisted and soldered together at a int where the joint will not touch the bric—G, E, Hendrickson, Argyle, Wis. Safety-Razor Blade Kink New safety-razor blades sometimes have tendency to “pull.” Many blades are liscarded for this reason that would therwise be made to give good service. he blades are sometimes honed slightly nore on one side, which causes a deflec- tion of the edge, curling it somewhat the opposite way. By turning the blade over the objection will bé overcome, and this may be done several times before renew- the blade.—Charles E. Forgette, Plattsburg. N. Y. Forcing Draft through Chimney Chimney draft can be forced by the addition of a cylinder on the end of the chim- ney. Thereshould be an open space of 3 or 4 in. be- tween the chim- ney and the cyl- inder. Iron strips bent to the shape shown in the de- tail are riveted on and hold the cyl- inder in position securely. The cyl- inder should project about 5 in. above the chimney. This arrangement will work equally well no matter from which direc- tion the wind blows. ~¥---- OPEN 3* = BOTTOM ~<«-- 8 STACK CHIMNEY BASE Emergency Stain Remover When working about the car in good clothes, to make some minor adjustment on the engine, you may get a grease spot on your sleeve. The soap compounds used by mechanics for washing grease off their hands, and which are usually kept around the garage, can be used to remove the stains. It is applied by means of a moist cloth and then washed off, Leather Stop Holds Bed in Place Pull-out beds of the kind shown in the drawing some- times have the tendency to slide a few inches out of place, owing to slight irregu- larities in the floor surface. Various kinds of hooks and latches could be used to hold the bed in place, but these would be too : conspicuous, so the problem was solved by placing a small leather stop in front of each caster. The stops were made from pieces of old sole leather obtained from a neighborhood cobbler.

They were bev- eled at the ends and screwed down to the floor in front of the casters, as indicated It is not difficult to pull and push the bed over these obstructions and they will pre- vent the bed from sliding out. Simple Repair for Sink Trap \iter pulling out the clean-out plug from the trap on the laundry tub acciden- tally, I made a neat and satisfactory repair as shown in the drawing. A sheet-lead patch was bent to conform to the curva- ture of the [wire trap and a_ | FASTENING hole cut in the center into which the plug with its thim- ble was dered. patch then lined with soft put- tv and pressed against the trap where it was securely held by two heavy wires twisted around the pipe. This emergency repair served its purpose well. —Frank Small, Toronto, Can,

PLUG SOLDERED TO PATCH sol- The was

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POPULAR BENT, IRON) HEAVY PLANK / It Is Easy to Run over a Street Curb on This Bridge Curb Bridge for the Driveway This curb bridge is equally-good for temporary or permanent ap- proach to a private driveway. Three sup- ports, made of 3-in. flat iron, are bent to form hooks, as indicated in the cross-sec- tion They are placed at the ends and center of a 2-in. plank of suitable length. Bolts are used to fasten the hooks to the plank and the bridge is hooked over the curb as Young, Culver, Ind. use as an view. shown.—Lester P. Repair for Leaky Water Pipe One morning upon waking we found the bathroom floor flooded with soon and that this was due to a leaky pipe. An emergency re- water SMALL SCREW, discovered RUBBER WASHER pair had to be made at got a small and a rubber washer, placed these in the leak, as shown, and ran a length of soft wire around the pipe, and through the groove in the screwhead,. twisting the ends to- gether with a pair of pliers. This drew the screwhead and washer up against the leak once, so I screw ~SOFT WIRE MECHANICS firmly and stopped it effectively until a more permanent repair could be made.— C. M. Wilcox, Torrington, Conn. Matching New Wood with Old When a piece of wood is to be set into old wood, which often happens in new repair work, it is a simple matter to match the two in color. dark, applying a_ solution (used when cold) of one large tablespoon ful of oxalic-acid granules in 1 pt. of hot water with a brush, until it is the as the old. If it is lighter, give it one or more coats of liquid ammonia, until it matches. Then stain, fill and varnish the surface in the usual way.—Francis W. Henry, Pottsville, Pa. If the new piece is too bleach it by Same Buttons and Hairpin Mend Broken Glass Panes When a window pane is broken so that it needs a support in the center to keep the pieces from dropping out, the method shown in the illustration will be found serviceable. Two buttons and a hairpin are used. The hairpin is slipped through two holes of the first button, through the crack or hole, and then through the second button on the other side of the glass. Then the ends of the hairpin are grasped with a pair of pliers and drawn up and twisted until HAIRPIN “BUTTONS tight. The raised rims on the front of the buttons should bear against the glass.— Dr. Halliburton, Moberly, Mo. two Tips for Sewing-Machine Users If the top thread used in a sewing ma- chine is wiry and hard, the loop through which the shuttle passes will not form cor rectly and this will result in skipped or missed stitches. This fault can be cor- rected by applying whale or sperm oil to

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e thread. Moisten a small piece of ponge and attach it to the machine so that e thread will absorb oil as it rubs over e sponge. Here are three ways to remove the eedle when it is stuck or held fast in the eedle..bar: One is to remove all the hreads= and run the machine at high peed; the second, to take out the needle crew, put a needle with the point broken ff in the screw hole and pry or force the tight needle out of the bar, and the third Po tap or hit the needle bar gently with i piece of wood. lo prevent the shuttle or bobbin thread from spilling or coming out of position, use a soft-finish thread underneath, es- pecially on high-speed work or when long rows are to be sewed. If new needles are tight in the bar and have to be forced up, the needle hole can be made larger by grinding a needle flat at the top of the shank, leaving a fine burr. Move the needle up and down in the hole and the burr will scrape sufficient metal away to enable new needles to be inserted very easily. The take-up spring tension should never exceed that of the top-thread ten- sion when a correct lockstitch is desired. —J. D, Calvert, London, Can, Plate Safeguards Elevator Door After an elevator operator had _ his fingers caught and injured in the sliding collapsible gate, a safety guard was fastened under the handle as shown in the il- lustration. It con- sists of a piece of “s-in. sheet metal attached to the edge of the door securely by the same screws that hold the han- die on. This will not interfere with the operation of the door in any way. The edges are carefully filed down to make a neat job and avoid injury from them.—Frank Harazim, New York City. POPULAR MECHANICS 507 Ordinary Farm Pump Converted into a Sanitary Drinking Fountain Sanitary Drinking Fountain on the Pump It is an easy matter to install a sanitary drinking fountain on an ordinary pump. Drill and tap a %-in. hole in the top of the spout and get a 2-ft. length of ™%-in. copper tubing. Clean the tubing thor- oughly and then thread one end so that it can be s¢rewed into the tapped hole. Bend the tubing carefully so that it passes back to the pump, where it is wired on securely Then the other end is bent up vertically, as indicated. A wooden plug is made to fit the spout snugly and is tied to the pump with a length of chain or rope. In use, the spout is plugged. causing the water to rise in the tubing when one pumps. sure on the handle determines the height of the stream.—L. B. Robbins, Harwich, Massachusetts. The pres- A Substitute Tie Clasp An ordinary paper clip will serve as an efficient tie clasp, as shown in the photo. If you have facilities for providing a plating bath, the clip may be gold or silverplated, thereby improving its appearance con- siderably.—K. B. Murray, Sturgis, Mich.

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508 POPULAR MECHANICS Tumbling Clown Agitated by Air Current Caught in Funnel Forms Novel Weather Vane Wind-Driven Tumbling Clown Quite a novel departure in weather vanes is shown in the drawing. The de- vice consists of a length of 1 by 4-in. wood for a base, a piece of sheet metal cut and painted to represent a circus tent, a small turbine wheel with a figure of a clown at- tached, and a funnel. A hole is drilled in the center of the base so that it can swing readily on a vertical shaft attached to the top of a post or building. A flange is pro- vided on the shaft to support the vane. The sheet-metal circus tent is attached to one end of the base and the clown and funnel at the other bine is mounted on a short wood- en post which is high enough to allow the clown to rotate without touching the base. A strip of tin is attached to the turbine and is bent to form a windshield on the lower part of the turbine to prevent it from turning in the The funnel i attached in a similar way so that it directs the air on the blades of the turbine just above the wind- shield and turn back somersaults rapidly. Lester P. Young, Culver, Ind. post wrong direction. causes the clown to Removing “Frozen” Clincher Tire It frequently happens that the bead of a clincher tire becomes firmly stuck in the rim due to rust. Place the deflated tire and rim or under the middle of the front axle, mount the jack on the tire, close to the bead, and jack the car up. If necessary, do this at 6-in. intervals around the tire on each side Before using the rim again apply soap- stone powder liberally to prevent future trouble-—J. W. McFarlane, Toronto, Can. wheel Hot-Water Coil in Range The faucet shown in the photo is con- nected to the hot-water coil in the range so that warm water is available immedi- ately after the fire has been started. This feature is of special value when the hot- water tank is upstairs and the water must run through a long pipe to reach the kitchen sink. An- end so that the base will be perfectly balanced when set on the shaft. The turbine is made by tacking a number of tin blades to an ordinary wooden spool and the fig- ure of the clown, which is also cut from sheet metal, is soldered to the L other advantage is that large contain- ers, such as wash boilers and tea ket- tles, can easily be filled since it is only necessary to slide the empty boiler un- der the faucet. By this means the cus- tomary practice of carrying many pails | of water from the edge of these blades. The tur- Connecting a Water Faucet to Water Coil in Stove Gives Hot Water at Once kitchen sink to the stove is eliminated.

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en" 4 w . rT % ~ a 4 nes 4 ' OF BE rst 5 Za iy =. ; : a | * : 2 # 1 = All Shop Notes published in 1926, in book form—Fifty Cents—from our Book Department A Universal Engine-Overhaul Stand By RAY F. KUNS \ STAND which is practically universal of the crankcase-to-cylinder-block bolt é in movement can readily be made up _ holes, which are removed before placing rom a few pieces of pipe, some plates andthe plate in position for mounting the little round stock. It is designed to engine on the stand. When constructing andle the Ford engine when it is removed the stand, this plate should be worked r overhaul. It will cut the time for this operation very materially, as well as add the satisfaction of working by provid- ng a convenient piece of equipment. The device is designed to grip the engine on the left-hand side. The plate J is made up to fit he evlinder block and ‘rankcase casting. wo capscrews, marked \, are used to bolt the late to the ater-manifold oss on the evlinder block. [wo lugs, F, re welded to the lower edge of the formed plate so that they will cor- respond to two out first and fitted to a Ford block. 5 h e heavy spindle, B, is shoul dered down to fit into a 1-in. hole drilled through plate J. Counter- sunk - head screws are then run through the plate into the shoulder of the spindle, to anchor the parts together. The end of the spindle, passing through the plate, may be riveted over to add to the strength. wots, BF The inner end of B also is turned down Top to Show Con- to 1 in. and has threads chased on it. The ee toe © jength of this shoulder is 4 in., which al- Sag

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510 POPULAR lows it to go through the post or column and the handle with its draw nut to have ample for tightening purchase when the engine is in place. The plate C is the inner screwed to shoulder of B, as was the plate J on the outer shoulder. Two %4-in. round - steel braces, E, are run from plate to plate as shown, to form braces and take the strain of the engine weight. They serve this pur- pose no matter in what posi- tion the engine is placed. The main part of B is 9% in. long MMT Mi MECHANICS proper allowance shoul this. A piece of round steel machined to a drive fi in the upper end of th: column. this is be made for One side oT then milled o shaped to receive the plate D. The other side has a spot milled flat to receive the draw nut. Thi piece is then secured in the top of the col umn by mean of rivets or dow els. This was made with a plate for a base, in to allow it to be moved to any point of stand order the shop. The between shoul- ders, so that it throws the en- gine out 10 in. —far enough to clear the post and braces with the start- er in place. The flange or is the same mate C plate, D, size as its (about % in. thick by 8 in. in diameter). A number of are drilled 4-in. holes around the flange C and one, at the same radius, in the flange D. When the head is as- sembled on the column, the two flanges come to- gether and are clamped tight by the screw threads of the draw nut when turned by the handle. A pin through the holes in the flanges holds the head rigid. The column G is made from a piece of 3-in, pipe, but an old axle housing would do just as well. The center of the head 25, should be 32% in. from the floor, and Two Views of the Stand in Use, Show- the floor in a ing How the Engine May Be Swung base is "16 by 24by48in. The braces, H, are welded to the base plate and to the column. It will also be noted that the column has a base. support made from a piece of flat stock which is used to at tach the post to the base and at the same time set it back. The weight of the engine should come over the center of the base. If it is desired to do away with the large iron plate for the have the device screwed to base and permanent position, the old axle hous- ing would be ideal. Half of a discarded Ford housing might be found and the dif ferential-housing end bolted right to the floor. It might be necessary to run braces similar to H from the column, but they could be carried to the rear where they would be less in the way than those shown.

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POPULAR MECHANICS the stand shown, the base was made m the plate in order that no difficulty experienced in running the floor crane, h an engine swinging in it, right up to head for mounting. Thus thé objec- n of a heavy base support is overcome. \s suggested above, the. Ford engine be swung to any position in this stand thout removing any of the accessories, d can be disassembled to the last bolt iving only the block. Bearings may be ken up or refitted and the engine then lt up again, and, after the work is done, is lifted, complete, from the stand and ropped into the car frame. Good Pipe Joints from Lead Wool Everyone does not possess a lead fur- ice for making pipe joints, but even ithout this, a good job can be done. ead wool, whith looks like fine excel- ior, can be hadat plumbing-supply houses nd can be rolled into a most convenient trand for ordinary calking purposes. his material has been found to be very ficient in stopping leaks under cellar where the house-service piping through the concrete, and the alking can be done with a hammer. and rdinary tools. In using this material, no heating or melting of the lead is neces- ary.—L. H. Georger, Buffalo, N. Y. ioors, omes Feed Rack on Wagon Saves Time The feed rack shown in the photo is mounted on a wagon and is readily de- tachable. It is filled directly from the tack or mow and is driven to the yard, vhere the cattle can feed from it. At the base, on either side, feed box for which catch was is a grain, also to hay. It found that the stock can get at the hay on this rack much more eas- ily than from a sta- tionary rack built on the ground.—George B. Harrison, Coun- cil Bluffs, lowa. serves loose Movable Feed Rack Which Saves Time and Found Convenient on the Farm ve o7 AGL | / i y Semicircular Shield Keeps Heat around Frozen Pipe and Hastens Thawing Thawing Out Frozen Water Pipes When a blowtorch is used to thaw out frozen water pipes much of the heat is wasted, as only a small portion of the flame strikes the pipe. By using a shield of the kind shown in the drawing, which tends to confine all the heat of the flame around the pipe, the work can be done much more quickly. The shield is made from a piece of galvanized sheet iron bent to a semicircular shape and provided wit} the user The wooden a wooden handle, which enables to hold it in any position. handle is attached by means of small angle brackets as l as possible, to pre vent it securel\ from coming loose when the shield hot. \ wav would be to fas- ten a 6-in. length of 14 or %-in. better gets pipe to the and insert a wood- en handle into the opening of the pipe at the other end. —Jesse L. Blicken- staff, North Man- chester, Ind. the shield in same manner then

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12 POPULAR ~t* tenis Shield with “7 ae Warning Falls ; io When Over- PIVOT >} \ | loaded Truck iJ \ ; Enters Pas- i} = ' sageway =< NGE

Drop Signal for Overloaded Trucks While passages in factories or ware- houses. leading from one department to another for transferring materials on hand trucks, usually are sufficiently high to clear an ordinary load, occasionally some- one overloads a truck and jams it in the opening, causing the topmost portion of the load to be pushed off. To avoid such occurrences, one factory uses an effective signal, w hich warns - a truckman at once ; || ale if his load is too aa] in high to clear the a fe steam pipes run- ning across the top of the passage. It consists of a strap- iron bracket bolted above the doorway and a sheet of met- al pivoted in the bracket by two pins so that, when raised against the wall, its lower edge is level

MECHANICS catches the metal sheet, causing it to fal with a loud crash on the bracket the same time the and at exposes danger sign Drying Printed Matter Quickly Merchants in all branches employ mim eographing machines for advertising pur poses. machines print through a typed stencil and the ink feed may be regu lated so that the printing is light or heavy In most instances, These however, the operator desiring clearness of print, forces the feed so that the printed sheets falling into the receiving tray become more or less smudged from contact with one another To prevent this, a Wisconsin merchant has a slow-speed electric fan directing a draft of air against the pile of printed sheets as they drop into the basket. This causes a cushion of air to be retained be tween the sheets, which prevents smudg ing. The printed matter is then ready for folding almost immediately. To Make Wood Fireproof Fairly open-grained wood that is to be used in heated locations and in electrical machines can be fireproofed in the follow ing way: Dissolve waterglass in warm water and allow the solution to cool. Ap- ply several coats of the solution to the wood and let each one harden and the wood dry out thoroughly before putting on the next. The waterglass penetrate the pores of the wood and this will fire- proof it and also increase its electrical re- sistance, as moisture cannot enter. Maul with Interchangeable Head Facings One of the most serviceable tools for mechanics is a maul having interchange- able head facings. It consists of a tub- with, or a little be- SY Ss ular head, split low the lowermost lengthwise, and a steam pipe. The LEAD BRASS “RAWHIDE small pipe handle top is bent at right = i held by ep ae angles and the S RETAINING NUT shown. 7 he facings warning is painted -- SPLIT HEAD are made of brass,

on this part. If a truck is loaded too high, the load —~— HEAD FACINGS~ Shop Maul Fitted with Interchangeable Head Facings for Different Uses lead, rawhide and rubber and held by tightening the nuts.

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POPULAR MECHANICS Reversing Auto Quickly How to shift gears into reverse when e car is moving forward is a kink worth nowing in preparation for an emergency, hen it is not only necessary to stop but lso to move backward immediately. This is the means of preventing accidents on everal occasions on a mountain road near denver, Colo. To shift into reverse when e car is moving forward is to invite dis- ster to the gears, but the same effect as topping the car can be obtained by jam- ming the brakes tight enough to lock the heels before shifting. Then, unless the clutch is still spinning, a quiet shift is pos- ible and the car can be reversed, when it tops so quickly that an otherwise un- voidable collision is averted. A driver iking daily mountain trips with a tour- t car on narrow roads mastered this trick preparation for meeting a fast down- ird bound car, which is sometimes un- ble to stop in a short distance. Crimping Electric Wire Terminals When crimping the shell-type wire ter- minals around electric cables, the method hown in the illustration has been found entirely satis- factory. An ordinary nut, preferably one having coarse threads, is split. It is placed about the terminal, gripped in the vise and pres- sure brought on it with the vise jaws. Some years ago, in a shop where the writer was employed, we : made up spe- cial crimping dies to do this work at a cost of approximately $30 each. Split nuts would have saved practically all of this cost.—G. A. Luers, Washington, D. C @ Wire mesh is useful for drawer bottoms in tool cases where dirt may accumulate. Mail Box Held on Extended Arms of Figure Made and Painted to Re- semble Uncle Sam Uncle Sam Mail Box Instead of the customary post with the mail box attached, one farmer cut out a figure of a man and painted it to resemble Uncle Sam. The arms extend horizontal- lv to hold the mail box, which is fastened to them by means of small angle brackets. The figure is mounted on a 2-in. plank, which serves as a base, with heavier brack- ets. Asan additional support, a '%-in. iron rod is attached to the body and to a short post level with the ground.—C. F. Hol- lingshead, Reading, Mich. Paint Mixed with Drill Press An excellent method of thoroughly mixing paint, shellac, etc., is to place the can under a high-speed drill press. A propeller, made by locking an oblong flat piece of metal between two nuts ona small rod, is clamped in the chuck of the drill press. The flat ends are given a slight twist to give them the shape of propeller blades. White-lead paint mixed in this way is almost as smooth as enamel.

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514 POPULAR Telephone Amplifier Overcomes Noise in Shop The noise of machinery often made it dificult to use the telephone in an adja- MECHANICS phone receiver and the other pair to the amplifying circuit. A rheostat is inserted in the filament line and a headset in th« output circuit. These shown in the diagram. connections art Dry cells to op TELEPHONE COL ANSFORMER Intensifying Weak Voices by the Installation of a Vacuum- Tube Amplifying Apparatus and a Radio Headset Has Been cent trouble successtully overcome by adding a radio vacuum tube and a headset, as shown in the drawing. To install them, disconnect the receiver cord from the transformer in the base of the telephone box and run wires from the disconnected terminals to the knife ter- minals on a double-pole double-throw switch. Connect one pair of end termi- nals of the switch to the standard tele- office, but the Was Found Practical in Noisy Offices and Factories erate a 3-volt vacuum tube are used and a 45-volt B-battery supplies the plate cur rent. When the switch is thrown to the left it connects with the telephone receive: in the usual way, but when it becomes nec essary to have more power, the switch thrown to the right and even weak voices will be amplified considerably. By the use of a double headset all noises from the shop machinery will be shut out.—R. F. Starzl, LeMars, Iowa. Cover Protects Small Magnifier The photo shows a simple method of Get an old snuff box, or similar container, and protecting a small magnifying glass. Tin Cover for the Magnifying Glass Is Made from Old Snuff Box cut a handle. small notch in the side for the Then fill the box with soft cloth of the kind used to clean the glass. The cover fits down firmly over the lens and protects it against breakage and scratching. Acid-Proof Wooden Sinks When wooden sinks are used in fac- tories, laboratories, ete., it is often desir- able to make them water and acid-proof. Common paints soon peel off and even commercial roofing paint, thinned with gasoline, will not last long. An excellent method of attaining this end is the fol- lowing: First dry the wood by scrap- ing and heating it until all the moisture is driven out. Heat some pure block aspnalt in a suitable receptacle and, when well softened, add raw linseed oil in the pro- portions of 8 oz. of oil to 1 gal. of the melted asphalt. Stir thoroughly, then pour the paint into the sink and spread as rapidly as possible with a stiff brush. It dries so quickly that only a small space

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POPULAR MECHANICS be covered at a time before the mix re sets. When the sink is completely should take a plumbers’ blow- ic play the vered you flame on the until it sinks into the wood we melts down to a fairly smooth A. flame \ \ k and forth so that the 1 rface. Keep the moving re overheated.—L. rwich, Mass. Wet Cloth Strip Prevents Burning of Pie Crust In making pies, especially pump- ] baked pie, which has to be the housewife ynnger than others, ten finds that the rim of the crust overbaked or burnt. is, cut or tear a strip of clean loth, about 1% in. encircl To avoid wide and long Just enough to e the pie. efore placing the pie in the oven strip in water and e rim of the crust, allowing part cover . the strip to hang over the edge. he additional moisture retards the bak- ng of the rim enough to prevent it from becoming too crisp, or burning. After the pie has been taken from the oven, the trip can readily be removed.—Mrs. M. R. Wells, Cleveland. Ohio. Substitute for Corkscrew whose chemicals come 1 bottles with wide mouths and flat corks, which Photographers, have a tendency to go in too far or may even be forced into the bottle, will find the kink shown in the drawing a practical pre- ventive of this trouble. By pushing a nail through the cork from the bottom good handhold is provided. The stopper will remain air-tight owing to the resili- of the cork.—E. E. Zahm, Gleudale, California. 4 / 9 j side, a ency wood \ B. Rob- | Blower Clears Chips from Work and Permits Worker to See Guide Lines Blower Clears Chips from Woodwork V oodwot k with follow On many operations difficult to lines, due to the accumulation of chips ot sawdust on the work. ing tools, it is layout One piano-manu facturing concern overcomes this trouble in a very simple way, by mounting a port able blower near the work, and directing the blast so as to blow away the chips The illustration shows how the blower is used during the operation of cutting the radius on a grand-piano end frame. Improved Cement Mixer Lasts Longer Because of the gritty nature of sand and cement, concrete-mixing machines are short-lived. This is true ol bearings supporting the shaft that passes through the mixer. A contractor of the middle west especially has improved his mixers by adding to the end of each a pipe screwed into the bearing inside of the oil-cup hole and connecting this pipe to a 2-gal. tank wate! supported about 12 in. above the This gives sufficient pressure t flow through the bearing into the mixer, thus washing the bearing. | make the water slowly cement and sand from the surfaces.

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516 POPULAR Spare Tire Serves as a Bumper without Inter- fering with Cooling of - - Radiator / >» Spare Tire Forms Front Bumper trucks there is no suitable place to mount the spare tire, so one truck owner attached it in front of the radiator, as shown. The framework is made by fastening pieces of heavy flat iron to the tie-rod between the headlights and to the part of the chassis below the radiator, the ends of the frame being bent at right Mounted in this position, the tire will not interfere with the cooling and it also acts as a bumper.—Dale R. Van Horn, Walton, Nebr. On many angles. How to Start a Keyhole Saw Instead of boring large hole to start a keyhole saw, drill about five or six one ¥g-in. holes in line, as close together as possible, then run the drill through them at an angle. While turning the drill, lift it slowly to the vertical posi- tion, and you will have a neat slot all ready to start the saw and not even a bad corner.—John A. Blaker, West Auburn, Mass. MECHANICS: Discarded Films and Phonograph Records for Pipe Joints A man who owns a plumbing and pipe fitting business has found that gasket made from discarded useful in flange and union couplings on hot and cold-water lines. He claims the results obtained are just as good as if sheet rubber were used and the cost is nothing In trying them on steam lines where the flange faces had been finished on a planer, he found the results fairly good, but, if the least bit of roughness existed on the faces, the joint usually would leak. In another case a 10-in. phonograph record was used as a gasket between two flanges on a 3-in hot-water pipe line, a hole being cut in the center of the record. The joint wa perfectly tight with 125-lb. pressure on the line and remained tight for several years. films are Holding Tapered Parts in Vise Where irregular or tapered parts are to be held in the vise, the adjustable bloc} shown in the illustration will be found It is made up as a tri with the shorter sides a valuable aid. angle, two WIDTH SAME + AS DEPTH OF . VISE JAWS —" scalloped or re- cessed for the spool holder. The spool is flanged sO that the block will not slip vertically. The clamping face of the block will seek the taper on the work. The re- cesses or scallops allow the spool to be set so that the block will distribute the grip of the vise jaws evenly along the work. Marble Slab for Surface Plate I find that a discarded marble top, so often found on old furniture, makev an ideal surface plate, as they are heavy and usually ground to a true surface. I use one for this purpose and also a large piece of another for a saw table. It is easy to work and the saw slot can be cut with an old saw, keeping it wet with water while doing this—H. E. Van Buren, Rapid City, S. Dak.

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A Powerful Gasoline Torch By FLOYD MOORE fiero torch shown in the accompanying lrawings can be made in a short time few materials, and will prove very jivenient in the small shop. It provides enty of heat for all ordinary soldering perations, and will melt a pound of lead n five minutes. First build the torch, using “4-in. tubing nd a '2-in. petcock for the main body. The torch is about 10 tn. long, over all, the shorter nipple, nearest the generator, ving 3 in. long, and the one at the torch A piece of %-in. brass copper tubing is fitted to the %-in. one, in the manner shown in the drawing, oldering all joints perfectly, and a brass plug made for the outer end of the torch. This plug is from “6 to 1% in. wide, a tight fit in the end of the tubing, and has a %-in. hole drilled in the center to take the end end about 6 in. WHEEL WELDED ON IN PLACE OF KEY ---- \_TO WITHIN 5 FROM BOTTOM DETAIL OF GENERATOR DETAIL OF TANK CONNECTIONS of the smaller tube. From this hole six radial cuts are made.with a coping saw as shown. The nozzle is formed from a small adhesive-tape can, or one of simi- lar shape and size, cut as shown and se- curely wired to the end of the tube. Now for fruit jar, the generator. Take a quart remove the cap and drill three holes across the top. The center hole is covered by a screw cap, cut from an old oilcan. In one of the two outer holes is soldered a piece of %-in. tubing, 2 in. long, 1 in. extending above the top of the cap, and in the other hole, a similar tube, but extending to within about ™% in. of the bottom of the jar. rubber on the jar, and the cap down tight, after filling the jar with gasoline to a point just below the shorter tube. The tank used with this outfit was an old Prestolite tank, but any similar tank will do. Re- move the old hose connection on the tank and replace it with a tire-valve stem, sol- dered in. This can be done without alter- ing the tank in any way. The valve stem has a hole drilled midway on one side Use a new SCTE W A Simple but Powerful Soldering Torch That Will Prove Very Useful in the Small Shop, and Can Be Assembled from Odds and Ends; It Will Melt a Pound of Lead in Five Minutes oe BRASS PLUG MADE TIGHT FIT, § HOLE, / SLOTS CUT WITH COPING SAW DETAILS OF NOZZLE ————— at ~- SMALL TIN CAN | |

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518 over which is soldered a petcock with a short piece of tubing on top, as shown. The hose leading to the generator goes on here, and the hose to the torch leads from the short tube of the generator. The pet- cock on the side of the valve stem must be turned off when more air is to be pumped into the tank. The air pressure One Window Weight Used for Two Instead of using four 5 or 6-lb. weights between windows I get two 9-lb. weights, and hang them as shown in the illustra- tion. Each sash cord must be cut twice as long as it is for the old method and the weight is at- tached to a small awning pulley by means of a length of wire passed through the eye of the pulley. This runs on a sash cord fastened to both windows and passes over the pulleys in the casing, as indicated. The advantage of this method is that it eliminates the possibility of tangled cords. —G. F. Sutton, Sedalia, Mo. Cause of Flickering Headlights Flickering headlights are sometimes caused by loose connections in the socket at the junction block, the switch or, occa- sionally, by a bare wire coming in con- tact with the metal frame of the car. One auto owner, who experienced this trouble, discovered that a headlight wire, which passed between the hood and the frame, had become bared, and had shorted the entire lighting system, causing the lights to flicker and go out whenever the wire came in contact with the frame. On an- other occasion the same trouble was traced to a bare tail-light wire. If both POPULAR MECHANICS is furnished by a tire pump, attached to the valve stem. To light the torch, open the torch pet cock, and then the air valve and cock on the tank. The air goes down the long tube into the generator, and, bubbling up through the gasoline, carries the vapor to the torch. It can be ignited with a match the headlights flicker and go out, it is a fairly sure indication that the trouble is caused by a short. If only one flickers, a loose connection usually is responsible. How to Arrange Countershaft for Two Speeds It is sometimes an advantage, in a shop where very little screw cutting is done on the lathe, to have the countershaft ar ranged for two speeds. This is done by placing a large pulley on the line shaft and not crossing the belt. Of course, in this case the lathe cannot be reversed. This method has been used in a shop for years and found quite an advantage. By using the cone pulleys and back gears, twelve cutting speeds may be obtained. Simple Shop-Trailer Latch Trouble with shop trailers unhooking from the tractor can be eliminated by providing a latch to hang over the head 6 the hook as shown in the illustration. The latch is made from a length of flat iron or steel bent over to swing on a short length of rod, which is screwed to the body of the trailer. The lower end of the latch, which is bent at right an- gles, fits over the head of the hook and prevents it from rising. When the trailer is de- tached, the latch is raised and the hook disengaged from the bolt. —Aug. Math- ieu, Chicago. SWINGING oo EATEN OF FIT *, rpXipg C.R.STEEL { ! STORAGE - BATTERY TRUCK

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POPULAR MECHANICS 519 Waterproofing Auto-Step Plates Rubber step plates on auto running boards do not fit closely enough to keep mud and water from entering under them ind causing rust, but by applying storage- hattery sealing compound hot to the boards in a heavy laver and pressing the plates down into it, the rust is prevented. The compound must be soft when the plates are installed, to make a water-tight fit, and it is best to warm also the running board with a torch, to keep the compound liquid for some time. The step plates must be bolted to the running boards, as usual, to keep them in place. Holder for Valves, Screw Bolts and Sleeves When overhauling some truck motors, the mechanics used a device consisting of flat pieces of spring steel, with the ends slightly bent out, for lifting valves during the seating process. The use of the de- vice is clearly shown in the illustration. After they are inserted in the slot of the valve, the ends in the hand are pressed to- gether, which causes the low- er ends to grip the valve se- curely. Slotted machine screws can be removed or replaced with the de- vice, and even circular, parts, such as sleeves and _ bearings. can be held quite firmly with it. Defects in Leather Belts Having considerable trouble with poor leather belts, which broke frequently, the following method of finding defects in a belt was found successful: Put the belt in a vinegar bath; this will bring up all defects, such as poor fibers, by swelling and darkening the leather. Device Keeps Water Hose from Freezing Auto-service sta tions often have a water hose handy for the autoist to fill his radiator, and during winter the hose is like- lv to freeze, which may ruin it. A good method of protecting the hose freez- ing is to inclose it in a double-walled with from box saw- dust packed between the ELECTRIC two walls for USMT~. insulation. Heat is provid- ed inside by means of an = electric lamp. A double- walled sliding door, equipped with a han- dle and a counterweight, allows the mo- torist to get at the hose inside. The box inclosing the hose is about 5 ft. high. —Mrs. R. L. Riggs, Fort Smith, Ark. Lathe Tool Made from Broken Tap One of the problems in most shops is .the salvage of broken tools, among which a large number of taps are usually found. When a tap is so broken that an inch or more of the threaded portion is left, make a holder as shown in the drawing. Get a piece of bar machine steel, and drill the end, tap it out the same as the broken tap, and slot it an inch Then saw off the end of the bar. PIECE OF BROKEN TAP. Or so. Insert the piece of broken tap with one set of teeth outward and clamp it firmly with a screw, which is threaded in a hole also CLAMPING drilled through the screw ) bar as shown. This ser \ ae makes a good “chas- Oe ing” tool, which will often be found use- ful in lathe work.—Denald B. Templeton, ] \ nbrook, N. . &

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520 Portable Stand Holds Riveter Tips In a Denver steel shop the small, port- able stand shown in the illustration makes the carrying of an assortment of tips for the rivet an easy mat- ter. Besides, thev are al- ways at hand gun Portable Stand for Riveting Tips Saves Time instead of lying about the floor of the shop, so that the right tip can be found at once. Four light legs, 6 in. welded to the bottom of a \%-in. metal plate, 12 in. square. In this twelve holes are drilled or punched to receive the tips. A small rod, with a hoop in the top end, is welded to the top of the plate to serve as a handle—Jos. C. Coyle, Denver, Colo. long, are To Keep Windshield from Rattling On Ford closed cars. of earlier date than 1924, the lower windshield frame is clamped by two knobs, which pass through slotted ears on the frame and into brack- ets on the body. When the clamps are tightened, the ends of the windshield frame are often spread apart as there is no bar across the top of the glass. This leaves the glass loose so that it will rattle. Washers should be slipped over the shaft of the clamping knob, nearly filling the POPULAR MECHANICS space between the ear on the frame and the body bracket. This prevents pulling the frame out of shape when the clamps are tightened. If washers that. are too thick are used, the windshield frame will not move easily when the clamps are loos- ened. If the washers can be turned easily with the fingers when the clamps are loose, their thickness is about right. Method of Handling Wet Photos Large prints, when wet, have a tendency to stick to the bottom of the tray and de- lay in picking them out may cause over- development. If you are using a large tray, lay a piece of corrugated glass in the bottom. It can be obtained by carefully knocking the wooden frame off a glass washboard. If can be re- The large corrugations make it an easy mat- ter to slip the finger nails under the edge of the prints to remove them. Small trays can be similarly fitted by using a piece of corrugated rubber matting, such as fas- tened on auto running boards. A washing in water occasionally will clean off old de- veloper.—L. B. Robbins, Harwich, Mass. necessary, it duced in size with a glass cutter. Counterweights for Adjustable Haystack Roof Concrete blocks with eyebolts cast in their ends make excellent counterweights for the adjustable haystack roof shown in the photo. . The corners of the roof are cut out to fit around the posts, which serve as guides to hold the roof in place. Concrete Blocks Attached to Adjustable Haystack Roof Make It Easy to Handle

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POPULAR MECHANICS A Power-Line Pole Straightener he very useful device shown in the il- ration was made by a contractor who ertook to straighten up a _ five-mile » wer line, the poles of which had twist- e. owing to too much tension on one side. he device itself consists of a 12-ft. hick- or ash pole, 4 by 3 in. in size at the ill end and 8 by 3 in. at the large. The ter carries the 4% by 3-in. iron strap, {ai A blow with a sledge sinks the lugs into the wood, and the chain is caught in the slot of the clamp. While this is being done, a man climbs the pole and loosens the wires from the insulators. While he stays there, the team is started and driven a few feet until the pole is straight. The after treatment, shown in the in- sert .sketch, was found necessary every 120° ———— XZ IRON STRAP hown in the drawing, and on one side is pointed steel lug, forged on the end of holt. A 1 by 3-in. steel clamp is also fastened to the large end by means of an evebolt, and fitted with lugs. The open end of the hinged clamp is slotted to take the links of a heavy logging chain, the end of which is fastened to the pole y an eyebolt. The device should be as vell made as possible and only good, ound lumber should be used for the pole and its doubletree. Application is very simple. The chain is unclasped and the straightener clamp placed around the line pole to be straight- ened, either at the ground level, or, if the wood is unsound there, about 6 in. above. STEEL LUGS, POINTS HARDENED HARDWOOD } DOWELS A Method of Straightening Twisted Power Lines That as Proved Not Only Practical and Fast, but Supe- rior to Older Methods fourth pole, but this depends, to some ex tent, on the amount of twist. Some small can be straightened fully by the strength of two men only, as suff The best time for the job is in the early spring, just as the frost leaves the ground. lines success- the leverage of the straightener is cient for their pull. This method has proved far superior to the usual one of removing the crossarms and making new cuts for them in the pole. Not only is the pole weakened by this practice, but there is more danger of electrocution in the operation, if the line is live, and usually but few lines can be cut off for the length of time necessary Arthman N. Capron, Athelstan, Can.

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POPULAR MECHANICS Removing Piston Pins In removing p iston many men resort to the customary bad habit of driving them out with a ham- mer and punch, which usually results in mar- ring the piston and often in breaking it. This trouble can be entirely eliminated by using the tool shown in the illustration. It consists of a couple of straps of thin flat iron attached to a piece of %4-in. stock, as shown, and a screw, which is driven down by hand to force the piston pin out. By using this tool the piston cannot be injured in any way. pins, garage Small Auto Drains Flooded Cellar After each heavy spring rain we usually find from 2 to 10 in. of water in our cellar and there is no way of draining it out. Last spring we obtained a 1%-1n. rotary gear pump and connected the shaft of the pump to the hub of one of the rear wheels of our car. The pipe leading to the cellar kept the pump body from turning. The wheel of the auto was raised by means of a jack under the axle. The other wheels blocked, and the arrangement pumped the water up at the rate of about two barrels per minute—Geo. G. Mc- Vicker, North Bend, Nebr. were Carbide on Castings Shows Cracks Most large shops use dismantled ma- chinery as a supply-for parts for new con- structions, thus saving expense by avoid- ing pattern and casting costs. There is always the danger, however, that castings from old machinery will contain cracks, making them unsafe for reuse, and these cracks are often not evident. One large machine shop has a simple method of lo- cating such faults. The castings are first washed in the usual cleaning fluid, to move old grease and dirt. Then they a painted with slaked carbide, which is lowed to dry, leaving a white surface oy the metal. If cracks exist, they will revealed in a short time by black lines the white surface. due to tl grease in the cracks, which is drawn ont and shows in sharp contrast to the whit: carbide. All axles and frame parts, whi are to be subjected to strain, are treat: in this manner as well as any other castin likely to have concealed flaws. As a r sult, about five per cent of the casting were discarded as unsafe last year. This is Sawbuck Helps Raise Log troublesome to lift a large log up on a sawbuck, but with tl! buck shown in the drawing the task wi always be easy. Sometimes it is It has a 7-ft. base made of 2 by 4-in. stock. The long leg, bent the upper end as indicated by the dotted lines, is an old cultivator beam and the other leg is made of two lengths of 1 } 4-in. wood. In use, the device is placed so as to straddle one end of the log and by pulling the base down, as indicated by the arrows the log can be raised with lit tleeffort. Thi article is a correction 0! one publishe in the Octo ber, 1926, is where errone sue, was ously stated that both leg were made ot! 1 by 4-in. wood.- Luth er Strosnidet Onaga, Kans. ME enn me Fuel for Bee Smoker One of the best and most easily obtain able materials for fuel in a bee or rodent smoker is made from gunny sacks. Strips about 6 in. wide and 16 to 20 in. long, are cut and rolled to such size as to go into the chamber of the smoker. <A cord is

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POPULAR MEC around the rolls to hold them to- ier until ready for use. Previous to tting them into the smoker, cut the cord d allow them to loosen. A little crank- e oil (used) may be applied to the sack- to produce more smoke and cause the th to burn better. Forced Ventilation Prevents Shed Burn in Curing Tobacco Shed burn, which is one of the troubles countered by tobacco raisers, takes ce soon after the plant is hung in the ed and before it is cured. This heating burning usually occurs during heavy, mp weather when it is almost impos- le to ventilate the shed properly. To minate the trouble, one tobacco raiser entilated his shed by placing a 3-hp. elec- ic motor, belted to a blower, on a two- heeled truck which could be pulled rough the passage of the shed. A flex- le pipe was placed over the outlet of the ower so that air could be directed be- een the hangers in the different bents. n damp mornings the shed is ventilated rom the center to the outside with this utfit. Temperature and humidity read igs are taken every fifteen minutes. It Portable Blower Provides Forced Ventilation for To- bacco Shed and Prevents Shed Burn requires about two hours to ventilate a 125-ft. shed —J. G. Wynn, Madison, Wis. Large Turnbuckles Made from Old Truss Rods Prove Handy in Steel Shop Old Truss Rods Make Useful Turnbuckles lime and labor are saved at a Denver straightening steel beams of various kinds by the use of the improvised turnbuckle shown in the photo. It is made from heavy truss rods, 2 ft. in length and bent at each end to hook over the flange of I-beams, channel or Z-irons. steel shop in heavy [f these are close together, as in the photo, one or more of these turnbuckles are ap plied to the straight parts of the beams to hold them, while a jack is used to force any humps into place. are easily tightened with a strong The turnbuckles stick o1 rod, and as they are not seriously affected by heat, they may be set very close to the flame of a torch without risk of damaging them.—Jos. C Covle, .Denver. Colo How to Paint Cement Surfaces There are times when it is necessary to paint some cement surfaces as quickly as possible or just as soon as the cement has dried out. Although this ordinarily is too soon for painting, it can be done success fully in the following way: To 1 gal. of water add 12 oz. of sulphuric acid and brush this mixture over the wall, an old brush. This will provide a surface that is free of and makes a good painting job possible. Do not let the mixture come in contact with skin or clothing.—L. H. Georger, Buffalo, New York. using any excess of lime

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524 POPULAR MECHANICS One-Way Traffic for Wheelbarrows Klevated planks for wheelbarrow tracks are a familiar sight during the erection of One-Way Wheel- barrow Planks for Building Jobs buildings. When a number of barrows are being used, two plank ways are essen- tial, but it often happens that two men will start from opposite ends of the same plank, which means, of course, that one of them must back up to clear the way for the other. A building contractor in an eastern city, finding it of no avail to give orders that this practice should be strictly avoided, had a couple of runways made so that it was impossible to wheel a bar- row both ways. Two planks, one a little longer than the other, are hinged together, and an e\ ebolt is screwed into the under- side of the longer one, while a hole is bored in the other, rary loading platform and the doorwa in the building. Material dumped on t! platform was carried inside in wheelba rows, some doorways being used for g ing in and others for coming out, and t] planks were placed accordingly. It wi be seen that the weight of the botto: plank raises the hinged end of the top plank so that it is impossible to push tl barrow over it, while, from the other end a barrow can be wheeled in the ordinar way. As the workman proceeds with h barrow across the plank to the opposite end, that end is pressed down so there no bump when the barrow leaves it. nail on each side of the runway, at bot! ends, keeps it from working sideways and a short space is left between it and th: planks laid on the surface at either end $y adjusting the knots, the plank can be made to rise to any suitable height Harry Moore, Montreal, Can. Timing by Oil-Filled Priming Cup When timing auto engines having prim ing cups, the cup in the front cylinde: should be partly opened and filled wit! fairly heavy oil. Whenthe piston is comin up on the compression stroke, air bubble pass through the oil in the cup and agi tate it sufficiently to be easily seen. Whet the piston reaches top dead center, the bubbling suddenly stops.—E. T. Gunde son, Jr., Humboldt, Iowa. How to Prevent Tape Line from Kinking Many tape lines are ruined by twisting the tape as it is being wound up. Thi is likely to happen especially if the line is wound up in dark or windy places. New lines also. have a large enough to clear the eye. A piece of rope i 5 threaded through the eve and the hole, and both ends are knotted so the planks can be sepa- rated a convenient distance. These runways were used to bridge the gap between a tempo- Slip a Pencil under the Tape Line While Winding It to Prevent It from Kinking tendency to kink or curl quickly on be coming slightly damp. This trouble can be prevented by using a lead pencil as shown in the photo, when return ing the tape to the case. It will wind rapidly without the least danger ot kinking. — ad PALELEaRLdaA®

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POPULAR MECHANICS Kink for Stenographers sometimes it is necessary for a stenog- her to use a typewriter when the keys - so cold that the fingers become numb. is can easily be overcome by raising e typewriter on some books, about 1 in., d placing a lighted electric lamp under e keyboard. A dark cloth can be apped around the bulb to prevent glare. e keys will be kept just warm enough permit typing with comfort. Hinged Joint in Pump-Supply Pipe On most farms the pipe connecting the ndmill pump with the water tank is at- ched to the spout by means of a cast- on bowl with a wire bail. This is a sat- factory arrangement as long as the mill employed merely to pump water into e tank, but when it is necessary to re- ove the pipe so that pails or cans may e filled, it means a waste of time. To mplify the attachment and removal of he pipe, one farmer conceived the idea placing the latter on a permanent sup- port and pro- viding a hinged joint at the point indicated in the drawing. This joint is made by put- ting two elbows and a short nipple in the pipe line, about 3 ft. from the pump, and al- lows the bowl , to be swung oe toward or away from the pump. The bail holds the howl securely beneath the spout when in place. This improvement is especially de- sirable where women or children have to fill the water pail at the pump. @It is almost impossible to paint a wall in a satisfactory manner unless properly sized; a good size can be made by thinning varnish with gasoline. The first coat should be dry before applying the next. CURB wa” te ae EXPANSION a SIDEWALK JOINT STREE Protecting Grass Plots near Curbs by Narrow Walk Narrow Curb Walks Protect Grass The problem of keeping grass in park- ways between curbs and sidewalks from being trampled down by pedestrian traf fic can be solved by laying narrow con- crete walks along the curbs. These walks are made about 2 ft. wide and 5 in. thick, and are separated from the curbs by bi tuminous expansion joints, as the drawing. shown in They are connected to the main sidewalks by crossings, about 50 ft. apart, which provide means of reaching the former without stepping on the grass Protecting Belts Exposed to the Weather It is often necessary to run belting out where it weather if not effective cover can be doors, may be injured by the covered. “A simple and HALF OF OIL DRUM | made from an — ordinary sheet - metal drum, split open with an acetylene torch, and set over the belt as shown in the drawing. Two strap hinges are attached to the end of the cover so that it can be raised and turned back when the belt ' \ | ' } is to be mounted.

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526 POPULAR MECHANICS How to Turn a Large Cone A large cast-iron cone was required in the blacksmith shop, for the purpose of 1 LARGE CONE / BEING TURNED - Simple Method of Turning Large Cone on a Lathe enlarging and rounding up different sizes of forged rings. The method of turning the cone is shown in the drawing. A short portion at the small end was first turned by means of cover tabs after the paper has been pulled out of the pack to bring the next unes posed film into position. As a remedy | experimented by refraining from tearing off the paper tabs. Instead of tearing them off I provided myself with a pair of blunt-pointed scissors. After an exposure is made, the paper tab is pulled out as be fore, but not torn off. Frequently I ex posed the whole pack letting the pape: tabs hang out until the last photo had been taken. Then, the tabs are carefully cut off with the scissors. Of course, if the whole pack is not to be used at once, it is as easy to cut them singly. —John Edwin Hoag, Los Angeles, Calif. Repair for Ford Tie-Rods Old-model Fords were fitted with front wheel tie-rods having a ball forged on the right end, while an the compound rest. The cross-slide adjustable nut wa FREE provided at the screw was then re- ae ; ee other end. The bal! TINHERE j “~ . . moved and a holder | HERE is nothing more usetul in often wears out with a roller was placed in the tool rest along with the cutting tool, and a rope and weight were attached to the cross slide to keep the roller in : contact with the aS a SE€TVICE. sires it. surface of the cone. When the lateral power feed was en- forced out gradu- Chicago, III. ally by the action shop or drafting room than a table of decimal equivalents. We have prepared a stout, well-printed table, 1614 in. wide and 23 in. long, suitable for the wall of office or shop, and one or more copies of this will be mailed free to anyone who de- This is offered you merely Send us your name and address, and your copy will be sent at once, carefully wrapped and postpaid. Address Popular Mechan- gaged, the tool was ics Magazine, 200 E. Ontario St., first, and it is then customary to get a new tie-rod, al though this is otherwise in good condition. To avoid this unneces sary expenditure a simple repair of the kind shown in the illustration can be made. Turn the rod end for end and replace the adjust able yoke with the of the roller on the cone surface.—Jas. H. Ontario, Canada. Rodgers, Toronto, Removing Film-Pack Tabs with Scissors Any film pack will leak occasionally, and the film that gets fogged is invariably the one that the photographer was most anxious to obtain. I had a number of valuable negatives ruined in this way, un- til I decided to determine the cause and find a remedy if possible. A careful ex- amination showed that the films are fogged by the operation of tearing off the new-style yoke and removable ball. This will leave the old ball on the left end of the tie-rod where it will not interfere with steering —E. T Gunderson, Jr., Humboldt, Iowa. NaN fri 5 A : —T=F,., | Qe Ey As ” a NR mt NEW BALL ---~~ Repair on Ford Tie-Rod Eliminates Expense of Pur- chasing a New One

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Using Tongueless Cultivator tongueless cultivator is a very awk- rd implement to handle when one horse the team walks faster than the other vhen one horse stops to take a bite of rn. To remedy the tendency of the tivator to line down or run sideways in h cases, the inside two tugs of the m may be crossed, hitching the tug m each horse across to one end of the ngletree of the other horse—Geo. G. cVicker, North Bend, Nebr. Lock for Blacksmiths’ Tool Rack \ tool rack that can be locked is often irable to a blacksmith. That shown nsists of a number of heavy shelves in frame and is easily made. Suitable holes these allow the tools to be suspended th the heads resting on the shelves. A nk or heavy board is hinged to the nework over each shelf as indicated. the frame as well as in the ends of the 22> STEEL LOCKING . ROD oe <a = ©

, LOCKED | | 4s

A Padlock, a Steel Rod and Some Screweyes Securely Lock This Tool Rack hinged planks, heavy screweyes are driven, -o that a long steel rod can be passed through all of them. One end-is bent to lorm an eye, and a padlock is used in the topmost screweye and the loop of the rod, to prevent removal of the latter, as shown in the detail. POPULAR MECHANICS ~? cr 2

Attach a Water Hose to the Driveway Brush to Help Clean the Walk or Driveway Hose Attached to Driveway Brush Aids in Cleaning Cement Walks A wide brush, of the type called a “driveway brush,” is often used for clean- ing floors and walks. It is a good plan to tape or wire a garden hose to the handle of the brush, with a moderate stream of water directed on the bristles. The user can then scrub without stopping and the brush will be kept supplied with enough water to wash away the dirt. Another advantage is that the water prevents the bristles from breaking as they often do when used dry. Driving Nails in Hardwood To facilitate driving nails in hardwood, first drill a hole in the end of vour ham- mer handle, fill it with melted beeswax or paraffin and insert each nail in the wax before vou drive it into the wood. This method is also good for driving nails that have become slightly rusty and will enable you to drive screws into wood quickly and with much less effort than an untreat- ed screw requires.—Mrs. Russell Durham, Belton, Tex.

N 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 the 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.

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Is This Your Home? wright, Architects’ Small House Service Bureau ) KITCHEN 9° 6 110-0 LIVING ROOM ce | PORCH | _—_ — FIRST FLOOR & == = SECOND FLOOR Plan No. 4A5 Small House Service Bureau of the close self-addressed stamped envelope for reply. sample plans. tained for 20 cents. UESTIONS regarding home building addressed to this magazine will be answered by The Architects’ United States, Inc., controlled by the American Institute of Archi- tects and endorsed by the United States department of commerce. Blueprints, specifications and material list for the house shown here may be obtained at nominal cost. In- If further information is desired, send 5c and stamped envelope for a 24-page booklet explaining how the Small House Service Bureau functions and showing 12 A new booklet, entitled” ““Fitty Ways to Lower Home Building Costs,” bureau houses actually lived in, and showing how as much as $1,000 can be saved on a home, may be ob- Inclose 10c and self-addressed envelope. illustrated by ten ere house illustrated here shows how the dignified colonial style can be sat- isfactorily applied to a modern home of small dimensions. One of the features is a comfortably large living room dominated by a brick fireplace with adjoining bookcase of the same height as the mantel shelf and with panel doors. Six or seven people can be served at the extension dining table, with drop leaf, built into one end of the large well- planned kitchen. One of the seats has a hinged cover to give additional space under it. There are two long deep drawers under the seat built against the bathroom wall and from the bathroom. Two good-sized bed- rooms and bath occupy half the floor space. storage these are accessible practically one- This house can be built at a reasonable cost because of its straightforward plan and lack of features which require extras in the way of labor, millwork, etc. Its charm lies in its sim- plicity and adherence to colonial style. 5 OR A porch like the one on this house i always welcome. It measures eight feet wide by twenty-nine feet long. Anothe: feature is the unusual closet space. Be sides the fine kitchen equipment of cup boards and a closet in each bedroom, there is a coat closet in the entrance vesti bule, a linen closet in the hall and abun dant storage space on the second floor. The house contains four bath on the first floor—two bedrooms, a living room, and combination kitchen and dining room. rooms and The second-floor bedroom has a closet and cross ventilation, as indi cated in the plan. There is also a large storage room and space to finish off an other bedroom if desired. for a full basement. Colonial tradition is faithfully followed in this house, for it is of frame construc tion with brick base course, brick chimney shingle roof, and exterior carried out in wide bevel siding. To keep the spirit of the style the body of the house has been painted white, the roof and blinds green The place calls