(Third Prize, Two Dollars) A LONG-DISTANCE WARNING A SIGNAL NEW long-distance autoist's signal, visible from a distance of onehalf mile, night or day, has recently been erected in California. A metal tube about eight inches in diameter and two and one-half feet long rests across the top of a standard. This tube sticks through the center of a large red disc, and is finished in black, inside and out. One end is closed, the other open, and this open end points in the direction from which the autoist must approach. About eighteen inches back in the tube is a condensing lens, behind which is a strong incandescent lamp, backed in turn by a reflector. From the incandescent lamp, wires run down the inside of the standard, thence underground to a wigwag signal beside the tracks. IN (Second Prize, Five Dollars) INCUBATOR FIRE SIGNAL order to maintain the proper temperature in an incubator-about 103 degrees Fahrenheit-it is necessary to keep it well protected from the weather. Generally, the basement of one's house is selected for the purpose. There is, however, always danger of fire from the heating apparatus connected with the incubator. To overcome this danger, I can recommend the following device, which I have used: Take two dry batteries and connect them to the bell as in the sketch, using a string, from A to B. C is a small coil spring to close the switch. The string passes over the flame of the lamp or at the point where there is the most danger from fire. If the heat becomes too great, the string burns off. The spring, being released, closes, and the bell will ring continuously. WARNS THE MOTORIST The tubethrows a strong beam of light down the road, when a train is ap proaching. From this wigwag signal, wires run underground to points about one-half mile in either direction along the railroad track. When a train approaching the crossing passes either of these points, the wigwag is set in motion and its bell rings continuously, and the light in the long-distance signal is flashed. The placing of the lens far back in far the tube makes the danger signal almost as effective by day as by night. This device has decided advantages over other methods, in that it can be so set that it shows directly down the approach to the crossing, when the road turns, before coming on the track. Thus the motorist is not in danger as he would be if he were compelled to round the turn before seeing whether the way was clear. Further, the lens gives a searchlight effect that is visible at a great distance, even in daylight, and which, by its brightness, compels attention. O. P. Roberts, Los Angeles, California. By placing this bell near where you sleep, it will awaken you before much damage from the flames can be done. I also put in a small battery lamp close to the thermometer. By means of a push button connected up with the same batteries, the necessity of striking matches is obviated. Should the lamp in the incubator get too hot, this device will ring a bell as a warning. (First Prize, Ten Dollars) WASHER WOMAN GETTING RICH WITH PATENT MRS. ASSUNTA SGARLATA is olis and Kansas City, she has a good trade established, and is on the road to wealth. She is just beginning to realize what her little device will bring. MAKES WASHERWOMAN W. Bullock, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Second Prize, Five Dollars) STOPPING A WATERTANK LEAK TEMPORARY repairs are usually necessary when the hot-water tank in the house springs a leak; and often the tank is so old that a plug cannot be driven into the hole. A good method to follow in such a case consists in wedging a patch over the entire surface of the tank in the region of the leak. This little drain, invented trouble, is earning a fortune While washing, she had to be careful, when changing the clothes from the boiler to the tubs, not to spill hot soapsuds by a woman to save herself on the youngsters playing about her feet. One day she conceived an idea that would save work and also protect the babies. She rigged up a piece of tin with holes punched in it and with grooves to carry the water off, and fitted it on the boiler as a clothes drain. All water that drained from the clothes went back into the boiler, saving the suds, and it was easy to transfer the drained washing back to the tubs. Mrs. Sgarlata then thought that the device might help other women. A patent attorney in Washington said he would look up the records for previous patents, for five dollars. Mrs. Sgarlata was a long time saving the money. Then more money was necessary for the legal work incidental to getting her invention patented; but in eighteen months she saved the necessary fifty-five dollars, and got her patent. Then she had a few of the drains made and went to Chicago. A department store manager who became interested arranged for a demonstration, and the drains began to sell. Soon the demand began to exceed the supply; and now with agents in Minneap This may be done with a small piece of sole leather, a block of wood a little larger, and a board about one by three inches and two and one-half feet long. The leather and the block are placed against the tank in the region of the leak. The long piece is then placed so that one end rests on the block and the other on the top or bottom of the tank. Wire is then wound around the middle of this piece; Leak WILL HOLD UNTIL THE then two blocks are driven in under the free end of the stick, one being placed against the tank, and the other being driven in for a wedge. This holds the leather firmly against the tank over the hole. If well done, this arrangement will hold until permanent repairs can be made. The device is particularly valuable if the tank is too old for a plug, or the leak is rather big or irregular. When it is used there is no need for worry about getting a plumber quickly, since the arrangement will hold indefi This home-made device nitely. will stop any leak effect- E. D. Whidden, Elyria, Ohio. laying hens. To weed out the unproductive mem- we (Third Prize, Two Dollars) TIME-SAVING AUTO ACCESSORY TWO ordinary bicycle valves and an unseating pump hose connection MARKING THE GOOD HENS A piece of felt is soaked in a coloring solution which stains the hens as they enter the nest. make a device that enables one to pump up a tire without having to disconnect the hose of the pump from the tube while inflating it, to find the pressure. The metal parts of the valves are soldered into two adjacent ends of a small brass "T", and the hose connection is then soldered into the other end of the "T". The cores colored hens were speedily segregated, of the two valves are then put in place. By means of this device, any gauge can be used at any time, without disconnecting the pump from the tube, by placing it on the upper valve of the device. MADE-TO-ORDER SHELTER When one of these houses is wanted for a flagman. the house is simply shipped on a car. This method provides the best looking house possible, and at the same time does so at the least expense. The house is cool in summer and warm in winter. Cletus Berres, Oshkosh, Wis. Any man leaving this doorway must look in two directions before he can cross the track. (Second Prize, Five Dollars) A "SAFETY FIRST" DOORWAY THE Southern Pacific Railway company has established an interesting "safety first" device in the Portland, Oregon, shops for the protection of its employes. This device is a guard fence to keep a person, coming out of a shop or building and facing a track, from crossing the track without first having to look in both directions. This purpose is accomplished by means of a fence built in the manner indicated in the accompanying diagram. A. D. Wagner, Salem, Oregon. at the center, bears the numbers of the various zones. In order to find the rate, this segment is turned so as to fall beneath the figure indicating the proper weight; the figure on the card at the right of the figure on the segment which indicates the zone, is the rate. The number of the zone is determined from a table giving the various distances. The rate finder is printed on stiff cardboard of a bright yellow color, and can easily be found in a drawer or in the pigeonhole of a desk; it can also be easily carried in the pocket. It is being extensively used for advertising purposes, since its obvious utility insures that it will be kept by those who receive it, and there is room for catchy advertisements in a space left for the purpose. Fred Telford, Springfield, Illinois. A CARPET SWEEPER FOR CRUMBS THE "newest household article on the market" is a crumb collector designed to take the place of the oldstyle tray and knife affair. The collector is made of sterling silver, is handsomely engraved, and has a black ebony handle. There is place for a monogram or initials. It operates on the principle of a carpet sweeper; in fact it is miniature rate finder is shown in the photograph. The weight in pounds is printed about the circumference of a circle on a backing sheet, with the rates for the various zones underneath the proper weights. Another segment, attached to a pivot A HANDY NOVELTY This parcels post rate finder is being distributed by advertisers, and its usefulness insures that it will be kept. doors, is a platform on which is placed the box containing the old motor. Another platform, with a hole cut to fit, is placed around and flush with the top of this box, filling in the space between the box and the sides of the case. To turn the reproducing apparatus downward, instead of upward, as it had been, I cut off the cast iron bracket which formerly supported the horn and the reat producing arm, a Roint just below the lower end of the pin on which the arm swung. I turned the A REMODELED MACHINE WHICH WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH ORDINARY TOOLS FROM AN STYLE HORN PHONOGRAPH I built a cabinet 20 inches wide, 24 inches deep and 48 inches high, including the cover, of 34-inch lumber. Two sets of doors were placed in the front and a lid on the top. The lower doors are each 94 by 18 inches, set at the floor of the cabinet, which is 5 inches above the lower ends of the legs. (These can be sawed from the same pieces from which the sides are made.) The upper doors are placed above and adjoining the lower doors, and are each 94 by 12 inches. The lid is 4 inches deep, with hinges at the back, and covers the entire top of the cabinet, the top of the cover making a slight projection all around. Stays are placed on each side to hold the cover open while records are being changed. OLD upper part thus cut off, directly over, and after fastening it to a piece of stiff sheet iron, 4 inches square, for a base, screwed it over a 2-inch hole cut in the platform back of the box containing the motor. From beneath this hole, a square tube made of quarter-inch lumber and slightly tapering, extends downward to a point directly back of the center of the space covered by the upper doors. From the lower end of this tube, another funnel or bell extends to the outer edges of these upper doors. Three thin pieces, 8 inches wide, are placed horizontally across this opening to relieve the bare effect. The metal crank for winding the motor was lengthened to extend through the outer case. After giving it all a good finish, I have an attractive piece of furniture at small cost, and at the same time, secured an instrument which produces music equal to that of the highest priced machines. I can produce variations in the volume of tone, by opening or shutting the little doors, and I have abundant storage space for all my records; while, in place of an out-of-date machine, I have one which would ornament any house. |