Morrill's Clothes Dryer

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The accompanying engraving illustrates an improved out-door clothes dryer, for which a patent was granted to Samuel Morrill, of An-dover, N. H., Nov. 11, 1856. This invention consists in so arranging the reel as to allow it to be tilted for the purpose of putting the clothes thereon, and then by means of a handle raising the reel to a horizontal position which elevates the clothes high enough to he out of reach, and in a good position to dry. In the engraving, H represents the post which is either set in the ground or upon a platform capable of properly supporting it. Near the upper end of this post there is attached by means of a bolt, a, the arm, C, so as to admit a working joint. To this arm, C, is hinged the lever, E, which slides through an oblique staple on the post, H, and has notches cut therein to fit the staple, and hold the reel in any position. The reel arms, D D, to which the lines are secured, are made of wood and securely fastened to the cast iron head, G, which is cast with apertures to receive the arms, and also has a ratchet wheel cast on the underside. Through the head, G, there is cast or made a hole which fits a pin (having a shoulder to prevent it dropping too far) on the lever, C, upon which it rotates. Attached to the post, H, directly under the ratchet wheel is a finger which, when the reel is tilted, will catch into the ratchet, and prevent the weight of clothes from turning it backward after being moved along. To tilt the reel it is only necessary to elevate the lever, E, by the handle to a nearly horizontal position, when it will slide through the staple which causes the reel to tilt to the desired position, where it is held by the notches. To elevate the reel to the position of the dotted lines it is only necessary to raise the levepr, E, from the staple on the post, and draw it forwards until the lever, C, is in a line with the post, H, when by dropping the lever, E, it forms a permanent fastening. For further information address C. A. Dur- gin, 335 Broadway, New York.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 13 Issue 37This article was published with the title “Morrill's Clothes Dryer” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 13 No. 37 (), p. 292
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican05221858-292

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