On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
The Auburn, N. Y., Advertiser publishes a long and glowing eulogy upon the life and character of C.iarles B. Hutchinson, who died in that city, on the 9th of October, at the age of 50 years. Mr. Hutchinson possessed a marked geniu s, and was constantly occupying his mind upon some new and useful improvement. The records will show that he had secured about twenty patents; and we are pleased also to record the fact that he was successful, and had accumulated a handsome reward for his ingenuity and business capacity. Our acquaintance with Mr. Hutchinson began nearly twenty years ago, and we can bear testimony to his high and manly qualities of head and heart. Curious Stereoscope Effects. In the stereoscopic views one image of the view is superposed on the other and produces the effect of relief. If we tint one of the views with a transparent color, such as cobalt blue and the other with carmine or lake, we have the combination of these colors in the stereoscope, viz., a purple tint; and so with regard to the colors to produce various shades of green, brown, etc. The colors thus employed produce remarkable effects by their transparency; and to see a view first with one eye in one set of tints, and then with the other in a different set of tints, and then with both eyes to see a third and differently colored picture, is an optical effect as instructive as it is amusing. We, in fact, combine the colors in the eye's instead of the color-cups. A GERMAN photographer has invented a method of making seals and stamps with the portraits of his customers. A thin layer of gelatine, sensitized with bichromate of potash, is exposed to the action of light under a photograph positive, by which the parts acted on are rendered insoluble in water. The gelatine film is immersed in water, and the parts not acted on by the light swell up, and we obtain a picture in relief of which a plaster cast can be taken. A galvanic plastic copy being taken of the cast, we have a metallic facsimile of the photograph, which can be e “'ployed as a seal. This process suggests a method of obtaining perfect likenesses of persons in metallic checks for the use of the printer, and also an admirable way of illustrating scientific books. THE latest advices with regard to the progress of the Suez Canal are to the effect that the Bitter Lakes had been brought up to the level of the Mediterranean, and that M. Lesseps, the engineer, had gone through the whole length of the canal in a Steamer. The completion, however, of the rest of the works in time for the proposed opening on the 17th of .November is still considered in some degree u.ncertain. Coloring of small Metallic Objects. M. Puscher, a German chemist, gives the following receipts: for the application of sulphur to the purposes referred to.. 1. A solution is made in the following manner: Dissolve 4 oz.. of the hyposulphite of soda in a pint and a half of water,, and then add a solution of 1 oz of acetate ot lead in the same quantity of water. Articles to be colored are placed in the-- mixture which is then gradually heated to boiling point .. The effect of this solution is to give iron the effect ot blue steel; zinc becomes bronze, and copper or brass becomes, successively, yellowish red, scarlet, deep blue, light blue, bluish white, and, finally, white, with a tinge of rose. This solution has no effect on lead or tin. 2. By replacing the acetate of lead in the solution by sulphate of copper, brass becomes first of a fine rosy tint, then green, and, finally, of a iridescent brown color. Zinc does not color in this solution ; it throws down a precipitate of brown sulphuret of copper, but if boiled in a solution containing both lead and copper, it becomes covered with a black adherent crust, which may be improved by a thin coating of wax. If the lead solution be thickencd with a little gum tragacanth, and patterns be traced with it on brass, which is afterwards heated to 212 degrees, and then plunged in solution No. 1, a good marked effect is produced. Inventions Patented in England by Americans. [Compiled from the “ Journal of the Commissioners 0f Patents."] PROVISIONAL PROTECTION FOR SIX MONTHS. 2,518.-COFFIN.—J. D. Nietscke, Somerset, Ohio. August24, 1869. 2,633.-PIANOFORTE.-T. King, West Farm, N. Y. September 7,1869. 2,635.-PREVENTING THE RADIATION OF HEAT FROM STEAM BOILERS.- C. M. O'Hara, New York city. September 7, 1869. 2,639.-KNITTING MACHINE.-C. A. Shaw, Biddeford, Me .. and J. Hinkl ey Norwalk, Ohio. September 8,1869. 2,678.-MEANS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES AND WATERING STREETS.-T Bigelow, Brooklyn, N. Y. September 13, 1869. 2,693.-COMBINED BUCKLE AND BuTT0N-H0LE.—L.A..Kettle, Philadelphia , Pa. September 15,1869. 2,69L-MEANS FOR BURNING SOLID FUEL.-L. A. Kettle, Philadelphia, Pa . September 15, 1869. 2.697.-MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FELT AND OTHER CLOTHS^-. -J. T. Sanford, New York city. September 15,1869. 2.698.-STEAM AND CALORIC ENGINE.—Alex. Hendry, Victoria, British Columbia. September 15,1869.
