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.
SKIRT MEASURER.—Mrs. Rose N. Firestone, Anthony, Kan. The object of this invention is to provide a skirt measurer and marker, by means of which the wearer may measure and mark the desired length of her own skirt, without assistance, and without the necessity of bending over, or disarranging the hang of the garment. The Illustration shows a side view of the improvement. Means provide for the skirt being brought against the marking material which results in the making of a transverse mark on the skirt. The skirt is brought back to - first position and the wearer then revolves the platform the desired distance, and makes another mark on the skirt. This process continues until the measuring and marking is completed. Of Interest to Farmers. BUTTER AND MILK MIXER.—C. T. Barton, Buffalo, N. Y. In operation a quantity of butter and milk is first placed in the body of the apparatus, the proportions being preferably a pint of milk to a pound of butter, and the dasher is then opera ted for the purpose of cutting up the butter and working them together, so as to merge- them and form practically one substance, or a butter compound which becomes solid the same as butter proper. Of General Interest. FERTILIZING SCALE POISON.—W. R. Kleckner, Bay City, Mich. This poison destroys all kinds of parasitical ' insects infesting various parts of fruit, forest and ornamental trees or shrubs and vines, and, further, operates to discharge food products directly into the sap, supplying an immediate stimulation and fertilization of all tissues and growing parts of trees, quickly correcting the failing activity and low vitality caused by the ravages of parasitical insects or by depleted and unsatisfactory soils. PNEUMATIC PIANO PLAYER.—William G. MacArthur, 428 E. 148th St., New York, N. Y. This invention relates to an improved piano-player, an accompanying illustration of which shows it in a vertical section through a piano with the attachment thereon. An object of the invention is to provide a device which will be inexpensive to manufacture. strong,-durable and both quick and positive in its action. A further object is the provision of a piano playing attachment in which the pneumatic portion of operating mechanism Is attached directly to the keys, whereby a great saving in space and more positive and sensitive movement is obtained. PROCESS OF PICKLING.—A. Baumann. New York, N. Y. This process is for use in making edible and easily digestible salt pickles from green cucumbers, in a simple and economical manner, and reducing the loss of pickles, that usually become hollow and soft, to a minimum. The process subjects green cucumbers to the action of a brine formed of dissolved common salt, chemically pure hydrochloric acid and soda benzoate. PILE PROTECTOR.—C. N. Hubbard, Ana-cortes, Wash. The particular object of this device over that shown in the former patent granted to Mr. Hubbard, Is to provide a pile protector so constructed that the chemical compound used in protecting the pile may be carried to a greater depth than low tide, whereby the extermination of teredo and limnoria and other marine worms Is facilitated. STAMP HANDLING DEVICE.—R. W. Jones, Lincoln, Neb. This improvement has reference more particularly to a device comprising a casing constituting a magazine for the stamps, a guide member associated with the magazine and adapted to have the stamps passed along it manually, from the casing to the point of application of the stamps, and a moistening device for wetting the adhesive of the stamps before they are applied. TRAP.—T. H. taylor, Luzerne, N. Y. The intention here is to provide a trap for trapping animals. Use is made of a fixed toothed jaw constituting a base, a swinging jaw mounted on the toothed jaw, a tripping rod for engagement with the swinging jaw, and a tripping plate on the fixed jaw and adapted to be re-leasably engaged by the tripping rod. COUPLING FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE PIPES.—C. H. Wilson, Red Oak, Iowa. An object of this inventor is to provide a means for uniting two pipe sections together in such a manner that there will be a positive and tight . joint between the different sections, and it has for a further object the disposition of this coupling means so that they are not exposed to the weather and are thereby protected from any rusting action. FORM FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL TOOTH CROWNS.—E. R. Stevenson, Oakland, Ore. In this, case the improved tooth form being hollow is adapted to receive a plug or other device adapted for expanding it, and thus, by using different sized plugs or expanding devices, the form may be enlarged cir-cumferentially so that several sizes of crowns may be produced by means O'f one form, and also the shape of the form may be changed to a certain extent, by using plugs differing more or less in contour. BAKER'S OVEN ATTACHMENT.—R. L. GillispiEj, New York, N. Y. In this instance the improvement pertains to an attachment for a baker's oven. in the form of an inlet, whereby access may be had to the interior of the oven in a most convenient and readily accessible manner by means which can be readily controlled, and which will be simple and inexpensive. GUN LICENSE CERTIFICATE HOLDER.— O. R. Duncan, Jefferson, Iowa. The purpose here is to provide a license certificate holding receptacle which is attached to the gun so that the hunter may be certain to have the license certificate with him every time he takes his gun to go hunting. The receptacle is attached to the barrel by a clamp having two arms which are curved and are disposed against the outer side of the barrel or barrels, the clamp arms being held against the gun barrels by a screw member. ATTACHMENT FOR TRIAL FRAMES.—G. A. Griffin, New York, N. Y. The aim here is to furnish an attachment for supporting a smalleo lens substantially parallel to the trial lenses and adjacent the lower portion thereof, so that the eyes may be tested both for long distance and for reading at the same time, and the patient may know the advantages and operation of using a bifocal lens rather than 'having separate pairs of eyeglasses or spectacles for general use and for reading. Hardware and Tools. PICK.—(J. E. Carter, Reno, Nevada. Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are : To provide a construction and arrangement of a pick to facilitate the replacement of steel points, and to provide a construction and arrangement which renders possible the carriage of a supply of renewing pick points adapted for attachment to the pick body or eye. MITER BOX.—J. g. Wortham, Tullahoma, Tenn. This box consists of a bed, which may be widened or narrowed to conform with the dimensions of the work, a swinging arm supporting and carrying the saw guide, and capable of being lengthened and shortened, to correspond with the positions of the bed sections, and an adjustable back, together with a scale for indicating angles assumed by the .arm. DUST PREVENTER FOR STONEW0RKING TOOL'S.—W. M. Holden and E. M. Tobin Barre, Vt. To avoid several objections' this invention is devised, and consists of a fluid discharge pipe having an extended atomizing outlet, and a liquid supply member arranged to discharge on the said outlet, the above pipe ordinarily leading from the exhaust of the tube, with the extended atomizing outlet of spoon form. PENCIL HOLDER.—A. B. Coffin, Apache, Okla. Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are : to provide a simple, economical and efficient form of pencil holder for pencils, fountain pens, and articles of a similar character ; and to provide a holder light in construction and adapted for easy attachment to the clothing of the user. LOCK.—Y. Q. Caldwell, Paris, Tenn. Although the form of this device is that of a padlock, it may be utilized in other forms of locks such as trunk locks, or similar devices. An object of the invention is to provide a device strong and durable, because it consists of relatively few parts. Owing to its peculiar construction it is difficult to pick, and the parts may be easily assembled or disassociated. HASP LOCK.—Y. Q. Caldwell, Paris, Tenn. An object of this improvement is the provision of a combined lock and hasp, which does away with the necessity of the use of a padlock pr other means for securing the hasp to the staple. It is in the simplicity of the lock and the elimination of a multiplicity of parts that the merit of this invention lies, as well as in the fact that these few parts are strong and durable and are not liable to get out of order. Heating and Lighting, JOINT AND COUPLING.—B. W. STOUFFER, Pittsburgh, Pa. This improvement provides a joint and coupling, more especially designed for use as a swing joint, socket joint, coupling or other gas fixture, and arranged to permit of conveniently placing the joint or coupling in position on any desired fixture without the aid of tools and without danger of leakage or the parts becoming accidentally disassembled or separated. Household Utilities, DUMB-WAITER.—E. N. Hallett, Canton, Pa. In this case the invention provides a pantry closet on a dumb-waiter so that when food is placed on the shelves of the closet the dumb-waiter may be lowered through an opening in the floor of the kitchen to the cool air of the cellar. A supporting frame is constructed on the waiter so that when it is lowered with the frame, the working parts are disposed below the floor of the kitchen. VENTILATOR.—W. F. Gulnerich, Meri-den, Conn. This invention has for its principal objects to provide a ventilator adapted to be attached to a window, and to permit the ingress of air into the interior of a building without causing a draft, at the same time keeping out all objectionable foreign matters and substances, and to provide such a ventilation with means for regulating the influx of air to the desired extent. Machines and Mechanical Devices, WAVE 'MOTOR,—A. W. Dowe, Camden, N. J. This invention provides means to avoid the destructive operation of the elements incidental to storms; provides a construction which receives and transmits the full dynamic power of the surf or waves at the shore libe; and provides a machine the power or full efficiency of which may be augmented to a large degree by multiplying the motor units indefinitely. HINGE MECHANISM FOR THE COVERS OF LOOSE LEAF BOOKS.—F. L. Impey, 19 Barwick Street, Birmingham, England. This mechanism is for use on leaf books or binders of the type in which the covers are pivotally connected at their rear edges to clamping bars by which the leaves are bound in position, the covers being connected together by leather thongs, which pass through the damping bars and are tightened or released for securing or liberating the leaves by mechanism arranged within one or both of the covers. WEiLL DIGGING APPARATUS.—C. B. Martin, Portland, Ore. The invention refers to apparatus for digging wells, and for forming bores in the earth, and has reference more particularly to apparatus comprising a casing adapted to be advanced to the core as it is formed, a drillJhead associated with the casing and means for conducting fluid pressure to the drill head to cause it to advance into the earth. GREASE CUP.—Frank L. Treese, care of R. S. Hauley, 1808 11th Ave., Altoona, Pa. An object of this invention is to provide a cup for holding hard grease of a semi-fluid nature with means for forcing” the grease through a feed opening. A further object is to provide a| device which may be readily filled and in which grease cup. the cover forms a guide member for the stem of a movable plunger or piston. Again, the aim is to provide a cup of maximum capacity, owing to the fact that part of the mechanism for exerting a pressure on the grease is disposed on the exterior of the cup rather than on the interior. The illustration gives a perspective view of the device in operative position. ADVERTISING DEVICE.—H. R. Kiessig, Sacramento, Cal. The object here is to provide a device for continuously operating that class of advertising devices known as “Chinese puzzles,” or “Jacob's ladders,” and consisting of a plurality of plates or panels, so connected that when the topmost panel is severed, the other panels will be reversed in succession from above downward. VENDING MACHINE.—C. S. Hardy, San Diego, Cal. The purpose of the invention is the provision of a device which will dispense accurately measured quantities of liquid, without the necessity of an attendant, and which will be operated by the liquid, under pressure. A further object is to provide a device wherein the amount dispensed may be varied, by varying the capacity of the pump. DEVICE FOR ELEVATING WATER, MERCURY, OR OTHER LIQUIDS.—James R. Hall, Winnfield, La. This invention relates to means for raising water, mercury or other liquids to a higher level. It is an improvement over that disclosed in a prior application of Mr. Hall. The main object of the present invention is to increase the turning, effect by the use of impact wheels instead of troughs, the motion of the wheels being communicated to the revolving frame so as to increase the rotative movement of the latter. MACHINE FOR EXTRACTING ESSENTIAL OILS FROM CITRUS FRUITS.—Walter A. D. Allport and Thomas J. W. C. Davenport, Roseau, Dominica, British West Indies. This invention provides a machine for extracting essential oils from the outer rind of citrus fruits, such as lemons, oranges, liines, etc., and arranged to insure a continuous operation, thus permitting the handling of a large number of fruits in a given time, and insuring complete extraction and gathering of the oil without injury to the 'fruits. VACUUM STOCK THICKENING AND WASHING MACHINE.—T. E. Warren, Ticon-deroga, N. Y. This invention pertains to paper-making machinery. The aim is to provide a thickening and machine arranged to separate water from fibrous material without the loss of the finer fibers and other minute particles, to produce a stock of uniform consistency and to permit convenient adjustment for producing a stock of a thicker or a thinner consistency, according to the nature of the fibrous material to be treated. STOP VALVE AND TAP.—J. T. Sheldon, “Olgate,” Fernhill Street, Fernhill, New South .Wales, Australia. The purpose of the inventor is to provide a simple and effective means of preventing the escape of water, steam or other fiuid normally controlled by a valve, when the cover thereof is removed, in order that the internal parts and mechanism may be withdrawn for examination, replacement or repair. AIRSHIP PROPELLER.—Homer A. King, P. O. Box 474, Colton, Cal. The invention illustrated by the accompanying engraving has for an object the provision of a novel form of propeller having a double set of blades, one set mounted on a rod and the other set mounted on a sleeve carried by the rod, the propellers being oppositely inclined, and being ' AIRSHIP PROPELLER. arranged to revolve in opposite directions. A further object is to provide an auxiliary propeller, which is designed to give a motion at right angles to the first named propellers. Another object is to provide means for operating the propellers simultaneously, and for throwing the auxiliary propeller out of gear when desired. DRESSER FOR BAND SAWS.—F. P. Smith, Baypoint, Cal. This improvement provides an attachment to the usual grinding machine, the operation of which results in removing the burr at the edge of the face of the teeth, and to reduce the teeth to the same spread; provides means' for dressing the sides of the teeth subsequent to grinding, and to accomplish the same automatically, and to shape the sides of the teeth to conform with the set thereof, and provides means for regulating the pitch and spread of the grinding members. Railways and Their Accessories, NOISELESS RAILROAD CROSSING.—Alfred D. Danziger, 204 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, La. George Guilbault, inventor. Where two railroad tracks cross each other it is necessary to channel the upper bearing portions of the rails in order to permit the car wheel flanges to pass over. The wheels cause noise and shocks or blows on all the parts, which loosens the connections. The invention noiseless railroad crossing. overcomes these objections by providing each rail adjacent the point of intersection with a pivoted lever, there being a pair of intersecting levers at the intersection of two rails. A bell-crank lever is pivoted to each first-mentioned lever as in operative relation with a sliding block adapted to engagement with the other intersecting lever whereby the car wheels pass over the top of this lever and do not engage the channels of the rails. A railroad crossing provided with this invention is shown in the illustration. RAIL FASTENER.—W. Vandercook, Jr., P. O. Box 465, Lake Charles, La. The object of this inventories to provide a means for holding the rail to the tie, and to prevent the so-called “creeping” of the rail, due to the movement of the rolling stock over the rail and to expansion and contraction. The device may be described as consisting of a plurality of rail fastener. pairs of gripping jaws, one member of each pair arranged one on each side of the rail, and operated by the longitudinal movement of the rail. The arrangement of ribs substantially parallel with the length of the tie, and with the grain of the tie, prevents any lateral movement of the anchor plate,. and the spikes at the plate corners assist in this as do the center spikes . The engraving is a plan view of a portion of the rail provided with the improvement. Pertaining to Vehicles, COMBINATION PULLEY, FUNNEL, AND STRIPPING JACK.—Tresham F. Hutchings, Stony Ford, N. Y. The principal object which the present invention has in view is to provide a device constructed to permit being used as an auxiliary pulley, a funnel for filling a water combination pulley. or gasolene tank, and means for stripping a tightened wheel from the axle bearing, The view shown in the accompanying engraving represents a vertical cross section of an automobile wheel and the axle thereof, showing a pulley constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention as operatively connected therewith. When the pulley is not employed, it is removed from the axle, and carried as a separate tool in the body of the vehicle. It may then be used as a funnel for filling the tanks. Note.—Copies of any of these patents will be furnished by the Scientific American for ten cents each. Please state the name of the patentee, title of the invention, and date of this paper. 'A9A SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN October 7, 1911 Better Than Nails After fitting the corners of a picture frame or the joints of other light work, have you ever ruined the whole thing by splitting it with a nail ? Then you've had need for For, of course, glue won't split the weakest wood. Yet a square inch of glue makes as strong a joint as three six-penny nails do. And is just as handy as nails or string. Put up in air-tight bottles, it positively cannot dry out. The last bit you scrape from the bottle with the metal spreader is as good as the first. With the metal spr ader you can us glue in places where you couldn't use a brush. and without muss or wase. Get a bottle today and put it with the hammer and saw. Send. too, for our booklet — “Glueism.” Giv s 101 uses for g Iue in our new bottle and patent collapsible pin sealing' tube. RUSSIA CEMENT COMPANY We inanufarture Glues (hard m-liquid) in, hulk fir all industrial ^ur-}xaes. 54 Essex Avenue Gloucester, Mass. Library Slips with every Bottle and Tube. RUBBER Expert Manufacturers Fine Jobbing Work PARKER, STEARNS&CO., 288-290 Sheffield Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. In use by the United States Army Checks the muzzle blast, preventing report noise and recoil. Wonderful aid to marksmanship. Makes rifle practice possible anywhere. Attaches to any rifle. Write make, model and calibre of your rifle (giving dealer's name). We will tell you what Silencer you nee1 price, etc. MAXIM SILENCER, Hartford, Conn. MOP MATERJAfc. CAUTION TO . , PURCHASERS OF TOPS Pantasote is a top material of recognized high and uniform qual ity and a product made only by us. Many unscrupulous dea I e r s misrepresent as PANTASOTE cheap inferior materials to increase their profits—at the purchaser's expense. To the average person these substitutes when new look somewhat like Pantasote. To prevent fraudulent substitution insist upon the label as shown above dealers receive these labels free with every yard of Pantasote, leaving no excuse for not us.ng them. Unlike “Mohairs” and similar products. PANTASOTE can readily be cleaned. It is not affected by benzine. gasoline or other cleaning fluids. In this respect it is absolutely unique and alone. Send postal for booklet on top materials and samples THE PANTASOTE CO. M!.Bmfe GYrt NEW BOOKS, ETC. Handbuch fur Heer und Flotte. En-zyklopadie der Kriegswissenschaften und verwandter Gebiete, herausgege-ben von Georg von Alten, Generalleut-nant z. D., unter Mitwirkung von mehr als 200 der bedeutendsten Fachautori-taten. Vollstandig in 108 Lieferun-gen reichillustrierten Textes mit far-bigen Beilagen, Karten, Planen, Gefechtsskizzen usw. Deutsches Ver-lagshaus Bong&Co. The financial aspects of modern warfare are considered in the present instalments, Nos. 34 and 35, of the Handbuch. Excellent tables are published, which show the rise and fall in military expenditures during the last few decades. It is particularly interesting to study the influence which actual warfare has had upon the expenditures. The whole article is a warning against thoughtless comparisons; inasmuch as all statistics based upon different facts. In the article on the French army, a very complete and accurate description will be found of the geography of France in its relation to French military affairs, French railways and fortresses, French cable and telegraph lines, and the history of the French army. The discussion of the army itself begins with an excellent review of its development from the time of Charles V, and concludes with an exhaustive description of its present status. It enumerates the difficulties that beset the commanding officers, and shows on the basis of numerous bles, the composition of the peace and war footings; the organization of the naval arm of the service ; the military budget and character of the uniforms. French naval and colonial affairs are treated in the same manner. Flying machines also find a place in these two instalments, treated, of course, from a military standpoint. Seeing Europe by Automobile. By Lee Meriwether. New York: The Baker&Taylor Company, 1910. 12mo.; 415 pp. Price, $2 net. The author once wrote a book on how to see Europe on fifty cents a day, but he has evidently been blessed with a change of fortune in the last quarter century, for now he travels in a two-seated, 28 horse- power roadster, but the passion for traveling cheaply has been far from being quenched by comparative The author details with great precision the distances traveled and the things seen. It is an instructive book for all those who are thinking of taking the trip. There is an excellent map in the back. It is well illustrated. Characteristics of Existing Glaciers. By William Herbert Hobbs, Professor of Geology in the University of Michigan. New York : The Macmillan Company, 1911. 8vo.; 301 pp.; illustrated. Price, $3.25 net. Prof. Hobbs discusses his subject under three heads, mountain glaciers, Arctic glaciers. and Antarctic glaciers. It is his contention that a mistake is made in treating of glaciers as if all were governed by the same laws. lie prefers rather to emphasize the fact that the laws governing their nourishment and depletion are far from identical. The division is broadly made between those glaciers which cover completely a large portion of rock surface, having the form of a shield or flat dome, and the remaining types which may be designated as mountain glaciers. Small ice-caps occupy an intermediate and transitional position between these two types. The language and treatment is rather technical, but will well repay the slight study necessary for the layman to understand its terms. Since, as we are reminded by Sir Charles Lyell, “The present the key to the past,” the study of glacial conditions never fails to create enthusiasm and broaden the understanding. The Science of Currency and Centralized Banking. By Herbert D. Miles. New York: Rand-McNally Press, 1911. 16mo. ; 47 pp. The author is an ardent champion of the Aldrich plan, which he designates as a work of genius, profound, far-reaching, yet simple and sincere. He reviews the banking systems of the world, compares and contrasts the European credit instruments and discounts with those of the United States, and proceeds to an examination of American methods, their relation to gold reserves and their efficiency in crises. The treatise exhibits some clear thinking and much ability for condensation. It aims to give the gist of what has recently been issued by the National Monetary Commission through its various published papers. Concrete Monuments, Mausoleums, and Burial Vaults. By A. A. Houghton. New York : The Norman W. Henley Publishing Company, 1911. 65 pp. Price, 50 cents. Among the new industries opened up by concrete, that of monumental work offers a large and profitable field. No. 6 of the “Concrete Worker's” series goes at length into the construction of monuments, mausoleums, and burial vaults, citing their points of advantage and giving the plainest directions for their construction. The Illustrations include a variety of artistic designs. -Notes _____ and Queries^ Kindly keep your Queries on separate sheets of paper about such mat- ters as pa ten rs. subscriptions. bool^ etc. This will greatly facilitate answering your questions, as in many cases they have to be referred to experts. The full name and address should be given on every sheet. No attention will be paid to unsigned queries. Full hints to correspondents are nrinted from time to time and will be mailed on request. (12546) F. B. T. says: A short time ago I bought a barometer, which appears to be a very good instrument, but its action is a little puzzling, and I wonder if you can give me a helpful suggestion. The only time that the barometer has gone up to 30 was during the extremely wet weather we had a few days ago; and in the dry season which we experienced during the summer, it ranged around 29'h or thereabout. It has never gone much below 29 in spite of the fact that we have had some very heavy storms. I notice in the daily paper that the government barometer at the Springfield armory seems to agree fairly well with mine in its reading, but in that case, it would seem to me that the lettering, which I have noted, is very misleading. I had the impression that a low barometer stormy, bad weather and a high barometer fair, dry weather. I would be gilad to have you give me any either through your paper, for which I am a regu lar subscriber, or by mail, as you may prefer. A. The words Stormy, Rain, Change, Fair, Very Dry, have no meaning whatsoever upon a barometer, and it is very strange that they should be still pla ced there, since every maker of instruments knows that they are without meaning. The figures around the circles are inches of mercury. In good weather at the sea level “the barometer will be found to indicate about 30 inches. A barometer tes the approach of a storm, a rising barometer indicates the approach of continuance of good weather. A barometer the of the present state of the weather, good or bad. A rapid rise or fall indicates high winds. If you live about 9OO feet above sea level, the barometer will be one inch lower than it is at the same time at sea level, and at 1,650 feet above sea level the barometer will be two inches lower than at sea level at the same time. If your barometer does not agree quite closely with the government instrument in the same neighborhood, it is probably out of order and should be tested. The high school in your city doubtless has a good barometer, and the teacher of physics there wilt be very willing to give you his assistance and advice in the matter. A barometer may be expected to change two inches or thereabout in extremes of weather. The best test for a barometer is to hang it by the side of a reliable barometer and compare the treading of the two for some weeks. (12547) R. N. M. says: Would you please give me a rule or formula for finding the capacity of a cylindrical tank when lying on its side for each inch of diameer ? I desire to make a gage so it can be read at a giving the number of gallons by each inch. The tank is 24 feet long and 9:l inches in diameter, with rounded ends, but for our purpose these ends can be considered as square with the diameter. A. There is no simple formula for the volume of the successive “layers"' of liquid as the tank is filled. There are tables in the pocketbooks, ted from the. mathematical formulas, which give the area of segments in terms of the.area of the circle. The volume of your tank, 93 inches diameter, 288 inches long, is 93 X 93X 0.7854 X 288 —-------------= 8,470 gallons. 231 Now, to find the depth to which 100 .gallons will fill the tank, we must find the height 100 of a segment - of the area of the whole 8470 93-inch circle, or 0.0118 X area of circle. From a table of circular areas and segments (see Kent's “Mechanical Engineer's Pocket-book") we find that a segment having an area of 0.0118 times the area of the circle, would in a circle of l-inch radius, or 3.14 inches area, have an area of 0.0118 X 3.14, or 0.037 inch, and a height of O.073 inch. In a 93-inch circle the height of the segment would be 0.073 X 93 , {>r 6.78 inches; so that filling your tank to 6.78 inches depth will measure 100 gallons. Similarly, you can calculate (with the ai.d of the table) the heights for 150, 200, and all other numbers : of gallons, and make your scale accordingly. LEGAL NOTICES OVER 65 YEARS' EXPERIENCE rade marks Designs Copyrights £.c. INVE-STORS are invited to communicate with Munn&To.. 361 Broadway, New ' ork, or (i-J3 F Street. Washington, D. C” in regard to securing valid patent, protpction for their In-ve n t ions. Trade-Marks and Copyrights registered. Design Patents and Foreign Patents secured A Free Opinion as to the probable patentability of an invention will be readily given to any inventor furnishing us with a model or sketch and a brief description of the device in question. All communications are strictly confidential. Our Hand-Book on Patents will be sent free on request. Ours is the Oldest agency for securing patents; it was established over sixty-five years ago. MUNN &. CO., 361 Broadway, New York Branch Office. 625 F St.. Washington. D. C. A TrVTC SECURED OR FEE A I E N I C RETURNED D Free report as to Patentability. Illustratt-'d Guide A Book. and What To Invent with Li st of Inventions Wanted and Prizes offered for inventions sent free. VICTOR .T. FlV ANS&CO .. Washington, D.C. Classified Advertisements Advertising- in ibis column ia 7.) cents a line. No less than four nor more than 12 lines accented. Count seven words to the line. All orders must be accom-psmied by a remittance: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES YOUR FACTORY AT TULSA will command the Middle West. Natural gas power only$2 to #5 H. P. per year. 26.00 population. Ample labor, materials. Great oil and. coal fields. On large river. Four trunk railways. Sixty three thriving factories already. li'or further particulars write Industry, Bureau of Information. Tulsa, Oklahoma. GOOD BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. - For sale, a well established business, manufacturing and stlhng a spf'cifilty rapidly coming into general use. A nice, clf an, interesting business which can be expanded indefinitely. No special manufacturing experience necessary. since present trained a'"'d reliable help can r d h i e i tu any young ma who can command $15,000. Address “ Pennsylvania,” Box 773 New York. PATENTS FOR SALE n wondbeater.Patent issued Septembers, 191L lor fall particulars, write Frank Koch, patentee. Arndt's Hotel, Saginaw. Michigan. HELP WANTED. WA NTED—A man orwoman to act as our information renorter. All ur spare time. No experiencenecces-sary. $50 to $00 per month Nothing to sell. Smd s amp for particulars. Hales Association, 6\-13 Association Bldg. Indianapolis, Indiana. LOCAL REPRESENT A i'lVE WAN'lED.-Splendid income assured riebt man to act as our reprf-sentative afi er learning” our businei:!ls thoroughly by mail. b ormer experience unnecessary. All we require is honesty, ability, ambition and willingness to learn a lucrative business. No soliciting or traveling. This isan exceptional opportunity for a man in your section to a-et into a big paying business without capital ana become independent for lite. Write a” once fr full parti.. ulars. Adr s e t Real Estate Company.L 378 Marden Build ing, Washington, D. C. WANTED. WANTED—One flrst-clat's marine engine and boiler draftsman, $5.04 per diem. A competitive e*xauiination will be held tor the above position October 1s. For further information address, Commandant, Navy Yard. Charleston S. C. WANTED. $25 00 capital with which to purchase several monoplanes of a well-known French make and st art an aeroplane factory. Have valuable patent covering this type of machine. Also manufacturing rights of a successful type of aeroplane motor. J. S. 125 East 23rd Street, New York. MISCELLANEOUS. INVENTORS. - We want an article of merit o1> royalty. Must be cheaply manufactured, household utility or novelty preferred. Address. with terms and particulars, Hercules Co., 311 Spring St. . Pittston, Pa. MOTORCYOL ES CHE Ap.-Send to- day for free catalog 01 new and used motorcycles. AI ..o motorcycle accessories and attachable nirtor outfits tor converting bicycles into motorcvcles ;;haw Manufacturing Company, Dept 24. Galesburg. Kans. GIN1'lENG Raising is tbe surest way to make Big Money on Little Capital. One acre will yield 5000lbs. Sels at $6 a lb. 1 will buy all y. u raise. Gro<;{s anywhere. R quires your spare time only. 1 f you are not satisfied with your pr sent income, write me today.. T. 1:1. Sutton, 780 Sherwood Ave., Louisville, Ky. MAKE BIG MONEY operating a Daydark Post Card, Machine. Photo postal cards made and delivered on. the spot in ten minutes in the open street. No dark room necess ry-- it does not require an experienced photographer to make first- class pictures. Pays a gross. profit of 500 per cent. rite-today for free sample andi catalogue. Daydark Specialtv Co.. Dept. 2 V, St. Louis. FREE-'TNVESTING FOR PROFIT'' Magazine. Send me your nam and [ will mail you this magazine: absolutely free. Before you invest a dollar anywhere —get this magazine it is worth $lu a copy to any man who intends to invent *5 or more per month. 'tells you how $1,000 can grow to $22.000 —how to judge different classes of investments; the Real Warning Power of your money. This magazine sir months free if you write today. H. L. Barber. Publisher, 42,3. '28 W. Jackson Blvd.. Chicago. I N QUIR Y COLU M N October 7, 1911 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN 325 The Current Supplement TRUE economy is based, not on a mere policy of doing things cheaply, but on a systematic and scientific plan of controlling value received against price paid. How the Pennsylvania Railroad guards against loss by poor materials is told us in a valuable article in the current issue of the Supplement.— Prof. Turner's article on The Great Star Map reaches its sixth instalment. Bal-loonists have observed that to them the surface of the earth appears bowl-shaped. The cause of tins is explained by Dr. Charles Forbes of Columbia University. —The sewage purification industry is far from having become standardized, A new apparatus which has been found to give much satisfaction is described by our Berlin correspondent.—In a very excellent article Mr. A. J. Jarman gives practical instructions for the amateur, which will enable him to prepare and mount photographs upon watch lids and the like,—. The farmer will find in this number useful information regarding the construe tion of concrete silos. In these days of remarkable technical development and substitution of all sorts of artificial products for the natural, it is 'refreshing to note occasionally that for some particular purpose some simple product of nature is still found indispensable. The use of spiders' threads in optical instru ments is discussed by W. F. Rigge, who tells us how, on a certain occasion, an entire department of Creighton University Observatory was put out of commission for want of a spider's thread.—Many are the attempts made by amateurs to solve certain mathematical problems, such as the trisection of the angle. It is unfortunate that much ingenuity should be wasted upon such efforts, and discussion of this topic by N. P. Dupuis, should prove very beneficial in clearing up an unfortunate misunderstanding. The problems as ordinarily stated are incapable of solution, not because of any intrinsic bar to such solution, but because of the artificial restrictions imposed by the injunction that the problem shall be solved entirely by Euclidian methods. Remove this restriction and the problems can l')e solved without difficulty. Insist on this restriction and it can be proved that the problem is incapable of solution.—The influence of the mercury vapoi lamp upon the eye is discussed in a note by Dr. W. H. Williams.—We think of surgery as a destructive measure, which may remedy an ill by removing a part of the body which nature intended to be retained. Some of the newest uevelopments bear the promise of constructive work, in which a deficient organ is replaced by a healthy one derived from some external organism. This subject is discussed in an article derived from La Nature.— Some interesting new light has recently been shed upon the process of fertilization by' researches on the influence of radium upon the frog embryo. A short account of this work is given in the current issue. —From the fertile mind of Svante Arr-henius we have an article on the Fate of the Planets. The Disposition of Guns in the Dreadnoughts (Concluded from paffe 3181.) The second turret from forward is superposed, as is also the second from the stern, the object in each case being to increase the volume of fire along the line of the keel. The fourth turret from aft is also superposed above the third, but here the saving of length was the object in view, as these guns d'l not bear aft. (Fig. 12.) The only other six-turret “Dreadnoughts” with a 100 per cent broadside are the Argentine ships “Moreno” and “Rivadavia.” These vessels, with twelve 12-inch guns, have- four turrets on the middle line and two echeloned (Fig, 13). There has been, and probably will continue to he, much controversy as to which is the mare effective arrangement; but the fact remains that the “Wyom-ings” can cover an arc of 95 degrees on either beam with all twelve guns, while in the case of the Argentine ships this is 1 0 degrees less. For ten guns the respective figures are 120 degrees and 1 05 degrees, and for eight, 135 degrees and 120 degrees. The Brazilian battleships “Sao Paolo” and “Minas Geraes” have their guns arranged on a similai plan to the Argentine vessels, but the superstructure divides the echeloned turrets, which are therefore. not available on both broadsides. For practical purposes the French battleships “Jean Bart,” “Courbet,” “France,"- and “Paris” are similar to the Brazilian, two turrets being mounted forward and aft (with one superposed in each case), and two abreast amidships. (Fig. 13.) We now come to a striking variation in design. The German battleships “Rheinland,” “Posen,” “Nassau,” and “Westfalen” all have twelve ll-inch guns as their main armament; but they are so disposed in their six turrets that only eight guns bear on the beam. (See Fig. 15.) It was at first thought that this system was due to a misapprehension as to the system of naval tactics which the “Dreadnought” principle involved, but this is hardly borne out by the fact that the arrangement is being strictly adhered to. The, “Thuringen,” “Helgoland,” “Ostfriesland,” and “Oldenburg” are armed with twelve 12.2-inch guns apiece; but the distribution remains the same. Although, therefore, these ships carry as many big guns as the “Wyoming,” the latter is 50 per cent superior on the broadsides. The German vessels, with their twelve guns, are no better as line-ahead broadside fighters than the “Michigan,” the British “In-vincibles,” or even the 15,500-ton Spanish Espanas—leaving questions of speed and protection out of consideration. Curiously enough, the Japanese have also adopted this system, at least for their first two all-big-gun ships, the “Ka-wachi” and “Settsu,” for the distribution of the 12-inch guns in these ships is the same as that of the ll-inch and 12.2-inch in the German vessels. The average student of the naval war between Japan and Russia will be hard put to it to find any justification for this subordination of the broadside; and it is more difficult to understand since it has been reliably stated that all the data gleaned by the Japanese were- placed at the disposal of the British authorities. The same tactical data could hardly justify the “Orion” (Fig. 7) and at the same time excuse the “Kawachi” (Fig. 15.) Summarizing these, details, it will be found that the total number of heavy guns mounted in the 69 ships of the “Dreadnought” era whose details are known is 723, a total that could not have been attained with fewer than 181 ships of the pre-"Dreadnought” era. The ownership of the guns, as well as certain other details, is shown in the following table: . j Guns Mounted (Inches Caliber). | 0 i--;---------------- :n I '14-Inch 13.5-1n. 12-Inch. ll-Inch Countries. °0 ^____ E c5 a)' a.l d PJ 's -= ^ rri' ^ --' ^ —' 13 c^oc- O ^ O ^ o ........ cq s e « Great Britain. 88 27 ....... 104 104 21)2 238 United Stak> 12 10; 8 ) 20 100 100 Germany. .., 21; 9'..... .... 48 3-3 56 40 Italy........ 4 4............ 51 51 Russia........ 4 4 ... 48 48 France ... 4 4...... W 49 Spain....... 3 3.. _ 24 24 . . [ Argentine . 2 2.., I ... 24 24 Brazil . . 3 2.,. , ... 24 20 ..... Japan ____ 7 2.. . ' 24 ]6 ...... Austria..... 4 I 2...... i . . 24 24 . .. Turkey. 2,( ... . ! ' ' Chili..... 2 ' 0...... ; | _ ... Totals........ 100 69 20 104 543 56 Number of guns in three-gun turrets...... .. Ill Number of guns in center-line turrets. 20 104 407 20 _____I_I_ It will be noted that as the caliber increases so does the desire to place all the guns on the middle line. A Political Laboratory APOLITICAL laboratory has been established at Columbia University through the generosity of Patrick F. McGowan, ex-president of the board of aldermen, and will be available at once for the 150 students of politics at the university. Sufficient money has been given by Mr. McGowan to maintain the labora- There is an air of substance that distinguishes wearers of "CORRECT STYLES FOR MEN Absolutely correct styles, splendid workmanship, fine materials and trimmings unite to give these hats a tone that is instantly recognized. Wear guaranteed. Prices, $3, $% and $5. At your dealer's, or if he cannot supply you, write for Fall and Winter Style Book II , and we will fill your order direct from factory if you indicate style wanted and give hat size, your height, weight, and waist measure. Add 25 cents to cover expressage. We Makers of the Factories: Danbury, Conn. Niagara Falls. Ontario, Canada. Straw HatFactory: Baltimore, ] Celebrated $3 Hat Offices and Salesrooms: 1178 Broadway New York 207 Washington Street Boston Can You Shave? Rub a little “3 in One” on your razor strop till leather becomes soft and pliable; draw razor blade between thumb and finr;er , ^.moistened with “3ln One"; Tf then strop. The razor cuts v S times as easy and clean; holds the edge longer, “A Razor Saver for Every Shaver” which gives the scientific reasons, and a I generous trial bottle sent I free. Write to-day. 3 IN 1 OIL CO.. 42 AZR Broadwfl)' ^ New York. LampLikeThis ^EVERYROOM would modernize your home at little cost, A hundred other styles to select from, in-eluding Table Lamps and Chandeliers. Each Lamp gives 400 candle-power at one-half cent an hour. American Lighting Systems are guaranteed to pay for themselves within a few months, and to give complete satisfaction. Seventeen years in the business means that we are reliable. Write for new catalogue, just issued---it's FREE. Agents wonted. Good territory still open. AMERICAN CAS MACHINE CO., 143 Clark St., Albert Lea, Minn. Fargo, N. D. Binghamton. N. Y. Nulife Gasoline Table Lamp A beautiful Ifitnp forhomes, hotels, offices, stores, hanks, cafes, Tollable, sate; can be turned up.. ide down or rolledon tilt' lloor without Hunger ()r affecting the light. SOo C. P. “f soft, brilliant light, one-third o.;ent per hour. Also Still differ, lit styles of lamps aim systems. AGENTS — 'Ye ,,:ant town, comity, and traveling ilesineii. Ilest proposition ever offered. Sells every-Write for Special Offer. s.ilesinei where. National Stamping&Electric Works 412 So. Clinton St. CHICACO AIR GAS! Latest Invention Standard Vacuum Gas Machine makes gas automatically! Uses 97% ordinary air! Cheapest,safest,most hygienic for lighting,heating \ ana cooking! All conveniences of city gas! Non-poisonous, non-asphyxiating, inexplosive andin-odorous! Machine always ready! Gas can be made forl5c per 1000 cu.ft.! 25 times cheaper than acetylene! Cheaperthan kerosene lamps, electricity or city gas! Saving will pay for the machine in a few months! Agents wanted everywhere in the United States and abroad! Machine of 25 light capacity, $125.00. Ctandard-GilletTe Light Co., 10 H Michigan St., Chicago, U. S. k LngineJ KEROSENE gasoline, distillate—any fuel oil. Cheapest Safest, Simplest POWER for Electric Lighting, Water System?, Vacuum Cleaner everything. Comnlete plans fur nished. expert advice. Adapted for basempnts-anywhere Women can operate. Comes complete. Ten exclusive revolutionizing features. FREE TRIAL No obli;! o t N sat f 10-yesir giiaruriliw. -It'u-givie ?h l / it .J'lOW. ELLIS ENGINE CO. 52 Mullett St. Detroit, Mich. . 3-12!!: BARKER MOTORS Reliable.-l)£ lo 10 H. P--Economical Their perfect operation and reliability are due tv common sense mechanical ideas and good construe-tion. While low in price, they are made of best materials with careful attention to details. C. L Barker. Norwalk. Conn. $60 GOES LIKE SIXTY SELLS LIKE SIXTY J SELLS FOR SIXTY GILSON GASOLENE ENGINE r Pumping, Cream arators, Churns, Wash Ma'lines, etc. FEES TRIAL ___ _ Askforcatalog-allsizes gilson mfg. co 808 Firi St. Font Washington, Wis. JAGER Marine -4-Cycle Engines Skillfully decerned and well bmlt. Single lever control, combining automatic carburetor with sp"lrk advance. Develops wide .speed ran!.!:e and re iability under most trying conditions Sizes 3to60h. p. Send for catalog. CHAS. J. JAGER CO, Franklin,cor. Batterymarch St. Boston. Mass. 281 AIRCRAFT—The World's Great Flying M agazine contains a complete review of everything taking place throughout the entire world in aeronautics TT contains the most beautiful illustrations from every quarter of the globe. It gives complete Records 1 and Stahstrcs of the movement from its inception. Its construction work is accurate beyond question, h describes minutely the newest types of flyers. It contains articles written by the most famous men connected with the Science of aerial flight. At the present time all progressive men are studying this great Itew art of flying. tj AIRCRAFT is generally recognized by the leading authorities on the subject as being the organ of the movement itself. q I TIS PUBLIS H E D M O NTHL Y Its subscription price is $1.50 per year, or $1.00 for eight months THE LAWSON PUBLISHING CO., 37-39 East 28th St., New York, N. Y. SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN October 7, 1911 About Remembering By ELBERT HUBBARD FOR a long time I have been promising myself to write up my good friend, Mr. Henry Dickson, of Chicago, and I have not forgotten. Mr. Dickson is teaching a Science or System, which I believe is of more importance than the entire curriculum of your modern college. MR. DICKSON teaches HENRY DICKSON memory. America's Foremost And or- Good memory is necessa- ilyonM*movy-Tr»irjingaii4 to a|| achievement Priorip»lDick.oiiScl]ooiof ry to al1 achievement. M",mor?. Auditorium BoiM- I know a man who is a graduate of three colleges. This man is neither bright, interesting nor learned. He's a dunce. And the reason is that he CAN NOT REMEMBER. He can not memorize a date or a line of poetry. His mind is a sieve. Education is only what you remember. Every little while I meet a man who has a memory, a TRAINED MEMORY, and he is a j oy to my soul. The manager of a great corporation never misses a face. If he sees you once the next time he will call you by name. He told me how he did it Hestudied memory training with Prof.Diekson. He said a lot of nice things about Prof. Dickson, that 1 hesitate to write here lest my good friend Dickson object. i i i f wantto enlarge yourarm, youexercise it. The samewith your mind. You mustputyour brain through a few easy exercises to discoVer its capacity. You will be surprised how quickly it responds. Youdo not know when you win be calleduponto tell what you know; andthen a trained memory would help you. To the man orwoman whosememory plays tricks I recommend thatyou write to Prof. Dickson, and ifhis facts do not convince you. you are not to be convinced. Write today for FREE hooi/er and facts. Address. Prof. HENRY DICKSON 700 AUDITORIUM BUILDING CHICAGO RISK 25c It will be the best investment in smoking tobacco you ever made. Royal Flush Mixture It's the tobacco you have been looking for. Carefully blended—Pure, delicious and cool. 17vf-«*AA«*j!M«.«*«r H your dealer will not supply you, send EXiraOrainarY his name and 25c for large can. Send today and ask for FREE booklet: “How to Smoke o Pipe. “ I %: oz. 25c; oz. 50c; M lb. $1; 1 lb. $2 prepaid. E. HOFFMAN COMPANY, Manufacturers 175 Madison Street, CHICAGO lllBRlCATCSVo"? Anything *-:^:tw _ H8-124North Clinton St. B ESlI.Y II CO f.V!f.ioff.l>SA WIN THIS $1200.00 ! Thousands Already Won—Going on Daily TEN PEOPLE GET $40,000 They 7efl You How to Win. I IQTEM I £JtanL>mni]{N[jbrt pbotPE'pli'r) LIOIEl , ,;:.], . .-.I $ I i.'(>fr ,mr- month, S51..ri0 in 15 niiuuu SSOO In II dajat Knrstad i Aliiu-, sniirMtor) •SBl»lu»iF«elui StfvugnG
