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Oddities in Inventions Safety Spark and Draft Damper Threatened with a fire in his own home by sparks passing up through the stove pipe into the chimney and alighting on the shingle roof, an inventor recently designed the damper illustrated in the accompanying photograph. It consists of two parts, one f which is the damper proper and the other the spark arrester. The spark arrester .has a perforated disk which along the center line is stamped to form a square socket or a spindle. Mounted on this spindle is a handle that operates the draft damper. In use, the spark arrester normally lies crosswise in the stove pipe and the draft damper may be operated at will by turning the handle on the sleeve. A perforated plate prevents the sparks from passing up through the chimney and it also collects soot which would otherwise clog the chimney. Whenever it is desired to clear the plate of soot, the spindle may be turned, causing the spark arrester disk to strike against the draft damper and thus shake off the soot. Shears With Compound Leverage Scissors or shears as ordinarily constructed r present the simplest type of leverage. Two inventors living in Oregon have sought to improve on this by producing a compound leverage; at the same time the blades are so arranged as to afford a draw cut, thereby improving the efficiency of the device, particularly when cutting heavy materials. As will be noted in our illustration, one of the blades is integral with the handle, while the other blade is fulcrumed on a screw in the first blade and is hinged to the short arm of a lever that constitutes the other handle. The fulcrum of the blade jus referred to is not fixed; instead, the blade is slo te so that it is movable endwise upon its fulcrum, to co pensate for the arc of travel of the short arm of the handle lever. When the handles are brought together there is a toggle action on this blade, while its movement upon its fulcrum produces the desired draw cut. Pistol Handles for Fishing Rods Heretofore no particular care has been exercised in designing the handle of a fishing rod to suit the convenience of the fisherman; but a patent has just been granted to a Western inventor on a unique handle for a fishing rod, which closely resembles that of a pistol. Extending from the butt of the pistol grip is an auxiliary handle, of the type commonly used on fishing rods. Many advantages are claimed for this double form of handle. The fisherman in ordinary still fishing may support the auxiliary handle under his forearm while grasping the pl.tol grip in his hand. This will give him a much better leverage for handling a fish, and will be less tiring. Thumb Knife for Picking Fruit ;A very convenient device for picking fruit has been designed by a man living in the fruit regions of California. It consists of a thimble, which may be tied to the thumb and which terminates in a blade with a keen edge. The fruit is seized in the hand and the stem is severed by means of the thumb knife. With such a device as this the picking of fruit is materially expedited and there is no danger of tearing the branches or marring the fruit when it is plucked. Stairway Skids for Baby Carriages.—It is always a precarious task to take a baby carriage, step by step, down a stairway. Not infrequently the handle gives way and the carriage is dashed to the bottom. Furthermore, the jar of bumping down the steps cannot be entirely avoided, and is injurious to the child. A better scheme seems to be to employ a device, such as illustrated herewith, which consists in a pair of skids that slide smoothly down the steps. The skids are permanently secured to the carriage and normally occupy the position indicated by dotted lines. When it is desired to use them, they :y'.-:; fields. Jay Brooks, Lafayette, Oreson. FOR SALE. FOR SALE-10,OOO tons Pea Coke; 10.000 tons Slaked Lime. Very cheap. Big - bargain to whoever can handle either of these materials. For full particulars and terms of sale. write Goetz Bros., New Albany, tnd. FOR SALE—A Patent Curtain Hanger or Holder where no pins, hooks or rings are needed. Full particulars and terms on request. I. Krajkowski, 4558 East Thompson street, Brideshurg, Philadelphia, Pa. HELP WANTED. WANTED—Laboratorian, M.OO per diem. A competitive examination will be held for this position October 30, 1911. For further information address Commandant, Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N. Y. LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE WANTED.-Splendid income assured right man to act as our reprpsentative afrer learning our business thoroughly by mail. former experienoe unnecessary. AH we require is honesty, ability, ambition and willingness to learn a lucrative business. No soliciting or traveling. This is an exceptional opportunity for a man in your section to get into a big paying business without capital and become independ'-ent for lite. Write at once for full particulars. Ad-et Real Estate Company,L 378 Mardeu Building.Wasbing-ton, D. C. WANTED. MUNN&CO.—Desires to secure the services of a competent patent attorney, skilled in the preparation of patent specifications. Address Munn&Co., Patent Attorneys, 361Broadway, New York City. WANTED—Manufacturer to make an article. mostly brass, some steel and wood, nickle plated. Steady proposition. On market several years. Communicate witnAlden, care of Kastor's,St. Louis, Mo. WANTED—A man or woman to act at'! our information reporter. All or spare time, No experience necces-sary. $50 to $300 per month. Nothing to sell. Send stamp for particulars. Hales Association, 693 Association f'.lii:. Indianapolis, Indiana. MISCELLANEOUS. THE LOXOGRAPH TRIANGUL AR RULER.- Saves time tracing mechanical drawings. Can be moved over fresh ink lines without blotting. Send for circular. Tbe Loxograph Instrument Co., Wilmington, Del. JUST INVENTED a bottle or cork that cannot be refilled after emptying, useful for ail liquids. Write for particulars. Address. J. Soula, Flat 10, 125 West 28th Street, New York City IN \- ENTO RS, our experience of ten years developing and building inventions is at ;.:ikt-service. Send for estimates, lowest h:ki^_ Ben;). itr. iwiim rin. Mechanical Engineer and r.iLi .i f t. Ellwood City, Pa. MOTORCYCLES CHEAP.—Send to-day for free catalog ol new and used motorcycles. Also motorcycle accessories and attachable motor outfits for converting bicycles into motorcycles, Shaw Manufacturing Company. Dept. 24, Galesburg, Kans. GINSENG Raising is the surest way to make Big Money on Little Capital. One acre will yield 5000 lbs. Sella at $6 a lb. I will buy all you raise. Grows anywhere. Requires your spare time only. If you are not satisfied with your pr' sent income. write me today. T. H. 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 necessary—it does not require an experienced photographer to make first-class pictures. Pays a gross a catalogue. Daydark SpeeialtvCo., Dept. 2 V, St. Louis. FRE*K-"INVESTING FOR PROFIT” Magazine. Send me your name and I will mail you this magazlne absolutely free, Before you Invest a dollar anywhere — get this magazine — It is worth 110 a copy to any man who intends to invest f6 or more per month. Tells you how tl,000 can grow to f22.O00 —how to judge different Classes of investments; the ee six montbsfreo Ifyou wrileto-day. H. l'Barber. Publisher, 423, 28 W. Jackson Blvd .. Chicago. Frank Juliar. Sprague (Concluded from page 363.) Sprague developed the high-speed screw elevator, the automatic house elevator, the double motor drum elevator and other devices. While all this was going on Mr. Sprague had offered to run the Manhattan Elevated Railway electrically, but having to deal with progressives of the type of Gould and Sage, he did not get very far. Turning his efforts to Chicago, he there put into service on the South Side Elevated his “multiple unit” system, under forfeiture contract. Once more he made good, with startling results, so that not only in Chicago, for elevated railway work, the multiple unit system is the only one known, but it is the sole dependence of the roads in New York and Boston. Then came the Manhattan Subways, and all the river tube systems—every one an example of multiple unit application. Mr. Sprague's fundamental and basic patent on this contains nearly 300 claims, a good multiple unit In itself, and a fair exhibition of reticence on the part of a man who would rather talk and fight and invent any time than listen to musk and the drama—though he dotes on both. Of course such an inventor and engineer was early drawn into the work of changing over for electricity the big terminals of the trunk railroads; and hence he is found on the consulting staff of the New York Central. He was also retained by Harriman as to similar work on the Southern Pacific. In these developments he has been understood to stand strongly for the use of the direct current, against the alternating, as used on the New Haven road, but at the same time he has advocated hitting up the potential for direct current work, and has jumped it from 600 to 1,200 volts, with very satisfactory results. He has also been a stout advocate of the protection of the third rail, with devices exemplified on the New York Central and several other roads. More lately, Mr. Sprague has returned to the subway problem, by tongue and pen has advocated reforms and improvements, and has even offered to undertake, with full financial responsibility, the construction needed to relieve the frightful congestion on the older lines. There is not much of Sprague to look at, but it is all fighting weight, nerve, grit, go, snap and confidence. He has crossed the 50 line, but does not suspect it; and the dark hair, flashing eye, equi-line nose, sharply-cut chin, alertness of movement, tenseness of poise, all tell of a very live human being. He has an acutely mathematical mind, tempered, fortunately, by humor and imagination; but he is concentrated, and no matter what you may want to talk about, has no difficulty whatever in swinging the conversation back to the thing he is interested in. A more loyal and generous friend could not be imagined, but there are some persons he will omit from his will. To this day he maintains the keenest interest in the profession of his early years, and his appointment as visitor to the Naval Academy is still regarded by many conservatives as perhaps the saving feature of the Roosevelt administration. Relative Strength . of Italian and Turkish Navies (Concluded from page 371.) Of less important cruisers of the protected type Italy possesses ten, of from 2,250 to 3,500 tons, and from- 17 to 20 knots speed. 'Their. armament consists generally of from four to six 4.7-inch or 6-inch rapid fire guns. The navy includes two 23-knot torpedo cruisers and eight gunboats, the latter fitted for laying mines. The torpedo fleet is made up of twenty-three destroyers, of 28 to 30 knots speed and about 350 tons displacement. Also twelve destroyers of 620 tons and 30 knot speed are under construction. The torpedo fleet also includes eighty-one completed torpedo boats and thirty under construction. In the submarine flotilla are the “Delfino,” 107 tons, 6 and 9 knots, the five “Glaucos,” 150 tons, 9 and 14 knots, ' the “Foca,” 230 tons, 9 and 15 knots, and eleven vessels under construction or about to be commenced. At the present writing no engagements of any' importance appear to have taken The Postal Life Insurance Company pays YOU the Commissions that other Companies pay their agents 45%% 0f the lirst year's premium is the average Commission-Dividend being paid to each POSTAL policyholder on entrance into the company. Other companies would pay this sum to an agent— as his commission. That's for the first :year: in subsequent years POSTAL policyholders receive the Renewal Commissions other companies pay their agents, namely, 7%%, and they also receive an Office.Expense Saving of 2%, making up the Strong Postal Points first: Old-line, legal-reserve insurance — 110 t fraternal or 1 second: Standard policy reserve - now more than $10,000,000. third: Standard policy provisions — approved by the state Insurance department. Fourth: 7Vnwdiptxt St'iti'liird* iit \hp aeLitL'liifii of risks. but rffdnc*l by f^mnns-taon 'lii-idi'iiita, i/itnTitnt?*d iu policy, as • herein. Annual Dividend of Guaranteed in the Policy And the POSTAL pays the usual contingent dividends besides—ranging up to 20% of the annual premium. Such is the POSTAL way; it is open' to you. Call at the Company's offices or write now and find out the exact sum it will pay you at your age—the first :year and every other. POSTAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY The Only Non-agency Company in America 35 NASSAU ST., NEW YORK Assets: #70,839,000 Insurance in force more than #55,000,000 ' BUILT FOR PERMANENCE" $1800 flbboir rwiroir “44" A Standard American Car with the Best of Europe Added A symphony of mechanical excellence and refinement —that's the Abbott-Detroit “44", the sumptuous seven-passenger, fore-door, torpedo car built for permanence and guaranteed for life by the Abbott Motor Company, Detroit. The cardinal features here enumerated and which are frequently embodied in cars of the $4,000 type are seldom incorporated in cars selling at Abbott-Detroit prices. Exceptionally large and roomy body, hand buffed leather upholstery, with thick cushions; black walnut natural finish—dash and trimmings; highest class finish—24 painting operations; springs, oil tempered; three-quarter elliptic springs in tear, giving exceptionally easy riding qualities; full floating type rear axle; chrome nickel steel drive shaft; multiple disc clutch; three-bearing crank shaft; unusually large valve openings; Timken roller and imported Schaefer annular bearings throughout; extra large tires, reducing tire expense; gear shifting device noiseless, easily handled; large, strong, artillery wheels; latest type of fore-door body with inside control. This car IS THE SERVANT—not the MASTER OF ITS OWNER It is the policy of the Abbott Motor Company at all times and at whatever cost to keep its product representative of that which is best and most up-to-date in American and European automobile construction. We constantly work for the improvement in design and materials, and add the improvement the moment its particular reliability has been demonstrated, and at the same time proved to be a valuable adjunct of the car.” The rigorous application of this policy keeps the Abbott-Detroit line of models always timely and new. The customer does not have to wait for anew season in order to see predominating features of standard construction — refer to the Abbott-Detroit at any time — the standard car that's always up-to-date. Send for 1912 Art Catalog Abbott Motor Co., 613 Waterloo St., Detroit, Mich. 878 October 21, 1911 WIN' THIS $1200.00!, Thousands Already Won—Going on Daefy, TEN PEOPLE GET $40,000 They Tell You /low to Win. I IQTPM ! Stoneman(Nebr, photog'ph'r) LIOILI1. actually received $1300one month, $51.50 in 15 minutes, $800 in II days; Korstad (Minn, solicitor) $8212 in 2 weeks; Sevcgne (N. Y. telegrapher) $100 dally. Not a fairy tale, fako or humbug, but proven absolutely true by sworn statements. Government patronage, statesmen, judges,1 bankers, world's famed institutions,1 local references. Costs nothing to in- I vestigate. This gigantic money-making contest no longer controlled by a few—now open to any honest, industri- M et. ous man or woman. Big money made m' JlOneman by mechanics, clerks, farmers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, people from all ^ walks of life. Experience, capital,business training unnecessary. Yon can own, operate and control same private enterprise that broughtWilson(banker) *3,000 in 30 days; Kasp( agent) «1«85 In 73 days; Oviatt (minister) $4,000. Rogers (surveyor) $2800; Juell (clerk) $6800; Hoard (doctor) $2200; Hart (farmer) $5,000. Schleicher ( minister) $11)5 first 12 hours. Hundreds '' sharing similar prosperity — banking money, buying homes, automobiles. fl|. Juell Don t wonder. Same appointment should mean same money for you — same power, prominence, dignity, respect, influence. Kise to big earnings, wage freedom, ownership and private monopoly. Knowing the reason dispels all doubt. Wonderful, but true. Strange Invention gives every home a bath room for only $6.50; excels others costing $200, Abolishes tubs, bowls, buckets, wash rags, sponges. Turns any room into a bath room with hot or cold running water. Think of itl So energizes water, one gallon ample; cleanses almost automatically; no plumbing; no water-works; self-heating. Gives cleansing, friction, massage and -~ shower baths. So simple child can operate. Truly marvelous. A modern home-bathing without drudgery, inconvenience, muss or lugging water, filling tubs, emptying, cleaning, putting away. Could anything be more popular ? Think of millions who want bathrooms 1 At sight people exclaim: ''There, there, that'swhat I've been longing for.” Little wonder Wilson sold 102 in 14 days; Hart, 16 in 3 hours. Think what you could do. Come— fall in line—make a fortune. Don't let another get there first. Tour chance now to secure exclusive sale. Devote all or spare time. Means phenomenal earnings; no competi-t i o n; fascinating, high-grade business-Credit given active distributors. Send no money — investigate first. __ Send to-day lor remarkable offer—it*s valuable but free. Address ALLEN MFG. CO., 3391 Allen Building, TOLEDO, OHIO CAN YOU HUNTS every shot goes straight to the mark. Makes trigger work right—keeps barrel bright inside and out. Write to 3-IN-ONE OIL CO., 42 A Z G, Broadway.New York City, for generous sample bottle—FEEE. ROTARY PUMPS AND ENGINES • Their Origin and Development An important series of papers giving a historical resume of the rotary pump and engine from 1588 and illustrated with dear drawings showing the construction of various forms of pumps and engines. 38 illustrations. Contained in Supplements 1109, 1110, 1111. Price 10 cents each. For sale by Munn&Co ., Inc., and all newsdealers. DURYEA BUGGYAUT No other rig in its class for practicability. Unsurpassed in simplicity. Send for printed matter. C. S. DURYEA AUTO CO., SAGINAW, MICH. lilif'Ttl'IIJIlH Corliss Engines, Brewers and Bottlers' Machinery ShVILTER MFG. CO. 899 Clinton Street, Milwaukee, Wis. ItlBRlUTlsVo"? Anything ----118.184 North Clinton St. CM BES tva CO EK'&Wt.USA Expert Manufacturers Fine Jobbing Work PARKER, STEARNS&CO., 288-290 Sheffield Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. RUBBER DADVCD CT Your PATENTS and BUSINESS : ARIZONA Incorporate Laws the most liberal. Expense the least. Hold meetings. transact business anywhere. Blanks. By-Laws and forms for making stock full-paid for cash. property or services, free. President Stoddard, FORMER SECRETARY OF ARIZONA. resident agent for many thousand companies. Reference: Any bank in Arizona. STODDARD INCORPORATING COMPANY, Boi8000 PHOENIX, ARIZONA Expansive - Breathing A book that fully explains how to vitalize the BLOOD through proper breathing (both sexes) described by diagrams, etc. Book contains 64 pages of important information on ChestExpansiou, Lung Development, and Internal Exercise. Endorsed by Physicians. Accepted by the National Medical Library. Sent on receipt of 10c — coin or stamps. P. Von Boeckmann, R.S. 1310 Terminal Bldg., 103 Park Ave., New York |f Young Man! Here is the King of Professions. Our complete, practical and easy HOME INSTRUCTION CORRESPONDENCE COURSE, studied _ during spare time, will make you an expert—if you have the desire and the will. Why be tied down to menial work, at small pay, when you can be a trained man at a big salary? Ourschool is one of the largest and best-known home instruction institutions in the world—teaching all branches of Business and Engineering. TUITION PAYABLE OUT OF INCREASED SALARY WE ENABLE YOU TO EARN. Write today for illustrated booklet: “FROM FOUNDATION TO FLAGSTAFF “-it tells you how to make the light start. AMERICAN SCHOOL OF CORRESPONDENCE Dept. 220 Chicago, 111. place between the two navies, and it is not likely even in the event of a protracted war, that the struggle will shed much light upon the leading naval problems of construction, tactics and strategy. Small Isolated Electric Power Plants (Concluded from page 372.) main battery. Each cell may consist simply of two plates of sheet lead suspended in a jar of electrolyte. At W is indicated a variable resistance which must be used during the process of forming the home-made battery previously described. This will need to .'have a resistance of about seven ohms and a current-carrying capacity of six amperes. When the switch, S, is closed to the left it connects the battery directly to the load through the upper blade. The lower switch point is not used for anything on this side, tout its clip makes, a most convenient place to keep a spare eight-ampere fuse. When it is desired to charge the battery the dynamo is started, and, by manipulation of the field regulator, R, is brought up to a voltage sufficient to light the lamp, V, to about half its candle-power. The switch is then thrown to the right, connecting the battery to the dynamo through the upper blade, and both battery and dynamo together to the load through the lower blade and the three c. e. m. f. cells. The charging of the -battery may be done during the day or at night, as may be most convenient. When fully charged, a 36 ampere-hour battery will run seven 16 candle-power lamps for eight hours, and it will require a current of five amperes for eight hours for the recharge. Assuming an average evening's use of four lamps for 3% hours it should suffice to charge the battery twice a week. In winter, when the evenings are long, it may need to be charged every other day. On occasions of unusual demand, such as parties or receptions, to prevent the battery being exhausted too rapidly, it is necessary for the dynamo to be run in the evening to carry a part of the load. The same thing is true in cases where it is desired to use an electric flat-iron or vacuum cleaner, which easily can be done by keeping tlhe dynamo going all day on “ironing day” and “cleaning day." The foregoing specifications, as stated in the beginning, apply to a small sized installation where lighting is the principal requirement. Before installing a 32 volt plant, careful consideration should be given to the subject of future extensions. Electric cooking and other heating appliances, motors and the like not only require a larger plant to run them, but it is desirable to operate them at a higher voltage in order to keep down the size of the copper conductors necessary to carry the large currents imposed by low voltage. Ji1or larger -plants sixty volts has been adopted as a standard, and makers of lamps, heating appliances, etc., now carry these in stock made for this voltage. The following specifications will give a .good idea of what is needed for a 60 volt plant: Battery, 30 cells two-plate type 36 ampere-hours capacity and 6 c. e. m. f. cells, or 60 cells of the home-made battery, connected thirty in series and two in multiple, with i(i c. - e. m. f. cells all in series. 'Generator, shunt wound dynamo 77 volts, 5 amperes, speed about 2,000 r. p. m. Engine, one horse-power. Ammeter, 10-0-10 scale; voltmeter, 80 volt scale. This outfit will 'have twice the capacity of the one previously described. It would be suitable for a connected load of forty 16 c. p. lamps where the maximum demand is limited to twenty-five. The battery alone will be large enough to handle light intermittent loads through the day, such as coffee-percola-ter, electric toaster, or a one-half horsepower pump motor for the house tank supply. This outfit is adapted for future enlargement by the addition of more battery, but if this is anticipated in the very beginning it would be better to install a larger charging equipment—say a. 2 horse-power engine with a 77 volt 10 ampere dynamo, and to have the ammeter scale marked 20-0-20. The Electrical Show in the New Grand Central Palace THE N-E)w York Electrical Show, this ye'tr, was used to open the new Grand Oentr.J Palace, located on Lexington Avenue, between 46th and 47th streets. This handsome structure was brilliant with myriads of electric lights, which were reflected with great brilliancy by the white walls of the interior. At the .top of the building on the outside the arched gallery was illuminated with mercury vapor lamps, the bluish light of which gave a soft, delicate effect when viewed from a distance in the light of the full hunter's moon. Several of the large electric companies have excellent exhibits of all kinds of household electrical apparatus. Along the south side of the building there is a row of rooms illustrating the equipment of a modern house from kitchen to bedroom. In the former room there is an electrical washer, a churn, a chopping machine, and a full equipment of cooking utensils, while in the bedroom there is an electric massage instrument, a miniature hair-drying fan, an electrically-operated sewing machine, etc. The company also has a complete electrically-operated printing plant along the west side of the building. A small paper is printed every day, giving the latest news, many of the despatches being received by wireless. A particularly interesting display was the historical exhibit in the gallery. This consisted of old books dating back to the time of Franklin, and various electrical apparatus. The most interesting feature, perhaps, of this exhibit was the development of the arc lamps, from the original Brush twin-carbon lamp, to the flaming-arc lamp of the present, day. Storage batteries and electric automobiles occupy a considerable part of the floor space, there being exhibits by the Edison, Exide, and Gould storage battery firms, as well as electric automobiles of most of the leading makes. The recent record of 110.9 miles made on the Ocean Boulevard between Brooklyn and Coney Island by a Fritchle electric car carrying four people, which was made with a lead battery, has been exceeded under actual touring conditions by the Edison battery, which, about a year ago, received a thorough testing under Edison's supervision, in pleasure vehicles. Some time after, a run of 244% miles at the rate of 12 miles an hour, was made with 'a Baker electric auto on city streets in Cleveland, with a 40-cell 225-ampere-hour Edison battery.' This is the record for tests of the kind just mentioned, while for touring purposes, from 125 to 150 miles, it is claimed, can be made on one charge. Plates taken from a cell which has been in continuous use in delivery service in New York city for two and one-third years, and which has run a delivery wagon 25,000 miles, were exhibited and showed no depreciation. The capacity of these- cells is said to have risen from 225 to 300 ampere hours after this long-continued use. In addition to this increase of capacity with use, the Edison battery has the advantage that it can b-E) charged whenever convenient, and is not ruined if left standing in a discharged condition. The Electric Storage Battery Company also exhibited vehicles and stationary cells. A barber shop equipped with all the latest electrical appliances, was located in the middle of the main floor, while on a raised platform above there was exhibited a novel combined electric piano and violin orchestra. Three violins were mounted upside down in a circle above the piano, and were played by means of a revolving ring, rotated at various speeds in producing the different notes. Whenever a note was struck on a violin, the instrument was moved about its neck as a pivot until the strings contacted with the ring. Meanwhile, electrically-operated levers fingered the strings. The music produced by this orchestra was excellent nd the amount of expression secured was surprising. As a whole,, the show this year is made-up of small apparatus. There are none-of the big motors and generating sets that have sometimes been exhibited when t ' the show was held in Madison Square i Makes and burns its own gas. Pure white 500 candle power light, more brilliant than electricity or acetylene, and cheaper than kerosene. Casts no shadow. Costs two cents per week per lamp. No dirtj no grease, no odor. Used m every civilized country on earth. Over 200 styles. Every lamp . warranted. Agents wanted. Write for catalog. THE BEST LIGHT CO. 87 E. 5th St., Canton, 0. Why notenjoy absolute comfort in your automobile over all kinds of roads t You can accomplish this if your automobile is equipped with the The New 1912 FLENTJE Automatic Hydraulic Jounce &: Recoil Preventers In a class by itself “BEST IN '11IE WORLD" In a short time you will save the cost of the preventers on tires and springs and engine and body of your car. Try a set on thirty days' free trial and three years' guarantee. and be convinced of the correctness of my claims. S5000 a side to any shock absorber manufacturer to disprove that “ The Flentje “ is the best in the world. For for further particulars, apply to ERNST FLENTJE, 1643 Cambridge St., Cambridge, Mass. New York Branch: 1926 B'way, cot. 64 h St., Room 400 N. Y. City Thekind of true dories young folks love, and parents approve. Stories of Useful Inventions By S. E. FORMAN Profitable and entertaining stories of the beginnings of everyday things—the match, stove, lamp, plow, etc.—tales which make the most of all the history and humanity wrapped up in these inventions. A regular p/clare book oj asefUl in'lJentions, I00. $1.00 net, postage 11 cents PuMisAed by THE CENTURY CO., New York A Fascinating Booklet: “WAYS AND MEANS IN PHOTOGRAPHY" Full of helpful hints.—Write Burroughs Wellcome&Co. 85, West 33rd St., New York, or 101, Coristine Building, Montreal SPENCERIAN STEEL PENS IN EVERY STYLE FOR EVERY HANDWRITING Sample card of 12 SPENCERIAN different pens and . 2goodpenholderB £ sent for 10 eta. PEN CO., 349 Broadway New York. AIRCRAFT THE WORLD'S GREAT FLYING MAGAZINE contains a complete review of everything taking place throughout the entire world in aeronautics, It contains the most beautiful illustrations from every quarter of the globe. It gives complete Records and Statistics of the movement from its inception. Its construction work is accurate beyond question. It 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 new art of flying. Aircraft is generally recognized by the leading authorities on the subject as being the organ of the movement itself. IT IS PUBUSHED MONTHLY. Its subscription price is $1.50 per year or $1.00 for eight months. The Lawson Publishing Co. 37-39 Eat 28th Street, New York, N. Y. Wood-Working machinery For ripping, cross cutting mitering, grooving, boring scroll-sawing, eoVe moulding, mortising; for working wood in any manner. Send for Catalogue A. SENECA FALLS MFG. CO. 695 Water Street Seneca Falls. N. Y , U. S. A. SEBASTIAN LATHES 9 to IS Inch Swing High Quality Low Prices Catalog Free THE SEBASTIAN LATHE CO 120 Culvert St., Cincinnati, O. For Gunsmiths, Tool Makers, Experimental&Repair Work, etc. From 9-in. to 13-in. swing. Arranged for Steam or Foot Power, Velocipede or Stand-up Treadle. W. F.&J. Barnes Co. Established 1872. 1999 Ruby Street Rockford, III. Practical PROTRACTOR for FIELD ENGINEERS ' Especially designed for plotting drawings requiring lines to radiate from the center of a working point _______to any degree point uesired. When not in use needle is tele ped in hub. Lies fiat on paper, 6 in. bbide, weight 3oz. ONLY. Positively accurate . Indis-to field engineers and draftsmen. Price '3.00. 274 page catalog, No. THE L. S. STARReTt CO., Athol, Ma..., U. S. A. THE BEST EQUIPPED SHOP For Mechanical and Electrical Manufacturing Special Machinery, Jigs, Tools, Repairs, Experimental Devices e.lgntiij? and Commercializing a Specialty THE UNIVERSAL TELEGRAPHIC COMPANY ' Sii«e»« ,.(” Th” Rowland TolosrnphU Co. BAWIHIORK, JID. FREE SAMPLE Goes With First Letter Something new. Every firm wants it. Orders $1.00 to $100. Big demand everywhere. Nice pleasant business. Write at once. METALLIC SIGN CO., 438 N. Clark, Chicago WANTrn To manufacture METAL £_§,-• W J\IV 1 VAJ SPECIALTIES, 20 year. experience in making Dies. Tools and Specml Machinery. Expert work. Complete equipment. NATIONAL STAMPING&ELECTRIC WORKS Dept. 2. 412 So.Clinton Street, - Chicago. III. Patented Articles and Metal Specialties MANUFACTURED BY CONTRACT Stamping Dies, Metal Stampings and Screw Machine Work 567 W. La keSt. CHICAGO H. CARSTENS MFG. CO., NOVELTIES 8: PATENTED ARTICLES MANUFACTURED BY CONTRACT. PUNCHING DIES. SPECIAL MACHINERY. E.KONIGSLOW STAMPING &TOOL WORKS, CLEVELAND, 0. Models&Experimental Work INVENTIONS DEVELOPED SPECIAL MACHINERY ... E.V. BAILLARD CO., 24 Frankfort St.,N.Y. M.»*iai(.»s.tii..i ner of Special Machinery, Metal HianUiaClUring Specialties, patented Devices, Dies and Tools, Stampings, Screw Machine Work. Model and Experimental Work. M. P. SCHELL MFG. CO. 509-511 Howard St. - - - - San Francisco, Cal. INVENTORY We build models, do 111 V Lill 1 UlW experimental w o r k, light manufacturing dies and tools. G. SCHWARZ&CO., 123 Liberty St., N.Y. Manufacturers of Metal Specialties, Stampings, Dies and Tools. - Thirty Power Presses at your service. Hoeft&Company, inc. cgc:* 141-143-145 West Michigan Street, corner La Salle Avenue BOYS DON'T DROWN your tools in cheap oil. A few drops of “3-in-One” makes brace and bit, plane, saws, all tools work perfectly-keeps them bright and clean, free from rust. Write to 3-IN-ONE OIL CO., 42 AZB, Broadway, New York City, for generous sample bottle—FREE. SMALL GENERATORS FOR — ISOLATED PLANTS Special 42 volt and 77 volt dynamos in any desired ampere capacities for charging storage batteries. etc. Crocker-Wheeler Company Ampere, N. J. Branches Principal Cities "RED DEVIL" NO BROKEN BLADES WITH THIS HACK SAW FRAME No. 1045 (Same make as the famous “Red Devil “ glass cutters) The rigidity of the frame and the properly fashioned hand grip insures absolute control — adjustable from 8” to 12". If your dealer hasn't it, send us $1.40 and his name. It's just one of many “Red Devil “ Tools. SMITH&HEMENWAY CO. 150 Chambers Street New York City Garden. The myriad uses of electricity in the home and office, however, have never been so well illustrated as now, ana this alone, together with the historical exhibit, makes the show interesting to laymen. The Glidden Tour and the Fair-mount Park Automobile Race MORE than fourscore automobiles started in the 1911 Glidden tour from New York city on October 14th. The route this year extends 1,456 miles from New York to Jacksonville, Florida. The trophy will be contested for by teams, the team having the best average of prompt arrivals being the winner. There are various divisions for runabouts and touring cars, besides which there are several three-wheeled motorettes and a number of trucks and baggage cars. It is expected that the 1911 tour will be the most successful of any held thus far, as the roads of the South have been greatly improved during the last few years, which should assure the motorists an 'enjoyable trip. On October 9th, there was held in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, the automobile race for fast cars, that has been run annually for the past several years. This race was notable for the fact that there were no accidents of any sort, and yet the speed records were 'broken, principally by amateur drivers. The winner of the race was Erwin Bergdoll, in a 90-horse-power Benz. His time was 3:18: 41.35—an average of 61.25 miles an hour. He beat by 10 minutes 26.53 seconds the time of Zengel, in a Chadwick car last year. In fact, no less than six of the nine cars that finished this 202112-mile race, beat the time of the winner last year, which was 3:39: 07.88. Spencer Wishhart, in a Mercedes, secured - second place in 3:20: 11.42. He held the lead for three laps, but was finally outdistanced. Ralph Mulford, in a Lozier, obtained third place. His time was 3:21:52.78. He stood a good chance of coming in second, but was obliged to stop for gasoline and oil near the end of the race, and in so doing lost his position. Last year Mulford finished but six seconds behind the winner. Mr. Bergdoll beat the best record for one lap no less than six times, besides equaling it once during the race. The time of 7:36 for the 8.1-mile lap, made by Harround in a Marmon car last year, was reduced to 7 minutes and 28 seconds by this amateur racing driver. Several other well-known automobile racing men finished in the remaining places. Zengel, in a National, was fourth, and Disbrow, also in a National, was fifth, while Harry F. Grant, twice the winner of the Van-derbilt cup race, was sixth. A small car, the Mercer, obtained seventh place in 3:29: 45%. This race was particularly interesting from the fact that the first and second places were won by amateurs. The next big race of this kind ' will be held at Santa Monica, Cal., shortly. Repairing Old Bridges by Injecting Cement AT Hamburg there are two bridges the masonry of which was threatening to fall in ruins, being traversed by innumerable cracks of varying size. A rather remarkable process has just been made use of to rejuvenate these bridges. A number of holes were bored throughout the structure so as to give access to the interior, and cement was injected by pumps under pressure. Reports on the present condition of the two bridges thus treated are entirely favorable.—La Nature. (Enrrrapxmbrttr? [The editors are not responsible for statements made in the correspondence column. Anonymous communications cannot be conSidered, but the names of correspondents will be withheld, when S0 de-tired.] The Harvest Moon To the Editor of Scientific American: I beg to call your attention to Fig. 7, illustrating my recent article, “The Harvest Moon.” My drawing showed the illuminated hemisphere on the left. Of , course, I see how it happened, but it is misleading. Feedebic R. Honey. Hartford, Conn. Comparison of the Distance Traveled by Earth and Bell Telephone Messages The Orbit of Universal Service In one year the earth on its orbit around the sun travels 584,000,000 miles; in the same time telephone messages travel 23,600,000,000 miles over the pathways provided by the Bell system. That means that the 7,175,000,000 Bell conversations cover a distance forty times that traveled by the earth. When it is considered that each telephone connection includes replies as well as messages, the mileage of talk becomes even greater. These aggregate distances, which. exceed in their total the limits of' the Solar system, are actually confined within the boundaries of the United States. They show the progress that has been made towards universal service and the intensive intercommunication between 90,000,000 people. No such mileage of talk could be possible in such a limited area were it not that each telephone is the center of one universal system. AMERICAN TTmPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY And Associated Companies One Policy One System UmtJer.sa? SertJice BAKELITE (REG. V. S. PAT. OFF.) the new synthetic substance of many applications. Write for booklet. GENERAL BAKELITE COMPANY, 100 William St., New York, N. Y. WELL DRILLING MACHINES Over 70 sizes and sty les, lor drilling either deep or shallow wells in any kind of soil or ruck. Mounted on wheels or on sills. With engines or horse powers. Strong, simple and durable. Any mechanic can operate them easily. Send for catalog. WILLIAMS BROS., Ithaca. N. Y. Nulite Gasoline Table Lamp. A beautiful lump for homes, hotels, offices, stores, banks, cafes. Portable, safe; can be turned upside down or rolled on the floor without danger ("r affecting the light. 3OO C. P. of soft, brilliant light, one-third cent per hour. Also 'l00 different styles of lamps and systems. ACENTS — “e want town, county, and traveling salesmen. Best proposition ever offered. Sells everywhere. Wrttu for Specinl Offer. National Stamping&Electric Works 412 So. Clinton St. CHICAGO LEARN A TRADE BEY011 OWN BOSS n Work,'riiiuibing, Bricklaying, Pftint- a c e instrnction. Actualworktalee place of books. We help gracluates to good positions. Easy e materials furnished free. Write to-day fur free catalogue .1 .._ NATIONAL 60 IlHnoisStree' 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 need, price, etc. MAXIM SILENCER, Hartford, Conn. Afff GAS! Latest Invention Standard Vacuum Gas Machine rasautomatically! Uses 97% ordinary Cheapest,safest,mosthygieni” *-- akes -------------most hygienic for lighting, heating cooking! All conveniences of city gas! Non-poisonous non-asphyxiating, inexplosive and inodorous! Machine always ready! Gas can be made forloc 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. GOES LIKE SIXTY SELLS LIKESIXTY* SELLS roil SIXTY "i.irilW*^GILSON ' ' *I GASOLENE "ENGINE fFor Pumping, Cream ^parators, Churns.Wash Machines, etc. FEEEJTBIAL _ Ask for catalog-all sizes SOS Pari St. Fori Washington, Wis. DON'T Bill' A GASOLINE ENGINE Until You Investigate The Temple Make. Its Great Advantages are: 1st—Lowest Fuel Cost; pays for itself in Fuel Saving. 2nd—Delivers Steadiest Power Stream. adapting it especially for operating farm machinery. 3rd—Easy on the machine it operates. 4th—Uses Gasoline. Kerosene or Gas. 5th—Perfect Lubrication. 6th—Starts Easily and Quickly, occupying minimum space. 7th—It is the King of Portable Engines. No engine has so wide a range of use. You will make a mistake If you do not write for Information. We make 1 to 5 JJ H. P. single cylinder engines; 6 to 20 H. P. two cylinder engines; 30 to 50 H. P. four cylinder engines. All heavy duty, slow speed engines. For surety of operation and low fuel cost our engines lead. Temple Puiup Co., Manufacturers. 439 West 15th St., Chicago, U. S. A. This Is our 59th year. INVENTORS' NUMBER NOVEMBER MAGAZ/NE NUMBER of the SC7EN77F/C AMER/CAN /SSUE OF NOVEMBER 18th, 1911 Although every number of the Scientific American discusses the inventions and inventors of the day, there will be published on November 18th a mid-month magazine number which will display the inventor in a new light. Articles will 'be. published which will show how much he suffers from our antiquated legal system and will explain his need of sympathetic governmental support. His foibles, too, will not escape notice. There will • be an arraignment by Mr. Melville Church of our marvelously complicated method of trying patent infringement suits. Mr. Church is one of the most eminent patent lawyers in this country, a man who has figured prominently in some of the most important patent cases that have been tried in this country. He points out what a burden is imposed by the present method of taking testimony in chambers without any Court supervision and how enormously expensive a trial may be before the infringer is successfully brought to book. We need only mention the scores of volumes of printed testimony taken during the trial involving the validity of the Selden patents, to drive home the utter absurdity of our Court procedure. The inventor who has suffered because of the slowness of our judicial machinery will read Mr. Church's article with interest and profit, for he will learn what steps are being taken to protect without impoverishing him. The great industrial corporation (the “Trust” of whom we have been hearing so much of late) has changed the aspect of invention. It now pays to invent thousands of little feeding devices, thousands of little trains of gears and levers and cams, which, fifty years ago, might not have proved so profitable. An invention that means a saving of one cent per ton in the handling of raw material becomes of industrial importance for the simple reason that the “ Trust” deals in gigantic masses. In an article entitled “The Industrial Corporation and the Inventor” this aspect of modern invention is treated. Fascinating is the story of making big fortunes out of patents on small and apparently unimportant things. Every time anybody in the United States pulls the cap off a beer bottle or a soda water bottle, he puts the fraction of a cent into the pockets of a Baltimore inventor. Elias^ Howe, who first made the sewing machine practical by placing the eye of the needle near the point, admitted that he had collected $ 1 ,-185,000 in royalties. The man who invented ingrain carpet with the threads so interwoven as to prevent wrinkling, is now better off by $4,000,000 for his thought. A government clerk named McGill found it hard to hold together many pages of thick documents. He got over the difficulty by inventing the little brass paper fasteners which we all use. He died rich. His invention made money. These are but a few of the facts taken from a striking article by Mr. William Atherton DuPuy on the big fortunes that have been made on little inventions. Perpetual motion is the inventor's Will-o'-the-Wisp. In the Inventors' number will be found an article in which the various forms of perpetual motion apparatus that have engaged the attention of dreamers for years are explained and their fallacies set forth. There is a funny side to invention as the Inventors' Number will tell you. What possible use could there be in encouraging birds to infest the farmer's grain fields by providing fence posts with birds' nests in them ? Or of table knives with mirrors in the handles to permit the users to inspect their teeth now and then ? Or of a telescopic anti-collision pilot for railway trains running in advance of the locomotive and bearing an automaton that rings a loud gong? These and even more ridiculous inventions will be described in the article on “ The Funny Side of Invention. “ In addition to these articles, there will be the usual Scientific American material—the articles on current scientific discoveries, the Department of Curiosities of Science, the Science Abstracts and the rest. Price Fifteen Cents On A// News Stands
