How to construct devices for winter sports, motion-picture camera, indoor games, reed furniture, electrical novelties, boats, fishing rods, camps and camp appliances, kites and gliders, pushmobiles, roller coaster, ferris wheel and hundreds of other things which delight every boy. With 995 illustrations.
Plane-Table Surveying- [In the training of a boy for a trade or profession there is none so profitable for outdoor work as that of a surveyor. This article sets forth how to accomplish surveying and the making of simp...
- Machine For Sketching Pictures
- An ordinary drawing board, with the attachments shown, provides an easy way to sketch pictures, even if one is not proficient in this line of work. It is only necessary to look through the sight and m...
- Camera Surveying
- [This article explains the preparation of the camera for taking the pictures at each of the three stations, after which the plates are developed, printed and kept until a convenient time may be ...
- Camera Preparation
- To prepare a camera for surveying, it is necessary to arrange that the axial center line through the lens to the plate shall be level, and that the location of the horizontal and vertical center lines...
- To Make Transparent Paper
- Transparent paper of parchmentlike appearance and strength, which can be dyed with almost all kinds of aniline dyes and assumes much more brilliant hues than ordinary colored glass, can be made in the...
- Toasting Bread over an Open Fire
- Having experienced some difficulty in obtaining good toast over a gas or open fire I tried the following plan with good results: An old tin pan was placed over the flame and the ordinary wire bread to...
- Adjustable Stilts
- The beginner with stilts always selects short sticks so that he will not be very far from the ground, but as he becomes more experienced, the longer the sticks the better. Then, too, the small boy and...
- Grape Arbor Built of Poles
- In building outdoor structures, such as grape arbors, pergolas, or arches, it is not necessary to use sawed lumber, as they can be built as substantial, and frequently more artistic and cheap, o f pol...
- Forcing Fruit Blossoms for Decorations
- Twigs trimmed from the fruit trees rather late in the season had quite large buds on them, and we experi-mented with them in this way: A large box was filled with wet sand, and the twigs were stuck in...
- Corner Cleaner Attached to a Scrubbing Brush
- Dirt will accumulate and harden in the corners of a floor and the baseboard just because the end of the scrubbing brush will not enter them. The water gets in with the dirt and leaves a hard crust. Th...
- Plotting a Camera Survey
- [The camera records pictures that can be taken in camp or on a vacation trip and kept until more leisure may be had in winter for plotting the ground. - Editor.] A PREVIOUSLY measured base tr...
- How To Build A Skiff
- The following is a description of an may be easily pushed through marshes, easily constructed 12-ft. skiff, suitable It is constructed of 3/4-in. dressed pine, for rowing and paddling. This is the or ...
- Double-Swing Gate with Common Hinge
- Ordinary hinges can be easily bent and so placed on posts that a gate can be swung in either direction. As shown in the illustration, hinges can be made to fit either round or square posts. The gate h...
- Testing Out Induction Coils
- While winding an induction coil, I found it necessary to test the sections for continuity. Having no galvanometer, I connected a battery and low-resistance telephone receiver in series with the sectio...
- How To Make A Surveyor's Transit
- By Bennett Blacklidge A boy who likes to do the things that grown ups do can derive considerable pleasure from the making of a transit, which will enable him to start in surveying railroads, layi...
- To Enlarge Or Reduce Plots
- Sometimes it is necessary to enlarge or reduce A plot to a different scale. This can be easily and quickly accomplished without resorting to the slow process of protracting the angles and scaling the ...
- A Lathe Bench
- While working at a bench, or foot-power lathe, it is quite convenient to have some sort of a seat to sit on while at work, or between operations. In making such a seat, I used a board, 27 in. long and...
- Shaving Cabinet Mounted on an Adjustable Pedestal
- The illustration represents a shaving cabinet mounted on an adjustable pedestal, whose style and size are such that it may easily be moved about or set away without requiring much room. The material r...
- Four-Passenger Coasting Bobsled
- By R. H. ALLEN COASTER bobs usually have about the same form of construction, and only slight changes from the ordinary are made to satisfy the builder. The one shown has some distinctive fea...
- To Prevent Drill from Catching As It Passes through Metal
- The regular slope of a drill will cause the cutting edge to catch as it breaks through the metal on the opposite side of the piece being drilled. But if a twist drill is ground more flat like a flat d...
- An Ice Boat And Catamaran
- By Robert K. Patterson This combination is produced by using the regular type of ice boat and substituting boats for the runners, to make the catamaran. In constructing the ice boat, use two pol...
- Mind-Reading Effect with Cards
- Five cards are shown, and some one person is asked to think of two cards in the lot, after which the performer places the cards behind his back and removes any two cards, then shows the remaining thre...
- An Air Pencil to Make Embossed Letters
- The device illustrated is for making embossed letters on show cards, signs, post cards, etc. A small bulb, such as used on cameras, is procured, also the spout from a small oilcan. The bulb is fastene...
- An Endless Dish or Floor Mop
- A good way to use up cord that collects about the house, is to make an endless dish or floor mop of it. Procure a thin board that will make a good length and wind the cord around it, then remove it fr...
- Combination Tie Rack And Collar Holder
- An unusual though simple tie rack can be made by supporting the tie bar in the center. By this arrangement the ties can be placed on it from either end, thus avoiding the tedious threading through, re...
- Skates Made of Wood
- Skates that will take the place of the usual steel-runner kind and which will prevent spraining of the ankles, can be made of a few pieces of 1/2 -in. hardwood boards. Four runners are cut out, 2 i...
- An Ice Glider
- By Mildred E. Thomas The enthusiastic pushmobilist need not put aside his hobby during the winter, as an amusement device for use on ice, which will surpass the very best pushmo-bile, can be easily...
- Prony Brake for Testing Small Motors
- The ordinary prony brake is not, as a rule, sensitive enough to make an accurate test on small motors, such as those used in driving sewing machines, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, etc. The arrang...
- A Mystic Fortune Teller
- Fortune telling by means of weights striking glasses or bottles is quite mysterious if controlled in a manner that cannot be seen by the audience. The performer can arrange two strikes for no, and t...
- Holding Prints In A Liquid-Filled Tray
- After having considerable trouble in keeping my paper prints in the hypo fixing bath from curling, which would force the edges out of the liquid, I found the plan here illustrated a success. I procure...
- Cellar-Door Holder
- A cellar door that opened up against a wall required a catch of some kind to keep it open at times. As I did not want a catch to show on the wall, I devised a holder as shown. Three pieces of wood wer...
- An Emergency Pencil Compass
- The need of a compass when none was at hand caused me to quickly devise a substitute for the work. A piece of stiff wire, about the length of the pencil, was procured, and several turns were made arou...
- Renewing Carbon Paper
- When carbon paper has been used several times, the preparation becomes almost worn off on some parts, while other parts of the paper are as good as new. The process of renewing is very simple and it c...
- How to Clinch a Finishing Nail
- A wire or finishing nail may be clinched as nicely as a wrought nail, if a nail punch or piece of iron is placed along the side of it, as shown at A, and the nail hammered into an arched form, as at B...
- To Prevent Washbasin Bottom from Wearing Out
- The ears from some sirup buckets were removed and three of them soldered, at equal distances apart, on the bottom of the washbasin near the outside edge of the lower part. These prevented the wear fro...
- How To Make And Use Snowshoes. Shapes of Snowshoes
- To the inventive mind of the North American Indian we owe the snowshoe, and its conception was doubtless brought about through that prolific source of invention - necessity. The first models wer...
- Soldering And Riveting
- By JOHN D. ADAMS There are two simple processes that every experimenter should master: soldering and riveting. The large soldering copper will find only a very restricted use with the amateur on ac...
- A Whistle
- Cut a circular piece of tin any convenient size, preferably 3 in. in diameter, and bend it across the diameter so that it will be in a narrow U-shape. Then drill or punch a hole through both parts as ...
- Card-and-Coin Trick
- If a card is balanced on the finger and a coin placed on the card directly over the finger, one would not think that the card could be flipped out leaving the coin on the finger end. This is easily ac...
- How to Make a Costumer
- With but little skill, and such tools as are ordinarily found around a home, a plain but serviceable costumer can be made, as shown in the sketch. The necessary materials for it are: One main post, l ...
- Window Catch Used for Locking an Extension Table
- To prevent the two ends of an extension table from pulling apart when not desired, an ordinary window catch can be fastened and locked in place to the under side of the table top with one part on each...
- Relieving Pressure on Heated Canned Foods for Opening
- In opening a can of food that has been heated, the instant the cover is punctured the steam will force out a part of the contents, which is very annoying. To avoid this, pour a little cold water on th...
- Clothespin Bag
- Clothespins are usually kept in a bag, and the one our home possessed had a draw string which would always stick and hold the bag shut. The remedy for this, and a time saver also, was to remove the dr...
- How to Make and Use Snowshoes. Making the Shoe
- [In making the snowshoe it may be necessary to refer to the previous chapter to select the style, or to locate the name of the parts used in the description. - Editor.] SNOWSHOE mak-ing is an...
- Combination Settee Rocker and Cradle
- By fastening a frame with hinges to the front of a settee rocker, a combination piece of furniture can be made, which may be used either as a regular settee or as a cradle. For this purpose, a covered...
- A Snowball Thrower
- By ALBERT BATES, Jr. The snow fort with its infantry is not complete without the artillery. A set of mortars, or cannon, placed in the fort to hurl snowballs at the entrenched enemy makes the battl...
- Springs on the Chains of a Porch Swing
- Two coil springs of medium strength placed in the chains of a porch swing will make it ride easier and also take up any unpleasant jars and rattles occasioned when a person sits heavily in the. swing....
- Homemade Water Meter
- Where it is necessary to measure water in large quantities the meter illustrated will serve the purpose as well as an expensive one, and can be made cheaply. The vessel, or bucket, for measuring the w...
- A Snowball Maker
- Snowball making is slow when carried on by hand, and where a thrower is employed in a snow fort it becomes necessary to have a number of assistants in making the snowballs. The time of making these ba...
- An Inexpensive Bobsled
- Any boy who can drive a nail and bore a hole can have a bobsled on short notice. The materials necessary are four good, solid barrel staves; four blocks of wood, 4 in. long, 4 in. wide, and 2 in. thic...
- Motor Made Of Candles
- A tube of tin, or cardboard, having an inside diameter to receive a candle snugly, is hung on an axle in the center Tallow Dripping from the Ends Alternately Lessens the Weight of the Arms and Caus...
- Kettle-Handle Support
- The handle of a kettle lying on the kettle rim will become so hot that it cannot be held in the bare hand. To keep the handle fairly cool it must be supported in an upright position. To do this, form ...
- How to Make a Monorail Sled
- A monorail sled, having a simple tandem arrangement of the runners, is very easily constructed as follows: The runners are cut from 1-in. plank An Exhilarating Glide Accompanied by a Buoyan...
- Binding Magazines
- To bind magazines for rough service, proceed as follows: Place the magazines carefully one on top of the other in order, and space the upper one, near the back edge, for two rivets, marking off three ...
- A Shellac Cement
- As shellac is the basis of almost ail cements, a good cement can be made by thickening shellac varnish with dry white lead. The two may be worked together on a piece of glass with a putty knife. ...
- A Blackboard For Children
- Take a wide window shade and attach it to a roller as if hanging it to a window. Cut it to about 3 ft. in length, hem the lower edge and insert in the slot in the usual manner. Procure some black slat...
- How to Make A Ski Staff
- A ski staff will greatly assist progress over level stretches and is an aid to the ski runner in preserving his balance. A homemade staff that is easy to construct is shown in Fig. 1. At the upper end...
- A Game Played On The Ice
- A novel and interesting winter game for young and old, described as a novelty by a Swedish paper, is played as follows: Two poles of convenient height are erected on the ice; if skating on a shallo...
- An Electric Display for A Show Window
- A novel window display that is very attractive, yet simple in construction and operation, can be made in the following manner: First, make a small watertight chamber, A, as long as the focal length of...
- Strainer for a Milk Pail
- Even though a milker may be careful, small particles of dirt, hairs, etc., will fall into the milk pail. It is true that the Amilk is strained afterward, but a large percentage of the dirt dissolves a...
- Baking Bread in Hot Sand
- A driving crew on the river wanted to move camp, but the cook objected as he had started to bake. One of the party suggested using a modified form of the method of baking in vogue more than a century ...
- How to Make Small Cams
- In making models of machinery or toy machines, cams are very often required. A simple way of making these is to lay out the cam plate, or drum, and then bend pieces of brass to the correct shape and s...
- Display Holder for Coins
- If the luster of coins fresh from the mint is to be preserved, they must be immediately placed so as to be protected against contact with the hands. A good holder that will display both sides of a coi...
- Holder for Skates while Sharpening
- The base of the holder is cut from a board and should be about 3 in. longer than the skate. Two clamps are cut as shown at A, from metal of sufficient thickness to hold the skate firmly, then bent to ...
- A Homemade Direct-View Finder for Cameras
- Every hand camera and most of the tripod cameras are equipped with finders of one type or another, and usually one in which the image of the field is reflected upward on a small ground glass - being, ...
- A Non-Rolling Spool
- Bend a piece of wire in the shape shown in the illustration and attach it to a spool of thread. The ends of the wire should clamp the spool slightly and the loop in the wire will keep it from rolling....
- How to Make a Cartridge Belt
- Procure a leather belt, about 2 1/2in. wide and long enough to reach about the waist, also a piece of leather, 1 in. wide and twice as long as the belt. Attach a buckle to one end of the belt and rive...
- Removing Iodine Stains
- A good way to chemically remove iodine stains from the hands or linen is to wash the stains in a strong solution of hyposulphite of sodium, known as hypo, which is procurable at any photographic-sup...
- Bed-Cover Fasteners
- The arrangement shown in the sketch is easily made and will keep the bed covers in place. The covers are provided with eyelets, either sewed, A, or brass eyelets, B, 6 or 8 in. apart along the edge. A...
- Collar Fasteners
- An excellent fastener to be used on soft collars can be assembled from an ordinary paper fastener and two shoe buttons of the desired color. This device keeps the soft collar in good shape at the fron...
- Operating a Bathroom Light Automatically
- A device for automatically turning an electric light on and off when entering and leaving the room is illustrated in the sketch. A pull-chain lamp socket is placed upon the wall or ceiling, and is con...
- A Finger-Ring Trick
- A coin soldered to some inexpensive ring, or a piece of brass cut from tubing, will make an interesting surprise coin for friends. The ring when placed on the middle finger with the coin in the palm m...
- Preventing Marks from Basting Threads on Wool
- In making up woolen garments it is necessary to press portions of them before removing the basting threads. Sometimes the marks of the basting threads show after the pressing. This can be avoided by u...
- Skating Merry-Go-Round
- By HENRY BURICH After once making and using the ice merry-go-round as illustrated, no pond will be complete unless it has one or more of these devices. To construct an amusement device of this kind...
- Relieving Air Pressure When Closing Record Boxes
- The ordinary pasteboard boxes for holding phonograph records are very hard to close, due to the air pressure on the inside. I overcome this difficulty by making three small holes in the cover with a p...
- A Steering Sled
- An ordinary hand sled can be easily converted into a sled that can be guided like a bobsled by the addition of one extra runner. To attach this runner, a piece of wood is fastened to the under side an...
- To Hold a Straw Hat on the Head
- On windy days it is almost impossible to make a straw hat stay on the head. To avoid this trouble, place rubber bands through the sweatband. Before inserting, make them into loops, as shown, and draw ...
- Carrying Fishhooks in a Cane Pole
- The person using a cane pole for fishing can easily provide a place for the hooks and sinkers in the first large joint of the pole. Cut the cane off just above the first large joint, and it will leave...
- Drying Small Laundered Articles
- Where mechanical drying is not in use it takes considerable time to hang out a number of handkerchiefs, laces, collars, etc., and very often the wind will blow away many of them. The task of drying th...
- Decorative Wood Panels
- Procure an unplaned board that is deeply scored by the teeth of the saw and mark an outline of the desired figure on its surface. Sandpaper the background lightly, cut in a moon and smooth down the tr...
- Fishing-Rod Making And Angling. A One-Piece Casting Rod
- By Stillman Taylor Part I THE pleasures of outdoor life are most keenly enjoyed by those sportsmen who are familiar with all the little tricks - the ins and outs - of the open. It is the active p...
- Automatic Watering System for Poultry Yards
- Where a large number of poultry is cared for, the annoyance and attention necessary to furnish a constant water supply can be overcome by using the system shown in the illustration. For this purpose a...
- Changing Pip on a Card
- Cut out the center pip on the five-spot of spades with a sharp knife. Cut a slot centrally in another card, about 3/8in. wide and l 1/4 in. long. Glue the surfaces of both cards together near the edge...
- To Make a Special Envelope
- Any size of envelope for mailing special papers or documents can be made as follows: All envelopes are of the same shape as shown in Fig. 1; the size for the papers to be inclosed is represented by th...
- Automatically Extinguishing a Candle
- Candles can be easily fitted with attachments to extinguish the light at a set time. To determine the length of time, it is necessary to mark a candle of the size used and time how long a certain leng...
- Clothespin Newspaper Holder
- A simple newspaper holder can be made by cutting away a portion of one side of an ordinary clothespin, drillingshaping a Clothespin Head and fastening It to a Wall Provides a Holder for Newspapers a h...
- Holder for a Dory Rudder
- The rudder of a sailing dory or row-boat often comes off in rough water, and in order to keep it in place and yet have it easily detachable at will, the following method is useful: Procure a 10-in. ie...
- Trimming Photographs
- In trimming small photograph prints I experienced some difficulty in getting them square, and I did not care to invest in a trimming board. By following a line drawn around the print with a triangle, ...
- A Metal Polish
- A metal polish that is sate to use about the home is composed of 30 parts alcohol, 3 parts ammonia water, 45 parts water, 6 1/2 parts carbon tetrachloride, 8 parts kieselguhr, 4 parts white bole, and ...
- Fishing-Rod Making And Angling. Various Two and Three-Piece Rods
- By Stillman Taylor While the action of the one-piece rod is undeniably better than when the rod is made in two or three pieces, it is less compact to carry. To make a 5-ft. two-piece bait-casting r...
- Homemade Ball Catch for Cabinet Doors
- To make a ball catch, procure a piece of brass, 1 in. long, 1/2 in.wide, and about 1/16in. thick, and an old gas burner having a diameter o f 3/8 in. A s de-scribed by Work, London, the threaded part ...
- Combination Needle and Thread Tray
- When any attempt is made to keep sewing material, such as needles, spools, or buttons, separate, each of the articles is usually kept in some special drawer, or by itself, and when necessary to use on...
- Repairing Worn Escapement Wheel of a Clock
- When the ordinary clock has served its usefulness and is apparently worn out, the jeweler's price to overhaul it frequently amounts to almost as much as the original purchase price. One weak place in ...
- Fishing-Rod Making And Angling. Trout Fishing With Fly And Bait
- By Stillman Taylor Part III Angling is generally viewed as one of the world's greatest recreations, and while each and every phase of fishing may be said to possess certain charms of its own, fly f...
- Selecting a Good Fly Rod
- The ordinary fishing pole may be bought offhand at almost any hardware store, but a well-balanced rod for fly fishing should be well tested out beforehand. The requirements call for a rod of comparati...
- The Proper Kind of Reel
- For fly fishing nothing is so good as the English style of click reel, which is made with a one-piece revolving side plate and with the handle affixed directly to it. Any kind of a balanced-handle ree...
- A Fine Leader Marks the Expert Caster
- The leader for trout is preferably of single gut, and as fine as the angler's skill will allow. The fly caster's rule is to use a leader whose breaking strain is less than the line, then, when the tac...
- Flies for Trout Fishing
- The standard selection of artificial flies numbers about 60, but the average fisherman will find about 24 selected patterns to answer every need. For making up the most killing flies for the trout s...
- Catch to Hold Two Joining Doors Open
- Where two open doors meet, a catch to keep them open can be made of a piece of wire, shaped as shown. The hooks at the ends of the wire are slipped over the shanks of the knobs. - Contributed by W. A....
- Bicycle Oil Lamp Changed to Electric Light
- The desire for an electric light for my bicycle caused me to change a fine oil lamp, too good to be thrown away, so that an electric globe could be used in it. The oil cup of the lamp was removed, and...
- Fishing-Rod Making And Angling. Trout Fishing with Fly and Bait
- By Stillman Taylor Part IV How to Cast the Fly 'TO be able to cast the artificial fly a distance of 50 ft., or more, and let the feathered lure alight upon the desired bit of water as lightly as a...
- Handling The Flies In The Water
- As a general thing the veteran fly fisherman prefers to wade with the current and fishes the water in front of him by making diagonal casts across the stream. A good fisherman will system atically cov...
- Houses Made of Poles
- [In this article descriptions are given of several shelters suitable for a resort, but the reader may select any one of them that answers his needs and build a camp house, or fit up a more...
- An Electric Water Heater
- An Electric Water Heater #1 Procure the barrel and cap from a hand bicycle pump and prepare them as follows : Make a tube of paper, about double the thickness of a postal card, to fit snugly in the...
- Camps
- By F. S. CHARLES Tents A good site, pure water in abundance, and a convenient fuel supply, are the features of a temporary camp that should be given first consideration when starting out t...
- A Drinking Tube
- When on a walking tour through the woods or country, it might be well to provide a way to procure water for drinking purposes. Take with you several feet of small rubber tubing and a few inches of hol...
- Washing Photographic Prints
- The usual way of washing photographic prints is to place them in a shallow tray in which they will become stuck together in bunches, if they are not often separated. A French magazine suggests that a ...
- Camp Furnishings
- By CHELSEA CURTIS FRASER When on a camping trip nothing should be carried but the necessities, and the furnishings should be made up from materials found in the woods. A good spring bed can be made...
- A Fruit Stemmer
- In the berry season the stemmer shown in the sketch is a very handy article for the kitchen. It is made of spring steel and tempered, the length being about 2 1/2 i n. T he end used for removing the s...
- A Homemade Fountain Pen
- A very serviceable fountain pen can be made from two 38-72 rifle cartridges and a steel pen. Clean out the cartridges, fit a hardwood plug tightly in the end of one shell, and cut it off smooth with t...
- Destroying Caterpillars on Grapevines
- The grapes in my back yard were being destroyed by caterpillars which could be found under all the large leaves. The vine was almost dead when I began, to cut off all the large leaves and those eaten ...
- A Camp Provision Box
- While on a camping and canoeing trip recently, I used a device which added a touch of completeness to our outfit and made camp life really enjoyable. This useful device is none other than a provision ...
- Wall Pockets in a Tent
- When camping I find a few wall pockets sewed to the tent walls at the back end provide a convenient means to hold the soap, mirror, razor and other small articles liable to be lost. The pockets can be...
- Camp Stoves
- The camp stoves illustrated are different forms of the same idea. Both can be taken apart and laid flat for packing. Iron rods, 1/2 in. in diameter, are used for the legs. They are sharpened at the lo...
- Attractor for Game Fish
- A piece of light wood, shaped as shown and with four small screweyes attached, makes a practical attractor for game fish, such as bass, etc., by its action when drawn through the water or carried by t...
- Simple Photographic-Print Washer
- The ordinary washbowl supplied with a faucet may be easily converted into a washing tray for photographic prints or film negatives. Procure a medicine dropper from a druggist, and attach it to the fau...
- How to Make an Electric Fishing Signal
- A unique electric fishing signal, which may be rigged up on a wharf or pier, and the electric circuit so arranged as to operate an electric bell or buzzer, located in the fisherman's cottage, or any o...
- A Chair Swing
- A comfortable porch or lawn swing can be easily and quickly made with a chair as a seat, as follows. Procure some rope of sufficient strength to bear the weight of the person, and fasten one end secur...
- Another Broom Holder
- Of the many homemade devices for holding a broom this is one of the simplest, and one that any-handy boy can make. It consists of a string, about 1 ft. long, with a knot at one end and the other ti...
- Squaring Wood Stock
- The device shown in the sketch is a great help to the maker of mission furniture as a guide on short cuts. It consists of two pieces of wood, A and B, preferably of oak, fastened together at right ang...
- A Wind Vane
- A novelty in wind vanes is shown in the accompanying sketch. The vane can be made of sheet metal or carved from light wood. The wings are so set on the body as to cause the dragon to rise when the win...
- How To Make A Flutter Ring
- The flutter ring is for inclosing in an envelope and to surprise the person opening it by the revolving of the ring. The main part is made of a piece of wire, A, bent so that the depth will be about 2...
- A Kitchen Utensil Hanger
- Every cook knows how troublesome it is to have several things hanging on one nail. When one of the articles is wanted it is usually at the back, and the others must be removed to secure it. A revolvin...
- Homemade Hinges For Boxes
- A very simple form of hinge can be made as shown in the sketch. It is merely a matter of cutting out two pieces of flat steel, A, punching holes in them for screws or nails, and fastening them to the ...
- To Remove Odors From Ice Boxes
- An easy way to prevent odors in an ice box is to place a can of coke in the box. This will take up All gases and prevent milk from tasting of onions or vegetables which May be kept in the box. In f...
- Preventing Window Sash from Freezing to the Sill
- When it is cold enough to cause the window sash to freeze fast in the bathroom and bedrooms not having double sash, much discomfort will be experienced and the health may even be menaced. I have disco...
- A Hanger for the Camp
- A garment, or utensil, hanger can be easily made for the camp in the following manner: Procure a long strap, about l 1/4 in. wide, and attach hooks made of wire to it. Each hook should be about 4 in. ...
- Locking Several Drawers with One Lock
- A lock for a number of drawers in a bench or cabinet may be applied with a strip of wood hinged to the cabinet edge so that it will overlap the drawer fronts, as shown. A hasp and staple complete the ...
- A Lightning-Calculation Trick
- By means of a simple arrangement of numbers, a calculation can be made which will easily puzzle any unsuspecting person. If the two numbers 41,096 and 83 be written out in multiplication form, very fe...
- An Adjustable Nutcracker
- The advantage of the nutcracker shown in the illustration is that it can be adjusted to various-sized nuts. The handles are similar to those usually found on nutcrackers except that they are slotted a...
- Substitute for a Rubber Stamp
- A large number of coupons had to be marked, and having no suitable rubber stamp at hand, I selected a cork with a smooth end and cut the initials in it. I found that it worked as well, not to say bett...
- A Furniture Polish
- A Furniture Polish #1 A good pastelike furniture polish, which is very cheap and keeps indefinitely, can be made as follows: Mix 3 oz. of white wax, 2 oz. of pearlash, commonly known as potassium c...
- A Hanging Vase
- A very neat and attractive hanging corner vase can be made of a colored bottle. The bottom is broken out or cut off as desired and a wire hanger attached as shown. The opening in the neck of the bottl...
- Filing Soft Metals
- It is well known to mechanics that when lead, tin, soft solder or aluminum are filed, the file is soon filled with the metal and it will not cut. It cannot be cleaned like the wood rasp by dipping it ...
- Locking Screws in Door Hinges
- When screws once work loose in hinges of doors they will never again hold firmly in the same hole. This trouble can be avoided if the screws are securely locked when they are first put on the door. Th...
- To Remove Grease from Clothing
- Equal parts of ether, ammonia and alcohol make a solution that will readily remove grease from clothing. The solution must be kept away from fire, and should be contained in corked bottles as it evapo...
- A Canoe Stove
- By F. V. WILLIAMS Limited space ana the rocking motion of salmon-fishing boats in a heavy sea on the Pacific coast brought about the construction of the canoe stove shown in the illustration. It is...
- To Prevent Washboard from Slipping in Tub
- The modern stationary washtubs are box-shaped, with one side set at an outward angle or slope. The washboard, when used in these tubs, will slide up and down against the sloping part of the tub while ...
- Clips to Hold Magazine Pages Together
- When a magazine is placed in a bookcase the outer pages are liable to turn back if it is inserted with the back on the outside. To overcome this difficulty I made clips for each magazine to hold the o...
- Slide-Opening Cover For A Plate Holder
- The length of time required for the slide of a plate holder to be removed on a reflecting camera spoiled many of my plates, because strong light would enter the unprotected slot when the camera was in...
- Magnetic-Suspension Pendulum
- When a pendulum is not periodically supplied with energy its amplitude grows smaller and finally the motion ceases, due to the resistance of the air and the friction at the point of suspension. Usuall...
- Use for Pencil Stubs
- In mechanical drawings cast iron is indicated by a series of straight lines across the parts made of this material. These lines can be quickly made with the usually discarded pencil stubs, if these ar...
- How To Build A Paddle - Wheel Boat
- By P. A. BAUMEISTER THE paddle-wheel boat, illustrated herewith, was built in the spare time I had on rainy afternoons and Saturdays, and the enjoyment I derived from it at my summer camp more than...
- A Camp Loom
- The camper who desires to rough it as much as possible and to carry only the necessities will find it quite a comfort to construct the bedding from grass or moss by weaving it in the manner of makin...
- A Milk-Bottle Carrier
- Carrying a milk bottle by the rim is tiresome work for the fingers, so I constructed a handle, as shown in the sketch, from a piece of wire. The carrier can be easily placed in the pocket. The part...
- How To Make A War Kite
- By PARK SNYDER The material required for the making of a war kite is three pine sticks, each 60 in. long, one stick 54 in. long, one stick 18 in. long, all 1/2 in. square; 4 yd. of cambric; a box o...
- Paper Glider That Loops The Loop
- By C. A. THOMPSON Ill: Fig 1 The usual paper glider shaped a s shown in Fig. 1 can be made to loop the loop and make corkscrew flights if prepared according to sketches herewith. It sh...
- A Water Filter
- A cheap and very effective water filter can be made of a flower pot by plugging the hole in the bottom with a piece of sponge and fitting it as follows: Place powdered charcoal on top of the sponge to...
- A Combination Electrically Operated Door Lock
- The illustration shows a very useful application of an ordinary electric door lock in the construction of a combination lock and alarm to be operated from the outside of the building. Ill: Th...
- Lock For A Fancy Hairpin
- To avoid losing a fancy hairpin, bend one leg of the pin as shown in the illustration. The hair caught in the notch formed by the bend will prevent the pin from dropping out. - Contributed by W. C. Lo...
- An Aeroplane Kite
- By W. A. Reich After building a number of kites from a recent description in Amateur Mechanics I branched out and constructed the aeroplane kite shown in the illustration, which has excited conside...
- Distilling Apparatus for Water
- Pure water, free from all foreign sub-stances, is frequently wanted for making up photographic solutions and many other purposes. An apparatus for distilling water can be very easily made from galvani...
- Telephone Stand for a Sloping Desk
- Having a sloping-top desk and being compelled to use the telephone quite frequently, I devised a support for the telephone so that it might stand level and not fall off. The sides of the stand were cu...
- Tandem Monoplane Glider
- By GEORGE F. MACE The monoplane glider illustrated has better fore-and-aft stability than the biplane, is lighter in proportion to the supporting surface, simpler to build, and requires very little...
- Carrier For A Suitcase
- Where it is necessary to carry a well filled and heavy suitcase the light truck shown in the sketch will be a great assistance. The truck is constructed on the folding plan, similar to a go-cart, and ...
- Light In A Keyhole
- Remove the lock and cut the mortise deep enough to admit a 3-volt battery lamp with a suitable socket attached. The lamp is then connected to wires which are concealed and run to a battery of three dr...
- How To Make A Monoplane Glider
- By WILLIAM GROTZINGER A simple glider of the monoplane type can be easily constructed in a small workshop ; the cost of materials is not great and the building does not require skilled workmen. Sel...
- Exerciser For A Chained Dog
- The exerciser consists of a disk, 5 ft. in diameter, pivoted in the ground near the kennel. The disk revolves on a 5/8-in. pin set in a post made of a 4 by 4-in. piece of timber. The disk is made of c...
- A Laboratory Gas Generator
- The sketch illustrates a gas generator designed for laboratories where gases are needed in large quantities and frequently. The shelf holding the large inverted bottle is of thick wood, and to reinfor...
- Holding Small Armatures For Winding
- Procure a strip of sheet metal, 6 in. long, 1 in. wide, or as wide as the armature core is long, and 3/32 in. thick. Bend this into a U-shape, as shown, and file each end similar to the barb on a fish...
- Armature Cores are Easily Revolved to Fill the Core Openings with Insulated Wire
- Ill: Footstool For Cement Floors A clerk finding the cement floor of the office uncomfortably cold to the feet, devised a footstool in the following manner: A shallow box was procured, and fo...
- Homemade Telegraph Sounder
- The material required to construct a telegraph sounder, like the one shown in the sketch, consists of two binding posts, magnets, a piece of sheet metal, and a rubber band. These are arranged as shown...
- Laboratory Force Filter
- The sketch represents a force filter which is well adapted for use in small laboratories. The water is turned on at the faucet and draws the air through the side tube by suction, which in turn draws t...
- Beginner's Helper for Roller Skating
- One of the most amusing as well as useful devices for a beginner on roller skates is shown in the sketch. The device is made of 3/4-in. pipe and pipe fittings, with a strip of sheet metal 1 in. wide f...
- Atmospheric Thermo-Engine
- The device illustrated has for its object the production of power in small quantities with little attention and no expense. All that is needed to produce the power is common ordinary water, and the de...
- A Mirror an Aid in Rowing a Boat
- The young oarsman is apt to experience difficulty in keeping a straight course until he has had some practice. Rowing a boat in a narrow channel calls for considerable skill to hold a course in mid-st...
- Developing Tray Made of a Tin Can
- Obtain a tomato or other can, 5 or 6 in. long and i in. in diameter, which should be secured before it has been opened, says Camera Craft. Cut both ends exactly half way around, keeping close to the e...
- White Rubber on Croquet Arches
- A white cloth is usually tied to croquet arches when the game is played late in the evening. A much better plan is to slip a piece of white rubber tubing about 1 ft. long on the arch. This tubing can ...
- Illuminating an Outside Thermometer
- During the season of furnace fires the thermometer outside the north window becomes of added interest and usefulness in helping one to judge the proper draft adjustments of the furnace for the night. ...
- Locating A Droplight in the Dark
- It is very hard to locate an electric-light globe in a dark room. Anyone trying to find one by striking the air in its vicinity with one hand, usually finds that the globe is not there, although the h...
- Lighting a Room for Making Photographs
- When it becomes too cold for the amateur photographer to take pictures outdoors, he generally lays aside his camera and thinks no more about it until the coming of another spring or summer. While some...
- Detachable Hinged Cover for Kettles
- A kettle cover equipped with the hinge shown in Fig. 1 will not fall off when in place, and can be raised or removed entirely when desired. One wing of an ordinary hinge is soldered or riveted to t...
- A Use For Discarded Wafer Razor Blades
- A paper trimmer and mat cutter can be made from a wafer razor blade. As a paper trimmer, place the blade C over the part A of the razor, as shown, with only two of the holes engaging in one post and t...
- Armatures for Small Motors
- Without the proper tools and material, the amateur electrician will find it quite difficult to construct a small armature for a battery motor that will run true, without vibration and have a neat appe...
- Ice Creeper for Shoe Heels
- Many persons, young and old, have falls every winter on the ice or snow which can be avoided if their shoes are fitted with ice creepers. A very efficient device of this kind, which any boy can make a...
- Opening Screw-Top Fruit Jars
- Screw-top fruit jars may be easily opened in the following manner: Secure a strap with a buckle and place it around the top as if it were to be buckled, but instead draw the loose end back and hold it...
- Lamp-Chimney Cleaner
- Lamp chimneys of various makes are very difficult to clean quickly and thoroughly. The simple device shown in the sketch makes the cleaning process a simple matter. The cleaner is made of a round rubb...
- A Pop-Corn Popper
- The accompanying sketch shows the construction of a pop-corn popper for thoroughly flavoring the corn with the hot butter or lard, and at the same time mixing it with the necessary amount of salt. Pro...
- A Homemade Floor Polisher
- An efficient and cheap floor polisher may be readily constructed in the following manner: Make a box about 4 by 6 by 12 in., or the exact size may be determined by building it around the household fla...
- Simple Way to Mark Poison Bottles
- A way to prevent any possible mistake of taking bottles containing poisons is to mark them as shown in the sketch. This method provides a way to designate a poison bottle in the dark. The mark...
- Removing Varnish
- A good and easy way to remove varnish from old furniture is to wash the surface thoroughly with 95-per-cent alcohol. This dissolves the varnish and the wood can then be cleaned with a strong solution ...
- Curling-Iron Heater
- The curling-iron holder shown in the sketch can be made of metal tubing having the size to fit both iron and gas jet. One-half of the tubing for a portion of its length is removed, as shown in Fig. 1....
- Preserving Flowers In Color And Form
- One of the most distressing sides of botanical study is the short life of the colors in flowers. Those who have found the usual method of preserving plants by pressure between paper unsatisfactory wil...
- Reading Pulse Beats With The Sun's Rays
- The pulse beats may be counted by this unusual method. On a clear day, when the sun is shining brightly, darken a room and select one window toward the sunlight, which should be prepared as follows: D...
- Artistic Wood Turning
- Some very odd and beautiful effects can be obtained in lathe work by making up the stock from several pieces of various kinds of wood glued together. The pieces can be arranged in many pleasing combin...
- A Variable Condenser
- A simple variable condenser for receiving in wireless, which will give good results, was made by a correspondent of Modern Electrics as follows : Each clip on the switch was made of ribbon brass or co...
- Adjustable Baking-Pan Shoes
- At times bread, meat, or other food, placed in ordinary baking pans in the oven becomes burned on the bottom. If the detachable metal strips shown in the sketch are placed on the pan, this will not ha...
- A Pushmobile Race
- Ill: Cars Lined Up Ready for the Start and the Course Patrolled by the Boy Scouts, All Traffic being Halted For the Race and the Roadway Made Clear for the Entire Half Mile of Track Pending t...
- Pencil Rack
- The simple pencil rack shown in the sketch can be easily made from any suitable strip of metal, preferably brass of about No. 15 gauge. Mark off a number of rectangles corresponding to the number of p...
- Reducing Size of a Hat Sweatband
- Very often a hat has been worn for some time and it becomes too loose on the head, then paper is used in the sweatband to reduce the size. A better, easier, and neater method, as well as one that will...
- A Catapult
- The catapult shown in the sketch is one I constructed some time ago and found to be amusing and very inexpensive. The catapult consists of a small piece of dowel or pine, whittled into the shape of a ...
- Growing Clean Strawberries
- A very good method of growing individual strawberry plants that will produce large clean berries is to provide a covering constructed from a board 10 in. square with a 3-in. hole bored in the center. ...
- A Magic Change Card
- Procure two cards, the 5 of diamonds and the 3 of spades, for example. Bend each exactly in the center, with the face of the cards in, and then paste any card on the back, with its face against th...
- Cleaning Pearl Articles
- A good way to clean pearl articles or ornaments is to moisten them with alcohol and then dry in magnesia powder or French chalk. These last two articles may be purchased at any drug store and the proc...
- Bed For A Camp
- A quickly made bed for a camp is shown in the illustration. The corner posts consist of four forked stakes driven in the earth so that the crotches are on a level and about 1 ft. from the ground. Pole...
- Sail For A Boy's Wagon
- Every boy. who loves a boat and has only a wagon, can make a combination affair in which he can sail even though there is no water for miles around. One boy accomplished this as shown in the illustrat...
- Extracting A Broken Screw
- A screw Will often break off in a piece of work in such a manner that it is quite impossible to remove it by using a pair of pliers or a wrench. In this case the following method is very efficient and...
- Keeping Out Dampness
- A good way to keep a bed from becoming damp, if left for any length of time, is to place a blanket on the top after it is made up. Take the blanket off before using and the bed covers will be quite dr...
- A Double-Claw Hammer For Pulling Nails Straight
- A nail pulled with an ordinary claw hammer will be bent in the operation, and for this reason the double claw is used to draw the nail straight out of the wood. An ordinary claw hammer can be easily c...
- A Cyclemobile
- By FRANK PFEFFERLE The cyclemobile is of the three-wheeled type and can be easily constructed in the home workshop with ordinary tools. The main frame is built up of two sidepieces, AA, Fig. 1, eac...
- How to Make a Humidor
- The humidor is an ideal gift for any person who smokes. The wood for making one, as shown in the illustra- tion, may be of Spanish cedar, mahogany, or quartered oak, as the builder desires. The box an...
- Telephoto Attachment for a Hand Camera
- It is not necessary to purchase an expensive telephoto lens for a box or hand camera if the owner has a pair of opera or field glasses. First focus the glasses on the distant object to be photographed...
- A Turn Feeding Table for Birds
- Never in the past has the public at large taken so great an interest in protecting and furthering the well-being of birds as at present. In addition to protective legislation, clubs everywhere are org...
- A Sack Holder
- An old granite kettle or tin pail with the bottom cut out and three 8-penny wire nails bent and fastened on with rivets, as shown at A, makes as good a sack holder as one could desire. A chain attache...
- Time Indicator For Medicine Bottles
- The time to give a patient the next dose of medicine can be set on the indicator, as shown in the sketch, and retained without fear of its being changed until the dose is again given. The indicator co...
- A Washtub Stand
- Usually two old chairs or an old box makes the stand for the washtub, and these are not always the right height. A stand, like that shown in the illustration and having the proper height for the one w...
- Pipe Used as a Leather Punch
- The sketch shows how A very cheap and serviceable leather punch can be made of an old pipe nipple. Pieces of pipe of almost any size can be found around a shop, and it is, therefore, usually possible ...
- To Prevent Oilcloth from Cracking
- A good method to prevent oilcloth from cracking, when it is used on shop tables or counters, is to first cut a paper cover for the table on which to place the oilcloth and prepare it as follows: The p...
- How To Make A Flymobile
- By EDWARD SIEJA The boy owning a pushmobile, or even a power-driven auto car, is often very much disappointed because motion soon stops when the power is not applied. The car illustrated is of a li...
- The Die-and-Box Trick
- The die-and-box trick, so often performed on the stage, is a very interesting and mystifying one. The apparatus, however, is simple, consisting of a box, die, a piece of tin in the form of three adjac...
- Homemade Pantograph
- The pantograph consists of four pieces of wood, the dimensions depending somewhat on the size of the work to be drawn. A convenient size for ordinary drawing and enlarging is constructed of four piece...
- Trapping Mosquitoes
- Mosquitoes that light on the ceiling may be easily destroyed with the instrument shown in the sketch. It consists of a cover, such as used on jelly glasses, nailed to the end of an old broom handle A ...
- Pen Rack on an Ink Bottle
- A piece of wire, about 1 ft. long, is bent into the shape shown and slipped over the neck of the ink bottle. The ends forming the loop around the neck should fit tightly. The upper part of the wire is...
- Substitute For A Broken Bench-Vise Nut
- It is frequently the case that the nut on a bench-vise screw breaks from being subjected to a too violent strain. If one is working in a place where a new nut cannot be obtained, the broken part may b...
- Scissors Sharpener
- Procure an ordinary wood clothespin and drill a 1/8-in. hole through its blades, then insert a piece of hardened 1/8-in. drill rod, which should be a driving fit. In using this device, take the scisso...
- Floor Push Button
- An ordinary electric push button can be used for a floor push button by placing it on a bracket or shelf attached to a joist, as shown, and using a nail for the extension push. A 1/4-in. hole is bored...
- A Wrist Brace
- To strengthen a weak wrist, take a piece of leather, preferably white oak tanned, 2 in. wide and 14 in. long, and carefully shave it down with a sharp knife, until it is 1/16 in. thick. Then cut it as...
- Brace Made Of Leather
- and saves time in adjusting. When complete and on the wrist, it will appear as in Fig. 2. - Contributed by J. H. Harris, Berkeley, Cal. ...
- Protecting a Kettle Handle from Heat
- The wood handle of a kettle or cooking utensil when not in use usually comes in contact with the side of the vessel and it will absorb enough heat each time to finally char and crack the wood. The hea...
- How to Make a Hurdle
- The hurdle consists of two standards, a reach, and a swing. The swing is first made in the shape of a rectangle of four pieces of wood, about 7/8 in. thick and 1 1/2 in. wide, of which two are 36 in. ...
- Oil Burner for a Cook Stove
- The parts of the burner consist of ordinary gas pipe and fittings. The pipe in which the kerosene oil is converted into gas is 1/2in. in diameter and is connected to a supply tank of oil with 1/4-in. ...
- A Fish Stringer
- The illustration shows a very simple and inexpensive device for the angler to string and carry fish. It is made of a pail handle through which is passed a piece of soft wire, having sufficient length ...
- Substitutes For Drawing Instruments
- Three of the most used draftsman's instruments are the compass, ruler and square or triangle. When it is necessary to make a rough drawing and no instruments are at hand, common and easily obtainable ...
- How to Make an Aspirator
- A simple aspirator that may be used for a number of different purposes, such as accelerating the process of filtering, emptying water from' tubs, producing a partial vacuum in vessels in which coils a...
- A Key-Holder Hook
- A good hook for hanging keys, toothbrushes and other small articles can be made from ordinary wire staples, as s h o w n at A. One leg' of the staple is cut away as shown at B and the other leg driven...
- A Hand Hoe
- A hand hoe, especially adapted for weeding or cultivating small truck, particularly onions, can be made of a piece of hard wood, 7/8 by 1 3/4 in. by 4 ft. long, and a piece of old bucksaw blade. A bla...
- Seed Receptacle For Bird-Cages
- A handy seed and water container for a bird-cage can be made of a common spice tin. The receptacle can be filled without removal by simply taking off the cover. Thus the seed will not be scattered. ...
- Kitchen-Utensil Scraper
- A flexible utensil scraper is one of the most useful articles I have in my kitchen. It covers such a large surface in scraping pans, kettles, etc., that this most disagreeable part of the kitchen work...
- Anchor Posts For A Lawn Swing
- A very substantial and convenient base for a lawn swing can be made by using four anchor posts of cement, as shown in Fig. 1. The posts are made with a recess, A, to receive the legs of the swing, and...
- Automatic Filter
- This funnel-filling filter automatically prevents the solution from running over if the filtering is slow or the filter substance becomes dogged. The upper inverted bottle holds the solution to be fil...
- Grinding Scissors
- Whether a pair of scissors be ground or filed, the marks or scratches left from the contact with the abrasive should all extend across the bevel in the direction of the line ED, Fig. 1, and never in t...
- To Repair A Leak In A Canoe
- After striking some rocks with our canoe, it sprung three very bad leaks. These were effectively patched with pieces of cheesecloth, well soaked in liquid shellac, which were pasted on the outside of ...
- Holder For Loose Window Glass
- When the putty becomes loose and the glazing points work out on window glass, temporary repairs may be made by using a small piece of tin or sheet iron bent as shown in the sketch. The clip is inserte...
- A Cover Strainer
- Quite frequently the cook or housewife wishes to pour the hot water or liquid from boiling vegetables or other foods without removing the solids from the kettle. This is easily accomplished, if small ...
- Homemade Corn Shelter
- Where there is but a small quantity of corn to he shelled a shelter can be made of a few scraps of wood usually found on a farm. A block of wood having a sloping notch cut from one end is mounted on t...
- An Ornamental Metal Flatiron Holder
- This antique iron holder or stand can be easily constructed by the amateur bent-iron worker. A strip of iron is bent over at the ends to form the side legs, and the front leg is formed of another piec...
- How to Make a Watch Demagnetizer
- A watch demagnetizer that will give excellent satisfaction may be made as follows: Procure a sheet of 1/16 in. brass, 3 1/4 in. by 7 in. Bend this piece of brass around a piece of hard wood having ...
- Remodeling A Talking Machine
- Having a talking machine of an old model with a tapered horn I decided to change it into a more modern type, and this was accomplished as follows: An auxiliary base was constructed of 1/2-in. wood on ...
- Needle for Sewing Burlap
- A needle for sewing burlap can be easily made of the ordinary opener that comes with sardine cans. All that is necessary to convert this tool into a needle is to grind the blunt end to a sharp point, ...
- A Mysterious Revolving Wheel
- The mystery of this wheel is that it seems to revolve automatically without any visible external power. It is at the same time an amusing trick and an instructive experiment. The apparatus required is...
- How to Make a Rabbet Plane
- A rabbet plane is very little used by mechanics, but when it is wanted for a piece of work, it is wanted badly. While doing an unusual piece of work I needed a rabbet plane, and having none, I made a ...
- Eye Shield For A Microscope
- The difficulty and discomfort amateurs experience in learning to use a microscope with both eyes open, or in trying to keep one eye shut, can be easily overcome by attaching a piece of cardboard, simi...
- Transferring Magazine Pictures
- Select pictures from newly printed papers and magazines. Rub wax from a paraffin candle over a sheet of clean white paper, covering a space as large as the picture to be copied. Place the paper, waxed...
- A Homemade Egg Separator
- Secure some small wire and a very large can. Cut the wire into several pieces and bend them as shown at A cut the can and bend the side down as shown and punch holes to receive the upper ends of the w...
- A Glue-Spreader Holder
- The spreader that is supplied with bottles of liquid glue should not be placed on anv surface , as it will soon stick to it. A holder that will keep the spreader in a safe place can be made of a piece...
- Stop On A Chair Rocker For A Baby
- For a baby, too small to rock with out tipping the chair over a small willow or other suitable rocking chair. The strip on the rocker prevents the child tipping the chair too far either way...
- Homemade Countersink for Wood
- A round or flat-head bolt can be made into a good rosebit or reamer for countersinking holes for screw heads. Ill: Round and Square Heads of Bolts Shaped and Notched to Make Cou...
- To Maintain a Constant Level of Liquids in Vessels
- It is frequently desirable in laboratory experiments, and in practica4 work as well, to maintain a constant level in a tank without allowing it to become full. In many cases an outlet pipe at a certai...
- Homemade Electric Bed Warmer
- The heat developed by a carbon-filament lamp is sufficiently high to allow its use as a heating element of, for instance, a bed warmer. There are a number of other small heaters which can be easily ma...
- A Flash-Light Telegraph On A Kite Line
- An ordinary pocket flash lamp is prepared in the following manner: A brass spring, as shown in the sketch, is bound tightly to the flash lamp with a cord, and two wires, one at each end, are twisted a...
- Hangers for Barn Tools
- Means should be provided to have a place for all the tools used in and about a barn. The forks and shovels are usually stood up in a corner, but they can be more conveniently taken care of by making a...
- Guide Ropes on a Bobsled
- The sketch shows the front end of a bobsled or double runner made of a plank bolted upon two sleds. The front sled is so pivoted on the bolt A that it may be turned to steer the bob, and to accomplish...
- Brush Hanger For A Dark Room
- Necessity may be the mother of invention, but it is also the grandmother of application, and application is the practical side of invention. Both the amateur and the professional photographer have bee...
- Lighting A Basement Light
- There was no switch at the basement door and it was difficult to find the droplight in the dark. Instead of going to the expense of placing A switch, the contrivance illustrated and described was rigg...
- Projecting Protractor Readings
- A simple and efficient means of projecting protractor readings to a larger size is shown in Fig. 1. One point of the compass is placed at the center of the protractor and an elastic band is looped bet...
- Removing Grease from Paint
- When removing grease from paint by using ordinary cleaners, the paint is liable to come off in the washing. A good and cheaply applied method is to rub the painted surface with a paste of ordinary whi...
- A Door Stop
- A very good door stop can be easily made of a piece of metal as shown in the sketch. The metal is bent and fastened with screws to the wall against which the door swings. The extending end fits under ...
