The electric flash torch here described is easily made at an expense of about $1.00. The materials required are a miniature lamp of three or four candle-power, with porcelain base ; dry battery for same; a piece of strong pasteboard mailing tube 91/2/ long and 11/2" diameter; a piece of zinc for reflector ; a cheap plano-convex lens 11/2" in diameter - although this is not absolutely necessary; a shipping case for No. 12 size works of a watch, with glass top and bottom, to be obtained from any large jeweler for the asking; a little annunciator wire, screws, etc.

The shipping case for watch-works above mentioned is used by manufacturers in sending out the works to retailers, who have no further use for them, and will undoubtedly give one to any customer who asks for it. The size used for No. 12 works is just right for the torch here described. This is mentioned as, if obtainable, a more finished appearance is the result, but the cover of a round spice-box may be cut out and will answer about as well. It is used for the end, and holds the lens C in position, as shown at B, in the illustration. The lamp D should be so located that the outer end will be about $" from the inner side of the hammer does not strike hard enough to decohere the filings, or the armature of relay needs adjusting. The battery between coherer and relay may also be wrongly connected. A little experimenting will, however, soon get the parts into working order, and then longer distances can be attempted. One important point should always be kept in mind: Never let the spark from the coil pass through the coherer. The filings in the coherer will need renewing at intervals.

lens. To a round piece of wood, F, 1/4" thick, fasten the porcelain base, E, of the lamp by screws. Two small holes are bored through this wooden piece for the wire connections I and J. When completed, three round-head screws are put through from the outside to hold it firmly in place. The reflector, H, is a cone-shaped piece of bright tin, held in position by projections at the base that fit tightly between the outside of the screw socket of the lamp and the porcelain base. It should be brightly polished on the inside, but need not be soldered at the joint. It is easily cut out of thin sheet tin with metal shears, if a cardboard pattern is previously made. An examination of the illustration in connection with the lamp and socket will make this clear.

On the inner side of the piece F, attach with brads a piece of spring brass 1" long and 3/8" wide, and connect with the wire from one of the terminals of the lamp. The inner end of the spring should be bent so that, when the battery is in place, it will be in firm and constant contact with a small projection forming one terminal of the battery. The other terminal of the lamp is connected by wire with a thin metal ring,K, around the outside of the tube, a hole being put through the tube for that purpose. The metal ring may be made of a thin strip of zinc or brass 1/2" wide, and should be located about 3" from the rear end of the tube. A small curtain pull, L, is attached to the outside of the tube, which when pressed forward will rest on the ring K, and complete the circuit required to light the lamp. A piece of wire connects the ring L with the base of battery, the battery end being bare and resting loosely between the zinc end of battery and the metal end of the tube, the latter being made from the cover of a round spice-box of suitable size to tightly fit the end of the tube. If such a cover cannot be secured, a round piece of wood may be cut out