Chapter XXXV: Part II: A Netted Hammock (10)

The fastening of a picture into a frame by the use of brads, or tacks, driven into the frame behind the backing is often done carelessly, because it is difficult to do a neat job with an ordinary hammer. A much better way of driving in these nails is to use a plier, as shown. Protect the edge of the frame with a layer or two of cardboard, and start the nail carefully, forcing it in by steady pressure on the plier handles.

Clip Holds Flash Lamp on Handlebar as Headlight

An ordinary pocket flash light makes a satisfactory headlight for a bicycle if fitted to the handlebar with a suitable clip. The arrangement shown makes it possible to remove the light quickly for use in the usual manner. The clip, as detailed, is of spring brass and is clamped over the post of the handlebar.--P. P. Avery, Garfield, N. J.

A Backwoodsman’s Nutcracker

Most persons know what a difficult job it is to crack hickory nuts, unless provided with a suitable hammer, or other tool, for the purpose. When nut hunting, such tools are usually not at hand, and a method used by an old backwoodsman will be of interest. First he cut a hickory limb, about 2 in. thick and 3 ft. long. In the center of the limb, he cut a square notch, about halfway through, and just large enough to admit a nut. Then placing one end of the limb on the ground, the other end held in the left hand, he placed a nut in the notch, and bent the limb slightly. This brought the edges of the notch closer together, and cracked the nut neatly.--C. M. Vaiden, Portland, Ore.

Handy Tool for Tightening Wire Spokes in Wheels

The wire spokes in bicycle and similar wheels often become loose, and a small pocket device for tightening them on the road is handy. A satisfactory one can be made quickly from a washer, 2 in. in diameter, cut as shown. A tapering slot is cut to the center of the washer to engage the nipples of various-sized spokes. The outer circumference of the washer is filed with a triangular file to provide a good finger grip.--H. E. Randell, Boston, Mass.

Bottle Economizes Spray Liquid in Atomizer

Atomizers are sometimes provided with delivery tubes the lower ends of which are ¹⁄₄ in. or more above the bottom of the reservoir, thus rendering useless considerable of the spraying liquid. To overcome this waste, in the case of expensive sprays, a small homeopathic vial was filled with the liquid from the bottom of the reservoir, and lowered into the bottle, as shown. The delivery tube of the atomizer was set into the vial, and the cap screwed on. By this means almost every drop of the spraying fluid was utilized.--Carl L. Hartshorn, West Haven, Conn.

A Small Rotary Pump Easily Made

This small power pump is made from a block of wood, a piece of rubber hose, and a 5-arm rotor of brass, with small spools attached to it. The base of the casing is 6 in. square, and of ⁷⁄₈-in. wood. A ³⁄₄-in. triangular block is set at each corner, and a ¹⁄₈-in. cover of wood, fastened at the four corners with screws. A large nail is used as a shaft for the rotor, which is cut from brass, ¹⁄₃₂ to ¹⁄₁₆ in. thick. Small spools are mounted on the arms of the rotor, and the small pulley wheel is fixed on the end of the axle. The action is simple: As the rollers on the arms revolve against the hose, the force of the stream at the discharge end is increased, the device acting as a pump. Such an arrangement was used for moving targets in a rifle range, and can be built on a larger scale if desired. A small water, or electric, motor is used to drive the pump.--S. A. Hardy, St. Paul, Minn.

Cleaning Type Cases with Bicycle Pump

Type cases can be cleaned easily by using a bicycle pump, which will blow the dust out. Typewriters and other small machinery can also be cleaned this way. A long hose used with a foot pump is often preferable to the hand pump.

Weighted Rope Holds Flag Upright

A householder devised a simple and effective method of keeping the flag upright when displayed from a nearly horizontal flagstaff. The cord which held the flag was run through pulleys, as indicated, and weighted with a pulley weight.--M. T. Kanary, Chicago, Illinois.

Homemade Gate Sign with Metal Letters

Needing a permanent sign to be mounted on an iron gate, I made one of metal, which is more durable and better-looking than most wooden or other common signs that the home mechanic can make. I used sheet metal and marked out the letters to cut them from the smallest possible strip, by reversing some of them. They were cut out with snips and chisels, and the edges filed smooth. The letters were then soldered to heavy wires, which were bolted to the gate by means of sheet-metal straps and bolts, as shown. The letters should be polished from time to time, especially if made from brass or copper.--Hugo Kretschmar, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Reinforcing the Ends of Rubber Handlebar Grips

The flexible rubber grips used on bicycles and motorcycles have good shock-absorbing qualities, but they have a tendency to break off at the end of the handlebar. They may be reinforced by a small stick projecting from the end of the handlebar tubing. One end of the stick is cut to fit tightly in the opening, and the other to fit the flexible end of the grip.--George M. Zimmerman, Fort Sumner, N. M.

Film Holder for Photographic Developing

The amateur photographer who uses roll film and who does his developing by the tray method, will find this device a simple and reliable means for holding the film spool while removing the film, duplex paper, autographic carbon paper, gummed labels, etc. Once the spool is properly placed in the holder, there is little danger of its dropping. The holder takes various sizes of film spools. The side fingers are ³⁄₁₆ by ³⁄₄ by 23 in. long. A small peg is set in each finger, 1¹⁄₈ in. from the end, to engage the spool. The upper ends of the fingers are nailed to a tapered block of wood, ⁷⁄₈ by 3¹⁄₄ and 2¹⁄₂ in. wide, and 8 in. long. The holder can be conveniently fastened to a wall, door casing, or to the under side of a shelf in the dark room.--John Hoeck, Alameda, Calif.

Old Sink Installed as Dish-Draining Basin

An added convenience for the housewife is the installation, in the place of the drain board customarily attached to the kitchen sink, of a second sink, with waste connections. Light wooden slats in the sink bottom give it all the utility of a drain board, without the danger of dishes slipping off onto the floor. A sink, of the old-fashioned kind used, can be purchased about as cheaply as a good drain board.--E. C. Blomeyer, Waco, Tex.

Desk-Light Arm Folds into Pigeonhole

The extension arm for an electric lamp shown in the illustration was made of strips from steel building toys. I installed it in my writing desk, and fastened it with one screw to the back of the desk inside the pigeonhole. When collapsed the arm measures 7¹⁄₂ in. from the fastened end to the front end of the socket, leaving only the globe protruding. Extended, it measures 16¹⁄₂ in. The lamp cord is taken through a hole in the back of the desk. If a very rigid arm is wanted, the strips can be doubled. I used screws with two nuts, but rivets can be used also, leaving the joints to move freely. The sliding feature at the inner end adds about 2 in. to the length of the arm when extended.--A. J. Viken, Waterloo, Ia.

A Soldier’s or Traveler’s Kit for Sundries and Toilet Articles

A soldier’s kit approved by a colonel of the national guard because of its compactness, can be made easily of a band of khaki cloth. The kit, including the “housewife,” requires cloth, 27 in. wide. Cut 12 in. from one end for the housewife, which is 12 by 5 in. wide. To make the housewife, fold under the edges ¹⁄₄ in., and fold one end over 2¹⁄₂ in. and the other 1¹⁄₂ in. for pockets. In the larger center pocket can be placed court plaster, adhesive tape, photographs, letters, etc. Bind the edges ¹⁄₄ in., and form other pockets, as shown. The entire kit weighs 1¹⁄₄ lb. and can be carried by the soldier in his army blanket. The housewife, if necessary, can be removed and taken to the firing line. Handy articles to be fitted in the kit are mirror that can be hung up, comb, box of talcum powder, cold cream, tooth paste, pencil, wash cloth, soaps, shaving brush, toothbrush, and scissors. Three safety pins at the top of the bag enable it to be hung up in the tent. Strong binding tapes are sewed to the bag, and it can be folded handily in three sections.--Kate Thomen, Topeka, Kans.

Cooling Foodstuffs with a Moist Rag and a Draft

It is not always necessary to keep milk and butter, or other foodstuffs, in refrigerator temperature to preserve hem, for 50 or 60° will often serve quite as well where the articles are to be consumed within a short time. To accomplish this slight degree of cooling, wrap a moist linen cloth, single thickness, snugly about the dish or package, and place it in a shallow pan of water, in an open window, out of the sun. The brick of butter should be placed on a support to hold it out of the water. The cooling is due to evaporation from the moist cloth. Not infrequently on a warm summer day, a thermometer with a bulb, wetted as suggested, will be 20° cooler in a breeze, than a dry-bulb thermometer.

* * * * *

¶A table of decimal equivalents, or other information can be mounted
in shellac, at an angle to be easily read, at the head of a T-square,
and is quite convenient.

Device Quarters and Cores Apples and Other Fruit

To provide a simple homemade device for cutting apples and other fruit into quarters and at the same time removing the core, the arrangement shown in the sketch was made. The circular frame is built up around a ring, ³⁄₄ in. in diameter, and the ribs and handles are soldered to it. A strip of galvanised iron, ¹⁄₂ in. wide, was used for the cutting portion, and the lower edge was filed sharp, and then finished with a small oil stone. In use, the cutter is set over the fruit, as shown, and by pressure on the handles, it is cut neatly.--L. N. Brown, Baltimore, Md.

Detachable Motor-Driven Tire Pump Made of Foot Pump

To make this motor-driven pump, which I use with considerable success, I fitted a bicycle foot pump to a stand, arranging it to be detached quickly. A 4-in. wooden disk was cut in two, and one-half bolted to the stirrup of the pump. A wheel, 14 in. in diameter and 2 in. thick, was mounted on a 2 by 6-in. support, as shown. A crankpin at the outer edge of the large wheel was connected to the plunger of the pump. The latter may be run with an electric motor, belted as indicated, or with other power. I use a small homemade water motor described in “Shop Notes,” with excellent results.--R. S. Matzen, Fort Collins, Colo.

Fisherman’s Pail with Wire-Mesh Cage

Oftentimes the fisherman takes a pail along on a fishing excursion so that he may bring back his catch alive, to put it in a water tank, or to keep the fish fresh. The water in an ordinary pail soon becomes stale, and the fish may die before he reaches home. They should be kept in the water of the lake or stream until the fisherman goes home. A good means of caring for them, superior to the common string, is to make a wire-mesh container, to fit inside the water pail, as shown. The mesh form can be lifted out, carrying with it all of the fish in the pail, and be set in the fresh water.--Dale R. Van Horn, Milton, Wisconsin.

Reinforcing a Strained Auto-Truck Frame

The side member of an automobile-truck frame was overstrained, and started to sag. To replace it with a new channel piece was out of the question, so it was decided to repair the trouble. A piece of ³⁄₁₆-in. plate steel was cut to the proper length, in a truss-shape, wider at the middle than at the ends, to carry the load properly. It was riveted to the strained member by means of ⁵⁄₁₆-in. round-head rivets, and prevented further sagging.

Drying Rack for Shoes and Rubbers

Footgear is injured when not properly dried out after use in water or in rough weather, and to care for the shoes, rubbers, etc., I made a rack fitted behind a stove on which they are dried out quickly and thoroughly. The rack consists of a row of brackets made of strap iron, bent as shown in the sketch, and the shoes are slipped on them. The brackets are mounted on a strip of wood, which is fastened to the wall with screws. A thin piece of board or sheet metal protects the wall.--Edgar Morgan, Robbinsdale, Minn.

Keeping Scissors Blades Apart Lengthens Their Service

Scissors will wear better and keep their cutting edges longer, if they are kept hanging up with the blades apart when not in use. The better-grade scissors, especially the longer pairs, are made with each blade slightly bowed, so that in cutting, the edges cross at an angle near the cutting point. Keeping them closed tends to weaken the springiness of the blades, and the points are worn by contact under tension.--John M. Bonbright, Philadelphia, Pa.

Making Lead Soldiers and Similar Small Castings

BY E. R. GARFIELD

The boy who likes to play games in which the lead soldier and other features of imitation warfare have a part, can make his own lead soldiers, and other castings, by the use of a plaster-of-Paris mold. If he cannot undertake this work alone, the process is interesting for his older brother, or even for “daddy.” A mold of plaster of Paris, as shown in the illustration, is used for the casting box. The hollow impression of the soldier is filled with the molten lead, which is poured in through the sprue hole at the top. When the lead cools, the mold is opened, the casting removed, and the process repeated. An entire army can thus be made with a single mold.

First obtain a small lead soldier, and coat it with shellac. Make a box somewhat larger than the pattern for the soldier, as shown in the sketch. Make it about 1¹⁄₂ in. deep, and set bolts near the corners, as shown, pouring the plaster around them. Fill the box half full of plaster of Paris. While still soft, press the pattern into the center of the plaster so that half its thickness is imbedded. Permit the under mold to dry, and remove the pattern. Shellac the surface of the plaster and the impression. Wrap a layer of oiled paper around the bolts. Replace the pattern in the impression and fill the remaining half of the box with plaster, and permit it to dry.

Also make a small wooden plug, and set it in the center, its point touching the pattern, and pour the plaster around it. When the mold is dry remove this plug, thus forming the sprue hole, through which the molten lead is poured into the mold.

When the second part of the mold is dry, lift it carefully from the under mold, and remove the pattern. Shellac the surface of the top mold, cleaning away any small bits of plaster around the edges. Trim down the box so that the top mold projects over it about ³⁄₈ in., making it easy to drop the top mold into place over the bolts. To use the mold, make certain that it is clean inside and set the top into place. Fasten down the wing nuts at the washers. Be very careful that the mold is dry, as hot metal poured on a wet surface may cause a dangerous splash. Repeat this process, and if care is taken about 300 castings can be made with one mold. The soldiers can be painted suitably and even sold in sets. The process can be adapted to many forms of other small castings, using other suitable metals, or wax, where the casting is to be molded into shape further.

A Trap Nest for the Poultry House

Poultry raisers find a trap nest useful, and one can be made quickly by fitting an old packing box with a suitable sliding gate. In the arrangement shown, the gate is raised slightly as the hen enters the nest box, releasing the spring and causing the gate to drop. The gate and spring can be adjusted to various-sized breeds of poultry. The two grooved uprights can be cut from flooring and the other wooden parts made from laths or wooden strips. The trigger is made of wire.--A. J. Call, Hartsville, Mass.

A Simple Wireless Detector

A cheap and serviceable wireless detector was made from odds and ends such as any amateur can obtain. The base was made of wood, saturated in paraffin. The mineral cup is a brass cap from a cartridge fuse. The upright was made of a piece of copper, ¹⁄₂ by 4¹⁄₂ in. long, and is fastened to the base by an old-battery binding post. The spring which supports the cat whisker is made of a strip of copper, ¹⁄₃₂ in. by ³⁄₁₆ in. wide. The cat whisker is soldered to the spring, and the spring is bolted to the upright. The setscrew, which regulates the pressure of the cat whisker upon the mineral, works in a nut, soldered over a hole in the top of the upright. The cat whisker is made of No. 22 gauge bare copper wire. The connection between the cup and the battery binding post, at the front edge, is made on the under side of the base.--Charles Brinkmann, Chicago, Ill.

A Wire-Screen Pincushion

Pins placed in a pincushion like that shown automatically arrange themselves vertically, head up, so that they may be removed handily when needed. The pincushion is durable, and a useful device for the desk. It is made by binding two layers of ordinary screen wire between wooden frames, mounted on a wooden base, ¹⁄₄ in. thick, 2¹⁄₂ in. wide, and 3¹⁄₂ in. long. The frame can be finished neatly, and made of hard wood to match other desk fittings.--D. J. McKean, San Francisco, Calif.

Straightening Sheets of Paper

When a sheet of paper, a drawing, or a blueprint becomes curved or warped, it is annoying to use the sheet unless it is straightened. An easy method of doing this is to lay the sheet flat on the edge of a drawing board or table and draw it down over the edge, the hand pressing down on the paper, stretching it out. This, repeated several times, will soon smooth a much-curled sheet.

Emergency Tension Weight Used on Typewriter

If the band that draws the typewriter carriage should break, the operator can continue to write until proper repairs are made by a temporary substitute for the spring tension. Tie a string to the carriage, where it will not become entangled in the mechanism, and attach a weight, about equal to the pull of the spring, to the string. Let the weight hang over the edge of the desk, to the left of the machine. It will pull the carriage along, as does the usual tension device.

Improvised Penholder Made with Pencil and Clip

An ordinary pencil clip can be used to make a practical penholder by sliding it to the end of the pencil, as shown, and inserting the pen under it. The tension of the clip holds the pen firmly, and provides a serviceable holder, for emergency use, or even for permanent use, where a pen and pencil combined are desired.--Raymond B. Rogers, Portland, Ore.

Generator Attachment Provides Current for Bicycle Lamp

Rigging up a small dynamo on the bicycle is a simple job, the dynamo being belted from a friction pulley, making connections with the rubber tire of the rear wheel, as shown. Fig. 1 shows the make-up of the head lamp. It is composed of a tin cylinder, grooved at one end to hold the lens; at the other end of the cylinder is fastened a ³⁄₄-in. wooden disk, to which the lamp socket is fixed. Clamp straps hold the lamp on the fork frame. The small lamp, inserted in the socket, holds the reflector in place.

FIG. 2

FIG. 3

The Dynamo is Operated by a Belt Arrangement Connected to the Rear Wheel, and Supplies Light, and, if Desired, Operates a Horn]

The dynamo-driving arrangement is shown in Fig. 2, and detailed in Fig. 3. A leather belt fits in the groove side of the wooden pulley. The swinging pulley arm supports and clamps the driving arrangement. A spring holds the friction wheel against the tire, and to release it, the “off” lever is used. A small direct-current dynamo serves well, and may also be used to operate the horn and whistle.--G. F. Thompson, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Eccentric Drawbolt Stops Rattling of Door

A simple method of preventing a bolted door from rattling, by forcing it against the doorstop, or a weather strip, by means of an eccentric filed on the socket end of the bolt, is shown in the sketch. The bolt is fitted closely to the door and casing, and, when the bolt is turned so that the eccentric end is in action, the door is forced firmly against the doorstop.--C. H. Chambers, Schenectady, N. Y.

Handy Kink in Addressing Mailing Tubes

The job of addressing a large number of mailing tubes is an awkward one, unless the tube is set so that its upper edge is on a level with the hand. A convenient method of doing this, and a kink which is permanently useful where mailing tubes are to be addressed from time to time, is to arrange ordinary coat hooks at the side of the desk near the front corner, as shown. The tube is placed on the hooks, its upper edge even with the top of the desk, making the writing of the address as handy as in writing ordinarily.

A Flash-Light Egg-Candling Device

A pocket electric flash light can be easily used for testing eggs if equipped in the following manner: Take an ordinary tin funnel and cut off the spout so the small end will fit snugly over the lens of the flash light. Prepare the larger end of the funnel to accommodate a tin-can cover, so the cover will fit tight. Cut out the face of the cover, leaving a ¹⁄₂-in. rim all around, and file the edge. Then cut a 1-in. hole in a piece of felt, place it over the large end of the funnel, and force the cover over it. This may be quickly slipped on and off the flash light and carried in the pocket. The egg to be tested is placed on the felt, over the opening, and the lamp held vertically, the operator looking down on the egg.

Simple Arrangement for Releasing Camera Shutter from Distance

It is usually disappointing to the amateur photographer, when taking pictures of groups of which he is a member, not to be able to be in the pictures. However, most amateurs can construct a release arrangement, in a few minutes, that operates with satisfaction. A clothespin of the clip type is used. The spring should be weakened by bending it from the wood, so that it has just enough tension to bring the jaws of the clothespin together without a snap. Whittle the inner sides of the handles, as shown, so that the jaws accommodate the plunger of the shutter. Then saw a slot in the handles, ¹⁄₄ in. deep and ¹⁄₈ in. wide. Drill a ³⁄₁₆-in. hole in the whittled depression of one of the jaws, and cut a ¹⁄₈-in. slot to it, as shown. The small trigger piece is cut of hard wood. It should fit its slot snugly, at the other end of the pin.

The release device is operated as follows: Slip the plunger tube, with the shutter release cable, into its slot. Keeping the jaws wide open, place the trigger in the slots of the two compressed handles. It is only necessary to jerk a thread attached to the trigger to free the two handles, which in turn snap the plunger. If the tension on the jaws is too strong, put a rubber band around the handles to act as a check.--Werner W. Baumeister, Walla Walla, Wash.

A Crossbow Magazine Gun

A new type of bow gun that a boy can make, and which will give him plenty of good sport, is one of the repeating or magazine variety. To make the gun, cut a soft pine board, 40 in. long and 5 in. wide. With a saw and knife, cut the gun form as shown. Cut a groove along the top of the barrel, where the arrow will lie ready to be shot out when the hickory bow is released. The magazine holding the five arrows is made of thin boards, 24 in. long, and is held in place by four small strips. The magazine is 3 in. deep, thus permitting the five arrows to lie evenly in it without crowding. The bow is of seasoned hickory and is set into the end of the barrel. The notch in which the bowstring catches, should be cut just under the rear end of the magazine. The trigger is an L-shaped, pivoted piece, and pushes the cord off the notch when ready to fire. As soon as the first arrow leaves the gun the one just above it drops down into the groove when the bowstring is again pulled back into place behind the notch. Pressure on the trigger shoots this arrow, another takes its place, and the cord is pulled back once more. The arrows should be of light pine, 22 in. long and ¹⁄₂ in. square, the rear end notched and the front pointed. To make the arrow shoot in a straight course, and to give it proper weight, the head end should be bored with a ³⁄₁₆ in. bit, 3 in. deep, and melted lead run into the hole.--E. F. Dalton, Cincinnati, Ohio.

* * * * *

¶Ruling pens often work improperly, or have a tendency to cut the
paper because of tiny feather edges at the points. These should be
carefully honed and stropped off.

Egg Beater Made into Winder for Model Aeroplanes

One of the features which take the joy out of flying elastic-driven model aeroplanes is the time taken to wind them up. For 10 cents and very little work a fast winder can be made out of an ordinary geared egg beater. Remove the outer small pinion and the revolving beater attached to it. Then cut the other beater off at A, as shown in the sketch, and the spindle at B. A few turns of tinned wire soldered to the spindle will keep the pinion from sliding off. Another piece of the same wire may be soldered to the two arms, at C, to strengthen them. In use, the hub of the propeller is inserted between the two arms, as indicated and the rubber wound.--Morris G. Miller, New Rochelle, N. Y.

Stove Lighter with Feeding Wick Guards against Burns

A stove lighter for gasoline or similar stoves can be made quickly. Cut a piece of tin, 7 in. long and 1 in. wide. Place a lamp, wick on the tin so that a part of it projects from the end of the tin. Fold the tin so that the wick is held, but so that it can be drawn out when needed. Saturate the wick in kerosene, or other thicker oil. When wishing to light one or more burners of the stove, light the wick and apply it to the burners. The stove can be lighted with less danger of burning the hands than when a match is used directly.--Lee M. Delzell, Maroa, Ill.

Mechanical Toy Alligator of Wood

A toy alligator that opens its mouth and wags its tail as it is pulled along can be made of wood by a boy, with a jackknife. The various parts, as shown, are cut from soft wood, ¹⁄₂ in. thick. The method of fastening the parts is shown in the side sectional view. When the wheels turn, the cams A, set on the crank portions of the wheel axles, raise and lower the jaw and tail. The upper jaw is 1 in. wide at the widest part, and 3 in. long. The lower jaw is smaller, and the same length. The body is 6 in. long, and tapering in width from 1¹⁄₂ to ³⁄₄ in. The tail is 4³⁄₄ in. long, and ³⁄₄ in. wide. Holes are drilled in each piece near the edge, at joining points, through which wires are drawn, and clamped, as at B. The legs are shown in detail. They are attached to the body by drilling a ¹⁄₁₆-in. hole in each, and a hole through the body, through which the fastenings are passed. The lower end of the legs are fastened to the base, which is 3 by 9 in. long. Square holes, 1 in. wide, near each end, are provided for the cams A. The axles and wheels are made as shown. The axles fit tightly in the wheels, so that the latter can move the axles around with each turn. The axles are made from ¹⁄₈-in. wire, bent as shown, and should be long enough, after passing through the bottom, to extend through the wheels on each side.--Charles C. Wagner, Los Angeles, Calif.

Angle Bracket Gives Leverage on Door Spring

Frequently, in placing a coil spring on a screen or other door, the casing is flush with the door, and it is difficult to give the spring the desired leverage. If it is attached to the casing directly, the surface is marred by the rubbing of the spring. A good method is to set a small iron bracket, either homemade of strap iron or one of the commercial type, on the casing and attach the end of the spring to the bracket. This prevents the spring from rubbing on the door and casing, and gives it freedom of action.--Harry L. Dixon, Chicago, Ill.

Combination Indirect-Light Reflector and Mirror

A small mirror combined with a shaded electric lamp affords a nearly perfect shaving lamp, and facial toilet mirror. The mirror should be 1 in. smaller all around than the reflector. By soldering two lengths of stiff wire to the back of the mirror frame, it can be clamped to the reflector, as shown. The indirect light from the reflector illuminates the face without shadows or glare, adding to the comfort of shaving. The mirror can be removed, and the lamp used for other purposes.--Thomas W. Benson, Philadelphia, Pa.

CONTENTS

Acetylene Burner, Spray Nozzle Made of, 248
Acid Jars, Earthen Mustard Pots Used as, 391
Adhesive Tape, Handy Use for, 407
Aerial Cableway, Compensated, 198
Aerials, Wireless, Lightning Switch for, 415
Aeroplanes, Model, Egg Beater Made into Winder for, 459
Aid in Ruling Uniform Cards or Sheets, 420
Air Pump, Protecting Against Denting, 412
Alarm, Rain, with Drop-of-Water Contact, 161
Alcohol Blowtorch for Difficult Soldering, 382
Alcohol, Denatured, to Start Gasoline Stove, 413
Alcohol Stove, Emergency, 350
Alligator of Wood, Mechanical Toy, 460
Alternating Current, Seeing in a Mirror, 392
Aluminum Cooking Utensils, Mending, 437
Aluminum-Ware Cleaner, Steel Wool as, 162
Ammeter, Homemade, 253
Ammonia-Carrying Case for Insect Bites, 154
Anchor for Canoe or Small Boat, 275
Anemometer, Easily Constructed Ball-Bearing, 213
Angle Bracket Gives Leverage on Door Spring, 460
Angle of Camera, Photo Copying Lens Increases, 160
Annunciator Target, Recording, 310
Apples and Other Fruit, Device Quarters and Cores, 453
Applying and Drying Bronze Powders, 338
Appointments and Other Events, Clock Device to Record Time of, 322
Aquarium, Cement Grotto for, 235
Arc Light, Homemade, 285
Arm, Desk Light, Folds into Pigeonhole, 452
Arm, Detachable Chair, 429
Armchair, Enameled, Made of Wooden Strips, 129
Arms of a Scarecrow, Swinging Bags on, 340
Army in Small Box, 438
Artistic Card Tray, 340
Asbestos Table Mats Reinforced with Wire Netting, 421
Ash Tray, Cheese Grater and, Made from a Tin Can, 225
Ash Tray, Snapper Shell, 68
Athletic Equipment Locker, Boys’, 439
Atomizer, Bottle Economizes Spray Liquid in, 450
Auto Horn for Child’s Play Vehicle, 16
Auto, Play, Barrel Staves as Springs for, 311
Auto Truck Frame, Reinforcing Strained, 454
Automatic Fishhook, 370
Automatic Flash Light Snaps Chicken-Coop Marauder, 142
Automatic Lock Box for Milk Bottles, 428
Automatic Photo-Print Washing Device, 329
Automatic Stop for Spring-Roller Curtains, 317
Automatic Window Closer, 280
Automobile, Bicycle Carried on, as Tender, 190
Automobile Seat, Porch Swing Made from, 425
Automobile, Suitcase Holder for Running Board of, 329

Baby-Cab Tires, Changing Wheels Equalizes Wear on, 446
Baby Crib, Neat and Economical, Made from a Clothes Basket, 206
Baby, Motor-Driven Entertainer for, 4
Baby, Washstand for, 328
Baby’s Play Area, Portable Fence for, 195
Back Rest, Folding Ground Seat with, 190
Backing Picture Frame, Plier Drives Nails in, 450
Backstop, Knock-Down Tennis-Court, 189
Backwoodsman’s Nutcracker, 450
Bags, Swinging, on Arms of Scarecrow, 340
Bait Cache, Campers’, 171
Bait Casting for Game Fish, 71
Bait, Catching Minnows for, 168
Bait, Luminous-Minnow Fish, 314
Ball-Bearing Anemometer, Easily Constructed, 213
Balloons, Toy Rubber, Filling with Hydrogen, 30
Band, Metal, Stiffens Brush, 367
Bare Spots on Lawns, Seeding, 167
Bark-Covered Porch Light and Plant Shelf, 432
Barnyard Gate Operated with the Foot, 208
Barometer, Simple, 415
Barrel, Cushioned Chair Made of, 440
Barrel Staves as Springs for Play Auto, 311
Base, Weighting Metal, 217
Baseball Playing, To Practice Batting for, 100
Basement, Signal for Lighted Lights in, 314
Basin, Dish-Draining, Old Sink Installed as, 452
Basin, Simple Metal Bird, 432
Basket, Hourglass Sewing, 137
Bathroom Kinks, Three, 402
Battery Buzzer Converted into a Telegraph Sounder, 141
Battery Circuits, Homemade Fuses for, 151
Batting for Baseball Playing, To Practice, 100
Bazaar or Fair Booth, Rustic Well for, 182
Bearing for Playground Swings, 276
Bearing Made of Brass Cartridge, 382
Beating, Hanging Heavy Rug on Line for, 389
Bed, Antique Signboard Made of Headboard of, 15
Bed, Folding Card Table Handy for Invalid in, 308
Bed Table, Adjustable and Pivoted, Attached to Bedpost, 9
Bedpost, Adjustable and Pivoted Bed Table Attached to, 9
Bedroom Night Light, Flash Light Used as, 423
Bedroom Shade and Curtains Arranged for Thorough Ventilation, 128
Bedsteads, Old, Lawn Benches Made from, 174
Bee Feeder for Winter Use, 192
Bell, Call, Curious Support for, 362
Bell-Circuit Wiring, Tinned Staples for, 420
Bell-Ringing Hoop, Child’s, 449
Bell-Ringing Mail Box, 422
Belt for Sprocket Drive Made of Brass Strips, 160
Bench, Clamping a Wide Board on, 248
Bench Receptacles for Small Articles, 350
Bench Stop, 395
Bench Support for a Miter Box, 336
Bench Vise, Quick-Acting, 85
Benches, Lawn, Made from Old Bedsteads, 174
Berth, Train, Improved Trousers Hanger in, 367
Bicycle Carried on Automobile as Tender, 190
Bicycle Fitted Up to Resemble Motorcycle, 441
Bicycle-Handle Grip on Rake Handle, 372
Bicycle Lamp, Generator Attachment Provides Current for, 457
Bicycle, Parcel-Delivery, Sidecar for, 407
Bicycle Pump, Cleaning Type Cases with, 451
Bicycle Pump, Pneumatic Door Check Made of, 169
Bicycle, Rear Seat for Motorcycle or, 446
Bicycle Runners for Winter Use, 418
Bicycles Driven as Three-Wheel Tandem After Breakdown, 410
Bilge Water Siphoned Through Water-Jacket Outlet, 413
Billfold, Craftsman Leather, 446
Billfold, Squirrel-Skin, 265
Binder for Magazines, Temporary, 370
Binding, Knife to Trim Magazines for, 286
Birch-Bark Leggings Made in the Woods, 421
Bird Basin, Simple Metal, 432
Bird House Made of Kegs, 134
Bird House Made of Old Straw Hat, 181
Bird Photography, Camera for, 426
Bird Table, Cat-Proof, 76
Bites, Insect, Ammonia-Carrying Case for, 154
Blades, Propeller, How to Make Quickly, 395
Blind Person, Homemade Device Aids in Writing, 438
Block Plane Converted for Use on Circular Work, 211
Blotter Attached to Wrist Saves Time, 295
Blotter, Trick, 354
Blotting Paper, White, Improves Light Reflectors, 196
Blower for a Fireplace, 318
Blowpipe for Gas, 336
Blowtorch, Alcohol, for Difficult Soldering, 382
Blue Roses Tinged by Chemicals, 406
Board, Sliding, for Coasting, 14
Board, Wide, Clamping on a Bench, 248
Boat, Canoe or, Stored in Pulley Slings, 361
Boat, Portable Folding, 135
Boat, Small, Canoe or, Anchor for, 275
Boats, Model Paddle-Wheel, 443
Book and Document Protector, 294
Book Form, Keeping Magazines in, 378
Book Holder, Homemade, 193
Book Rest for Music Stand, 328
Book, Specimen, Preserving Leaves in, 10
Bookcase and Writing Desk, Combination, 316
Bookcase, Trunk, for Convenient Shipment, 217
Bookmark, Leather and Silk, 218
Bookshelf, Index for Popular Mechanics Magazine on, 308
Bookshelf, Secret Trinket Case for, 296
Booth, Bazaar or Fair, Rustic Well for, 182
Bottle Carrier Made of Pipe Straps, 217
Bottle, Die in, 276
Bottle Economizes Spray Liquid in Atomizer, 450
Bottle, Glass, as a Candle Lamp, 291
Bottle, Glass, Cutting with Electricity, 230
Bottle, To Uncork, with a String, 402
Boughs, Springy Hammock Support Made of, 369
Box, Automatic Lock, for Milk Bottles, 428
Box Camera, Direct View Finder for, 353
Box Cover, Hinged, Made Without Hinges, 141
Box Cover Without Hinges, 46
Box End, Scoop Made of, 433
Box for Campers, Table, 124
Box Farm, Fort Built of Snow Blocks Made in, 409
Box, Hinged Window, 413
Box, Loading, to Dispense with Dark Room, 268
Box, Novel Covered, for Index Trays, 414
Box, Pasteboard, Shortening, 337
Box, Small, Army in, 438
Box to Protect Extra Spark Plugs, 440
Boxes, Decorative Toys and, Made at Home, 299
Boy Can Make Useful Periscope, 305
Boys’ Athletic-Equipment Locker, 439
Boys’ Motor Car, Homemade, 1
Bracelet, One-Piece, Cut from Calling Card, 319
Bracket, Angle, Gives Leverage on Door Spring, 460
Bracket for Garden Hose, Practical, 417
Bracket, Gas-Hose, for Ironing or Shop Use, 360
Brake, Safety, Coaster with, 273
Brass Candlestick, Repairing, 372
Brass Cartridge, Bearing Made of, 382
Brass Machine Screws with Nuts, 68
Brass Strips, Belt for Sprocket Drive Made of, 160
Brass Tip on Cartridge Fuse, Bushing Made of, 393
Brick Walls, Wire Trellis Fastened Neatly to, 8
Bristles in Polish or Stencil Brushes, Wire Compacts, 439
Broken Canoe Paddle, Repairing, 158
Broken Coffee Pot Knob, Replacing, 226
Broken Fly-Screen Frame, Repairing, 356
Broken Liquid Column in Thermometer, Joining, 366
Broken Metal Cross, Repairing, 389
Broken Places on Enamel, Filling in, 178
Broken Reed Handle, Repairing, 187
Broken Spade Handle Repaired with Water Pipe, 242
Bromide Enlargements, Curved Printing Surface for Sharp Focus in, 186
Bromide Enlargements, Test Exposure for, 411
Bromide Enlargements, Washing, 336
Bronze Powders, Applying and Drying, 338
Brooder, 371
Brooding House, Chick, Shield for Heater in, 295
Broom, Moving Heavy Objects with, 445
Brush and Container, Mucilage, Made of a Test Tube, 335
Brush-Cutting Knife, Pruning and, 449
Brush, Metal Band Stiffens, 367
Brushes, Polish or Stencil, Wire Compacts Bristles in, 439
Buggy Shafts, Old, Toboggan Made of, 410
Buggy Springs, Discarded, for Diving Board, 429
Bulb, Light, Testing Dry Cells with, 267
Bumpers, Door, Raise Height of Chair, 358
Bungalow, California, for Canaries, 437
Bunghole, Stopper for, 254
Burns, Stove Lighter with Feeding Wick Guards Against, 459
Bushing Made of Brass Tip on Cartridge Fuse, 393
Button Clasps, Old, Practical Uses for, 432
Buttonhole-Bouquet Holder to Keep Cut Flowers Fresh, 149
Buttonhook, Fancy, How to Make, 371
Buttonhook, Screwdriver Made from, 362
Buttons, Miniature Push, 251
Butts, Plain, Used as Double-Swing Hinge, 330
Buzzer, Battery, Converted into a Telegraph Sounder, 141

Cabinet and Table, Combination Camp-Kitchen, 126
Cabinet Doors, Wire Holders Keep Open, 127
Cabinet, Homemade Talking Machine, 310
Cabinet, Magic, 345
Cabinet or Cellarette, Smoker’s, 32
Cabinet, Sportsman’s, for Guns, Equipment and Books, 434
Cabinetwork, Storage of Wood for, 389
Cableway, Compensated Aerial, 198
Cage, Wire-Mesh, Fisherman’s Pail with, 454
Cakes, Pop-Corn, How to Make, 153
Calendar, Perpetual, 43
California Bungalow for Canaries, 437
Calipers, Homemade, 373
Call Bell, Curious Support for, 362
Calling Card, One-Piece Bracelet Cut from, 319
Camera, Box, Direct View Finder for, 353
Camera, Enlarging, Improvised Post-Card Projector and, 209
Camera for Bird Photography, 426
Camera for Taking Pictures from Kite, 52
Camera Shutter, Simple Arrangement for Releasing from Distance, 458
Camera, Submarine, 219
Camera, Substitute for Ground Glass in, 236
Camera, Photo-Copying Lens Increases Angle of, 160
Camera Tripod, Tilting Top for, 242
Camera View Finder, Rectangular Opening to Use Over, 125
Cameras, Enlarging, Focusing Screen for, 388
Camp Chest, Guarding Against Theft, 362
Camp Equipment, Care and Storage of, 304
Camp Fire, Utensil Rack for, 397
Camp-Kitchen Cabinet and Table, Combination, 126
Camp Lantern Made of a Tin Can, 406
Camp or Kitchen, Slicing Board for, 247
Camp, Shaving Lamp and Mirror for, 162
Camp Shelter Affords Protection from Mosquitoes, 181
Camp Stoves, Emergency, Quickly Made, 449
Camp, Summer, Diving Tower for, 274
Camp Water Bag, 122
Camper’s Bait Cache, 171
Camper’s Salt-and-Pepper Holder, 115
Campers, Table Box for, 124
Campfire, Water Wheel Turns Spit Over, 429
Camping and Outing Trips, Memorandum List for, 365
Camping Out, Tricks of:
Part I.--The Camping Outfit, 109