| | PAGE |
|---|
| INTRODUCTION | [xi] |
| Part I |
| CHAPTER I.—SOME GENERAL EXPLANATIONS | [3] |
| An Invisible World-power—Generating Electricity—What a Boy CanDo—Inexpensive Tools—Some Practical Advice | |
| CHAPTER II.—CELLS AND BATTERIES | [12] |
| Simple and Inexpensive Cells—How to Make Cells and Batteries—APlunge-battery—A Storage-battery—Dry-cells and Batteries | |
| CHAPTER III.—PUSH-BUTTONS AND SWITCHES | [33] |
| How to Make Push-buttons—Switches and Cut-outs—Table-jackSwitches—Binding-posts and Connectors—Lightning-arresters and Fuse-blocks—Some Practical Precautions | |
| CHAPTER IV.—MAGNETS AND INDUCTION-COILS | [54] |
| Simple and Horseshoe Magnets—Induction-coils—An ElectricBuzzer—Electric Bells—A Large Induction-coil—Circuit-interrupters | |
| CHAPTER V.—ANNUNCIATORS AND BELLS | [78] |
| A Drum-sounder—A Simple Annunciator—A Double Electric Bell—AnElectric Horn—How to Make a Burglar-alarm—Electric Call-signals—Clock-alarms—A Dining-table Call | |
| CHAPTER VI.—CURRENT-DETECTORS AND GALVANOMETERS | [102] |
| How to Make Detectors—An Astatic Current-detector—An AstaticGalvanometer—A Tangent Galvanometer | |
| Part II |
| CHAPTER VII.—ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE | [125] |
| Governing the Electric Current—Ohm’s Law—Resistance-coils andRheostats—How to Make Simple Apparatus—Liquid Resistance—Importance of Switches—Uses of aHouse-current—Running a Sewing-machine, Fan, or Toys—An Easy Method for a Boy’s Use | |
| CHAPTER VIII.—THE TELEPHONE | [156] |
| Vibratory Waves—A Bladder Telephone—A Single (Receiver) Line—Planof Installation—A Double-pole Receiver—The Transmitter—Another Form of Transmitter—The WiringSystem—A Telephone Induction-coil—An Installation Plan—A Portable Apparatus | |
| CHAPTER IX.—LINE AND WIRELESS TELEGRAPHS | [190] |
| A Ground Telegraph—How to Talk from House to House—The Morse TelegraphCode—A Story of Edison—How Detectives Used the Code—Wireless Telegraphy—Its True Character—Howa Boy Can Make a Practical Apparatus—Receiving and Sending Poles—Induction-coils, Batteries, Coherers andDe-coherers, etc.—Working Plans in Detail—Aërograms Across the Atlantic and, perhaps, Around the World | |
| CHAPTER X.—DYNAMOS AND MOTORS | [229] |
| Dependence of Modern Electricity upon the Dynamo—A Field of Force Cuttinganother Field of Force—Varieties of Dynamos—Simpler Forms ofGenerators and Motors—How to Make a Uni-direction Current Machine—Permanent Magnet, Armature, Shafts, Wheels,etc.—A Small Dynamo—Machines to Light Lamps, Run Motors, etc.—A Split-ring Dynamo—A SmallMotor—The Flat-bed Motor—Motors of Other Types | |
| CHAPTER XI.—GALVANISM AND ELECTRO-PLATING | [266] |
| A Fascinating Use of Electricity—A Simple Electro-plating Outfit—TheSulphate of Copper Bath—How to Make the Tank and Other Apparatus—A Variety of Beautiful and UsefulResults—Explanations of Various Batteries—The Cleansing Process—ThePlating-bath—Silver-plating—Gold-plating—Nickel-plating—Finishing—Electrotyping—PracticalDetails of Interesting Work | |
| CHAPTER XII.—MISCELLANEOUS APPARATUS | [294] |
| Making a Rotary Glass-cutter—To Smooth Glass Edges—Cutting Holes inGlass—Anti-hum Device for Metallic Lines—A Reel-car for Wire—Insulators—Joints andSplices—“Grounds”—The Edison Roach-killer—An Electric Mouse-killer | |
| CHAPTER XIII.—FRICTIONAL ELECTRICITY | [312] |
| Its Nature—Limited Uses—Simplicity of Apparatus—A “WimshurstInfluence Machine”—Materials Required—Glass, Tin-foil, Spindles, Uprights, Wheels, etc.—A LargeLeyden-jar—Apparatus for Interesting Experiments—Necessity of Caution | |
| CHAPTER XIV.—FORMULÆ | [327] |
| Acid-proof Cements—Hard Cement—Soft Cement—Very HardCement—Clark’s Compound—Battery Fluid—Glass Rubbing—AceticGlue—Insulators—Non-conductors—Insulating Varnish—Battery Wax | |
| CHAPTER XV.—ELECTRIC LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER | [334] |
| (By Joseph B. Baker) | |
| The Work of the Dynamo—The Electric Light—Uses of theArc-light—Incandescent and Other Lamps—Electric Heat—Electric Furnaces—WeldingMetals—Electric Car-heaters—Household Uses—Electric Power—Power fromWater-wheels—Transformers—Rotary Converters—Oil-switches—Electric Traction—TheTrolley-car—The Continuous-current Motor—The Controller—Electric Locomotives—Other Forms of ElectricTraction | |
| A DICTIONARY OF ELECTRICAL TERMS | [359] |