Fig. 115. CUTTING STEEL GIRDERS WITH THE OXY-ACETYLENE PROCESS
Mining and Metallurgy.—Safety appliances are of the first importance in mine inventions, see Fig. 116, and after these, machines for labor saving should receive attention. If you understand mining, be it for coal, metals or gems, you will see that there is yet much to be done to make the operations safer, more saving and less laborious.
Fig. 116. AN APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OF MINE DISASTERS.
It records the presence of gas
After the ore is mined, the metal must be separated from it and this is largely a matter of chemistry and mechanical devices. Saving is the watchword for the inventor who would improve the present methods and processes. If you can show how a saving of metal can be effected or how the same amount can be extracted more cheaply you are the boy the owners are looking for and you can name your own price, nearly.
An alloy for armor which will deflect projectiles, steel rolls which will roll and straighten sheets and rails with one handling, a process for extracting metals from low grade ores, a process for making small brass, iron or steel castings in much the same manner that a linotype machine casts a type slug, are all improvements for you to think about even if you don’t try to invent them.
Printing.—The noble art of printing has been brought to such a high degree of perfection it would seem to leave little to be invented. But like all the arts and sciences there is yet much to be done.
Fig. 117. A STEEL PLATE ENGRAVING MACHINE
One boy does the work of four men