Copyright, 1907, by Harper & Brothers.
All rights reserved.
Published November, 1907.
CONTENTS
| 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] |
INTRODUCTION
If a handy-book of electricity like this had fallen into the hands of Thomas A. Edison when he was a newsboy on the Grand Trunk Railway, or when he was a telegraph operator, he would have devoured it with the utmost eagerness. To be sure, at that time, in the early sixties, all that we knew of electricity and its applications could have been told in a very brief compass. It was an almost unknown field, and the crude form of the telegraph then in use represented its most important application. There were no electric lights; there was no telephone or phonograph; there were no electric motors. Telegraphing, itself, was a slow and difficult process. All the conditions were as far removed as possible from the broad field of applied electricity indicated in this book.
But this does not mean that we have now accomplished all that there is to be done. On the contrary, the next half-century will be full of wonderful advances. This makes it more than ever essential that we should become acquainted with the principles and present conditions of a science which is being applied more and more closely to the work of every-day life. It is necessary to know this from the inside, not simply from general descriptions. Theory is all very well, but there is nothing like mastering principles, and then applying them and working out results for one’s self. Any active and intelligent boy with an inquiring mind will find a new world opened to him in the satisfaction of making electrical devices for himself according to the suggestions given in this book. This will show him the reasons for things in concrete form, will familiarize him with principles, and will develop his mechanical ingenuity. He may be laying the foundation for inventions of his own or for professional success in some of the many fields which electricity now offers. Work of this kind brings out what is in one, and there is no satisfaction greater than that of winning success by one’s own efforts.
The boy who makes a push-button for his own home, or builds his own telephone line or wireless telegraph plant, or by his own ingenuity makes electricity run his mother’s sewing-machine and do other home work, has learned applications of theory which he will never forget. The new world which he will enter is a modern fairyland of science, for in the use of electricity he has added to himself the control of a powerful genie, a willing and most useful servant, who will do his errands or provide new playthings, who will give him manual training and a vast increase in general knowledge. The contents of this book, ranging from the preparation of simple cells to the making of dynamos and motors, and the delightful possibilities of electro-plating, shows the richness of the field which is made accessible by Mr. Adams’ practical explanations, his carefully tested working plans, and his numerous and admirable drawings—all of which have been made for this book.
It is in keeping with the practical character of the Electricity Book that pains are taken throughout to show the simplest and most inexpensive way of choosing materials and securing results. The actual working out of these directions can be done at very small expense. Furthermore, there need be no concern whatever as to possible danger if the book is read with reasonable intelligence. Mr. Adams has taken pains to place danger-signals wherever special precautions are advisable, and, as a father of boys who are constantly working with electricity in his laboratory, he may be relied upon as a safe and sure counsellor and guide.