Two Positions of the Strip for Holding, or Giving Access to, the Secret Part, and a Hinged Strip (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3)
It being necessary that the strip A be as long as the secret compartment is wide, to fully expose this, there may be cases where the drawer is not wide enough to allow the strip A to turn around. In that case the strip can be hinged to the back of the drawer as shown in Fig. 3. When it is hanging down, as shown by the dotted outline, the drawer may be pulled out to its full extent. When it is desired to lock the secret compartment, the hinged strip must be swung up in position, and fastened. An ordinary thumbscrew or eye can be used which, by a turn or two, will either release it or fasten it in place.—Contributed by Paul Durst, Detroit, Mich.
Inflating Handballs
When handballs become "dead," or no longer bounce freely, they may frequently be restored by inflating them with air. This can be done by means of a bulb attached to a hypodermic needle. The needle must be inserted through the soft plug which every inflated ball has, and which can be discovered by pressure. After the ball is inflated and the needle extracted, the soft rubber closes around the fine hole, preventing the escape of the air. If a leak is found, which allows the air to escape too rapidly, a repair can be made with a single-tube tire outfit.—Contributed by A. B. Wegener, Camden. N. J.
A Garden-Bed Scarecrow
A very neat and successful scarecrow for garden beds can be made as follows: A number of corks are procured, and a feather is stuck in each end of them, as shown. These are tied to a string, spacing them from 1 to 2 ft. apart, and the string is hung over the beds. The slightest breeze will keep them fluttering, and no bird will come to rest on the beds.—Contributed by M. T. Canary, Chicago.
The Fluttering Feathers Attached to the String with Corks Scare the Birds Away
Measuring the Length of Wire Wound on a Spool
When winding magnet spools on a lathe, the exact amount of wire used can be easily determined by means of the device shown in the illustration. The large reel from which the wire is obtained is conveniently placed on a loose mandrel, or rod, near the lathe, and in line with the spool which is to be wound. A grooved idler wheel, the exact diameter of which is known, is supported between the spool and wire reel so it may freely revolve; the number of its revolutions should be obtained, automatically, by a revolution counter. When using the device, the wire from the reel is placed once around the idler to insure the necessary grip to prevent it from sliding; then it is led to the spool. The exact diameter of the idler being known and the number of revolutions indicated, the true length of the wire wound on the spools can be easily determined by the following formula: Length of wire on spool in feet equals circumference of idler in feet times number of revolutions of idler.—Contributed by C. Swayne, St. Louis, Mo.