Denatured Alcohol to Start Gasoline Stove
Considerable smoke and dirt is caused by the burning of gasoline used to generate gas in starting a gasoline stove. This may be eliminated by keeping an oilcan filled with denatured alcohol convenient to the stove, and filling the starting pan with alcohol instead of gasoline. The spout of the oilcan is also convenient in pouring only a small quantity into the pan.—Spencer A. Pease, Chicago, Ill.
¶A strip of adhesive tape, fixed to the lower side of a straightedge used for cutting glass, will prevent it slipping.
Playing-Card Holder
While disabled with a broken arm and being anxious to play cards for diversion, I was at a loss to hold my “hand.” I soon devised the card holder shown in the sketch, and found no difficulty keeping in the game. It is made of a strip of wood provided with a groove near the front edge, into which the cards are inserted.—W. E. Thomae, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Cocoanut-Shell Trays
Trays for holding matches, or other articles, may be made of cocoanut shells by cutting them to appropriate sizes and smoothing the surface to a polish. The tray shown in the sketch was made in this manner, as were a number of match trays which were fitted with small sheet-metal dishes. The outside of the shell is first scraped as smooth as possible, sandpapered, and then oil-polished, producing a beautiful finish.—John F. Long, Springfield, Mo.