Scenery for a home-talent theatrical performance was required, and since the services of an expert in that line were not available, an interesting method of obtaining satisfactory sketches for the figures and other objects in the background was devised. Colored lantern slides of scenes suitable for the purpose were selected and projected upon the canvas to be painted, as shown in the illustration. The outlines were drawn around the projected figures, making them as accurate as the original, and far better than would have been possible otherwise by an amateur painter. The colors were applied following the original model, with satisfactory results. By the use of various portions of slides, it was possible to place figures and outdoor effects on the background which was obtained from the first slide used. A factor which must be considered in using this method is that the picture on the canvas will be reversed as to right and left positions compared with the original, if a direct-reflection projector of the type used with post cards is employed.—Thomas R. Milligan, Fort Worth, Texas.
Three-Caster Truck for Moving Crates and Furniture
A convenient truck for handling heavy objects, especially in the home where commercial devices for this purpose are not available, is shown in the illustration. It consists of a frame built up of three 1¹⁄₄ by 2 by 14-in. strips, fixed to a disk, ⁷⁄₈ by 12 in. in size. Revolving casters are mounted under the ends of the arms, giving great freedom of movement in transporting loads. The three-caster arrangement is better than the use of four casters, because it accommodates itself to irregularities in the floor.—Armydas E. Sturdivant, Muncie, Ind.
¶The burner of an acetylene bicycle lamp, fitted to an ordinary gas jet, will produce a very hot flame.
Inserting or Correcting on Typewritten Bound Sheets
It is frequently necessary that typewritten insertions or corrections be made in papers which have been typed and bound, usually by rivets along the top edge. It is difficult to remove the rivets and replace them satisfactorily. To make such insertions, feed a blank sheet of paper into the typewriter until its feeding edge is even with the upper edge of the guide fingers. Then insert the bottom edge of the sheet on which the correction is to be made, underneath the sheet already in the machine; reverse-feed the sheet to be corrected into the typewriter. Corrections may then be made in the usual manner.—A. J. Cook, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Tire Pump Made of Gas Piping
A tire pump actuated by the explosions in the cylinder of an automobile engine, and made of materials easily obtainable, is shown in detail in the illustration. A section of iron pipe of a diameter to fit one of the ports, and about 4 in. long, as shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a reducer, a tee, and two caps. The inside of the pipe is turned up true in a lathe and fitted with a piston, the head for which is shown in Fig. 1. The head is built up of a wooden drum, washers, and leather packing disks. The washers should be slightly smaller in diameter than the chamber, and the leather disks make it air-tight.
