An interesting and novel construction for amateur or boy mechanics is a telautograph or writing telegraph machine. The instruments, as shown, are duplicates with the exception of the placing of the rubber bands. They can be made in different sizes, and satisfactory results were obtained by making the base 7 by 12 in., the arm B 5 in. long and ³⁄₄ in. wide, and the triangle C 6 in. by 3¹⁄₂ in. A hole is bored in the arm B, slightly smaller than the pencil to be used and a slot sawed from the edge to hole, so that when the pencil is forced into the hole it will be tightly gripped, as at A. The arm B is fastened to triangle C, to move freely. The triangle is fastened to the base, and can also move freely. The rubber bands D are stretched tightly to hold the moving parts in position. The strings E should be strong, and stretched taut.
The [larger diagram] shows the instruments placed in parallel position. The [smaller diagram] shows how they can be placed one above the other. An unruled pad is fastened to the base of each instrument with thumb tacks. The operation may be traced by noting the successive action of the parts when the pencil on the pad at the left is moved in writing a message. The pivoted triangle communicates the action to the string E, which actuates the other triangle and its lever system. The rubber bands serve to steady the action. The instruments may be arranged a short distance apart for play or experimental purposes or set in rooms on different floors, by making suitable pulley connections for the cords E.—William Freebury, Buffalo, N. Y.
Diagonal Corners on Disk-Record Covers
Having been bothered with the edges of square paper covers of disk records curling, making it unhandy to place them in a file, I remodeled them as shown in the sketch. The covers without the lower corners were so convenient that I made others by folding and pasting paper of the shape shown in the pattern. It was found desirable to use a good quality of paper for the new envelopes as this gave added protection.—J. H. Moore, Hamilton, Ontario, Can.
Live Poultry Weighed Handily in Funnel Scale
A deep funnel, or cone, made of sheet metal and attached to an ordinary platform weighing scale or a draw scale, is useful especially in weighing live poultry. The fowl is placed in the funnel head first and remains quiet while being weighed, which is not the case in most common methods of weighing. The funnel is mounted on three legs, for use on a platform scale, and suspended from a ring by chains, from the hook of a drawspring scale.—C. W. Reemtsen, Des Moines, Ia.
Transferring Pictures to Glass
The surface of glass on which pictures are to be transferred must be thoroughly clean. A coat of nearly colorless varnish is applied, and permitted to dry overnight in a room free from dust. Wet the picture, soaking it in clear water for about 10 minutes. Place it on blotting paper with the front side down, leaving the back wet. Varnish the glass again, and place the picture face down on the varnished surface, pressing out the bubbles, working from the center out. Rub on the back of the transfer paper until the picture is transferred to the varnished surface, and remove the paper carefully. Permit the picture on the glass to dry, and then varnish it.