Fig. 6.
Fig. 6 is made of a strip of thin tin or sheet-lead, the ends of which, when brought together, form a circle. The two square projections on the bottom of the strip are passed into two slots in the bottom of the lantern, and bent back so as to fasten the holder securely. The price of adamantine candles in New York city that will burn three hours is three dollars per hundred. All the illuminating material above described is very inexpensive, and more effective than the imported Chinese lanterns. The fun of making them, the lessons learned in utilizing and putting together various materials, the combining of colors in various designs, more than repay one for all the trouble.
Fig. 7.
In a previous number of Young People something was told you about gas balloons. They involve the use of chemicals. To my mind, the hot-air balloon is a great deal better and less expensive to manage. Make your balloons after the manner described in the article in No. 136. Now comes the business of inflating them. There are some difficulties to contend with, but with a little care you will be successful. The following is the best method according to my experience. Secure a short piece of old stove-pipe, and place the lower end on two bricks (Fig. 7), a space being left between them which is to answer as a draught-hole. The back and sides are then built up with bricks to prevent its falling. A fire is kindled in the stove-pipe, which is then filled with charcoal to one-third of its depth. As soon as the bottom of the pipe becomes red-hot, the mouth of the balloon is held over the top of the pipe so as to allow the hot air and gas to pass into and inflate it.
Fig. 8.
In balloons bought at stores the fire-ball is fastened where the fine wires intersect one another at the mouth of the balloon (Fig. 8). When inflating the balloon by means of the stove-pipe, the fire-ball will have to be removed, as otherwise it would be destroyed when holding the mouth of the balloon over the top of the pipe. After removing the ball, fasten it on a thin wire hook so that the instant the balloon is inflated the fire-ball can be lit and hooked on to its position in the centre of the mouth of the balloon (Fig. 8). By this means the balloon will remain inflated at least one half-hour longer, and will travel many miles further than when relying entirely for a supply of hot air from the fire-ball alone.
When sending off a fire-balloon at night, the hook must be shortened up close to the mouth of the balloon, so that the entire body of the balloon is illuminated; for daylight effect the hook is made longer, as shown in the picture. The best material for making the fire-ball is cotton batting saturated with a solution of two-thirds alcohol and one-third turpentine. It is a good plan to attach a postal card on which your address is written, and a request to the finder of the balloon that he will mail the card back to you with a memorandum on it where and at what time the balloon arrived. In this way you will know exactly how many miles and at what rate of speed your balloon has travelled.