The Boy Mechanic Part 54

** Home-Made Small Churn [192]

Many people living in a small town or in the suburbs of a city own one

[Ill.u.s.tration: Making b.u.t.ter]

cow that supplies the family table with milk and cream. Sometimes the cream will acc.u.mulate, but not in sufficient quant.i.ties to be made into b.u.t.ter in a large churn. A fruit jar usually takes the place of a churn and the work is exceedingly hard, the jar being shaken so the cream will beat against the ends in the process of b.u.t.ter-making. The accompanying sketch shows clearly how one boy rigged up a device having a driving wheel which is turned with a crank, and a driven wheel attached to an axle having a crank on the inner end. This crank is connected to a swinging cradle with a wire pitman of such a size as to slightly bend or spring at each end of the stroke. The cradle is made with a cleat fastened to each end, between which is placed the fruit jar, partially filled with cream. The jar is wedged in between the cleats and the churning effected by turning the crank.

--Contributed by Geo. E. Badger, Mayger, Oregon.

** Home-Made Round Swing [192]

Gas pipe and fittings were used wherever possible in the making of the swing as shown in the photograph. The d i a g ram drawing shows the construction. A 6-in. square cedar post is set in the ground about 3 ft., allowing 2 ft. to remain above the ground and a 7/8-in. piece of shafting is driven into the top part of this post for an axle. A cast-iron ring, or, better still, a heavy wheel with four spokes of such a size as to be drilled and tapped for 1/2-in. pipe is used for the hub, or center on which the frame swings. If a wheel is selected, the rim must be removed and only the spokes and hub used. The hole in the hub must be 7/8 in. or less, so the hub can be fitted to the shafting that is driven in the post. A large washer is placed on top of the post and the hub or cast-iron ring set on the washer.

The drilled and tapped holes in the four spokes are each fitted with a 4-1/2 length of 1/2-in. pipe. These pipes are

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Merry-Go-Round Complete]

each fitted with a tee on the end and into this tee uprights of 1/2-in. pipe in suitable lengths are screwed, and also short lengths with a tee and axle for the 6-in. wheel are fitted in the under side of the tee. The uprights at their upper ends are also fitted with tees and each joined to the center pipe with 1/2-in.

pipe flattened on the inner end and fastened with bolts to a f.l.a.n.g.e.

The bottom part of the cloth covering is held in place by a 1/2-in. pipe, bent to the desired circle. Four braces made from 1/2-in. pipe connect each spoke and seat to the f.l.a.n.g.e on the center pipe. An extra wheel 18 in. in diameter is fitted in between two seats and used as the propelling wheel. This wheel has bicycle cranks and pedals and carries a seat or a hobby horse. The four seats are fastened to the four pipes with 1/2-in. pipe clamps.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Details of the Swing]

Small miniature electric lights are fastened to the overhead braces and supplied with electric current carried through wires to the swing by an ingenious device attached to the under side of the cast-iron ring or hub of the wheel. A ring of fiber on which two bra.s.s rings are attached is fastened to the hub and connections are made to the two rings through two brushes fastened to the post with a bracket. The wires run under the surface of the ground outside and connected to the source of electricity. The wires from the bra.s.s rings run through the center pipe to the top and are connected to the lamp sockets.

** Old-Time Magic-Part V [193]

** The Disappearing Coin [193]

This is an uncommon trick, entirely home-made and yet the results are as startling as in many of the professional tricks. A small baking-powder can is employed to vanish the coin, which should be marked by one of the audience for identification. Cut a slot in the bottom on the side of the can, as shown in Fig. 1. This slot should be just large enough for the coin that is used to pa.s.s through freely, and to have its lower edge on a level with the bottom of the can.

The nest or series of boxes in which the coin is afterwards found should consist of four small sized flat pasteboard boxes square or rectangular shaped and furnished with hinged covers. The smallest need be no larger than necessary to hold the coin and each succeeding box should be just large enough to hold the next smaller one which in turn contains the others.

A strip of tin about 1 by 1-3/4 in. is bent in the shape as shown in Fig. 2 to serve as a guide for the coin through the various boxes. This guide is inserted about 1/8 in. in the smallest box between the cover and the box and three rubber bands wrapped around the box as indicated. This box is then enclosed in the next larger box, the guide being allowed to project between the box and the cover, and the necessary tension is secured by three rubber bands around the box as before. In like manner the remaining boxes are

[Ill.u.s.tration: Appliances for the Disappearing Coin]

adjusted so that finally the prepared nest of boxes appears as in Fig. 3.

The coin can easily be pa.s.sed into the inner box through the tin guide, then the guide can be withdrawn which permits the respective boxes to close and the rubber bands hold each one in a closed position.

The performer comes forward with the tin can in his right hand, the bottom of the can in his palm with the slot at the right side.

He removes the cover with the left hand and pa.s.ses his wand around the inner part of the can which is then turned upside down to prove that it contains nothing. The marked coin is dropped into the can by some one in the audience. The cover is replaced and the can shaken so the coin will rattle within. The shaking of the can is continued until the coin has slipped through the slot into his palm. The can is then placed on the table with his left hand. Then apparently he looks for something to cover the can. This is found to be a handkerchief which was previously prepared on another table concealing the nest of boxes. The coin in the right hand is quickly slipped into the guide of the nest of boxes, which was placed in an upright position, and the guide withdrawn, and dropped on the table. The performer, while doing this, is explaining that he is looking for a suitable cover for the can, but as he cannot find one he takes the handkerchief instead. The handkerchief is spread over the can and then he brings the nest of boxes. He explains how he will transfer the coin and pa.s.ses his wand from the can to the boxes. The can is then shown to be empty and the boxes given to one in the audience to be opened. They will be greatly surprised to find the marked coin within the innermost box.

** How to Keep Film Negatives [194]

There are many devices for taking care of film negatives to keep them from curling and in a place easily accessible. Herewith is ill.u.s.trated a method by which anyone can make a place for the negatives produced by his or her special film camera. The device is made up similar to a post card alb.u.m with places cut through each leaf to admit each corner of the negatives. The leaves are made from white paper and when the negatives are in place the pictures made on them can

[Ill.u.s.tration: Negatives on White Paper Background]

easily be seen through to the white paper background. These leaves can be made up in regular book form, or tied together similar to a loose-leaf book, thus adding only such pages as the negatives on hand will require.

--Contributed by H. D. Harkins, St. Louis, Mo.

** Home-Made Match Safe [194]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Details of the Match Safe]

Cut a piece of tin in the shape and with the dimensions shown in Fig. 1. Bend the saw-toothed edges at right angles to the piece on the dotted lines. Bend the part that is marked 5-1/2 in. in a half circle. Make a circle 3-1/2 in. in diameter on another piece of tin, cut out the circle and cut the disk in two as shown in Fig.

2. These half circle pieces are soldered to the sides of the teeth of the half circle made in the long piece of tin. Remove one end from the inside box containing matches and slip the back of the match safe through between the bottom of the inside box and the open end box that forms the cover. The matches will fall into the half circle tray at the lower end of the box which will be kept full of matches until they are all used from the box.

--Contributed by C. F. White, Denver, Colo.

** An Electric Post Card Projector [195]

A post card projector is an instrument for projecting on a screen in a darkened room picture post cards or any other pictures of a similar size. The lantern differs from the ordinary magic lantern in two features; first, it requires no expensive condensing lens, and second, the objects to be projected have no need of being transparent.

Two electric globes are made to cast the strongest possible light on the picture card set between them and in front of which a lens is placed to project the view on the screen, the whole being enclosed in a light-tight box. The box can be made of selected oak or mahogany. The lens to be used as a projector will determine the size of the box to some extent. The measurements given in these instructions are for a lens of about 5 in. focal length. The box should be constructed of well seasoned wood and all joints made with care so they will be light-tight.

The portion shown carrying the lens in Fig. 1 is made to slide in the main body of the lantern for focusing. A box should first be made 5-1/2 in. wide, 5-1/2 in. high and 11 in. long. A hole is cut in the back of the box 4 by 6 in. represented by the dotted line in Fig. 2. This will be 3/4 in. from the top and bottom and 2-1/2 in. from each end of the outside of the box. Two strips of wood 1/2 in. wide and 6-1/2 in. long are fastened along the top and bottom of the back. The door covering this hole in the back, and, which is also used as a carrier for the post cards, is made from a board 4-1/2 in. wide and 6-1/2 in. long. The door is hinged to the lower strip and held in position by a turn b.u.t.ton on the upper strip. The slides for the picture cards are made from strips of tin bent as shown, and tacked to the inside surface of the door.

The runners to hold the part carrying the lens are two pieces 2-1/4 in. wide by 5 in. long and should be placed

[Ill.u.s.tration: Details of the Post Card Lantern]

vertically, AA, as shown in Fig. 1, 3-1/2 in. from each end. An open s.p.a.ce 4 in. wide and 5 in. high in the center is for the part carrying the lens to slide for focusing. The part carrying the lens is a shallow box 4 by 5 in. and 2 in. deep in the center of which a hole is cut to admit the lens. If a camera lens is used, the f.l.a.n.g.e should be fastened with screws to the front part of this shallow box. The sides of this box should be made quite smooth and a good, but not tight, fit into the runners. Plumbago can be rubbed on to prevent sticking and to dull any rays of light.

Two keyless receptacles for electric globes are fastened to the under side of the top in the position shown and connected with wires from the outside. Two or three holes about 1 in. in diameter should be bored in the top between and in a line with the lights.

These will provide ventilation to keep the pictures from being scorched or becoming buckled from the excessive heat. The holes must be covered over on the top with a piece of metal or wood to prevent the light from showing on the ceiling. This piece should not be more than 1/2 in. high and must

[Ill.u.s.tration: Post Card Lantern Complete]

be colored dead black inside to cause no reflection.

The reflectors are made of sheet tin or nickel-plated metal bent to a curve as shown, and extending the whole height of the lantern. The length of these reflectors can be determined by the angle of the lens when covering the picture. This is clearly shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The reflectors must not interfere with the light between the picture and the lens, but they must be sufficiently large to prevent any direct light reaching the lens from the lamps. In operation place the post card upside down in the slides and close the door. Sliding the shallow box carrying the lens will focus the picture on the screen.