The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-12-11
SCIENTIFIC.

Nav SswIxG- OorroN.--M. Masson has
introduced a sewing cotton of increased
strength made by spnning together linen
aud cotton Gbrrs. The proportion OF the
two fihers may be varied according to tbs
work the thread Is to be used for.
LUMINOUS HoUsE Nun Bms-- AFreuch
chemist has invented a method Of making
the number Of houses ne distinctly legible by
night as by day. 1t consists in rubbing the
fingers with a preparation Of phoephorous.
which will reLder them luminous. The aP-
plicat,on need be renewed only once a
month.
JAcKErrNe BoILERs.-One one Of the
latest of the many plans proposed for pre-
venting the radiation OF hest from steam
boilers consists in applying plaster Of Paris
by surrounding the vessel or surface to be
protected in some cases wholly or in part by
an envelope Of sheet iron. lead, wood, or
other suitable material, placing the en-
velope at distance apart from the surface
equal to the thickness required for the non
conducting material The plaster of Paris
lie then made up in its liquid state and run
or poured into the space between the en-
velope and surface Of the vessel until the
space is filed The plaster of Paris in a
few minutes solidi6es without the application
Of heat, and the envelope may either remain
permanently or be removed after the space
is filed
A New SAFETY LAMP.-It Is but half
century or whereabouts since the partisans Of
Sir Humphrey Davy and Of George Ste
phenson disputed to who was the original
inventor of the safety lamp; and during the
period which has since elapsed several al
legged improvements, designed to increase
its practical utility, have been produced.
The most recent Of these consists in securing
the wire gauze or other casing Of the lamp
by means Of bolt, catch, pawl, or other
similar fastening Of iron or steel situated in
side the lamp and held in its place BY means
Of spring. This bolt or catch. on the ap-
plication of a magnet. 70 as to allow the wire
gauze or other casing being removed.
THE ORGANIZATION OF PLASTER
CASTINGS has been 4 difficulty in
getting a good ground for painting upon
plaster ornaments and cements which seems
10 us to have heen entirely removed by Nj
9PArissn sculpso3 This gentle
man first applies coating Of solution Of al
bumen in acetic acid. The proportions he
employs ore one part az slbumea and Eve
parts Of acetic acid. He does not mention
the strength Of the arctic acid, but it need
mot be strong This solution completely
scopes the pores Of plaster Or OF Q rpangy
-tnne. and forms q firmly adherent skin to
which any paint or vsrn'sh can be applied.
The inventor sueve<ts various modes Of Or
msrbline. granting, etc. which
will readily occnr to painter and decora-
Tor when he IL furnished with a ground be
cen easily wor upon.
IxpRovD CArpExrKR'~ PLANE.-An
ingenious improvement in the bench plane
has lately been devised in England. The
inventor makes the face Of the head Of the
plane movable. 20 that it can be pushed
neArer to the back edge Of the mouth or
WiEhdrawn from it. according 10 the extent
10 which It is worn or the nature of the work
10 be done. A portion Of the head Of the
plane. carrying with it the whole Of the
head-fsce about half an inch deep, is ad |
Vsnced and withdrawn by means Of screw
which enters the remaining portion Of the
heap. The head face ia kept true With the
tailface by sliding in dovetailed groove
and BY a stud in the movable portion Of the
head which enters hole to CORE, pond in
he fixed portion thereof.
SHARPENING EDeE TooLs. 1t has been
known that the simplest method of sharp
.ning a razor Is to put It for half m hour
n water, to which has been added one
wentieth Of its weight Of muriatic acid.
hen lightly wipe It. and after few hours
et it on O hone. The acid here supplies
be place Of a milestone by cOrrodiRg the
urface evenly. 50 that nothing further
han q smooth polish lie Necessary. The
'roceas never Injuries good blades. while
adly hardened ones are generally iDprov-
BY it, although the cause Of the i'm
rOvement remains unexplained. OF late,
hi> process has been applied to many other
utting implements. The workman at the
eQinniDg Of his BOOc-spell, or when DO
uits in the evening, can moisten the edsge +,
! his tools calculated 10 above, the cost Of
hich 10 almost nothing. Tins sAves tn
Of time abcf in whstting