The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-10-19

Wonderful Examples Of Minute Mech.
anfsn1.
We propose to give our readers an &C.
count OF one or two of the most curious of
these tiny pieces Of handicraft. In the
year 1913 Mark Scaliot, blacksmith of
London, made for exhibition and trial of
skill one lock of iron, steel and brass of
eleven several pieces and pipe-key, all
clean-wrought, which weighed but one
grain OF gold" He also made chain of
gold OF forty three links, to which he
fastened the above-named articles, and
put them around the neck of flea, the
insect thus becoming harnessed. As the
chain, lock and key weighed but one
grain and a half, the flea drew them with
ease; proof that if the blacksmith's
hands were large and sinewy they must
have had the delicate touch Of watch
makers.
A beautiful piece of mechanism con-
structed by NJ. Camus probably stood out
prominently in the recollection of Louis
the Greats childhood. Described by the
inventor: /" 1t consisted of small coach
Drawn by two horses, in which was the
inquire OF lady, with footman and a
page behind. This coach, being placed
at the extremity of table of Discriminate
size, the coachman smacked his whip, and
the horses Immediately set out, moving
their legs in a natural manner. When
the carriage reached the edge of the table
it turned on right angle and proceeded
along that edge. When it arrived oppo-
site to the place where the King was seat
ed it stopped, and the page, getting down,
| opened the door, upon which the lady
alighted, having in her hand petition,
! which she presented with courtesy.
After waiting some time she again cour-
tested and reentcred the carriage; the
page then resumed his place; the coach
man whipped his horses, which began to
move; and the footman, running after the
carriage, jumped up behind and it drove
on"
For the amusement of the same mon
arch was constructed, by Father Truchet,
OF the Royal Academy of Sciences, IAN
automaton consisting of moving pictures,
which was considered masterpiece of
| mechanics in the seventeenth century,"
| The royal lessee and manager called it his
| little opera. One of the pictures repre-
| SShtSN eAA otSId ILL uFC aus, dlu CuduNcu
| the decorations at the commencement of
each. The actors performed their parts
| in pantomime, and this moving picture
was only sixteen and half inches in
breadth, thirteen inches in height, and
| very little over an inch in thickness for
the play of the machinery. The repre-
sentation could be stopped at pleasure,
and made to recommence at the same
place by the operation of catch, the adj
dition of which to certain marionnettes
immortalized by Cervantes, might have
prevented the terrific onslaught of the
fiery Don on the Williams of the play. The
year I'LL saw Mr.. Penkethman's inven-
ton, the Parthenon or the Temple of the
Gods, the work of several years and great
expense. 1t is described as a magnificent
machine, consisting of several curious
pictures and about hundred figures,
which moved their heads and limbs as
naturally as living creatures
| The following are from a list of mira
Giles of art" exhibited in London in the
year 1745: 1.-The little furniture of d din
ing-room, consisting of a dining table,
with two figures seated as if at dinner, a
footman waiting, card table which opens
with drawer in it, frame and casters,
looking glass, two dozen of dishes, twenty
dozen Of plates, thirty dozen of spoons
and twelve skeleton-back chairs with claw
feet. All the above particulars are con-
tanned in cherry stone. A landau which
opens and shuts by springs, hanging on
braces, with four persons sitting therein.
A crane neck carriage, the wheels turning
on their axles; coachman's box, etc.,
of ivory, together with six horses and
their furniture; a coachman on the box, a
dog between his legs, the reins in one
hand and whip in the other; the footman
behind, and postillion on the leading
horses, in their proper liveries-all 80 mi
mute as to be drawn by flea. The curious
little four-wheeled open chaise, with the
figure of man in it. all made of ivory,
drawn by flea; which performs all the
offices of large chase, as running of the
wheels, locking, etc., weighing but one
grain. A flea chained by chain of 200
links, with a. paddock and key, curiously
wrought; the chain and flea, paddock and
key weighing but One-third of grain.
And pair of steel scissors so minute
that six pair may be wrapped up in the
wing of a fly; the said scissors cut a large
horse-hair."
There have been some curious toys in
which feas have been the performers
| III 1OSO q LdA CAAAUllCu Ill AOl1SlOu lNO
tieas. one drawing kind of Car and the
other lock and chain with the greatest
ease. In Nottingham, also in the same
had gold chains placed round their necks,
the very Lord Mayors of feas. One of
them drew carved cherrystone and the
other silver cannon. We should also
mention the case of flea at Augsburg
that drew chain of steel made with
links so fine that "though it be nearly a
span long the flea will lift it up when he
leaps" A London representative of the
sharp fraternity drew four-wheel car
riage on springs, with four persons inside,
the coachman on the box, and a footman
behind, "all proper as the language of
heraldry hath it. Another flea is recorded
to have given some evidence of civiliza.
i ton by working the bucket of we'll, thus
undergoing species of hard labor for SC
often disturbing the peace of many a
sleeping MARTYR. Some Of these VAN.
pires, furnished with golden saddles and
brides, have carried little etfigies OF
Bonaparte and his aides de-camp. A still
further demand is made on our jmagina.
tons when we read of "a representation
of the seige of Antwerp-a suitable name,
by the way, for fort attacked by insects
lin which feas discharged firearms, the
explosion of which was audible to the
spectators and Gen. Chase and Marshal
Gerard appeared on feaback''- encourag-
ing their "crimson- coated varlets." This
melodrama was followed by grand bal.
let. But here the enthusiastic historian
surely assumes his readers to possess q
much larger bump of credulity than a
phrenologist would give them credit for.
In the cathedral of Augsburg there are
to be seen some rare specimens of drink
ing.glasses, made hollow and well-shaped,
with ring made of the piece in turning,
which encircles between the bottom and
body of the glass, and cannot be taken off.
II often, says Nilsson, in his Voyage to
Italy, " examined this little miracle of
art with good microscope, and observed
the stripes and traces Of the tool with
which they are turned, so that they have
no secret in it, but that it was the pure
work of the eyes and hand" A celebrated
old manuscript wakes enthusiastic on
q The GQrmaino Maafar Micro ;, tn ouotn