The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-09-05
MICROSCOPIC INGAafS gETE.

From the earliest times down to the
present day, many examples of minute
mechanism have appeared, interesting
from the patient ingenuity displayed in
their production. We propose to give
our readers an account of one or two Of
the most curious of these tiny pieces of
handiclaft. In the year 1878, Mark
| Scaliot, blacksmith of London, made
"for exhibition and trial of skill one lock
of iron, steel and brass of eleven several
pieces and a 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
round the neck of flea, the insect thus
becoming harnessed. AS the chain, lock
and key weighed but one grain and
| half, the flea drew them with ease; a
proof that if the locksmith's hands were
large and sinewy, they must have had
the delicate touch of watch-maker's.
A beautiful piece of mechanism con-
structed by M. Camus probably stood
out prominently in the collection of
Louis the Greats childhood. Described
by the inventor: r:-'It consisted of a coach
drawn by two horses, in which was the
figure of lady with footman and page
behind. This coach being placed at the
extremity of table of determinate
size, the coachman smacked his whip,
and the horses Immediately set out, mov-
ing their legs in natural manner.
When the carriage reached the edge of
the table, it turned on right angle,
a nd proceeded along the edge. When
it arrived opposite to the place where the
king was seated, it stopped, and tht
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 courtesied and re-entered
the carriage; the page then resumed his
place; the coachman whipped his horses,
which began to move; and the footman,
running after the carriage, jumped up
behind and it drove on"
The following are from list of "mira-
cles of art" exhibited i'll London in the
year 1745:-"rhe little furniture of a
drawing room, consisting of dining
table, with two figures seated as if at
dinner; 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 par
ticuIars are contained in a cherry y-stone.
A landau which opens and shuts by
springs, hanging on braces with four per-
sons sitting there in A cTane-neck car
riage the wheels turning on their axles; a
coachman s box &C., of ivory; together
with six horses and their furniture; a
coachman on the box, dog between his
legs, the reins in one hand, and whip in
the other; the footman behind, and a
position on the leading horses in their
proper liveres-all so minute as to be
drawn by flea; which performs
all the Offices of a large chaise, as run
ming of the wheels, locking, &C., weigh
ing but one grain. A flea, chained by a
chain of two hundred links, with pad
lock and key, weighing but one-tbird
of grain. And pair of steel scissors
SO minute that six pair may be wrapped
up in the wings of fly; the said scissors
cut large horse hair"
The Plymouth Gazette of 1928 contained
an account of miniature cannon, which
is thus described: 1t is complete in all
respects, having bore and touch-hole;
the gun is made of steel, the carriage of
gold and the wheels of silver; and the
whole weighs only the twenty ninth part
of grain. The workmanship is very
beautiful, but cannot be distinguished
except through a powerful magnifying
glass; the size of this warlike engine be-
ing only that of common pins head
That surely was a curiosity that might
have made Mr.. Sam Weller's fortune
had he taken out a patent for his
"double million magnifying gas micro
scopes of hextra power"
There have been some curious toys il
which feas have been the performers
In 1920 a man exhibited in London two
fleas, one drawing kind of car, and the
other lock and chain, with the greatest
ease, In Nottingham, also in the SAINT
year, there We're two feas shown which
3 had gold chains placed round their necks
the very Lord Mayor of feas. One Of
them drew carved cherry-stone, anc
the other silver cannon. We SHOULD
. also mention the case of flea at Augs
burgh that drew chain of steel mad
with links so fine that "though it b,
nearly a span long the flea will lift it W