The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-11-18
WONDERS IN INVENTIONS.
DISCOVERIES OF THE LAS
DECADE.

/ IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES OF THE LAST
DECADE.
The last ten years in the history OF
American inventions have been wonder
( fully prolific in important results. To
I say nothing Of the telephone, the pho
nograph. the electric light and the sys-
TEN of automatic and quadrupleX tele-
/ graphy. all of which have been so fully
/ described that their principles are per
fectlv familiar to the general public,
1 there have been numerous discoveries,
Z and improvements which, in their way
/ have brought about revolutions in the
/ arts and sciences. Among the most inn
I pOrtant of recent discoveries are i'm
proyements in the manufacture of vul-
/ caniZed India-rubber in its various ap-
plicatiOns, which have resulted in ma
king it the best and cheapest material
Z for superior and highly finished combs.
! These combs, IN fleXibility and durabiI-
/ ty. are equal to the best horn and shell,
( and are now extensively manufactured.
/ The principal factories for the making
I of rubber combs are located in Connec-
ticut.
/ The material produced by this new
! process possesses peculiar qualities. 1t
/ is more perfectly elastic than common
{ caOutchOuc. resisted the action of the
ordinary solvents Of that material, IS
better able to resist the wear and tear of
. its surface and preserves its heXibility
at all temperatures. Then Mr.. Nelson
. GOODYEAR patented process for sOlldi-
fying rubber, making it susceptible to
any form or process of manufacture.
The next invention of any Importance
was peCging machine. Pegged shoes
. made bv hand were manufactured in
Il, Z
. invention OF this machine; but the mau-
facture was. and is, confined chiefly to
mems boots and shoes, and to the coaTSer
kinds of ladies' shoes, Lynn, the great
center of the manufacture OF ladies'
. shoes, was never engaged to any extent
/ in the manufacture OF pegged shoes.
/ The introduction of this machine large
" increased the production, ana, OF
I course, diminished the cost OF The pro-
duct. There have been many improve
mentS in the stitching machine, the pro-
duct originally of the mechanical genius
of Elias Howe This machine was first
perfected in 1S45.
A process has recently been patented
in the United States by which shot IS
made at a low elevation by forcing a
strong current of air upon it as it falls
into the water Another important use
to which lead is put is the preparation
of oxide of lead or white lead as d pig
( ment. In this branch Of the lead indus
Urv this country takes prominent ana
probably leading position, rs the pTac-
lice Of painting dwelling houses Is more
common than in any other country,
The safety drum. another new inven-
tiOn. is Il safety device which guards
against accidents arising from such de-
rangement in elevator machinery, or
some obstruction in the hatchWay, where
by the ropes may be uncoiled from the
main drum of the engine. while the car
remains temporarily lodged at greater
OF less distance from the bottom. 1t IS
also a perfect safeguard against the too
rapid descent of the car, in case the belt
or any part of the gearing connected
with the engine should give way, or if
run too fast by the careleSsness Of the
operator.
Great improvements have been made
in the methods of construction used for
iron safes, making them impregnable to
almost any appliance in use by the most
I eXpert burglars. The doors, which are
generally the weak point OF safe, are
constructed of plates So dOvetailed and
fitting correspondmgly into the jambs
that the wedge. the most effective I'M
plement used 10y the burglar IS perfectly
pOwerless against them, while the acou-
racy with which they fit offers no oppOr-
tunity for any crevice into which nitro
gIycerine or any other explosive fluid car
be introduced. The body of the safe
being also constructed of alternate plates
OF iron welded iron and steel. carbon
iZed snd decarboniZed steel and crySta
steel. fastened together by bolts iron
the inside. effectively prevents them be
ing forced by sledge-hafnmerS. jimmles
iack-screws or any other burgiariOus in
strument Their tire-prOOf qualities arr
also secured by a filling Of concrete
which makes them absolutely proc
asainst fire and damp. In addition t,
the fire-proOf filing, the safes are fur
nished with improved combination locks
varied for each safe, many of which arr
supplied with an automatic rotary move
ment. and consequently operated with
out any arbOT or spindle passing through
the door in the lock, rendering it I'm
possible to pick them by any process ye
invented.
In 1S4Q, DR.. Gathney invented meth
cd of transmitting power by means o
compressed air driven through pipes
Up to ten years ago his application for
patent for this process fIOm the Unite,
= States was rejected on the ground tina
it was a discovery and not an invention
Patents have. however, been Obtalne
for it in Europe. and it is by means o
this method that the tunnel of Mon
Cents has been worked. The process
was used in the work ON the Hoosa
Mountain tunnel.
In 1872, DR.. Gatling invented an
patented a steam plOw. or earth pulveI
iZing machine, to be propelled by steau
and animal power combined. The fan
ure of his health and the low price O
grain at that time prevented his bring
ing this invention into practical use
DR.. Gatling had devoted his time an
attention to improving the gun whic
bears his name. and the success whic
has attended his labors seduced hiI
from the more cOngenial field of peace
full invention
Inventive talent has been brought {
! bear upon soap. Several materials hav
been avowedly and openly mixed wit
n soaps as improvements. The use of It
! sin has been utilized. Slick, either q
b sand or in the form of ''wateT-glass'' {
soluble glass nitrate of sOdr), is one {
. the most common, and soaps made
this way are extremely efficient and us'
Z / full. Modified soaps of various speci;
4 / purposes are now made by mixing lime
water. dissolved alum, etc, with sOa
alreaOy made.
g. Foo 70. 49, L. - =,