Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-10-12
WONDERS IN INVENTIONS.
important Discoveries Of the Last Deeads---Mhst
Genius hes Accomplished in the Fields Of Science
lFrom the New York Star. ]

and Art.
lFrom the New York Star.]
The last ten years in the history of
American inventions have been wonder
fully prolific in important results. To
say nothing of the telephone, the phono-
graph, the electric light and the systems
of automatic and quadruplex telegraphy,
all of which have been SO fully described
that their principles are perfectly IA
miliar to the general public, there have
been numerous discoveries and improve
ments which, in their way, have brought
aboutrevolutions in the arts and sciences.
The agent said: "Among the most i'm
portant of acknowledgements are improve
ments in the manufacture of vulcanized
india rubber in its various applications,
which have resulted in making it the
best and cheapest material for superior
and highly finished combs. These
combs in fexibility and durability, are
equal to the best horn and shell, and
are now extensively manufactured. The
principal factories for the making of
rubber combs are located in Conuecti-
cut"
The next invention OF any Importance
was pegging machine. Pegged shoes
made by hand were manufactured in
large quantities long time before the
invention of this machine; but the man
ufacture was and is confined chiefly to
mems boots and shoes and to the coarser
kind of ladies' shoes. Lynn, the great
centre of The manufacture of ladies'
shoes, was never engaged to any extent
in the manufacture of pegged shoes.
I1,4r nf
~ increased the production, and of course
diminished the cost of the product.
There have been many improvements in
the stitching machine, the product orig
inally OF the mechanical genius of Elias
Howe. This machine was first perfected
in 1S45, and patented in 1916. Prior to
this wonderful invention, ladies shoes
were " bound" as it was called, by hand
It's introduction speedily revolutonized
this department of industry. A single
operator with one of these machines can
do the work of nearly score working
by the old process with needle and
thread, rendering possible the produc-
ton of the elaborately-s boots of
the present day atmoderate cost These
inventions, and many others of minor
importance, have revolutionized the
shoe-manufacturing industry, so that to-
day the machinery employed In the pros
ecution represents the amount of indi-
vidual labor which it would be difficult
exactly to compute.
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 hn oto1
to which lead is put is the preparation of
oxide of lead OF white lead as a pigment.
In this branch of the lead industry this
country takes prominent and probably
the leading position, as the practice of
painting dwelling houses is more COM
mon than In any other country.
The safety drum, another new inven-
ton, is a safety device which guards
against accidents arising from some 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
or less distance from the bottom. It is
also perfect safeguard against the too
rapid descent of the car, in case the belt
or any other part of the gearing connect
ed with the engine should give way, or If
run too fast by the carelessness of the
operator. The safety drum takes the
place of the ordinary sheaver wheels,
and acts as the medium through which
motion is communicated from the engine
to the car. ALI ropes connected from
the engine to the car are arranged to act
upon this drum in such manner that
any arrangement in their bearings, or
change in their action, OF increase In
their motion beyond that prescribed as
the regular working trade, will imme-
aiately bring into action two powerful
brakes, and thus Instantly stop the en-
tire apparatus.
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
expert burglars. The doors, which are
generally the weak point of safe, are
constructed of plates, so dove-tailed and
fitting correspondingly into the jambs
that the wedges, the most effective i'm
plement used by the burglar, is perfect
| " powerless against them, while the &C
curacy with which they fit offers no op-
portunity for any crevices into which
nitro glycerine Or any other explosive
fluid can be introduced. The body of
the safe being also constructed of alter
nate plates of iron, welled iron and
steel, carbonized and decarbonized steel
and crystal steel, fastened together by
bolts from the inside, efectually pre-
vents them being forced by sledge-ham-
mers, jimmies, jack-screws, or any other
burglarious instrument. Their fire.
proof qualities are also secured by a
filling of concrete, which makes them
absolutely proof against both fire and
damp. In addition to the fire-proof
filling, the safes are furnished with i'm
proved combination locks, varied for
each safe, many Of which are supplied
with an automatic rotary movement, and
consequently operated without any arbor
or spindle passing through the door
into the lock, rendering it impossible to
pick them by any process yet invented.