Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-09-14
Internal Machines.

luc ulUSh NOuluIvu Vim VI iuiCiiIhi
machine is that known as the "Ticker. ="
To all ntents and purposes it is an or
binary tin can, very like that in which
astral oil is sold. The can, for such it
is, is made of heavy galvanized iron,
one sixteenth Of an inch in thickness.
1t is one foot high and four inches
square. This machine, as well as all Of
those now made in this country, are
filled with a rev powder, invented by
George Holgate, of Philadelphia. IL
has the form of ordinary gunpowder, is
OF dark brown color, onl Y explodes in
connexion with the simultaneous ap.
plication of fire and power, and is
estimated to be 200 times as powerful as
giant gunpowder. The can holds, there.
fore, the equivalent Of 800 pounds of
powder. Upon one side and near the
top OF the can is attached, by means of
brass screws, an ordinary clock-spring
movement Above this movement, and
connected with it, is a small. round
brass wheel, about an inch in diameter
having upon one portion of he Circum-
ference a slot or notch. A spring press
90 upon the edge of the wheel, which
revolves. When the slot is reached in
the circuit, the spring falls into it with
a snap, which in turn releases another
spring falling upona nipple upon which
is gun cap. The nipple is of iron, and
extends down into the powder, and the
explosion of the cap inStan aneous!y
sets off the compound in the bottom OF
the can. The machine can be set any
where between one minute and 80 hours.
When all is ready, the operator closes
the lid, fastris II with an iron locker,
and deposits it where he may desire to
C ,use the explosion. Ii can he kicked ,
rolled around, or hammered, but until
the spring falls into the slot and en-
plOdes the cap there is no danger in its
handling. BY putting the ear close TO
the lid the melancholy ticktick of the
clock can be heard, but This is not no.
ticeable TT distance OF six feet The
machine is air tight, and water or any
like fluid has no effect on the explosive
compound, even were it not herinetlcal
ly sealed. H. can be securely packed IN
a barrel Of lard, barrel Of petroleum,
a box of tobacco, a bag of -four, or with
any of those article, of export which
are not likely to attract attention. The
power Of such a machine depends, OF
course, upon TIE nature Of the confined
space IN which il is paced,
The most powerful internal machine
made is what is known as an "lght-dag
machine. Like the ticker it eau,
howey er, be set from one minute up
wards. A machine of this description
recently made by Holgate, of Philadel,
phia, was fourteen inches high, six
inches square, and contained the equiva-
lent of 5000 pounds OF gunpowdtr. 1t
can, however, have either a square or
spherical shape. 10 is made OF galvan-
lied iron or stout tin. The clock move
ment isso arranged that it can he taken
out and away from the machine and
connected again at n moments notice.
The operator, if he desires to divert su,'
picion, carries the EN- PITY can in his
hand and he clock movement i'll ms
coat-tail pocket. The explosion is caused
by defamation. A sliding bar Of brass,
drawn by II screw attached to the move
mrnt, when il arrives at the slot in the
small bras disc, springs upon delicate
glass phial, made Of hair tube. The
pl ial, which contains II powerful acid
and il Theoretically sealed, in breaking
allows he acid TO escape. rhi, causes
the defamation, and the explosion fol
lows. The wire On top OF the move
ment, which is held in place by rub
Der band, connects with the cap. Tho
acid runs into a cEiorate of potash com
bnaton. This machine can be sunk il
water, or scCreiHd in any liquid or com
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