The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-09-18
HOMEMADE ELECTRICITY.

The Inventions Which Are Revolution
king Household Economies.
We can not allow another week to 90
by without calling the attention of all
those who are interested in the appli-
cation of electric Ii yht to the dwellings
of every day people to the beautiful
portable tale lamps just completed
and exhibited for the first time il the
Eastern Arcade. which seems to have
solved the difficulty over which electri-
clans have been breaking their heads
for some time past in a manner so SIM
arises. as it often does when difficulty
is finally solved. why did no one think
of it before? And yet it has taken three
years Of hard and continuous work to
bring to its present perfection a lamp
which is within reach of any ordinary
home, and which after the first expense
costs the very moderate sum of two
cents an hour to burn. while it has all
the brilliancy and softness of the best
incandescent lights. The difficulties 10
domestic electric lighting have been
that all the applications of it hitherto
invented have required dynamo. in
volving considerable amount of horse
power. For these reasons, no one I'M
able TO go to enormous expense could
attempt it.
Inventions for storing electricity BY
the dozen came out, but the electricity
always managed to ooze away. Then
arrangements were attempted for hay
ing central stations and laying electric
light on to the houses in a given area,
much ia the same manner as the gas
companies do now; but unexpected
difficulties arose here about the sta
tons, and, though this plan has sue
ceeded in some of the foreign capitals.
London remained behind. as she gener-
ally manages to do in such matters.
Men of wealth have. one by one. beea
lighting up their charming houses in
this manner, but to the ordinary man
of moderate means, and in all houses
Of limited incomes. it has been hitherto
beyond reach. Now comes the table
lamp. and to all appearances it is ike
ly to revolutioni,e domestic lighting.
The solution of the problem is that
there is no horse power requi ed. no
dynamo. no wires. The light, which
is extremely brilliant. is produced from
. galvanic battery contained in an
oblong box. which tits into 4
case, which may be OF china.
wood or metal. The lamps at present
bel exhibited are in repousse brass
cases. and we doubt whether any bet
ter form can be given to them than this.
A certain measurement is neces :ary to
allow for the battery itself and the re-
ceptaclc for the acid solution. so that
when not in use. or when it i; wished
to moderate the light the zinc plates
may be wolnd up-which is done by
small crank in the side-either COM
pletely free of tie solution or so as
only to lease small portion in it.
TIE solution itself is said to be ex-
tremely weak. so that no danger is
likely to oscur from the pouring away
OF the spent acid when the lump is
trimmed which is done simply b. fill
ing the RECEIPT Gle with fresh solution.
The lamp ID warranted to burn over
six hours at full light and for much
longer il turned low. In its present
form it is chiefly applicable for halls.
libraries or dining rooms. But = hang
Ing lamp i abort to be introduced.
and the patentees have already pro-
vided number OF special designs ia
hand-painted ch'na:-L0ndon Necs.