Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-09

has found that lnickle wires develope
the strongest currents by winding 1t
intoaa spiral, and connecting its ends
with delicate measuring apparatus
multiplication The pointer of the
multipllcator detected conside erably ac-
cording as the spiral was elongated or
compressed, showing that relatively
strong currents were created; the cur
rent flowing the elongatiOn OF the spi-
raj in direction opposite to thatlin
which the wire had been run in its pas
sage through the sdraw-plate. The in
terest in the phenomena observed will
be enhanced as soon as there is pros
Ipect of increasing the strength of the
currents to atdegree which 'willJrender
them available for practical purposes.
As:Prof. Braun has succeeded in put
ting III circuit number of lspirals
like lgalvanic clements, and
thus obtaining strong currents,
there is "a probability of constructing
engines which will perform useful
work. Yet we cannot help thinking
that the current would prove too feeble,
and that they would develop but little
mechanical energy on account of the
great molecular friction. Should the
anticipations of the discoverer ,e full
filled, however, the currents would sup
ply to the alengineer the cheapest means
direct. Prof. Braun Is experiments also
confirm the welf-known law of recipro-
cation. In .passing through u spiral
the current of Bunsen'S elements. he
could prove an elongatiOn or compress
sion OF the spiral according to the di-
recti0n of the current.
Primary Batteries for Incandesoent
lighting.
Primavv hatterias Ifpr in On nd ac
lighting will ,oftentimes be called for
and the dealer will be frequently
tempted to follow in the footsteps of
capitalists who have been inveigled
into Investing +thousands of dollars in
what the inventor claimed was 'san en-
tirely new, reliable and economical
generator of Of'electrical energy, particu-
larly suitable for use in household illu-
mination, but which proved to be sim
pie notifications of the Bunsen type,
says the Electrical World. Such in
vestments have not proven particularly
gratifying, exceptlt be in the exchange
of the inventors experience for the in
vestor's capital.
When batteries are desired orjillum-
mating or motor work, it is better TO
explain to the customer that as u given
amount of coal will produce a known
quantity OF heat, 30 likewise certain
cHeunlcalS WnoD pibceu III properly
constructed cell will yield known re-
suits that are easily determined before-s
hand; tina, motalic zincis the principal
positive element in all those Batteries,
and holds the relative position in n cell
that coal does In a furnace; that to pro-
duce each electrical horse power hour
of energy requires II pounds Of Zinc,
about an equal amount Of chronic acld
or similar depolalzer, and a quantityof
diluted acid, altogether costing at
wholesale rates 80 cents, to say nothing
about the labor, capital invested, or de-
probation in the cells, and that tl,e
amount of light that can be obtained
will seldom exceed ten sixteen-candle
power lamps per horse power.
In other words, it will cost the Gus
toner using primary batteries and burn
ing ten incandescent lamps four hours
each evening cents per lampper hour,
or total cost of 81 for the evenings
light.
While such an explanation may not
increase the sales so far as primary bat
teries are concerned, it will be valuable
In winning the respect and confidence
of customers, which is more TO be de-
sired than silver or gold.
The Electric Plumber.
There are not fifty electric plumbers