Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-16
THE ELECTRIC WORLD.
New Applications of the Current for Prac-
tical Purposes.
PREPARED FOR THE DISPATCH. ]


PREPARED FOR THE DlsPATCH.l
In an article In Spec;alties the matter of
domestic electric lighting is reduced to very
practical shape. Details and estimates for
the requirments of 12-roomed villa are
given, and the cost of the installation is
put at about 81, 100 The article then de-
scriDes the manner in which the master of
the house can be his own engineer, starting
the engine, charging the accumulators, and
doing all the necessary work to put the
plant in condition for the nights work.
Accumulators do not deteriorate rapidly.
but will work we'll for many years upon
such an installation as that described.
Although somewhat costly in the first In
stance, they possess many advantages, not
the least of which is that the light is al
ways available, in the sick room, or for an
evening party, independently of the gas en-
gine, which may always be stopped on Sun
day at least. The possibilities that attend
on such an installation are shown in colors
that are very tempting to man that desires
to become his own electrician.
He may here mount his hobby to his
hearts content and may indulge in other
applications Of the electric current. For in
stance, he may drive the sewing machine,
organ, bellows or a punkah, by means of
small electric motors; he may divert him.
self by scientific demonstrations to his
friends of the uses of electricity for welding
metals, photography at night, chemical de-
composition, and hundreds of similar inter-
esting and instructive experiments. He
may take the entire management of the in
stalIation, and perform all the duties en-
tailed without soiling his hands, negIecting
business or curtailing his leisure.
u
NJ.
menting on the suggestion recently ad-
vanced by Lieutenant Fiske, and now under
consideration, that an electrical corps be es-
tablished in the army and navy to take
charge of electrical appliances in time of
war, refers to the fact that a few months
ago it advanced some ideas on the same
subject. 1t suggested that electrical men
might, proftably to themselves, enroll
themselves az members of the New York
naval militia, and thus in certain degree
return the obligation the electrical pro-
tession owes the navy, from the ranks of
which many of its most distinguished
workers have been recruited.
The Electrical Revieao is inclined to think
that some of the officers and men now in
the service could be advantageously de-
tailed to such work. In case of emergency
fair supply of competent engineers could
be made available, but if civilians were
pressed hurr1edly into action their lack of
military training might prove serious en-
barrassment, so that a much higher stand
ard of efficiency would by attained by hav-
ing such a corps equipped with men skilled
in the tactics of warfare.
In electric street car lines the dynamo
| which generates the current does so by the
revolution of coil of wire near the poles of
a magnet, the force which revolves the coil
being derived from the engine. The current
then passes over the wires, down the trolley
which surmounts each car, To q small
motor. This motor has an armature con-
sisting of coils of wire traversed by an cleo
| trical current, which is attracted in sue
cession to the poles of the stationary coils
called the field magnets, through which the
| current also flows, flies around and trans
mits 1t motion, by means of cog wheels, to
the axle of the car. The driver of the car,
by the use of lever, turns the current into
the motor beneath the car or directs it to the
| rails at will. In the conduit system the
current passes along the wire, with which
connection is made, into the motor on the
car, and then out through the wheels to
the rails, and then back to the central
| dynamo.
A somewhat unique musical instrument
has just been introduced for advertising
| purposes, consisting of a set Of chimes,
which are worked by electricity. They are
carried through the streets ON an electric
tricycle., and have keyboard attached like
that of an ordinary piano, SO that elaborate
compositions can be played by anyone suf-
fciently familiar with the piano or organ
keyboard. The system of operation isquite
simple; attached to each of the 80 bells
which constitute the set, and which are hung
on a rack above the keyboard, is an electro
magnet. When the keys are struck they
make circuit from a battery in the base to
the electro-magnets at the bells, which are
thus sounded.
q The capabilities of electricity as a rem
edial agent have just received new illus
tration. A man with an aggravated case of
bone felon on the thumb consulted physi-
clan, and was told that several months
would elapse before he could use his hand.
In his dilemma, he sought the ADVICE OF a
physician who had done some excellent
work by means Of electricity. The phYsi-
clan operated on the diseased member with
an electric battery, and the pain, which had
up to that time been intense, ceased. In
four days the patient was at work again.
The operation was pronounced success,
and perfect cure was soon effected.