Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-19
PHOTOS 0UT-0F-D00RS.
The Amateur Can Go Out Nowadays
Armed for Any Emergency.
RAILROAD CARS THAT SWING
A New Cooler for Liquids and Machine
for Cracking Ice.
CEMENT TO UNITE PIECES OF IRON
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH

WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATCH.l
A large number of devices to meet the re-
quirements of photographers using dry
plates have at various times been brought
out, and one more is now added to the num-
Der in the shape of q portable developing
tent. Although this tent, when closed,
measures only 26x2O inches, by inches in
thickness, and weighs only III pounds, 10
opens out without Bny trouble or fixing, to
up to 2612O inches, by 80 inches deep. so that
any size of a plate up to 12Il0 inches can be
changed and developed inside it. The body
of the operator as far down as the waist i5
inside the tent during the operation, giving
perfect freedom for the movements of the
arms and body, and at the same time there
is no Inconvenience whatever as regards
ventilation-this point having been care
fully worked out the tent admitting
abundance of air without any risk.
The non-actinic light is abundant and at
the same time perfectly safe, while pro-
vision is made for carrying off the washing
water, ETC., in development. When closed
as the measurements show-it is quite fat
and supplied with handle, very convenien5
for carrying, while for working it can ba
suspended from nail in wall either in
side or outside the house, the branch OF a
tree, post, or any projecting point, requir-
ing no fixing whatever, and the operator
u
position at pleasure. The portability Of
this camera is not its least recommendation,
and it can be advantageOusly' added to tho
outfit of the photographer vino contem-
plates travelling in countries where house
or hotel accommodation is bad or scarce.
One of the heaviest expenses in the proper
operation of q camera using dry plates is the
item of plate holders, sufficient supply
costing from q third to one-half the price OF
the Instrument. Many improvements have
therefore been made by which the bulky
holders are dispensed with, and the double
box or magazine substituted. The magazine
cameras heretofore introduced have been
bulky and heavy, but q new camera is COM
ing into vogue which forms a marked ex-
ception to this rule. This camera is the
smallest in the world for plates 31lx41l, the
whole outfit taking up space OF 334X4Ax9
inches. Several distinct improvements are
claimed for this camera, among which are
the ability to expose single plate, ana TO
extract and develop it immediately; it has
very ingenious and rapid shutter for time
or instantaneous work; it has the best known
method for focusing, as well as both verti-
cal and horizontal finders, and it has Il per-
feet method of automatically registering
every exposure as soon as made. ALI the
working parts of the camera are Of metal,
and as the magazine Is airtight and light
tight, no moisture can 1njure the plates or
films, and the camera becomes more useful
for the purposes of the traveller.
A new method of obtaining q glazed finish
for albumen prints without the aid of gela-
tine has been found to give good results. y
mixture of ox-gall and alcohol in equal parts
is allowed to stand for several days, being
frequently shaken in the meantime, so as 10
mix the substances thoroughly. A glass
plate is then coated with the mixture, and q
washed albumen print is placed on 1t and
held there under pressure. After drying
about an nour, the print will come on with q
surface beautifully glazed.
A New Beer Cooler.
The cooling of beer, soda and all draughs
liquids to exactly the degree most grateful
to the palate of the customer has long been
a desideratum. An improved appliance is
constructed of cast iron, and being fat can
be placed in any desired position in an ics
box. The cover is secured by pivoted bolts,
and when removed the passages for the
liquid are all exposed and can be readily
cleaned. These passages are lined with tin,
glass or porcelain, and the under side of the
cover is also coated in a similar manner, so
that any contact of the liquid with the metal
as it passes through the cooler, is absolutely
prevented. great saving in ice is also
effected from the fact that when the metal
of the cooler once becomes cold, q small
piece of ice portion of the cover Will
keep the whole cooler at q proper tempera-
ture. In the ordinary system of pipe coils
the ice must be broken into small pieces and
the coil kept covered to the top. A very low
temperatu ture can be obtained by having two
or more coolers placed one above the other.
the liquid pa ssing from one cooler through
the other before being drawn for use.
Swinging Railway Car.
Various devices have been resorted to as
different times with the view of saving pas
sengers from discomforts inseparable from
travel The idea of q swinging saloon for
steamers has long ago been found to be
practicable, though its commercial restric-
tions have prevented its coming into gen
eral use This idea has now been applied to
railway travelling, and one OF the latest in
outer encircling frame, is free to swing like
q pendulum as the car runs over rough
tracks or round curves. Spring buffers arc
provided on the side of the outer frame to
prevent the cal bringing up with the sh ocS
In its swing. 1t has been suggested that to
avoid seaSickness tt would be well to mako
these buffers long enough to exert constd-|
cradle pressure on the car body when hang
ing in mid-position. We're the car body
entirely free to swing, the passengers mighS
find the remedy worse than the disease.
The inventor claims that this system IS
peculiarly applicable to dining and sleeping
cgrs. Its liability to injury from even
slight shock or collision has apparently
been overlooked, however.
Ice Cracking Machine.
Aneyly-invented machine for the crack
ing of ice is rapidly coming into use. This
consists of a hopper, underneath which are
two cast iron plates covered with teeth, the
plates being set at angles to each other, open
at the bottom. Two perforated sheet-steel
plates extend from opposite sides of the top
of the hopper to nearly the bottom of the
teeth the perforated plates being parallel
with the teeth plates When the lever ham
die is pushed down the teeth are pressed to-
gether and the ice is crushed. One Of the
teeth plates is adjustable, and by it the sfzs
of the ice leaving the machine may be regu-
lated The machine cracks ice rapidly,
easily, uniformly and economfcallyj and az
it is adjustable. large or small Jumps can be
had as required. All the working parts that
the ice comes in contact with are galvan-
lied so as to prevent rusting. The machine
is in successful operation in several of the
leading cafes and saloons in New York.
A Simple Key Fastener.
A simple device has been applied 10 the
ordinary door lock, which Immediately rem
ders it burglar proof, by preventing the
turning or removal of the key by anyone
outside the door. It is constructed of a
single piece of bent wire. 1t is applied to q
door by q screw passing through the eye
formed in the short end of the fastener. A
nivoted connection allows it to be turned
aside when the device is not in use. The
long arm of the device is bent substantially
at n right angle, forming finger which pro-
the KEY, effectually preventing its being
turned or removed. The release of the key
is effected by the pulling out OF the finger,
which Immediately flies out of the way auto
the door the lock is made burglar proof by
the finger of the fastener, which
prevents the insertion of a key from the out
side.
Cement for Iron.
A cement for iron of great strength is said
to be produced by mixing equal parts of sui
pbur and white lead with about one-sixth of
borax. The ingredients are then thoroughly
so rs to form one homogeneous
tho io