The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-04-19
QUEER ELECTRIC DEVICES
HARDLY A DAY PASSES THAT A NEW
ONE is NOT INVENTED.
Some Washington Houses That Arc Sup
piled with Wonderful Electrical APP
pIiances-New Methods of Heating by
Means of Electricity.


Hardly day pusses,n said Mr.. Pardoe, of
the Washington Electrical Construction Com
pany s'that something in the way of an electrical
novelty is not invented or put into use. One
tof the most popular is an electric lock, which
is placed on doors and can only be opened
from the inside by pushing small button.
This is designed for club-houses, public halls,
and theatres. In theatres it is especially use
full When at the end Of an act the curtain is
>rung down the curtain-raiser by simply press
ing the button may cause every exit to be
54thrown open. Then there are the electric
mats for yestibules or halls. These mats can
be connected with alarm bells that are set in
motion every time foot presses upon the
mating, making comparatively secure ar
erangcment for those who wish to leave their
,doors open in warm weather, and yet desire to
know if any one calls.
electricity s now being put to use as
means of heating, The current necessary is
supplied from the electrc-light wire, and the
heat is generated by heating wire red hot,
(which. is imbeaded in a compound acting as a
radiator This method of heating is used
echefy by the electric railways and also by
most of the clubs of electricians, who use it
for cooking simple articles of food, such as
"eggs, coffee, etc. Electricity for culinary pur-
poses can be used at o cost far below that of
;gas, and it will no doubt become widely used
Twithin year or two.
"The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
has recently made several very satisfactory ex-
lperiments with electrical heating for their
plates, which are kept at a certain high tenn
g IL. y.
using gas heretofore, but the introduction of
electricity has proved such success that it is
uikely in the future TO supercede gas
''Many modern houses are now furnished
with electric lamps, or electrical appliances
for lighting gas. There is gentleman in this
,city whose house is supplied with automatic
burners, by which by merely touching a but
tton next to the bed in his room he can illume
the entire household. Besides this, of course,
every room has separate button for lighting
the gas. Then he has burglar-alarm system
THAT is very complete. 1t is so arranged that
after he has retired for the night and has
fastened everything up securely if door
eor window opening into the house is in the
slightest disturbed, the house will be sud-
denly brilliantly illuminated, and bell will
.set up tremendous ringing.
regulating the action of ranges and furnaces?'
was asked.
''Yes," Mr. Pardoe replied; ga man may
have electric device to regulate his draft
The plan is to distribute thermometers about
2his house connected electrically with pair of
magnets in the basement These thermome-
tiers control the damper on furnace or range
according to the variation of the temperature
from ftn;u n a1 oil
opening and closing it. Many people have
electrical thermometers in their houses that
are connected with bells that ring when the
temperature rises or falls below a certain de-
gree. Say one wishes to know whether the
temperature is above 500 or below 500, he has
only To set the guage or indicator, and should
the rise or fall exceed these two points the
bell rings and keeps it up until cut off the
circuit.
"Ihere is another gentleman in Washington
who has electrical attachments on his clocks,
especially on those in the rooms of his SER
wants whom he may desire to rise early. He
sets the time at which he wishes the alarm to
spring and sound the bell and sensitive
spring in the footbOard of bed in the room
and connected with the alarm prolongs its
ringing until the sleepy occupant is forced to
arise, when the ringing ceases. But so long
as the sleeper keeps to his bed the influence
on the sensitive spring is sufficient to keep the
alarm going.
Motors and batteries are now sold very
cheaply and much used for running sewing
machines They do not cost much to keep in
repair or to supply with the necessary power,
and what little expense there is attached to
their running is not more than cent and
half an hour. These same motors NAV be
used in summer for running fans at the same
expense.
There are Il great many youthful expert
menters in Washipgton," Mr. Pardoe CON
tinued, particularly among the high school
boys, who engage chiefly in winding magnets
although frequently they make small motors
for themselves, Some try their hands at
electric lighting-bicrom lighting, generally.
They purchase usually one-half-candle-power
lamps and make their own batteries. These
batteries may be made of three ordinary glass
tumblers, and we are always glad to inform the
eXperimenter how TO do it whenever he calls
ON us.n