Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-16
ENGINES IN MINIATURE,

LOCOMOTIVES THAT ARE ToYs-sTEAMBoATs AMI
STATIONARY ENGINES.
Miniature locomotives made exactly after the
pattern of full-sized ones are frequently used
by applicants for patents in railway devices to
show how their inventions work. The manu-
facture OF such engines is a new industry in
this country. For $50 one can be purchased
twenty-five inches i'll length and weighing sew
enteen pounds, which will draw a heavy man
On a little fat car over real track on a re-
duced scale. From this size they run up to a
nine-foot machine capable of pulling ten men
and costing 5000.
These engines include all the parts import
antly essential in the construction OF n real
locomotive. Tracks are supplied with them,
composed of actual rails and sleepers The
rails sold in fifty-foot lengths or for laying
down in ROOM a circular track in sections
can be obtained. Safety lamps are employed
to hold the alcohol. which serves for fuel.
They are of very ingenious though simple
construction. being merely brass cups filed
with asbestos and covered at the top with fine
wire cloth. If one is upset nothing can spill,
so that there is no danger OF fire.
Many of these wonderful steam TOYS are used
for playtnings. One Washington boy, who is
provided with more money to spend than ia
twenty two inch locomotive, with fiat car and
circular track. The last he pat together in his
big play room and found it great fun for a
while to ride around behind the engine. After
a time it occurred to him that collisions were
among the incidents OF rairoading and SO he
purchased another engine and car. Then he
invited small friend OF his to run the second
locomotive and the two engines were made to
encounter each other at full speed. the game
being to see which would throw the
other of the rails. The manufacturer
told the writer about Chicago youngster who
lives IN great house where the entire upper
fioor Is unoccupied and unfurnshed. This
youth has constructed a double track railway
from one end Of the building to the other.
with switches, and he and his friends 20 loot
ing back and forth, having g station In each
room and enjoying the fun immensely They
ship car loads of wheat in bags and imaginary
pork in barrels to and fro.
10y steamboats, arc made NOWADAYS pre-
cisely after the patterns OF real ones from
twen'y-tour inches In length up to five feet.
One OF the latter size costs SIS and is provided
with reversible engines. so that it can 90 either
backward or forward. having u regular steer
Ing wheel anchors. &c. Such a vessel will tow
row b nat slowly through quiet water. Alone
1t attains speed of four miles an hour, sta
tlonary engines Tor toys are manufactured with
al the latest mechanical improvements. inita-
ting full-sized ones as nearly rs possible. They
are utilized to some extent also for practical
purposes. For example, one can be bought for
$40 which viii run a sewing machine satisfac-
torily. Gas is employed for fuel, obtained
through rubber tube from the nearest
burner IN any room of dwelling house. 1t
costs from ten to fifteen cents q day to run a
sewing machine continuously, which is a small
expense, considering The saving of WEAKNESS to
the operator. A $50 engine Will run three SCI
ng machines.