The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-05-03
ELECTRICAL NOVELTIES.
Quaint Uses to which the Giant Force
Is Applied.

Electricians in England have lately
made some very interesting expert
ments looking to the reproduction OF
portraits or forms of any sort, in exact
resemblance, on the clouds They not
only did this with luminous distinct.
ness on the clouds, but after a series
of experiments they succeeded, in
forming artificial clouds as back
ground for their figures. says the st.
Louis Dispatch.
In England the nickeI-in-the-slot
principle is to be applied to the pro-
duction of electrical energy. But, in
stead of feeding the slot with money,
the public will receive money. To the
person who turns the crank 100 times
the machine will "cough up" cents.
The crank is connected with dynamo,
and turning the crank manufactures
electrical energy, which is to be stored
up and eventually retailed to users OF
electricity for purposes of illumination
and power. The scheme would ap-
pear to work well, especially in large
towns where there are multitudes of
unemployed, but its popularity would
depend on the time and degree OF
force it would take to do the hundred
turns. 1t is presumed, however, that
fair wages could be made at the rate
fixed.
Electric handlamps are now in the
market. They give good light for a
period of four hours with one charge
and are so light and compact as to 90
comfortable into the coat pocket. The
light can be turned on in a moment. A
small storage battery is used, the ac-
tive material of which is lithanade.
These handlamps are used by travellers
for reading in railway cars and for
many other purposes where portable
light is necessary.
Silk hats are now renovated by cleo
tricity. Attached to the machine they
minute. The operator, simply by ap-
plying brushes of varying degrees of
stiffness, has in very few minutes the
surface far smoother and more lus-
trous than any amount of ironing could
effect.
An English idea is to use electricity
as boot warmer The Britons have
found candle lamp in the boots, while
dressing, is luxury. Boots, being
tolerably adiathermic, the temperature
soon rises, and on the right side of the
soles. 1t takes only about five minutes
to get the boots comfortably warm.
But on this side the water electric foot
warmers have been known for several
years.
Electric train lighting apparatus is
employed on some of the railroads in
France. The storage system is used,
each car carrying its own independent
battery of sixteen cells. Six, eight, and
ten candle power lamps are used, ac-
cording to the class of the compart-
ment The batteries will furnish light
for thirty-fiye hours.
Gas an enhancement to beauty,
electricity removes the hair of the
bearded woman, and in its most
romantic role it manufactures those
most desired ornaments of the female
face-dimples.
A foreign chemical journal describes
experiments in the testing or analysis
of milk by electrical currents, based
upon the change of resistance of
liquids by the addition of oil or grease.
Perhaps the most novel use to which
electricity was ever applied was that
of throwing light on horse racing,
which was done successfully last sum-
mer in ST. Louis in nocturnal trials of
speed at the South side track.