Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-06-21
MECHANICAL FREAKS.
QUEER INVENTIONS SENT TO
THE PATENT OFFICE.

and Bugs. Odd Musical instru-
msnts- Paper Put TO Many Uses.
American invention has given birth
to no end Of freaks, which have been
embalmed at the patent office, in
Washington, In order that they may
not perish Some OF the queerest OF
them are devices for entrapping
beasts, bugs, fishes and even human
beings.
What, for example, could be fun
nier than the notion of using imita-
ton flowers with poisoned honey to
attact noxious insects? The artificial
blossoms, each containing a small
quantity Of sugary liquid properly
prepared, are to be fastened to twigs.
Moths Of destructive species sip the
deadly nectar and die. A more
elaborate device of similar descrip-
ton is intended for the protection OF
apple trees. 1t is a tin can covered
as to its upper half with luminous
paint. On the outside of the lower
half apple blossoms are represented
with the same sort of paint. Inside
of the receptacle is q small quantity
of cider. The can is to be hung on a
branch Of an apple tree at night.
Insects attracted by the pictured
flowers light upon the can. The
smell of the cider induces them to
enter through holes provided for that
purpose; they drop into the cider
and are drowned.
1t is not always easy to distinguish
between crank idea and a useful
discovery. The poisoned counter
feits of flowers above described are
said to work very well. Many years
ago a man got patent for method
of killing bugs on trees by inclosing
the whole tree in a sort of balloon OF
canvas, into which an asphyxiating
gas was to be poured for the purpose
of suffocating the insects. Everybody
thought he was a lunatic. But now
that his patent has run out. the
merits of the plan have suddenly OBJ.
tanned appreciation, and its adoption
is alleged to have saved the orange
growing industry in California.
Several kinds of luminous bats
for fish have been patented. One OF
these is a minnow of hollow glass
coated on the inside partly with a
solution of gold or silver and partly
with luminous paint. The result is
a very brilliant object in the water,
calculated to attract any predacious
creature with fins. Another interest
ing continuance is for making frog.
bait more seductive. The jerking OF
the line equipped with this device
causes the frogs legs to move as ii
he were swimming.
Much ingenuity has been expended
in rat traps. Some of them are so elab'
crate that no full-witted rodent would
60 near them. One requires Mr.. Rat
to come in through door, which
drops behind him and makes him q
prisoner. Seeing bright light above
he ascends flight of little steps ano
trots across small plank that is sc
nicely adjusted as to balance that his
weight causes it to tip and throw hin
into tank of water. Another con
trivance consists of double chamber
One chamber has glass end, through
which Mr.. Rat sees two or three imi
tation rats having a nice time with @
bit of cheese. Wishing to join them
he runs around the box, gets into the
other chamber and is caught.
Sparrow traps are of many different
kinds. Host Of them invite the bird:
to walk in through a door, which
drops behind them, making then
prisoners. When next seen in the
restaurants they are reedbirds or
toasts. OF greater interest are con
trivances for catching thieves. One
of them is designed to discourage
bank sneaks. The sneak put hi.
hand in through the teller's window
and unintentionally actuates a me
chanism which causes a slide witt
spikes to close suddenly upon hi
paw and impales it. A trap OF some
what similar character is stee
shutter for house window 50 dis
guised with covering and fringe as tt
look like an ordinary curtain. If {
burglar tries to enter at night IL shuts
down upon him, the spikes hidden b!
the fringe helping to hold him fast.
American inventors have been fruit
full of queer ideas in musical instru
ments. Patents have been sought TO
violins made of metal, of earthenware
of glass, of leather, and even of glue.
Plain wood, however, maintains its
place as the accepted material TO
this purpose. How many people have
even heard of the ''doorophone!" i
consists of frame and sounding
board with tuned wires and little met
al balls suspended. The contrivanc'
is hung upon door. When the lat
ter is opened the balls swing bach
and forth and strike harmonious
chords.
There is patented device for play
ing the banjo by electricity. 1t re
quires no skill, the instrument bein,
operated by sheet Of paper will
perforations, which control the max
ing and breaking Of circuit. Me
chanical fingers thus actuated picl
the strings and depress them at thu
frets. Another instrument is so ar
ranged that one may play the banjo
by manipulating the keys Of key
IL