The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-19
h BAGGAGE CITAPULT.
The Machine Upon Which Ex-Baggage
Mnater GiningbY Is Mt Work.

Jackson y. Gifingbv. formerly a wcll-known
baggage master on the ", y. and G.. rond, is
now devoting his entire attention to the perfec-
ton of his baggage catapult, which. 1t is ex-
pected. will completely revolutionize the
methods of getting baggage into baggage cars.
1t Is a very simple machine 1t has a heavy
framework base. from which rises n stout beam
which serves as an arm. This arm, when 1t is
in its normal position and at rest, stands up-
right, Its face against the retaining bar, a heavy
tim Der embedded crosswise in the upper
part Of the base. Higher up on the face of
the arm there is q shelf or holder.
upon which Is placed tho trunk that
is to be thrown. Within the base of the cata-
pult there Is a powerful spring, one end of
which Is attached to the arm. When the ma
chine is to be used the arm Is thrown back, and,
by means of n simple mechanical continuance.
1t may be held at any desired angle. When the
trunk has been placed on the shelf. or holder.
and everything is ready. the arm is released by
a slight pull upon an attachment that works very
much like the trigger OF II gun; the beam springs
forward and brings up solid against the retain
ing bar. and the trunk Is thrown forward with
great suddenness into the baggage car.
Mr.. Gifinghy says that his first experiments
were conducted in his back yard. He used a
block OF wood about the shape and size of q
trunk. which he sawed Off from the end OF a
squared stick of timber. 1t Is n familiar reg
~ulation. that which allows n hundred pounds of
baggage to a passenger. and this block of wood
weighed Just about that. Taking this as n
standard weight. Mr.. Gihingby set about ad-
%justing the machine to throw just the distance
from the door OF the baggage room. In which
he was then, as he had been for many years en-
ployed, to A baggage chr standing alongside the
THE first time / threw the block" Mr..
tiiningby said. 1T knocked down the back yard
fence. Then l slowed the machine around a
little, rather thouGhtlessly perhaps. and knocked
the corner post ont OF the rear veranda OF the
house next door; but ! soon got the machine
the required distance and drop It right there;
then we took 1t down TO the station. 1t ia safe
and so was pretty much everybody else. We set
tn: machine up on the station platform, Just
people ali gathered round. The first trunk
we threw. and 1t was the, only one we
door OF the harsgsge ear standing on the track
In front OF tho baggage room. and through the
S Snoeh 81 dT ~. on mh IT,. ot IN ,h ,,d steam o1 'h hom car and ID
engine standing on the track beyond. The ma:
chine had been perfectly adjusted to standard
picked mp n lighter trunk, and Of course tho
power required to throw the standard weight a
certain distance had thrown this lighter trunk
a greater distance, with tho results stated.
., But i vas a great lesson, and one that led
WAYS, The first thing ! did was TO make tho
holder movable; II is now attached !" Q band
MMaGn FeSs at ar tGs back .,S i 30 That ant i cam s%s he q
moved and held NJ any point on the arm: These
figures that You see arranged something like
tho figures on a THERMOMETERS on the face of the
arm OF this machine here y said Mr., Gin nghy,
pointing to ono Of the machines standing in his
workshop, 80, 90. 20. and so on up, are weight
figures. The average baggage man can get
very near to the weight Of a trunk simply by
the trunks out roughly, a., far as we can CON
veniently without extra labor. and bring them
as far MS possible the necessity OF shifting tho
holder tor ,eyGnty, pound trunks, Tor instance,
merely shifting the holder. retaining the stand
ard adjustment OF the spring, We. can throw
trSH Ws OF any weight the .tamdMTd dIs,"ncG how
ever. and these, like the holders, are now made
sdjustable; by adjusting both spring and holder
any distance. In most stations trains going one
way stop with the baggage car In one place;
baggage car In another. In my old station. for
instance the mn trains stopped with the baggage
down trains stopped with the, baggage car three
or iour hundred feet down The platform. The
easily. but OF course they won't throw around a
corner, and when the car door Is not directly
s s% front Z" use 90 What shS m Ms GSll a d eno esGGs;
hoard; every baggage car on roads using tho
rrsonpnlt Will be provided WIN one t9r use Wien
shield, made of pihnkinE. which Is hung like a
door on the edge OF the baggage room door, pro
6racsd, The tNco Of tho "G%ScScctims board &
creased with the same kind u grease that thoy
use on. the plank lining 81 ferryhOAt slips, so
that when, the trunk strikes tho d~efectur Il VIII
into the car.
The use Of the baggage catapult will do away
entirely with the necessity OF using baggage
trucks. and with the Inconvenience to passen-
gers arising from the presence OF tho trucks on
the platform. IN shove the trunks directly
oyer the lassengors' heads. II vi he better for
inc trunks, for II will save ono handling. II is
nv Tar the quickest method OF loading trunks,
and IT'S econnmy Is plain. Two men with one
catNpult can do the work OF -four, lncn with two
hand trucks or more. | regard the machine as
now practically completed, and when | shall
hove finished with a few comparatively uniIn-
Poltant details. upon which | Am now at work,
important railroad systeuL" |