The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-30
FLOATING FLAT IRONS.
Vagaries of Quicksilver Fountain
Now on Exhibition in London.

From the London Enquirer.
This complete novelty and entire depart
ure in fountains was specially designed
by Mr.. Charles Bright, F. R. S. E., for
the Queensland exhibit at EarPs Court,
of which it forms one of the principal
features, the object being to draw atten-
ton TO a leading product of Queensland.
The mercury-or quicksilver, as better
known by the general publc-with a
weight nearly fourteen times that of wa
ter falls from an upper bowl, four rect
in diameter to one seven feet below ana
three and one-half feet larger. Both or
these basins, as well as the ornamental
supporting pillar between them, are made
of iron. painted black to improve the eff
feet. Owing to the great cost of quick
sIlyer-up to about IS Cd per pound-one
of the main problems was to so devise the
apparatus as TO get an appreciable erect
with the smallest amount possible. Hence,
ANYTHING like a Niagara Falls of mercury
was out of the question. The top bowl Is,
in fact, filled with cement so as TO ren>
der it a mere table or support with six
ty-four small channels, or chases, at In
tervals of two inches round the lip for
conducting the mercury in very small
quantities over the edge. Then, again,
the supply is so arranged that there is
only lust sufficient quicksilver at the bot
tom of the lower basin to enable some
household flat irons to fioat-a striking
feature which should establish the fact in
the minds of the ordinary public that II
is mercury that is being dealt with and
NOT water. From the lower bowl there is
a drainplpe, eighty feet long and one and
one-half inches in diameter, which con-
veys the mercury to a tank at slightly
lower level forming the source of supply
to an elevator apparatus for providing the
necessary head" of mercury. The form
of elevator adopted Fconsists of number
of small thickly set steel buckets, three
and one-half inches by two and one-quar-
ter inches, freely suspended at intervals
on an endless bicycle chain, which IS con-
veyed through the storage tank. AS each
bucket dips into the latter fitting device
ensures it picking up all the mercury it
will conveniently hold. The full buckets
are thence led upward to a reservoir tank
some fourteen feet above, where each i'm
turn, by means of a similar fitting device,
parts with it's contents. From this upper
tank the mercury is conducted by pipe
1906 feet in length and one inch in diane
ter. TO the upper basin of the fountain.
Two and half tons is the amount of
quicksilver employed, its value amounting
to 1884 sterling. Each of the tanks has about
two cubic feet OF mercury in it, The
number of elevator buckets is twenty
eight. at twenty-inch intervals along the
chain, and as each holds some ten cubic
inches (hve pounds) the supply OF mer-
curry is worked at the rate of over seven
tons per hour. Both the delivery and re-
turn pipes are lined with glass-malnly to
reduce friction to a minimum-and the
head of mercury in the reservoir tank is
equivalent to six feet above the hight of
the top basin. The elevator is worked by
a two-horse power electric motor of the
Langdon-Davi alternating current pat
tern. Both the fountain itself and the ma
chinery to work it are electric lighted,
and the effect at night of the spray. or
spurs, of mercury falling, with the light
glistenng between is quite enhancing
The whole apparatus is also very care
fully covered in a glass frame work. to
avoid injury and waste. from splashing
mercury