The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-12

boat. only the lower half being exposed In
the water, while an electric motor Is used
to turn the paddles In either direction. 10
swing the rear end OF the boat around
Fire hose is easily washed by Connecti-
cut mans device. having a pair Of brushes
suspended from the ceiling by means %
rods. the brushes dipping IN a tub of water
TO swing back and forth along the surface
OF the hose as II Is drawn through the
water.
a handy method OF fastening belts around
the waist has been designed, having the
usual buckle to adjust the length OF tho
strap, with ring in one side OF the straD
secured by means of loop and snap but
ton; the latter being used In place Of tho
buckle
In a new combination day coach and
sleeping car the berths are made up at right
angles with the track with entrances along
the side OF the for use at night. the seat
swinging away from the wall and arranged
TO divide the compartment into two separate
berths-
Long spikes can be easily drawn with A
new hammer. which has extensible bar
inside the head end OF the handle, with
spring at the rear TO force the bar down 10
form the fulcrum of the lever, the length
of the extension being increased as the spike
pulls out.
Motormen will appreciate an improved
brake handle cover, which will prevent their
hands from chatting while using the brake.
a double thickness of leather being used.
the inner part of which fits tightly on the
grip, with soft, yielding mass inside the
outer cover.
A German has invented handy coupling
for ropes and cords, composed OF hook and
eye members each of which has a socket
at the rear for the insertion Of the end II
the rope, with conical wedge To be driven
through an eyelet into the rope 10 hold II
in the socket
Seams in cloth are quickly ripped by the
use of a new implement formed like a pair
of shears. with one tip fitted with a semi
circular opening, at the bottom OF which
blade is reciprocated by the other tip, sew
ering the threads as they are guided 10y the
curved blade.
Roller skates are TO be made with the
foot-plate pivoted above the wheel-carrying
portion, the rear wheel having drum on
which is wound cord with the outer end
fastened 10 the rear OF the foot plate, the
latter being depressed to unwind the cord
and drive the skate.
A Nebraskan has designed an animal trap
made from a single piece of steel wire
formed into a cone. with one end Of the
wire running from the small end of the cone
and forming a sharp spine to spring across
the opening and impale the rodent when IL
takes bait inside the cone
new police club IS turned from a piece
OF wood and wound with spring wire, which
fits tightly for about two-thirds Of the
length OF the cluD the WOOD being smaller
at the head and the wire coils standing out
from il to spring under blow. The whole
club is covered with leather.
Windows are automatically opened in case
of fire by Missourian's invention, COM
posed Of hood mounted on the top Of the
window frame to guide a stream OF water
into a pocket attached 10 a window. the
weight of the water overbalancing the sash
weights and dropping the sash.
To increase the bouyancy OF vessels a
Pennsylvania has designed new float.
formed Of two circular guideways on either
side of the boat, TO receive a series OF hollow
balls, which revolve freely as the ship
moves through the water. passing under the
surface for part of the revolution.
In a recently patented ratchet wrench a
rotatabe disk is loosely mounted between
two clamps TO revolve freely in one direc-
ton, the teeth on the face engaging a
ratchet tooth to lock il from revolving I'm
the opposite direction The disk reverses TO
allow a nut TO be turned in either direction.