The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-03
FLOATING FLAT IRONS.
TFrom the London Enquirer.1


This complete novelty and entire de-
parture in fountains was specially de-
signed by Mr.. Charles Bright, F. r. S. E.,
for the Queensland exhibit at EarFs
Court of which it forms one of the prin-
cipal features, the object being to draw
attention to a leading product of Queens
better known by the general pubHc-with
weight nearly fourteen times that of
in diameter, to one seven feet below and
three and one-half feet larger. Both of
these basins, as well as the ornamental
supporting pillar between them, are made
of iron, painted black TO improve the eff
siIver-up to about IS, Sd per poundNohe
of the main problems was to so devise
effect with the smallest amount possible.
Hence anything like a Niagara Falls Of
bowl is, in fact, filed with cement SO as
to render it a mere table or support with
sixty-four small channels, or chases, at
intervals 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 0uicksfIver at the bottom
Of the lower basin to enable some house
which Should establish the fact in the
minds of the ordinary public that it is
water From the lower bowl there is a
drainpipe, eighty feet long and one and
One-half inches in diameter, which con-
veys the mercury to a tank at a slightly
lower level, forming the source of supply
70 an elevator apparatus for providing
form of elevator adopted consists of a
number of small thickly set steel buck
cts, three and one-half inches by two
and one-quarter inches. freely suspended
at intervals on an endless bicycle chain,
which is conveyed through the storage
tank. AS each bucket dips into the latter
a fitting device insures 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 in turn. by means of a
similar fitting device. parts with its con-
tents. From this upper tank the mercury
is conducted by pipe, 1O6 feet in length
and one inch in diameter, to the upper
basin of the fountain. Two and half
tons is the amount of quicksilver employ
ed. its value amounting to 1854 sterling.
Each of the tanks has about two cubic
feet of mercury in it. The number of
elevator buckets is twenty-eight, at TWEEN
ty inch intervals along the chain, and
each holds some ten cubic inches five
pounds) the supply of mercury is worked
at the rate of over seven tons per hour
Both the delivery and return pipes are
lined with glaSS-mainly to reduce friction
to a minimum-and the head of mercury
in the reservoir tank is equivalent to six
feet above the height of the top basin.
The elevator is worked by a two horse
power electric motor of the LangdOn-Da-
Vies alternating current pattern. Both the
fountain itself and the machinery to work
it are electric lighted, and the effect at
night of the spray or spurs of mercury
falling, with the light glistening between
is quite enhancing. The whole apparatus
is also very carefully covered in a glass
frame work, to avoid injury and waste
from splashing mercury.