The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-13
A topeka GENIUS
e. L. Robinson, City Fireman,
Makes New Invention.
Obtains Patent on Novel Pea
nut Machine.
HE MADE EVERY PART
Traction Engine Constructed of
Old Zinc.
Miniature Separator Made of
Odds and Ends.


When not working in the shower of
sparks near his big throbbing steamer
and when the gong of the fire alarm
at headquarters engine hous is ST.
lent, E. l. Robinson, a city fireman
can be found in a little dark back room
above the main floor of the station.
Here surrounded by pieces of ma
chinery, odds and ends of mechanical
devices, and every variety OF tools
"Roxy''--the firemen call him Roxy"
for short-Robinson spends all of his
spare time.
Far into the night when dim lights
burn on the glistening fire apparatus
and when only the rustic of the news
paper or magazine OF the night watch
man is heard, a little pounding, then
few thuds and a tickling echoes from
this little tool room.
Nobody is in doubt as to the origin
of this noise.
Everyone knows it is Roxy"
A year ago this month, Robinson
jerked the zinc out of an old bath
tub in the firemen headquarters. The
fire boys had seen Roxy" make mar
velous things out of a nail, piece OF
wood and a saw, but they ran out or
imagination when their mechanical
mystery started toward his tool room
with a battered chunk of zinc.
tWhat are you going to make now?"
they asked him.
"Oll-I don't know" he answered.
And he didn't know until after he
had seated himself on his little stool
in that den all day and twisted the
zinc into various shapes.
1t was about the middle of June
when Roxy completed his zinc into
a shape that could arouse suspicion
that he was planning on making MIN
iature traction engine.
But why a toy traction engine?
they asked.
didn't know.
It was a month before the engine
was completed. Then it was the pride
of the firemen. When Roxy was
not in his ''den" they would take out
this miniature engine and show 1t to
their friends. 1t was clever piece or
machinery. The cylinders, the reverse
and steam levers, the water gauge,
the steam gauge, the guiding wheel,
the smoke stack, the fire box and all
were there. Just as true as monster
engine made for practical purposes.
One day Chief Wilmarth of the fire
department saw the engine. When he
saw Robinson he asked him in
friendly way what he was making.
s'Oh. nothing came the answer.
Now the firemen respect and honor
their chief. When he asks a question
they usually answer it.
DO you mean to say, Robinson.
that you are making that little engine
for nOth1nS asked the CIliCA l"NAeA
severely.
yes, SIR" said Roxy"
Puzzled and rather displeased the
chief dropped the subject.
But Roxy didn't tell-not even his
own brother, who is captain of head
quarters companies.
It was the middle of August. One
of the members of the steamer COM
panies Strolled into the den" one day
and there sitting next to the miniature
traction engine was a separator. The
automatic feeder, the straw carrier,
the wheels the chains, and every feat
ure was as true as the machine itself:
Where did you get that?' he asked
in wonderment.
ooh. I made it out of stuff I have
around here" answered Robinson in
his customary unconcerned manner.
The fireman turned one of the
wheels. The inside apparatus re-
worked on the little wheels made for
them. Every cog and every chain
moved. And the entire apparatus
was not over twelve inches long!
IT don't think much of it." said
Roxy while his friend was still gaz-
ing at the little wonder With this
comment he ran a screw driver into
the end of the machine, gave it a rip
and into a hundred pieces fell his
tiny separator Gathering them into
his hands he threw them into near
by cigar box and began drumming his
fingers on the bench. well I'll be
" said the onlooker, and he
left the room.
Last fall roxy purchased some
boards-or did he get them from
nearby building ?-and began to lay
out frame about six feet high, three
feet wide and a foot and half wide.
He worked on this frame until he had
made three compartm ents. Then he