Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-01

ELECTRICITY, TOY MAKER.
Has Contributes Many Wonders to the
Children's World.

Electricity has contributed many
wonderful things To toyland. Happily
these electric toys not only serve to
llaHuse the youngsters but teach them
much about the fundamental principles
Of electricity which will be Of great
value in their latter lives, says Flee
trio News"
Those of us who spent the halycon
days of our youth long before every
thing was electrified must confess a
woful lack of knowledge of things cleo
trical. We do not know why the cleo
trio cars run we cannot explain the
electric light, and the mysteries of the
electric door bell are far beyond our
ken. But the youngster who plays
with a toy electric railway. a tiny mo-
tor and a small generator soon learns
the why and wherefore Of the various
mechanical devices. And. best of all
the same principles are involved with
the miniature apparatus as in the gil
ants of their Kind in everyday use.
Best known of all the electrical toys
are the tiny trolley cars provided with
sectional track. The track can be laid
in airy desired direction, with curves
ard crossings, and the cars will run
back and forth under their own power.
These toy cars are made exactly like
their rivals on the city streets and are
driven by small electric motors CON
ce9led in the car bodies Other types
provide an electric engine, a duplicate
Of ire most powerful Locomotives of
their type now hauling trains on the
New York Central at the New YORK;
terminal, which take power from
third rail. These electric locomotives
heul whole trains of toy ears consist
ing OF baggage ears. diners, ,PuIlmans
and Gay coaches. Even the old steam
locomotives have been duplicates in
toylaad and made TO haul their trains
by electricity. In the boiler of the To-
comotive is located a small electric
motor which propels the engine.
These toy trains are perfect models
Many Of them are even equipped with
miniature electric lights. headlights,
etc They will take current direct
from the ordinary lighting circuit, or
they can be operated by batteries
where lighting current is not avail
able.
Another modern toy is the small
moving picture machine. suitable for
children. This toy combines magic
lantern and a moving picture machine.
The pictures are projected by electric
light secured from the ordinary lamp
socket or from d small dynamo which
produces It's own lighting current.
All types of steam engines have
been duplicated which operate without
I the nuisance and consequent danger
of alcohol lamps and hot steam These
engines are driven by electric power.
Motors are made IN IL sizes suitable
| for the operation OF mechanical toys.
such as circular saws, tiny lathes, etc.
Any number of midget electric lights
| are MADE. from small fiashlight suit
able for the pocket to a fesIoon of
| miniature electric lights of various
| colors and designs. suitable for decor
ating Christmas trees. one of the nov
elites imported from Germany is a toy
electric kitchen. There is an electric
grid, which gets quite hot when the
| current is turned ON, and such electric
| heating devices as a baby electric fiat
iron. coffee percolator, hot water heat
| er, etc.