2408 



Journal of Applied Microscopy 



in use in our laboratory for the past two years and is so satisfactory, so easily 

 applied, so inexpensive, and so durable, that it can scarcely fail to be generally 

 used wherever it has once been tried. This device consists simply in sticking a 

 strip of gummed linen tape along one edge of the box and lid so that it will serve 

 as a hinge. The linen strip should be about two inches wide and a little shorter 

 than the box is long, and should be applied, while the lid is in position, along 

 one edge of the box so that about one-half of the strip is attached to the lid and 

 the other half to the box. It should be applied while quite wet, pressed down 

 smoothly and allowed to dry before the lid is opened. If the lid does not fit 

 tightly some weight should be placed on it to prevent its warping open while the 



Fig. 2. 



linen dries. Suitable gummed linen tape can be obtained in rolls varying in 

 length from 20 to 100 yards, and at a trifling cost. 



Such a hinge is as strong as a pair of brass ones (for the past two years, 

 during its use on a large number of boxes in our laboratory, not a lid has been 

 torn off or displaced) and it has this additional advantage, that it completely 

 closes one of the cracks by which dust might enter the box. 



An equally simple and el^ective latch was difficult to devise, and after having 

 tried several kinds all were abandoned, as it was found that the lids fitted suffi- 

 ciently well to remain closed without the aid of a latch. 



The accompanying photographs (Figs. 1 and 2) show a few boxes with the 

 "linen hinge " in position. Edwin G. Conklin. 



University of Pennsylvania. 



