922 



Popular Science Monthly 



A Clever Trick Performed with 

 a Lighted Cigarette 



ACIGARETIK is ligliud and tucked 

 into a closed fist from which it 

 vanishes while still burning. The effect is 

 mystifying, but the method is simple. Take 

 a wood spool and whittle awa%' both edges 



i^^ 



The lighted cigarette 

 is stuck into the 

 spool which is drawn 

 back into the vest- 

 pocket by an elastic 



the celluloid and lay the foil on, mercur>- 

 side down. Cover with a piece of news- 

 paper. Hold it tigiit to pre\'ent slipping, 

 and burnish the foil tlown liard to tlie cellu- 

 loid surface. Tliis may be done with the 

 end of a round paddle made of wood, or a 

 similar hard surface. 



When this has become dry a fine 



mirror will be the result. It may 



be twisted in almost any wa%" so 



that it makes a very amusing device 



for distorting a person's 



rollection in all kinds of 



siiai:)cs, making tall people 



look ridiculously scjuat, and 



short, stout people look tall 



and lank. 



Care should be exercised 

 not to liend the celluloid 

 too sharply as the foil will 

 be wrinkled and the elTect 

 spoiled in consequence. 



so that it represents a tube-, one end ha\ iii,., 

 a tapering point. Drill a hole crosswise 

 through the tapering end; pass one end 

 of an elastic cord about 2 ft. long through 

 the hole and tie it. Tie the opposite end 

 to a suspender button. The \cst conceals 

 this clastic, which when taut is just long 

 enough to allow the spool to rest inside the 

 lower vest-pocket. 



The trick is performed as follows: 

 Borrow a cigarette and reach with the 

 left hand into the designated vest-pocket 

 for a match. In pulling out the match take 

 the spool with it, concealing it in the 

 fingers. Stand slightly sideways so that 

 the coat will hide the elastic. Tuck the 

 lighted end of the cigarette into the hole 

 in the center of the spool — it is just large 

 enough to hold the cigarette snugly without 

 extinguishing it. Open the fingers and the 

 spool containing the cigarette will fly back 

 beneath the coat. — MHURnr H.vle. 



Grinding Automobile Engine- Valve 

 Seats Set in a Sleeve 



ASIMPLE and spccd>- way to grind 

 automobile engine-valves set in a 

 slce\e is to fasten the stem in a vise, take a 

 length of rawhide and wrap it once or 

 twice around the sleeve as shown in the 

 illustration. Fasten the ends of the raw- 

 hide into a hacksaw frame and draw it 



Making Flexible Mirrors from Tinfoil 

 on Celluloid 



PROCl'RI-: a piece of celluloid — an old 

 photographic film cleaned of the gela- 

 tin coating will suffice — and coat it as 

 follows: Make a solution of ,'.j leaspoon- 

 ful of plain while gelatin in yi cupful of 

 boiling water. Take a piece of tinfoil — not 

 le.id foil — :in(\ rub a few drops of mercury 

 or f|uick silver on one side until it resembles 

 a mirror. Wet the fingers in the preijared 

 gelatin, size and rui) it all over the surface of 



Turning the valve-sleeve about the valve 

 stem in grinding the engine-valve seat 



back .mil finili ilie same as in sawing 

 metal. A turning motion is imparled to 

 the \alve-slee\e, wiiich will grind in a new 

 seat (|uickl\- with the ii.se of iir<iperl\- 

 a]')plied abrasi\-es. 



\\'hen fastening the stem in the \ ise be 

 sure to use some soft metal on the jaws, 

 such as copper or lead, to prevent injure- 

 to the surlace. 



