Popular Science Monthly 



937 



An Automobile Revolving Washer 

 Made from an Old Rim 



THE accompanying illustration shows 

 an automobile or carriage-wash- 

 stand fixture the base of which is an old 

 clincher-rim. This was made by a 

 garageman in spare time and does the 

 work as well as any fixture of this kind 

 that can be obtained on the market. 

 Much better results are secured and 

 time saved if the hose is attached to an 

 overhead revolving fixture, as it enables 

 the operator to walk around the car 

 without dragging the hose or "kinking" it. 



Two pieces 

 of 2-in. by 

 4-in. stringers 

 are attached 

 to the ceiling 

 beams, these 

 being spaced 

 by a i2-in. by 

 ^-in. board 

 which acts to 

 steady the 

 water- pipe 

 passing 

 through it 

 and leading to 

 the source of 

 supply. A 

 swinging 

 union coup- 

 Ting, or elbow, 

 is needed to 

 join the rota- 

 ting and non- 

 rotating parts 

 of the water- 

 pipe, which 

 may be con- 

 structed of 



The rim furnishes an excellent track for a pulley to 

 carry the pipe in a circular sweep on the ceiling 



either ?4-in. or i-in. standard-iron form. 

 The rim is firmly secured to the 

 stringers by clamps bent from ^-in. 

 cold rolled rod as indicated in the 

 drawing. The pipe is supported by a 

 simple trolley-wheel fixture clamped to 

 the pipe, the wheel being grooved so it 

 will be guided by the curved flange of 

 the clincher-rim. This makes it possible 

 to swing the pipe to w^hich the hose is 

 attached around so that all parts of the 

 body or running gear may be easily 

 reached, and it keeps the hose from 

 rubbing on the floor. — V. W. Page. 



How to Make a New Bureau 

 From an Old One 



THIS was the method used to change 

 the entire appearance of an old 

 bureau. The mirror was taken off the 

 back posts and put out of harm's way. 

 The brass-plated fixtures were removed 

 and scraped. All useless ornaments 

 were taken off. Then the varnish was 

 removed with the aid of a common 

 square scraper, some carborundum paper 

 and some steel W'ool. A curb about 

 3 in. high was put at the rear edges of 

 the top, to prevent small articles from 



falling down 

 between the 

 bureau and 

 the wall. 



Four coats 

 of white lead 

 and oil, with 

 a dash of tur- 

 pentine and 

 Japan drier 

 were given, 48 

 hours apart. 

 After the 

 fourth coat 

 the job stood 

 for three days 

 to harden. 

 The surface 

 was then 

 worked over 

 with steel 

 wool until all 

 brush marks 

 and roughness 

 had disap- 

 peared. Then 

 two coats of 

 ivory white 

 enamel were applied, 48 hours apart. 

 With this done the bureau looked like 

 unglazed porcelain. China knobs were 

 used for the drawer pulls. The drawers 

 had previously been examined and the 

 slides rubbed with white castile soap so 

 that they worked smoothly. 



A Quickly Made Silver- 

 Plating Powder 



A good silver-plating powder can be 

 made of chloride of silver, 3 oz.; salts 

 of tartar, 6 oz.; prepared chalk, 2 oz.; 

 common salt, 3 oz. Mix well. 



