Nov. 14, 1884.] 



♦ KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



413 



#ur Jnbrntor^' Column. 



So great is the number of invent inns nmc patented that many good 

 things are comparatively lost in the crowd. A succinct account^ 

 therefore, by an Expert, of all inventions of really popular interest 

 and utility must be advantageous both to the public and the 

 Inventor, enabling persons to hear of inventions already desiderated 

 by them, and thus acting reciprocally as a stimulant on supply 

 and demand. 



THE "IDEAL" LAMP. 



Although gas is now so general, and althongh gas is threatened 

 by the electric light, the lamp still holds its ground, and remains 

 the object of much inventive ingenuity. One of the leading 

 inventors in this line is Mr. C. F. A. Hinrich, of New York ; and at 

 the offices of Messrs. Zimmerman & Co., of 57, Farringdon-street, 

 London, may now be seen several remarkable inventions in the 

 form of new lamps. One of these is known as the " Ideal," and is 

 constructed wholly of nickel-plated brass, and any quality of 

 kerosine may be used mthout the slightest danger of an explosion ; 

 the oil also is kept constantly cool by the draught of cold air 

 which is continually circulating around the well. No shade or 

 chimney is required, but for the protection of the eyes while 

 reading a shade such as used on gas can be utilised. Whether the 

 lamp is turned at its full height or very low it will burn without 

 smoke or odonr. In fact, it replaces gas at a low cost. The 

 combustion is created by a fan attached to a clock in the body 

 of the lamp, made of the best steel with hard brass mountings, 

 perfectly noiseless, and wound by turning a rosette on the side to 

 a full stop, when they will run until the oil in the lamp is con- 

 sumed, or about ten hours. The clockwork is made very heavy 

 and open so that anyone can clean it without taking it apart. The 

 light is clear and steady, without the flickering or tremulous 

 shadow of gas ; it is bleached almost white by the constant supply 

 of air, without having any injurious qualities. 



THE NEW PATENT "CAEEAGO" STEEL NOSE-BAND. 



What is claimed to be a perfect cure for restive horses has at 

 last been found. Mr. Richard Winder, of Farningham, Kent, has 

 invented what is called the New Patent " Carrago " Steel Nose- 

 Band, which supersedes the bit, and is said to be greatly superior 

 thereto. It is fixed about two inches below the place where the 

 nose-bone separates from the skull proper, and, as a further check, 

 the " Carrago" should show just above the month. The secret of 

 the power which can be exercised over the horse by the " Carrago " 

 lies in the fact that the nose and cheek-bones are very sensitive to 

 pressure. This pressure is not exerted when the animal is going 

 quietly, and only slightly to guide him. An india-rubber pad 

 inside the curved part protects the nose from chafing. One of the 

 advantages of this appliance is that its use entirely supersedes 

 that of the bit, or a mouthful of bits, and these alone are a great 

 and prolific source of irritation to aU horses. Another advantage 

 claimed by the inventor is that the "Carrago" simply lies upon 

 the nose-bone, and weighs only some eight ounces ; as long as the 

 horse is driven by a light hand, it is practically unfelt, and only 

 becomes severe when the horse needs correction or coercion. The 

 guiding is performed by the thumb and finger only, so sensitive 

 is any horse to the side pressure. It is believed that the use of 

 this invention would prevent many accidents which the ordinary 

 bit and reins are powerless to avert. 



THE PREVENTION OF "BLOCKING" IN PIANOFORTE 

 ACTIONS. 



Nearly every advanced instrumentalist on the piano must at 

 times have suffered extreme annoyance from what is technically 

 known as "blocking" — i.e., the failure of the hammer to return 

 consequent on the repeating action being in some way defective. 

 Musicians who suffer from this cause will be interested to know 

 that Mr. James Semple, of North-park-terrace, Hillhead, Glasgow, 

 claims, by the improvements he has effected in pianoforte actions, 

 to effectually and completely obviate this source of annoyance by 

 securing a perfect repeating action, combined with a complete 

 check action which prevents any vibration or "blocking" of the 

 hammer. 



TOT FOOTBALL. 



Thk inventor of a new game, or even a good modification of an 

 old one, well merits the gratitude of all his fellow-creatures in 

 these high-pressure, overwrought days. What appears likely to 

 prove a highly popular game for long winter evenings has been 

 just invented by Messrs. Pomfret & Fox, of 54, Church-street, 

 Preston. The game in question is an ingenious application of foot- 

 ball for indoor recreation. Football pure and simple is a very 



manly and hardy sport to which many object, but "parlour " foot- 

 ball, as will be seen, is free from fault of any kind, and deserves 

 the widest encouragement by reason of its ingenuity and ever-vary- 

 ing interest. The game is arranged to be played by two persons on a 

 board divided into 20S squares. Each player has 11 toy men, 

 consisting of 5 forwards, 3 half-backs, 2 backs, and a goal-keeper. 

 The mimic men can be moved forwards, backwards, or sideway, 

 either in a square or diagonally, under certain rules ; for instance, 

 the goal-keeper is allowed to move any number and to any square 

 between his goal-posts, and can kick out from one to six squares, 

 but can only retreat one square at a move, except in a "goal-kick," 

 when he must kick 6 squares in any direction, and must return at 

 once to his goal. The ball is pushed or " kicked" from square to 

 square by the toy men according to the rules, and is put in motion 

 at the commencement by the centre forward. The object is to 

 work the ball from the centre and get it between the opposite'goal- 

 posts. There are " corner-kicks," " throws-in," " free kicks," and 

 "goal-kick," but that bone of contention — the off-side rule — is not 

 recognised. The duration of the game is thirty minutes each way, 

 but this time can be shortened or lengthened as convenience 

 demands; when "half-time" is called, no matter where the ball is, 

 ends must be changed, and the "kick-off" again taken from the 

 centre. 



A NEW BLIND-PULLET. 



Pulling down the blind often tries the temper, and is an 

 operation that should be performed by automatic means on touching 

 some simple contrivance for the purpose. Messrs. George Salter & 

 Co., of West Bromwich, have improved a blind-pulley of theirs, 

 which is now practically perfected. This eirrangement is self- 

 acting ; the movement being regulated by a steel spring enclosed 

 in the barrel, which adapts itself to the cord as it lengthens or 

 shortens with the changes of the weather. The strain on the cord 

 and the roller is thus very much reduced, and the risk of a falling 

 blind is almost entirely obviated. In construction, the article is 

 very strong and durable, and it has an elegant appearance, thns 

 rendering it suitable for any class of room. This pulley is also 

 made in iron, and in larger sizes for out-door use, such as for green- 

 house blinds, &c. 



A NEW SHOE-TIE. 



Englishwomen have not been remarkable for care and taste in 

 foot gear, but of late an improvement has been evident in that 

 respect, and ugly shoes and clumsy boots are now disappearing 

 rapidly in favour of more artistic patterns. Following out this 

 phase of fashion, Messrs. G. Hoby & Co., of 4, Great Queen-street, 

 Lincoln's-Inn Fields, have introduced an ingenious French inven- 

 tion for fastening shoe ties. The principle of the invention is a 

 kind of spring clutch, the lower jaw of which is laid under the bow 

 of the tie when the knot is made; the upper jaw then closes upon 

 the bow, and the roughened edges of the clutch keep the lace from 

 slipping or becoming untied. The appearance is highly orna- 

 mental, and its use would entirely remove the ugly look of many 

 ordinary walking-shoes, without becoming in any way an obtrusive 

 ornament. 



A PATENT GREASE-TRAP. 



Every householder who does not entirely ignore the kitchen and 

 its many vital details, knows the troubles and sanitary evils that 

 arise out of the construction of most sinks and their drains. 

 Messrs. J. and M. Craig, of the Hillhead and Perceton Fireclay 

 Works, Hillhead and Long Park Sanitary Pottery, Kilmarnock, are 

 now introducing a new patent grease-trap, which is in use at 

 Balmoral Castle, and when fixed between the waste-pipe from a 

 kitchen sink and the drain, entirely prevents the accumulation of 

 grease in the drain and the consequent chocking of the pipes. This 

 result is obtained by the use of a large central chamber or reservoir, 

 in which the grease collects, and from which it may be removed as 

 often as necessary without trouble. The same firm also manu- 

 facture enamelled sinks, which possess obvious merits of a sanitary 

 character, besides their comfort and convenience. 



IMPROVED FIKE-GRATES. 

 Gkates and stoves have been, and are, the subject of a bewildering 

 list of patents, good, bad, and indifferent. An invention, however, 

 of Mr. John Bate, of Holborn-viaduct, E.G., machinery merchant, 

 seems ingenious, and should certainly conduce to great convenience 

 and economy of fuel. According to this invention, the fire-grate is 

 divided by a grating or grated partition, so arranged as to cut off a 

 hopper, or similar space or receptacle, preferably at the back or 

 sides of the fire ; and into this small coal, dust, cinders, or the 

 like, are placed, whilst the main body of fuel is placed outside such 

 partition or receptacle. This hopper-like space may occupy any 

 portion of the whole, and may be open at bottom in some cases. 

 The grate, moreover, may either be cast with such partition, or it 

 may have guides to receive a loose partition. 



