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KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



[Nov. 21, 1884. 



(Bnr hxbtntov^* Column. 



So great is the number of inverttinns now patented that many good 

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

 therefore, hy an Expert, of all iiiventions 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 siipply 

 and demand. 



AN IMPROVED PAINT-POT. 



Paint-pots do not concern everybody, but the number of amateur 

 painters constantly increases, especially, as the " British workman " 

 grows more and more impracticable and independent. Those who do 

 use paint-pots at home should have them as perfect as possible, and 

 such may be interested to know that Messrs. Charles Winn & Co., of 

 Birmingham, and 41, Holborn-viaduct, E.G., are now making an 

 improved paint-pot, in which the [improvement consists of a corru- 

 gated ring just below the edge of the pot, which gives the neces- 

 sary strength without having to stiffen the vessel with a wire round 

 the rim. In the new pot the rim is continued after the corrugation 

 for a little distance, and then turned over flat, so as to leave a 

 sharp edge against which the brush can be scraped dry. The old 

 plan of the rounded wire did not wipe it dry, and tended also to 

 allow the paint to run down the outside. This pot is made without 

 solder, so that the old paint can be burnt out without spoiling the 

 joints. 



A .SAFETY CAP FOR DRAUGHTSMEN'S INK-BOTTLES. 



Technical education alone is adding enormously to the number of 

 our draughtsmen of all kinds, and for such habitually using Indian ink 

 or different washes of water-colour in bottles there is constant annoy- 

 ance occasioned by the accidentally upsetting of these bottles while 

 the cork is out, frequently spoiling their drawings and also losing 

 the ink or wash. It is difficult, too, to use up such inks or washes 

 when they get low in the bottle. If the bottle is at all narrow, 

 when tipping it and inserting the brush or pen to get at the fluid, 

 the brush gets stained higher up than necessary, and marks the 

 fingers, so that it is diSicult to keep a dramng clean and neat. 

 In view of this, Mr. P. Feon Almquist, of 100, Finborough-road, 

 South Kensington, has invented a contrivance, consisting of a 

 small cap of indiarubbcr, to do away with all this trouble. The 

 bigger end of the cap fits over the neck of the bottle. The cork 

 should first be bored with a small hole in the centre, enough to take 

 a glass tube, which is placed through the cork well down into the 

 bottle, leaving above a sort of cnp or receiver, to which the smaller 

 end of the indiarubber cap is fitted. The cork should have a 

 small slot previously cut in the side, so that when in the bottle 

 it forms a small air tube. In one side of the indiarubber cap, 

 is a small hole to allow egress to the air. When fitted upon the 

 bottle, it is only necessary to press the cap with the thumb so as to 

 cover the air-hole, and the finger on the other side with a pinching 

 action, so as to compress the air inside the bottle. This drives the 

 fluid up the little glass tube into the receiver at the top, from which 

 a supply is easily taken by brush or pen. The moment the pres- 

 sure upon the cap is released the air escapes, and the fluid retires 

 from the tube. As long as the cap remains on, the bottle may be 

 thrown about or knocked down with impunity. 



A PATENT MARMALADE MACHINE. 

 Although preserving is mainly a factory business, there are 

 still many persons who prefer to make their own preserves, and 

 especially their own marmalade ; and in view of this contingency, 

 Messrs. Follows & Bate (Limited), of Manchester, have invented 

 an orange-cutter designed to prepare oranges for marmalade. The 

 fruit is placed in the hopper at the back of the machine, and by 

 simply working a handle backward and forward the oranges are 

 neatly sliced. This appliance is specifically for kitchen use, since 

 in factories pulping-machines and peel-cutters are required on a 

 large scale. The machine in question is strong and very simple, 

 and its cost is, we believe, exceedingly moderate. 



THE PATENT SMOKE-PREVENTOR. 



Few domestic nuisances are worse than smoky chimneys, and 

 yet how various are the so-called specific cures for this often in- 

 tolerable evil. At the recent International Health Exhibition there 

 were many examples of inventions designed to prevent chimneys 

 from smoking, and most decidedly among these was an ingenious 

 contrivance for entirely preventing smoke, and enabling coke, 

 bituminous coal, and even anthracite to be burned. This contrivance 

 s known as the " Patent Smoke-Preventor," and is applicable 



to any existing grate. It is the property of the " Patent 

 Smoke-Preventor" Association, having offices at 16, Duke- 

 street, Grosvenor-street, W. The invention consists first of 

 an inner and loose fire-basket, a hood reaching entirely to the top 

 of the fire and excluding all cold air from the chimney, and a 

 swinging diaphragm within the hood. Now, the construction is 

 such that the loose fire-basket allows a channel for the passage of 

 air under and at the back of the fire, and it thus becomes highly 

 heated and creates a strong draught. The hot air and the in- 

 creased draught ensures nearly perfect combustion of the fuel, and 

 very little smoke is formed. The smoke and products of combus- 

 tion from the fire pass through and over the back of the loose 

 fire-basket and within the hood, and, mixing with the hot air whilst 

 at a high temperature, are eflectually oxidised. When the dia- 

 phragm is pressed forward — as regulated bj' the top nob of the hood 

 — the draught is increased, and the whole of the smoke and pro- 

 ducts of combustion are flrawn directly into the current of hot 

 air, and the diaphragm having gills at the back, these form 

 mixing chambers, and by compression the smoke is more com- 

 pletely destroyed. The door in the hood may be closed and opened, 

 and the rate of combustion is thereby regulated. It is claimed to 

 be a perfect cure for smoky chimneys, and any fuel can be burnt. 

 As there cannot be a down draught from the chimney, neither 

 chimney-pots nor cowls are needed. The main advantages of this 

 invention are cheapness, simplicity, thorough ventilation, a fine 

 blazing fire well forward in the grate, a maximum of heat from a 

 minimum of fuel, and, finally, perfect radiation. Another good 

 point claimed is that, with this arrangement, any kind of rubbish 

 and refuse can be burned without the least unpleasantness. 



A NEW OCTAGONAL "SYPHON." 



Stphon-bottles for aerated waters are now the order of the day, 

 and are in such increasing demand among all sections of the public 

 that any real improvement therein is of very far-reaching im- 

 portance. The invention known as the new Octagonal Syphon 

 (Vidie's patent), manufactured by Messrs. James Videl <t Son, of 

 the Pantin Glass Works, Paris, is externally like the usual syphon- 

 bottle, but the interior of the glaBS vase is blown into an octagonal 

 form by a new process. The result is a brilliant and sparkling ap- 

 pearance, while the strength is so increased that these new bottles 

 can bear double the pressure of the ordinary, and are therefore 

 twice as safe. The only agent for the United Kingdom and the 

 colonies is Mr. C. Melin, 37, Crntched Friars, Mark-lane, E.C. 



THE BALL FILTER. 

 Filters are now very properly regarded as indispensable to the 

 proper furnishing and equipment of any well-regulated household, 

 indeed, filters are now found in very modest homes, and, pro- 

 bably in time will be common to all. Meanwhile, to many, the 

 question is chiefly, what filter is best ? Well, that is not a question 

 to be answered here ; but it will interest many to hear of an 

 ingenious invention, the 'production of the Revolving Ball Filter 

 Company, of G7, St. James' s-street, London, S.W., which is cer- 

 tainly worthy of full consideration. This filter may be briefly 

 described as consisting of a spherical metal case, containing a hollow 

 metal ball, filled with animal charcoal or other filtering medium, 

 through which all water designed to be filtered must pass, such 

 passage being secured by a washer, which forms a tight joint 

 around the ball ; all organic or other matter in suspense being 

 arrested and held within the filter. A specialty of the filter is 

 the simple method of cleansing, which is done by reversing the 

 ball within the case without removal from the tap, the first passage 

 of water thereafter cleansing the filter of all impurities. There is 

 also a straight passage for water not requiring filtration. Water, 

 after being compelled under pressure to pass into the filter, is again 

 compelled to spread through the filtering material. 



SOMETHING NEW IN PERAMBULATORS. 

 Children are decidedly fortunate in the present age, when 80 

 much inventive ingenuity is concentrated on their various needs. 

 Mr. W. H. Dunkley, of Dean-street, Birmingham, has, we believe, 

 for over six years past devoted his thoughts to the improvement of 

 the perambulator, and his latest invention in this line is quaintly 

 known as the " Eclipse " perambucot, the body of which, of 

 papier-mach^, presents an elegant appearance. It is handsomely 

 upholstered, either in silk, satins, velvet, or carriage cloth, and 

 fitted with Dunkley's patent reversible handle. The perambucot 

 has been, we are told, the most successful child's vehicle ever 

 manufactured, Mr. Dunkley having sold 5,000. The bicycle-wheel, 

 with india-rubber tires, is now universally adopted by the manu- 

 facturer ; this, together with a recently patented spring, being 

 entirely free from vibrations, and also noiseless, is most conducive 

 to the comfort of the child. Mr. Dunkley has just opened show- 

 rooms at 76, Houndsditch, London. 



