36 



♦ KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



[Jan. 9, 1885. 



0m- Inbrntors' Column. 



So great is the nuniber o/ iin-entmyis noti; patented that many good 

 things are coinpai ativei y lost in the croud. A succinct accounty 

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

 and utility must he advaiitageous loth to the public and the 

 Inventor, enabling persons to hear of iiiventions already desiderated 

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

 and demand. 



IMPEOVEiIE^"TS IX OPEN FIRE-GRATES. 



The fire-grate, in all its phases, is apparently an inexhaustible 

 field for the ingenuity of inrentors. The main objects of the 

 inyeution named above — that of Mr. Samuel Pickersgill, of the 

 Star Foundry, Eagle-street, Derby — are to facilitate the heating 

 of an apartment, to economise fuel, and to prevent ashes or fire 

 falling through the bars on to the hearth, and, as a general conse- 

 quence, to promote perfect combustion. The bars at the front 

 are so bevelled inwards as to make it impossible for the ashes either 

 to lodge on them or to fall through upon the hearth. The ash^s 

 are thrown forward into the fire, and either consumed or caught 

 in a hidden ashpan, which may be removed without causing dust. 

 The bottom of the fireplace is formed partly of iron bars and 

 partly of firebrick; it is attached to the back, also made of fire- 

 brick, shaped so as to stand into and contract the fire space for 

 four or five inches, and then recedes, and the peculiar shape is 

 such as to cause a large part of the smoke to be consumed. The 

 bottom of the fireplace, instead of being formed partly of grate 

 and partly of firebrick, may be formed wholly of firebrick, -which 

 does not involve alteration of shape. The ashpan may, however, 

 then be dispensed with. 



PALilEIRA TABLE-WATER. 



Tke number of potable waters increases apace, we mean waters 

 wherein Xature is more or less aided by art and hygienic science, 

 and not a little invention has to be expended in fixing on distinc- 

 tive names for each new competitor in the now crowded list of 

 our table-waters. The Brighton and Hove Co-operative Supply 

 Association has just introduced what is known as the Palmeira 

 Table Water, an aerated drink pronounced to be of considerable 

 dietetic value. The water is distilled, and this reminds us that 

 the subject of the importance of using distilled water has lately 

 been emphasised by some of the highest authorities in the scientific 

 world. There is no solvent, after ail, like water, hence most waters 

 include a vast quantity of suspended solid matter frequently most 

 injurions to the drinker. Distilled water is not only entirely clear 

 of anything of the kind, being emphatically the very " softest of 

 soft water," but it has extraordinary power itself as an active 

 solvent, and helps to carry off out of the system of those who 

 nse it very much deleterious matter. This alone should greatly 

 help to popularise Palmeira Water. 



GAS-STOVES AND ASBESTOS FIRES. 



Ix few lines of inventions, perhaps, has such marked progress 

 been achieved as in gas-stoves and asbestos fires. Ainong the new 

 designs put forth for ISSl-a by Jlessrs. Jolm Wright i Co., of the 

 Essex Works, Broad-street, Birmingham, is the Kirl Ventilating 

 Gas-Stove, which has the advantage of an open fire. Among the 

 special advantages claimed are : — 1. Perfect freedom from smell. 

 2. Perfect ventilation secured by the introduction of pure external 

 air into the apartment to be warmed. 3. The greatest heating 

 power from a given quantity of gas. 4. Durability, economy, 

 elegance of design. Another speciality of this firm is their Asbestos 

 Incandescent Fire. This form of gas-stove is made on the most 

 approved principle, and forms one solid sheet of flame, which plays 

 over a back of fire-clay covered with the finest fibre asbestos. This 

 asbestos is put on after the fire-clay has been bnmed, and thus its 

 nature is not destroyed, as is the case with many stoves, and the 

 incandescent effect obtained is far more brilliant. The asbestos is 

 protected by an ornamental grille. Every stove is provided with a 

 flue. These stoves are constructed on the interchangeable prin- 

 ciple, so that any part may be replaced at any time. This also 

 applies to the asbestos fibre, which can be attached by any one. 



"GRIP" BOOT.S AND SHOES FOE ICE. 



Now that we may soon look, for a time at least, to ill-clad paths 

 and roadways, a special interest attaches to an invention recently 

 patented by Mr. John Lilley, of Wade Lock, Uppermill, Saddle- 

 worth, Yorkshire, designed to prevent boots or shoes from slipping 

 even on ice. The invention consists of a nail with a spear or 

 Bpade-shaped head which is fixed by a peculiar system of nsiug a 



metallic tube so as to prevent injury to the head when driven in 

 by a hammer. 



These nails, which are intended to prevent people slipping when 

 walking on frozen roads, may be fixed to boots or shoes such as 

 ordinarily worn, or can be fixed to boots or shoes that may be worn 

 in addition to the ordinary boots or shoes. In the latter case the 

 use of such nails may conveniently be dispensed with when not 

 required on any part or portion of road or when entering a build- 

 ing. The nails have a spike at one end, and at the other a spear 

 shaped end or head. In the centre or midway between the two 

 ends of the nail a solid ring or collar of metal is formed, on which, 

 when the nail is driven into the sole of the shoe or boot, the sole 

 rests on one side, and the bottom part of the head rests on the 

 other side, the spike end of the nail being driven either into the 

 sole or heel portion or both of the boot or shoe as many nails being 

 used as may be found convenient. The holes in the sole, or 

 underneath part of the shoe, are made by means of an awl or other 

 suitable tool, and in these holes one end of the nails is fixed. 

 A metal tube is then placed on the upper part of" the ring, by 

 which means they can be driven into their place by a hammer 

 without injury to the end or head which rests on the ground. 



POLISH STAINS FOR WOOD. 



A wooD-STAiNixG Substance requiring no preparation, no varnish- 

 ing, &c., has long been a desideratum to many. The Torbay Paint 

 Company, of Brixham, Devon, whose London offices are at 27, Billiter- 

 street, E.G., have recently introduced a novel and singular kind 

 of wood-staining, which, while wearing very well, does not 

 entail, it is said, any preliminary process. Assuming that the 

 flooring is dry and clean, one coat of the stain, without any 

 sizing, effects the object ; and the stain appears not only to in- 

 corporate itself with the wood and dry quickly, but leaves a beau- 

 tiful glossy appearance, bringing up the grain of the wood without 

 concealing it, and producing a better imitation than msny copies 

 of real wood by graining. The stains are supplied in light and 

 dark oak colours, mahogany, &c. In view of the increasing use of 

 square carpets, this new polish should be, we think, very popular. 



A TRAVELLER'S READING LAMP. 



Railw.w carriages and public vehicles generally are very ill- 

 lighted, and many persons, we think, will appreciate an invention 

 recently placed on the market by Mr. Alfred Parkes, of Wolver- 

 hampton, known as the " Solar Reading Candle Lamp," and having 

 for its special feature a grip vice, whereby it is held on to the 

 cushion of a seat or other support. The grip has a force of twelve 

 pounds, rendering the hold absolutely secure, though at the same 

 time there is sufficient " give " to prevent flickering of the light 

 from the vibration in travelling. The stand is telescopic, enabling 

 the light to be adjusted to any required height, and when not in 

 use the whole packs up in a box 3 in. wide by li in. deep, and is thus 

 particularly portable. Beyond the applications of the lamp referred 

 to above, it will prove extremely useful in a librai-y, invalid's room, 

 &c., and it should be added that its general appearance is elegant 

 and even artistic. 



VENTILATION. 



Of improvements in ventilation there seems to be literally no 

 end. In this direction a rather notable advance has been made, 

 however, by an invention of Mr. George W. Webb, of 1, Blagrave- 

 street, Reading, which is designed to utilise the heated gases from 

 gas during combustion, for carrying away the combusted products 

 of the gas, and thoroughly ventilating billiard and other rooms 

 where much gas is used. Funnels are used, which are specially 

 placed above a shade for receiving into iron pipes all vitiated air, 

 tobacco-smoke, &c. The heat from gas warms the funnels, and 

 causes them to suck the foul air from all parts of the room towards 

 them. It is then conveyed into a foul-air chamber, and drawn off 

 by means of one of the exhaust ventilators. These extracting 

 ventilators, which are self-acting, are exceedingly powerful, and 

 are, of course, fixed in the roof. Each ventilator comprises five 

 chambers arranged over the uptake shaft, so that the various parts 

 are so beautifuliy balanced that the softest breeze acting on them 

 from any part produces a partial vacuum, and draws the foul air, 

 &.C., after it. They have no mechanical movements, cannot get out 

 of order, require no attention, and are continually working during 

 all atmospheric changes of the weather. This system seems par- 

 ticularly well snited for public buildings of all kinds, for ware- 

 houses, shops, &c. 



Ax E.iELY ArsTRiLi.iX LocoMOTiTX. — The first passenger loco- 

 motive landed in Australia is now deposited in the Technological 

 Museum, at the Sydney Domain. It reached Sydney Jan. 13, 1855, 

 and during its career ran 3S3,G3G miles. It was made by Messrs. 

 R. Stephenson & Co., Newcastle-on-Tyne. 



