March 6, 1865.] 



* KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



205 



(fur InbrntoiG' Column. 



We give here, tceeli iy wceV, a terse description of such of the viany 

 inventions as ire think may ^c of use to our readers. Where it is 

 j>ossible, the number of the patent is quoted, to enable those who 

 desire fuller infonnation to procure the specification from the 

 Patent Office in Cursitor-street, Chancery-lane. We shall, gene- 

 rally speaking, confine oursehes to the more recent inventions; but 

 it often happens that an article comes under our notice which, 

 although not quite novel, is worthy of mention for its utility and 

 ingenuity, hi such a case we should not hesitate to refer our 

 readers to it. And while we thus increase the interest of our pages, 

 we at the same time assist the inventors by giving greater publicity 

 to their inventions (Knowledge being a popular magazine) than 

 is accorded by the most ercellent trade juurnals 



TQE AMMONIAPHONE. 



[Patents Xos. 1,1C3 and 10,500. 1SS4.]— The accompanying 

 diagrams illustrate one of the most remarkable inventions of the 

 ajre. It is the outcome of twenty-nine years of hard labour in pur- 

 suit of a definite object. Dr. Carter Moffat says that ivhen but a 

 boy he was sirnck with the rather curious idea that the beauty of 

 Italian vocal tone was due to something in the air of Italy, and 

 that Italy as a resort for invalids was due to the same cause. Ho 

 began at that early age to make chemical experiments, to prepare 

 endless varieties of gases, solid substances, and fluid bodies — to 

 inhale and to partake of these materials in the hope that his voice 

 might become benefited, and made strong and musical. It was 

 his passion to improve the singing and the speaking voice, and he 

 still felt that the bcanty and mellowness of the Italian tone 

 was to be attributed to its atmospheric peculiarities. For more 

 than sis years he attended the post-mortem rooms of the Glasgow 

 Koyal Infirmary ,'and made over thirty-five analyses of the miliary 

 tubercles in the lungs of persons who had died from consumption. 



A little over ten years ago. Dr. Carter Moffat had occasion to visit 

 Southern Italy, and he relates that no sooner had he reached the 

 shores of the Adriatic, than he perceived the peculiar tint of the 

 vegetation to be quite different from what it is in our own country. 

 His chemical knowledge at once informed him that the yellow- 

 green tint of the grass, the vine, the olive, the cabbage even, was 

 due to a bleaching action — to something in the air — whence he 

 proceeded to analyse the air and dew of the neighbourhood. He 

 says: "Reverentially did I kneel and withdraw that sparkling 

 globule into a glass tube, and with anxious mind I applied a few 

 delicate chemical tests. Roaming from plain to plain and valley to 

 valley, I made over sev3nt3'-three analyses of the air and dew. I went 

 to the valley in which the celebrated sympathetic tenor Guiglini 

 was said to have been brought np, and in that peaceful spot I 

 found the atmosphere almost saturated with peroxide of hydrogen 

 and free ammonia. I r.otcd the maximum proportion of hydrogen 

 peroxide to be present in the air about from eleven to two in day- 

 time, dwindling down to a mere trace at dusk, and developing 

 with the sunlight. The free ammonia appeared to be present in 

 always about the same amount, no matter what hour of the day.** 

 These and subsequent experiments proving successful, he devoted 

 himself to the perfection of the ammoniaphone, a task which 

 engrossed his attention for nine years. The instrument which 

 forms the subject of the later patent (taken out by Mr. C. B. 

 Harness) consists of a metallic tube, containing a piece of rope 

 saturated with ammonia, peroxide of hydrogen, and a few flavouring 

 compounds, and provided with a mouthpiece midway between its 



the end of the piece E, and thus close the orifice or passage, thereby 

 preventing the admis.sion of air to the tube. .V small aperture I 

 is formed in each of the handles 1) for tho admission of air to tho 

 tube A when the vah'O is opened. Tho moutiipiece B has a per- 

 forated screw-cap. The person desiring to use the apparatus grasps 

 tho handles D, and applies his mouth to the mouthpiece B, then, 

 by pressing push-pieces F", he opens tho orifices for tho admission 

 of air to the tube A ; he can then conveniently inhale tho vapour 

 of tho substance contained in tho tube. Tho instruments are made 

 of various strongtha, tho strongest lasting for twi'lvo luoutlis, when 

 the saturated rope rutiuires to bo renewed. Weaker forms are moro 

 generally employeil, which, when called into use four times a day, 

 last for about two and a half months. Wo cannot but bear testi- 

 mony to the remarkable qualities possessed by tho instrument. 

 Prior to determining to notice it, we examined it. One drauglit of 

 air was inhaled, when, to our great astonishment, the intensity of 

 tho voice was about doublod, while its clearness was iilmost as 

 greatly increased. Tho Ammoniaphone is gaining many patrtms, 

 and it deserves them, for wo are convinced that it is no ex.aggera- 

 tion to say that '* tho emjtioymont of the Aninioniaphone according 

 to directions Italianises tho voice, and makes a weak voice, or a 

 drawing-room voice, strong, rich, clear, and ringing." 



rAPER-STRETCHEK. 



[Patent No. C,'t07. 188-t.] — The object of this invention, iiatented 

 by Mr. C. Atkinson, is to stretch drawing-paper or other similar 

 material without resorting to the usual process of first damping the 

 paper, the paper being at once tightened and lielil firmly in its 

 place by mechanical me.ans, no drawing-pins, glue, or other adhesive 

 material being required. The invention consists of a frame A in 

 combination with tho drawing-board B, which can be removed from 

 the frame when required. C and C are pieces of wood fastened 



ends. A ferrule or ring, having an internal screw-thread, is sol- 

 dered, or otherwise fixed, in each end of the tube A. D D are 

 handles, each provided with an externally screw-threaded piece E, 

 which fits into one of the rings or ferrules C, so that the handles 

 may be screwed or unscrewed at will. Through each of the handles 

 is passed a rod F', one end of which extends through the piece E, 

 and carries a plate or disc F, provided on its inner face with a 

 washer of leather, india-rubber, or other suitable material, so as to 

 form a valve capable of closing the orifice or passage in the piece 

 E. A spiral spring H is placed upon each of the rods F, so that it 

 bears at one end upon tho end of a recess or cavity in the handle, 

 and at the other end upon a cap or push-piece F^ fixed on the outer 

 end of the rod. This spring tends to press the washer G against 



Plaw (Back) 



together at right angles, and slide upon the back of the board, and 

 are actuated by a spiral screw fixed at the centre. The edges of 

 the pieces C fit into the grooves in the frame. The handle D is for 

 turning the screw. In using the improved drawing-board the 

 board B is first removed from the frame A. The sheet of paper to 

 be stretched is then laid over the frame A, the board B being pressed 

 upon the surface of the paper until the edges of the pieces C are 

 opposite the grooves in the frame. The screw is then turned, 

 which action has the effect of forcing the edges of the paper 

 into the grooves in such a manner as to effectually tighten and 

 sU-etch the paper, and hold it firmly in its place. 



STEAM WASHER, 



[Patent, No. 2,595. 1881.]— The principal novelty of this improved 

 Steam Washer (patented by Mr. John iluwarth, of Burnley), over 

 others, consists in tho employment of a number of pegs or projec- 

 tions, which constantly change and present fresh surfaces of clothes 

 to the combined action of the boiling water and steam, and also 

 in an arrangement of buckets or troughs which raises and con- 

 stantly throws boiling water upon the clothes, thereby helping in 

 the removal of particles of dirt. It is claimed that the most deli- 

 cate fabrics may be washed in this Washer with perfect Siifety, and 

 that the clothes being constantly shifted, the steam thoroughly 

 penetrates them, and whilst removing dirt, also destroys disease 

 germs. The water is kept boiling and steam generated in the 

 cylinder of the Washer by means of a gas-burner. 



