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♦ KNOWLEDGE • 



[March 20, 1885. 



(JPur Inbcntorsj' Column. 



We give here, iceelc ly wcel:, a terse description of such of the many 

 inventions as ice think may he of use to oxer readers. Where it is 

 possible, the number of the patent is quoted, to enable those xcho 

 desire fuller information to procure the specification from the 

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

 rally speaking, confine ourselves to the more recent ijiveiitioyis ; hut 

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

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

 ingenuity. In such a case we should not hesitate to refer otir 

 readers to it. And while ive 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) t/ian 

 is accorded by the most excellent trade journals 



when the knives are brouglit dirty from the table, they may be 

 mmediately cleaned. It ia claimed that a child can clean one 

 dozen large or Buiall knives in three or four minutes. The 

 machine is likely to prove useful for picnic parties, as it takes 

 up but little room and is always ready for use. 



THE OPTIME LIGHTING SYSTEM. 



[Patent No. 11,000. 188-t.]— This invention, patented by Mr. J. U. 

 Ross, of Dublin, has for its object the producing more perfect 

 combustion in the burning of mineral or other oils, and of making 

 them more applicable and more easily adapted as a means of either 

 public or private lighting. Eock oil, for which this system has 

 been principally adapted, is the cheapest oil that can be used for 

 illuminating purposes. It is practically non-explo.sive, and free from 

 sulphurous or ammoniacal impurities. The absolute freedom from 

 danger of explosion, as well as the cheapness of the light produced 



COMBINATION TOOL FOR GASITTTEIiS 



[Patent No. 2,123, 1884].— Mr. Plumpton has patente-I a com- 

 bination tool useful as pliers and for a variety of other purpoEos. 

 The central tool pictured in Fig. 1 is a pair of ordinary gas-pliers 

 with the handles widened out to receive a solid screwing die as 

 near the joint as possible. Square lugs on the die fit into corre- 

 sponding holes in the handles, which again may be utilised 

 upon the removal of the die for turning an ordinary tap 

 9r rymer. In the form shown in Fig. 2 the screwing-dies 

 are carried upon V projections formed in the handles, 

 and are pressed together by a screw in a cross-bar. The 

 success which has attended the introduction of these pliers 

 has induced the inventor to give still further attention to improving 

 this class of tool, .so as to render it .more useful. The " outfit " 

 now comprises screwiug-stocks, dies, taps, rymer, tap-wrench, 

 wire-cutter, gas and burner pliers, tube-cutter, and adjustable 

 shaver, turnscrew, widoner, centre-])unch, Arc, all in one article, 

 the whole being fitted in a neat strong box suitable for being 

 carried in the side-pocket. 



KNIFE CLEANER. 



[Patent No. 5,185. 1884.] — This is a simple piece of domestic 

 apparatus patented by Mr. G. Pickett, of Cheapside, Grove-road, 

 Eastbourne. It is called the Electric Knife Machine. The frame is 



made of iron, bronzed, with two 

 polished turned blocks of wood 

 covered with durable felt, the 

 bottom block working on apivot fo 

 aa to adjust itself to any thickness 

 of blade ; prepared electric powder 

 is [)laced on each pad. These pads 

 arc shut down, and the knife 

 placed between them as shown. 

 The left hand presses on the knob, 

 while, with the right hand the 

 knife is pushed forward and back- 

 ward, a first-class polish being 

 quickly produced. The bottom of 

 the machine is so made that it cannot slip upon the table or 

 dresser, and may, therefore, be kept close to the kiiife-box, so that. 



from it, renders it more suitable as a means of lighting than oil gas? 

 which is produced by mixing the atmospheric air with the vapour 

 of gasoline. Gasoline is explosive at 00° Fahr., the danger incurred 

 in transit rendering it unobtainable, except in the largest towns, 

 while rock oil can be obtained in the smallest village. The 

 Optime system consists in forcing a current of atmospheric air 

 through ordinary gas-pipes and fittings to any number of lights, 

 according to the size of machine used. This air-current, by im- 

 pinging on the flame as it passes through the burner, produces 

 a pure, white, soft light, free from smoke, heat, or smell, nor 

 doeji it flicker like a gas-Hame. In a sanitary point of 

 view this system is claimed to be the most perfect, the air- 

 current being conducted to the lights from outside the apartment, 

 or building, and therefore not consuming the air in the apartment, 

 as is the case with all other systems (Incandescent Electric-light 

 excepted). It is estimated that the cost of lighting on this system 

 ia about half that involved when gaa, at the rate of 3s. Od. per 

 1,000 cubic feet, is consumed. 



In the United States, 18,799 patents were granted in 1884, of 

 which 1,106 were for electric inventitms. 



The central electric-lighting station of Colchester made a loss of 

 £1,818 last year. 



The SiMPLON. — It is proposed to carry a railway through the 

 Simplon. The Paris, Lyons, and Mediterranean Railway Company 

 will contribute £1,600,000 to the project. Italy will complete the 

 approaches. 



A Times telegram states that the national revenue of the United 

 States for the eight months ending in February, shows a decline of 

 13,000,000 dols. in customs, and one of 5,000,000 dols. in inland 

 revenue, while the expenditure has increased by more than 

 3,000,000 dols. 



A iiRioGE, carrying the Northern Pacific across the St. Louis 

 Bay, between Daluth and Superior, will, when completed, be one 

 of the largest railroad bridges in the North-west of America. It 

 will be nearly one mile in length, and will be composed of three 

 sections. The draw will be 240 ft. long, the fixed truss span 

 160 ft., and the pile-bridging 4,290 ft., making the total length 

 4,690 ft. 



