Mat 1, 1865.] 



♦ KNOWLEDGE • 



381 



0nv Inbrntors' (Column. 



IV« give here, \ceek by u-eeV, a terse description of such of the many 

 inventions as ire think tnay be of use to our readers. ]Vhere it is 

 fwssible, the number of the patent is quoted, to enable those ic/io 

 desire fuller information to procure the specification from the 

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

 rally speaking, eonjine ourselves to the more recent inventions; but 

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

 although not quite novel, is Korthy of mei>tion for its utility and 

 ingenuity. In stich a case we should not hesitate to refer our 

 readers to it. And ichile ire thus increase the iriterest 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 excellent trade journals 



A NEW TYPE-WRITER. 



A NOTEi, Type-writer has just been privately exhibited which 

 possesses some important advantages over any contri%ance8 of 

 the kind previously introduced. The letters and numbers .am 

 arranged in the form of a dial about four inches diameter. Tho 

 action consists in bringing a, point worked by a handle over a 

 hole in the edge of the dial and then depressing it. Tho cha- 

 racter required is then printed on the paper. Tho types are 

 arranged radially inside a small cylinder under the dial. The 

 handle, which works on a pivot eccentric to the dial, presses 

 down a stud in the centre of the dial. Tho lower end of this 

 stnd pushes back a spring, the recoil of which causes the type 

 to stamp its character on the paper. The characters are all 

 stamped with great regularity because the impression is not pro- 

 duced by the direct action of the handle (which, without great 

 practice, would necessarily vary), but by the recoil of a spring which 

 is always sent back to the fullest extent. The action of a spring 

 nnder such circumstances must be uniform, hence the evenness of 

 the impressions. 



Placing carbonic copying-paper under the writing-paper will 

 enable the operator to get from three to six copies of the tyjie- 

 writing. By using a spring capable of striking the type with a 

 little greater force twelve or more copies may be easily obtained. 

 I have seen twenty perfect copies produced successfully in this 

 manner. From the facility with which a number of copies niay be 

 obtained the Dial Type-Writer will be very valuable for press 

 purposes. 



Tho new apparatus has many advantages over the Remington 

 Type-Writer ; it is about one-quarter the size, and should, I 

 think, bo made and sold for one-quarter the price. It gives both 

 capitals and small letters without increasing the complexity of the 

 apparatus. The inking arrangement is the best and simplest yet 

 introduced. The machine will print for many days with once ink- 

 ing the small rollers, and it is only the work of a minute to re- 

 charge them with ink ; yet the inventor has a simple plan by 

 which he intends to make them self-inking for weeks or months 

 together. 



The adoption of type-writers in place of writing would be of 

 incalculable benefit. All correspondence and MSS. generally 

 would be much more portable and legible. There would be an end 

 of writer's cramp, and the eyesight both of writers and readers 

 would be saved. Writing in a railway train, now a most difficult 

 task, may be accomplished with this machine with perfect 

 facility. 



The machine is not yet for sale. The inventor wishes to dis- 

 pose of the invention to some one who will make it in large 

 numbers, so that it can be brought into the market well made and 

 at a low price. 



The present machines have been constructed under the super- 

 intendence of Messrs. Lineff & Jones, of 9, Buckingham-street, 

 W.C., for the inventor, Mr. Peacock, of 47, Fleet-street, E.G., who 

 will exhibit them by appointment. — Communicated by J. Browning, 

 F.R.A.S. 



SLATE CLEANER. 



[Patent 8,735. 1881.] — This article, introduced by Mr. Vickersi 

 of Market-street, Leeds, consists of a small tin box, containing a 

 piece of good felted cloth, which is wetted, and then used to clean 

 the slate. It is made to retain sufficient moisture to last three or 

 four days, and is claimed to be cleaned by simply soaking in cold 

 water. A lid is provided to prevent the water evaporating or 

 damping the clothes. The box measures about IJ in. by li in., 

 and is about i in. deep. The adoption of an article of this kind is 

 certainly preferable to the ordinary and comparatively dirty 

 methods generally in vogue amongst school children. A moditi- 

 oatioa of the cleaner is made for usa with blackboards. 



SWING TRIVET AND CLIP. 



[Patents Nos. 2,432 and 8,401. 1884.]— Mr. White, of 45, 

 Coleridge - street, Kensington, Liver- 

 pool, has devised this simple and 

 efficient piece of domestic apparatus. 

 It consists of a bent strip of iron, 

 whieli rests on tho top bar of the 

 prate, and passes down on tho inside of 

 tho subjacent bars. Another piece of 

 metal embraces the latter bars on tho 

 outside, the two strips being firmly 

 fixed by means of a bolt kept in placo 

 by a screw nut. The trivet consists 

 of a skeleton iron plate attached to an 

 iron rod passing through an extension 

 of tho upper portion of the clip, and 

 resting upon a similar extension at the 

 lower end. The trivet is free to move 

 horizontally, and, of course, allows the 



kettle or other utensil to be placed over the fire without resting 



on it, and so drawing it. 



SPRING LETTER-CASE. 



[Patent No. 9,053. 1884], — This article, introduced by Messrs. 

 F. Brampton & Co., of Oliver-street, Hirmingham, is very simplo 

 in construction. It consists of a pair of well-covered boards con- 



nected by a back, composed of a broad bent spring. Letters or 

 papers are placed on the lower cover, and are held securely 

 by the pressure of the spring-back. Tho upper cover moves froely 



