558 



Popular Science Monthly 



Miss Dayton's studio contains countless thousands of 

 plastic clay figures. At the right of the sculptress is a 

 replica of the old Windsor Hotel depicting the fire 



as if they were real. The effect is startingly 

 realistic and highly amusing. In one of the 

 films only recently completed there are no 

 less than nine figures, all of them moving 

 about as if they were flesh and blood. The 

 rather jerky action serves only to enhance 

 the amusing result. 



To appreciate the amount of labor re- 

 quired in making these new films it must be 

 remembered that each time one of the 

 sculptured figures moves a new pose must 

 be made. This means, in other words, that 

 the camera must stop until the sculptor 

 goes over each plastic figure and molds it 

 into the correct position before he can 

 photograph it. There are sixteen different 

 poses to a foot of film. Hence for the 

 ordinary reel of one thousand feet there are 

 sixteen thousand separate poses for each 

 figure. Imagine the work required when 

 three or more figures have to be made for 

 each scene! 



Helena Smith Dayton, of New York 

 city, is the original sculptress with the 

 keen sense of humor and the skilful fingers 

 who makes the figures. 



The invention consists of three 

 jointed arms which tend to fold 

 together in a straight line because 

 of the action of two sets of 

 oppositely-wound coil springs 

 placed at the end of one arm and 

 at the joint of the other two. The 

 first set of springs is inclosed in a 

 casing pivoted to a clamp around 

 the stationary steering column, 

 while the free end of the other 

 two arms is rigidly attached to 

 the rim of. the steering wheel. 

 As the wheel is turned from its 

 straight-ahead position, the three 

 arms open out against the action 

 of the coil springs, like lazy tongs. 

 Since the springs are oppositely 

 wound, one spring in each set is 

 wound more tightly than the 

 other in the turned position. The 

 two springs wound to the greatest 

 will cause the arms to swing 

 them the wheel as soon as 



degree 



back and with 



the hand pressure is removed 



Bringing the Steering Wheel Back to 

 Position Automatically 



A STABILIZER has been patented by 

 means of which the steering wheel of 

 an automobile can be automatically brought 

 back to its normal position after having 

 been turned. The result is that the steering 

 gear directs the vehicle in a straight line 

 even though the wheel is not gripped. 



COILED SPRINGS 



As the wheel is turned from its straight-ahead 

 position the three arms open like lazy tongs 



