302 



Popular Science Monthly 



An Old Steam-Boiler Used As a 

 Coal-Bin 



THE owner of a discarded fire- tube 

 boiler made use of it in a very unique 

 manner as 

 is shown in the 

 illustration. 

 The tubes were 

 removed and 

 the boiler set up 

 with the ash- 

 door opening at 

 the bottom. 

 The fire-door 

 was filled in 

 with wood, and 

 a box was ar- 

 ranged at the 

 ash-door to re- 

 ceive the coal as 

 it falls to the 

 bottom. The 

 coal is put in at 

 the top and set- 

 tles down grad- 

 ually as it is 

 removed from time to time from the box 

 at the base. — Hamilton A. Hooper. 



The boiler set on end to 

 be employed as a coal-bin 



How to Protect Mounted Curiosities 

 from Dust 



MOTHS, butterflies, lichens, moss, 

 leaves, etc., can be effectively pro- 

 tected from dust by a case of simple con- 

 struction. Select two sheets of glass of the 

 same size, and fasten the specimens to one 

 sheet by a touch of glue. Then glue a 

 strip of wood around the edge of the glass 

 on the same side as the specimens. Next 

 glue the other sheet of glass to the wooden 

 strip and bind the wood with passe partout 

 paper. Specimens will keep for years in 

 excellent condition in such a case. To hang 

 it, glue a piece of linen to the glass. A 

 mirror hung in the back of the frame will 

 reflect the specimens and add a touch of 

 beauty to it. 



Crumb Tray Quickly Made 

 from a Candy Box 



AN inexpensive crumb tray for emer- 

 jl\. gency use may be made from a candy 

 box. Take the top part of the box and 

 break off one of the sides. Then the side 

 may be used for the crumb scraper and the 

 remainder of the box for the crumb tray. 



Chemically Hardening and Dust- 

 Proofing Cement Floors 



A LIQUID preparation for chemically 

 hardening and dust-proofing cement 

 floors that have begun to crumble has 

 recently been invented by a noted scientist. 



This product differs radically from the 

 paints ordinarily used on cement floors, 

 inasmuch as it hardens the floor through 

 and through by a chemical reaction. It is 

 a colorless liquid, very easily applied with 

 a long-handled brush, which contains cer- 

 tain chemicals that weld the loose particles 

 of sand and cement into a hard, solid, 

 impenetrable mass. It does not change 

 the color or appearance of the concrete in 

 any way. 



As this is not a mere surface coating 

 which can wear off in time, but a prepara- 

 tion that changes the very nature of the 

 concrete, its benefits are permanent and it 

 hardens and dust-proofs cement floors for 

 life. In factories, where the dust from 

 cement floors gets into the intricate working 

 parts of expensive machinery and causes 

 serious damage, this new preparation will 

 be particularly welcome. Moreover, it 

 renders the floor impervious to grease, oil 

 and dirt, so that a clean, sanitary condition 

 is easily maintained. 



An application of this preparation dries 

 quickly so that its use does not interrupt 

 business. If it is applied at night, the floor 

 can be used next morning as usual. 



Fire-Escape Window Bracket with 

 Lowering Basket 



THE illustration is descriptive of a fire- 

 escape that is quickly fastened to any 

 windowsill. A strong basket arrangement 

 is provided in which 

 a person or persons 

 may be lowered to 

 the ground by ropes. 

 The device consists 

 of a bracket-support 

 with two U-shaped 

 arms which hook 

 over the sill of the 

 window. To the 

 ends of the outside 

 extending arms are 

 pulleys over which 

 the ropes supporting 

 the basket are run. 



also provided as a means of getting from 

 the room into the basket. 



Basket and rope de- 

 vice for a fire escape 



A short ladder is 



