Popular Science MontJily 



923 



tion of magnetos would be likely to jump 

 to the conclusion that the two ends of wire 

 separated by a short gap were originalh' 

 one continuous piece and the break was 

 the cause of its not working properly. 

 This was the conclusion reached by the 

 investigator in this case and he proceeded 

 to close the break with wire and solder. 

 Upon starting up again it still refused to 

 work. Having reached the limit of his 

 knowledge of magneto operation he took 

 the motorcycle to a repair shop where the 

 trouble was soon found to be due to the 

 magnets being wrongly replaced, that is, 

 two ends of unlike polarity were placed 

 side by side instead of like polarities". This 

 would indicate the advisability of carefully 

 marking magnetos before removing them 

 so that they may be properly replaced. 



In discussing the above incident with 

 others the writer found that this safety 

 spark-gap is frequently mistaken by 

 amateurs for an accidental break and 

 treated accordingly. — Paul Justus. 



Filling Wide Vertical Cracks 

 and Seams with Putty 



IN puttying up a wide crack between two 

 boards, excelsior may be used to bind 

 the heavy mass of putty together and 

 prevent its falling out. The putty is worked 

 into the excelsior until the two combine in 

 a plastic mass. After forcing the composi- 

 tion in tight, apply a smooth coat of 

 putty over the surface. This method will 

 be found convenient where holes or cracks 

 would otherwise have to be filled with an 

 inlay of wood. — James M. Kaxe. 



An Inexpensive Stove for Fruit 

 Canning Purposes 



ONE woman has solved the problem~of 

 an outdoor stove for canning and 

 preserving in summer, by utilizing an old 

 galvanized tub. A hole was cut in the 

 bottom, a door in the side and a stove-pipe 

 hole in the opposite side. A joint and an 

 elbow of pipe made the stove complete. 



It burns wood, and is placed in a shady 

 .si)ot on the hill back of the house. There 

 the summer canning for private and com- 

 mercial use is done in a larger measure of 

 comfort than could be had in the kitchen. 



The canning outfit is as simple as the 

 outdoor stove. It is a common wash 

 boiler and lid with a piece of mesh wire cut 

 to fit the inside, and to He flat on the 

 bottom of the boiler. — Paul Greer. 



A Handy Farmer's Anvil Made Out 

 of a Railroad Rail 



IF there is a piece of discarded railroad 

 rail at hand a very convenient anvil can 

 be constructed as shown in the illustration. 

 The length of the rail used in making this 

 anvil is 36 in., and is placed in an inverted 

 position on a stand made of 2 by 4-in. oak 

 timbers 30 in. long. The upper ends of 

 these pieces are pointed and fitted in the 

 sides of the rail and clamped together with 

 bolts. The bottom part is well braced. A 

 board is laid on cross rails for a shelf. The 

 end of the rail is pointed and cut to a 



An inverted railroad rail rigidly supported on a 

 substantial stand makes a convenient anvil 



shape similar to the end on the ordinary 

 anvil. A hole is also made through each 

 side projection for punching and to hold a 

 hardy. — Roy Pugh. 



Lawn Sprinkler Made Out of a 

 Length of Pipe 



THE method of watering lawns here 

 described will appeal to those who 

 have held a nozzle in their hands for an 

 hour or more at a time. Get a 20-ft. 

 section of ^-in. water pipe and drill 1/16- 

 in. holes in it about every 2 ft. A coupling 

 which will join the hose to the pipe can be 

 procured for about twenty cents at most 

 hardware stores. The piece of pipe can be 

 easily moved from place to place over the 

 lawn. — W. A. Parks.' 



