Popular Science Monthly 



A Safety Device Which Takes the 

 "Kick" Out of a Ford 



TWO Wisconsin inventors have recently ob- 

 tained a patent on a device that effectually 

 prevents back firing and kick 

 ing when cranking a Ford 

 with the spark left ad- 

 vanced. It consists of 

 an arrangement fast- 

 ened to the commuta- 

 tor which automati- 

 cally retards the 

 spark to the point of 

 easiest starting when 

 the crank is turned. 



As seen in the 

 smaller photograph at 

 the right, the spark is left ^ 

 advanced, lowering the de- 

 vice so that it comes between 

 the ratchets on the crank and 

 those on the crank shaft. 

 Before the crank can en- 

 gage the shaft, the arm 

 of the device must be 

 pushed out of the ratchets 

 on the crank, as shown in 

 the large photograph. Pushing this arm 

 out automatically retards the spark to 

 what has been found to be the point 

 where the motor starts easiest. After this 

 the crank is free to start the motor. 



However, it is impossible to start the 

 motor until the device has been pushed 

 out as far as it will go and the spark re- 

 tarded. Of course this is not necessary 

 where the spark has been retarded before 

 cranking. But in the majority of cases 

 where injuries have been sustained while 

 cranking a car, the spark has been advanced 

 a considerable distance. It is 

 impossible to advance the spark 

 from the seat while anyone is 

 cranking the car. The arrange- 

 ment can be put on 

 the car without remov- 

 ing the timer or chang- 

 ing or altering any 

 parts. 



More than fifty dif- 

 ferent models were ex- 

 perimented with be- 

 fore one was found 

 that met all require- 

 ments. With this de- 

 vice ijn operation, 

 practically all danger is 

 eliminated from the 

 cranking up. 



435 



At left: The safety device between the ratchets. 

 At right above: The shaft pushed out of the 

 ratchets to automatically retard the spark 



The Clam-Shell Makes Its Debut 

 as an Interior Decoration 



TO make a picture like the farmer 

 boy in the accompanying illustration, 

 you need not be a gifted artist or even a 

 good photographer. All that is needed to 

 secure a perfectly artistic effect is a square 

 of colored cardboard for mounting, a 

 figure cut out of a magazine, fashion sheet 

 or advertisement, and a bit of white cotton 

 or black or brown wool such as is used 

 for crocheting or knitting, and a clam shell. 

 The lines of the face are made with 

 pen and ink. The cut-out figure is first 

 pasted on the mounting board; then the 

 clam-shell head is adjusted and stuck on 

 with mucilage. The placing of 

 the hair affords scope for in- 

 dividuality. The grass and 

 sprigs of flowers are painted 

 in. If you happen to 

 be somewhat of an art- 

 ist, you can paint in 

 the whole figure, but 

 very good effects are 

 obtained with the 

 paper cut-outs. 



If the trousers are 

 cut from sandpaper, 

 they will afford a con- 

 venient place on which 

 to scratch matches. 

 The placard can then 

 be hung on the wall 

 near the matchbox. 



The clam-shell farmer boy with 

 paper cut-out body and hair of cotton 



