762 



Popular Science Monthly 



Keeping Insects Away from 

 Lunch Boxes 



THE accompanying illustration explains 

 a very efficient method for keeping ants 

 and other insects out 

 of lunch boxes. The 

 oil cup consists of a 

 one-pint tin soup 

 can, cut off to the 

 desired height. A 

 piece of Y%-\n. gal- 

 vanized wire is 

 pushed through the 

 center of thebottom 

 of the can, where it 

 is well soldered. 

 Turn up a hook on 

 each end, pour in a 

 small portion of ma- 

 chine oil — any kind 

 will do — and hang 

 it on a nail in a 

 cool place. Hang 

 the lunch below it and it will be secure 

 from insect invasion, for no insect will 

 crawl farther than the oil. — L. M. Drake. 



Wire with oil can for 

 hanging lunch basket 



The Construction of an Automatic 

 Centering Tool 



IN most up-to-date shops there will be 

 found some sort of a saw that will cut a 

 bar of steel reasonably square. With the 

 tool illustrated the centering can be done by 

 the apprentice and you will be surprised at 

 the amount of work he can do in this way. 

 The bell piece is of tool steel, thoroughly 

 hardened. The small screw on the bell 

 piece holds the center drill in place and is 

 adjusted to the drill to the desired depth. 



!/i6"wire 

 spring 



Morse taper 



Centering tool to fit lathe spindle for 

 starting the hole for the lathe center 



The end of the socket acts as a stop while 

 the screw on the shank will keep the bell 

 from sliding out of place. The shank is 

 tapered to fit any lathe socket and works in 

 conjunction with the bell center of the tail 

 stock. It will center square bars as well as 

 round stock providing the end is cut off 

 perfectly square and at right angles to 

 the length. — Robert J. Smith. 



Caution in Turning Corners to 

 Prevent Tire Injury 



BE careful in making sharp turns that the 

 wheels do not cause the treads to be 

 rubbed by spring shackles or other sharp 

 projecting objects. If a bumper or guard is 

 applied to the car front, be sure that the 

 ends have enough clearance to prevent 

 the tires from being gouged. 



When the car is loaded heavily there is 

 danger of tire treads being bumped or 

 gouged by the fender when passing over 

 rough places. Fenders that have been 

 bent from accidents may be entirely too 

 close to the tires and cause a great deal of 

 injury, particularly if there are any sharp 

 extending bolts underneath the fender. 

 An inspection under fenders sometimes 

 discloses bolts worn smooth and bright by 

 continued buffing and rubbing by tires. 



Making a Cigar Stand on the Top or 

 Side of a Hat 



THIS is an original pocket trick which 

 may be performed anywhere and at 

 any time. Borrow a hat — any kind, derby, 

 soft felt, or straw — and a cigar. Place the 

 cigar on the top or side of the hat and 

 it will apparently 

 stay there as if by 

 your dexterous jug- 

 gling or balancing. 

 At command it will 

 fall off and the cigar 

 and hat can again 

 be examined. All 

 that is required to 

 accomplish this 

 clever conjuring 

 feat is a common 

 pin. Stick this pin 

 in the thick flesh 

 of your palm where 



The cigar stands on a 

 pin run through the hat 



it will stay unobserved. When the hat and 

 cigar have been borrowed and examined 

 place one hand beneath the hat (the hand 

 containing the pin) and with the other hand 

 steady the cigar as a juggler would when 

 preparing to juggle some upright article. 

 But while so doing stick the pin through 

 the hat into the mouth end of the cigar. 

 This will, of course, hold it upright. To 

 cause it to fall, merely release the pin or 

 pull it out and the cigar will topple over — 

 the pin falls to the carpet. If not "over- 

 done" you can always "get away" with 

 this stunt as a genuine feat of juggling and 

 no one will suspect the ruse employed. 



