Popular Science Alonthly 



277 



An Electric Toy Semaphore 



AN electric semaphore, if used in 

 connection with a toy electric rail- 

 way, will be interesting as well as in- 

 structive. 



Its construction requires an electro- 

 magnet, (F) Fig. 1, pulling down an 

 arm (A) when the magnet is energized. 

 The arm is provided with a small ex- 

 tension, so that it automatically shows 

 the regulation colored lights at either po- 

 sition of the arm. When at right an- 

 gles to the standard it is supposed to 

 signify "Stop" or "Danger,'' and a tiny 

 red light shows. When hanging down 

 at 45° from the standard it signifies 

 "Clear Track" and only a small white 

 light is seen. 



Fig. 1. The semaphore, if properly 

 painted, has a very realistic appearance 



Fig. 2 is the detail of the semaphore 

 arm, which is made of light sheet brass 

 or aluminum. The dimensions explain 

 it thoroughly. The small lip which is 

 to be bent outwards at right angles is 

 the part to which the string (K) is at- 

 tached. 



Dimensions for a magnet cover (B) 

 that will fit over a magnet taken from 

 a medium sized bell or buzzer are shown 

 in Fig. 3. This should be made of light 

 sheet brass or aluminum. Small lips 

 are provided which are bent in and sol- 



dered or riveted to an adjoining side. 

 The dotted lines indicate where the metal 

 should be bent. No dimensions are giv- 

 en for the small holes, their size de- 

 pending on the size screw used to fasten 

 the cover to the base. 



Fig. 2. Detail of the semaphore arm, 

 showing dimensions 



The lamp (C), Fig. 4, is made of 

 hard wood, IVs'' square, into which holes 

 are bored as shown in the figure. Small 

 31/2 volt flashlight lamps fitted into min- 

 iature sockets are put into the I/2'' hole 

 as far as they will go. The end is then 

 filled with putty so that it is lightproof. 

 The %" holes are covered with tissue 

 paper, the top with white and the bot- 

 tom with red. The lights may be con- 

 nected in multiple or series, depending 

 on the voltage of the current. If small 

 telephone switchboard lights and the 

 opals which fit into the switchboard 

 sockets can be procured the holes may 

 be bored smaller and a much neater ef- 

 fect secured. 



The base (D) and the standard (E) 

 are made of hard wood. The base should 

 be about I/2'' thick. In Fig. 5, the plan 

 of the arrangement of the parts is 

 shown. The four small holes shown 



Fig. 3. Dimensions for cover to fit 

 magnet taken from bell or buzzer 



