210 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



the cuff, the hook and its opening through the plate are constructed with one or 

 more flat sides to prevent the hook from turning, thereby causing the hook of 

 necessity to remain in proper position to receive the pin. 



The entire device, inchiding the opening through the guard-arm except the 

 guard-hook and button-standard, may be constructed of a single piece of wire ; 

 the hook and button-standard are preferably made of a single piece of wire, so 

 coiled to form an oblong flat surface, and afterwards bent to the shape of a hook. 

 The inventor is Mr. Norman H. McAllister, of Kansas City, Mo. 



Combination Writing Instrument. — This invention relates to improve'- 

 ments upon that class of convenient pocket instruments in which there is com- 

 bined a pen or pencil, a self-inking rubber stamp, a rubber eraser and a steel 

 knife eraser, and it consists principally in fixing within the upper end of an ink- 

 pad shell the before-mentioned erasers, and in so constructing the different parts 

 that the instrument will be of a uniform size throughout its entire length. 



This desired end is accomplished by stamping the inking-pad and the stamp 

 shells, each into a comparatively semi-circular form, so that when the two are 

 closed together they form a nearly perfect hollow cylinder. 



In operation, by pressing upon the side of the ink-pad shell opposite its hinge 

 and upon the eraser end thereof the slight projection upon the upper end of the 

 stamp-shell is sprung from a sUght indenture at the base of the erasers, upon the 

 upper end of the before-mentioned ink-pad shell, and by reason of the coiled 

 springs the parts are thrown into a position for using the rubber stamp which is 

 pivoted to the upper end of the main shell. 



The end of the pad-spring bears upon the latter surface, and the end rests 

 against the inner surface of the ink-pad. The knife-eraser is provided with a 

 cylindrical bead by means of which it is fixed within the upper end of the ink- 

 pad shell, and the rubber eraser is cored out so that it may fit over end protect 

 the knife. 



By constructing an instrument in the manner and of the form above de- 

 scribed, the manifold utilities thereof will need little explanation : for instance, 

 writing may be executed with the pencil and erased with the rubber; the pen or 

 the stamp may be used and if desired their impressions erased by means of the 

 steel scraper. The inventor is Mr. C. Blitz, of Kansas City, Mo. 



Automatic Car Coupling. — The object of this invention is to provide a 

 coupling for railroad rolling-stock that will obviate the necessity of the operator 

 going between the cars; and it consists of a draw-head that is provided with a 

 narrow vertical chamber in which is journaled a semi-rotative disk formed with a 

 segmental coupling-hook that is adapted to be automatically thrown out of bal- 

 ance by the entering link; the heavier weight of the disk upon the side opposite 

 the segmental coupling-hook keeps the said link firmly within the draw-head, 

 and it consists, further, of a bail and cranks attached to the disk-journal, where- 

 by said dibk is rotated for the purpose of grasping and releasing the link. 



