256 MACHINE FOR CLEANING CHIMNIES. 



Machine for fo that they fliall be capable either of hanging down, parallel 

 „jgj^ ^ "to the bar, or of being opened and expanded^ fomewhat in Ihe 

 manner of an umbrella, until they fiand out at right angles 

 with the middle piece; in which iituation they are retained 

 by fmall fupporfing bars, refembling thofe of the fame well- 

 known utenfil. fig, 2. fliews the bruflies in their collapfed 

 ftate, with an appendage of tubes, by which the fyftem is 

 thruft up the chimney. A ftrong cord is paflfed through a 

 feries of thefe tubes, the lower mouth of every one of which 

 is opened a little, in order to admit the upper ends of each in 

 fucceffion. Fig. 5. fliews the fweeping man employed, 

 thrufting the apparatus up the chimney ; in which the fet of 

 conneded tubes forms a piece, having enough of flexibility 

 to accommodate itfelf to the chimney, and yet fufficiently 

 rigid to anfvver the purpofe of carrying up the fet of bruflies. 

 When thefe have paflTed through the chimney-pot, and given 

 the ufual evidence of the work being to be performed from 

 one end of the chimney to the other, the rope is drawn ti^'ht 

 in order to fet the tubes fteadily together, and then fecured 

 by a thumb fcrew feen in Fig. 2. — after which, the fweeper 

 begins to pull it downwards. The rim of the narrow open- 

 .ing of the chimney-pot caufes the briiflies to expand, and in 

 this flate they are retained by the ufual fpring-catch feen in 

 Fig. 1. and by the Ample and gradual defcent, the chimney 

 becomes eft'eclually cleared of its foot. 



Fig. 3. reprefents a curtain for defending the apartment 

 againft the foot. It is fupported by a rod of metai, having 

 a cork fixed or ftuck in one of its ends, to afford a fpringy 

 and perfeftly harmlefs bearing againfl; the inflde lining of the 

 chimney-piece, whether of marble or any other material, and 

 the clamp which is feen towards the other end of the rod, has 

 likewife a facing of cork, and is fixed at any diftance, fo as 

 to afford the oppofite bearing. The fides of the curtain are 

 fecured by rods. Fig. 4. which can be lengthened or fliortened 

 by two parts Aiding together, as is feen in the meafuring rule 

 of flioemakers, or perhaps more familiarly, in thofe Aiding 

 pencils, which have now been feveral years in ufe. 



I have been aflured that the cleanhnefs, decency, and 

 quiet operation of this engine, are by no means among the 

 fmalleft cf its recommendations. I have not yet had an oc- 

 cafion of trying it in my own houfe, but fliall certainly doit 



©n 



