408 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



October, 1908 



will keep for a year or 

 more in a closed vessel 

 with little loss by evapora- 

 tion. A heap of this 

 "solid alcohol" is illus- 

 trated in the engraving, 

 and a few pieces of the 

 same are seen burning in 

 an open, shallow dish. 

 The alcohol quickly evap- 

 orates on exposure to the 

 air. This form of fuel is 

 easily carried in small 

 amounts and can be used 

 for heating where no 

 alcohol burner is avail- 

 able, for it can be burnt in 

 any non-combustible re- 

 ceptacle, or can be used as 

 ordinary alcohol. It burns 

 quietly and leaves almost 

 no residue. In Germany, 

 one-half pound, equal to 

 about half a pint of al- 

 cohol, costs approximately thirty-five cents. 



When it is desired to heat a room with an alcohol stove, 

 the intense heat of the alcohol name is usually reflected out 

 into the room by means of a curved sheet of copper, or from 

 a piece of non-combustible material like asbestos, which the 

 flame renders red-hot. Or the gases circulate around metal 

 jackets before leaving the stove, and the hot jackets then 

 radiate the heat into the room. These heaters have been 

 especially developed in Germany, where they are quite gen- 

 erally used. They are useful wherever the hot air, hot water, 



Hot Jacket Alcohol Stove 



Alcohol Bunsen Burner 



Alcohol Water Heater 



or steam system of heating by coal is not available ; it is to be 

 recommended, however, when used in a closed room for any 

 length of time, that the escaping products of combustion be 

 led into a chimney by a specially constructed flue, in order to 



avoid excessive vitiation of 

 the atmosphere. This is 

 at all times to be avoided 

 as far as possible, but it oc- 

 curs to a less extent with 

 alcohol heaters than with 

 either kerosene or gasolene 

 burners. 



Grain alcohol has long 

 been used for this purpose 

 abroad. In America, be- 

 cause of its greater cheap- 

 ness, methyl or wood al- 

 cohol has been used to an 

 extent which is hardly real- 

 ized. This will be dis- 

 placed by denatured grain 

 alcohol very soon, as it is 

 cheaper, and in many re- 

 spects far superior. 



One of the most widely 

 used of the alcohol burn- 

 ing utensils is the familiar 

 chafing dish. Equally well 

 known are the spirit lamp 

 tea-kettle and coffee perco- 

 lator. The infusions of 



tea and coffee so obtained are not surpassed in flavor by 

 those obtained with any other utensil. The coffee percolator 

 is simple in operation; the ground coffee is placed on a sieve 

 situated just below the glass portion, and water is introduced 

 into the lower vessel. The glass globe serves to condense 

 any little steam that is formed, for the water does not boil. 

 The water when sufficiently heated rises because of its ex- 

 pansion through the central metal tube, which extends from 

 near the bottom of the water up into the glass globe. The 

 hot water flowing from the top of the tube percolates over 

 the coffee on the sieve, and runs back into the vessel from 

 which it started. The main mass of the water does not boil, 

 but circulates up and down, and the infusion is thus made 

 without impairing 

 the delicate aroma 

 and flavor, as is 

 done when coffee 

 is boiled. When 

 sufficiently strong, 

 the coffee is drawn 

 off by means of 

 the faucet at the 

 side. 



For travelers 

 and picnickers the 

 utensil known as a 

 simple spirit 

 cooker is very 

 handy; the lamp 

 and support for 

 the pot can be 

 placed within the 

 same, so that the 

 whole is very com- 

 pact. Some of 

 these devices have 

 a support for 

 three eggs, which 



can be boiled in the coffee while it is being made, so that a 

 light breakfast can be prepared with the one burner. There 

 is also a gauze arrangement for toasting bread, which can be 

 placed on a small stove like this. 



Alcohol Heater With Reflector 



