NEW INVENTIONS. 
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thereabouts to the weight of water which they displace, so that when the 
pistons are extended to the full length of the stroke there may be no strain 
on the water-cylinders. 
Sheathing- Ships.-- Mr. W. H. Muntz, patentee . — This invention 
consists in attaching sheets of india-rubber, or other insulating or “ anti- 
galvanic” material to the vessel’s side, and metal sheathing to the insu- 
lating material, by means of marine glue, or such other cement or adhesive 
substance, as will resist the action of sea-water, instead of nailing or 
riveting the same. 
Treating Iron Plates for Ship-building. — Mr. A. Ellissen , 
inventor. — In carrying out this invention, the inventor treats iron sheeting 
or plate with cyanide of potassium or potash, or other material of equiva- 
lent effect, to render the same useful for shipbuilding, and thereby pro- 
tecting ships or other marine constructions against marine animals and 
marine plants. 
Apparatus for Tuning Pianofortes. — Mr. R. A. Brooman , patentee. 
In order to tune two strings, or make two strings agree, they must 
be of the same nature, and possess homogeneity of sound ; and to obtain 
this result it is necessary, first, that they be made to vibrate simulta- 
neously ; secondly, that the vibrations run together in the same sounding- 
board ; thirdly, that they follow the same circumvolutions, and that they 
be reverberated by the same surfaces. The apparatus which forms the 
subject of the present invention fulfils these conditions. The inventor 
arranges a sonometric string parallel to the strings of which it is the 
type ; it rests on the same bridge and acts on the same sounding- 
board. The longest string in the pianoforte is supported on a movable 
nut, guided in a longitudinal direction by a register for indicating 
externally the sound the type of which is required. The string, lengthened 
or shortened according to the proportions of the sonometer, by means 
of an additional pedal, gives successively the typical sound in the score 
to be produced. Thus, to tune an instrument, the typical string and the 
string to be tuned are simultaneously struck, one with the foot (because 
the pedal moves a hammer), the other with the left hand, while the right 
acts on the peg of the second string to raise or lower it in unison with the 
first; the tuner proceeds with these strings as if they belonged to the 
same key. This tuning apparatus may be fitted inside or outside the 
pianoforte. 
Thrashing Machines. — Messrs. Clayton & Shuttle worth, patentees . — 
According to this invention, the grooves or channels are formed parallel to 
each other longitudinally along the face of each beater ; not, however, in 
straight lines, as heretofore, but in serpentine lines. It is preferred that 
each beater of the drum of a thrashing machine should be formed with 
three serpentine grooves. The whole of the grooves or channels, although 
they are parallel to each other, and formed in a longitudinal direction 
along a beater, do not (in consequence of a beater having parallel sides) 
all pass from end to end of a beater, but only some of them, whilst others 
only extend along a comparatively short length of a beater. 
Sewing Machines. — Mr. A. Rrince, patentee. — This invention embraces 
certain mechanical arrangements whereby the fabric to be operated upon 
