80 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
is moved along the needle-plate by the motion of the needle-bar, such 
motion being obtained by screws or pins operating upon projections of 
metal, glass, or other hard substance, each presenting either an inclined 
plane or a curvilinear surface to the pins or screws, the projections 
being attached to and projecting from the front plate of the machine head, 
and set at the required angle. The invention also consists in the substitu- 
tion of a needle-plate of glass, in lieu of metal, for allowing the operator 
to inspect the progress of the work ; and also in an improved pressure foot. 
Omnibuses. — Mr. J. P. Bath , patentee. — It is desirable that omnibuses 
should be rendered equally available for travelling upon rail or tramways 
or common high roads, and these improvements have that object in view. 
The invention consists in suspending, by joints, to the underside of the 
“ fore carriage 55 two short pendulous arms, to the lower ends of which 
are attached axletrees running parallel with the main axletree on the out- 
side of these arms, and carrying thereon vertical revolving face-plates, to the 
front of each of which is secured a disc, annular ring, or wheel, which, 
extending a short distance beyond the ordinary running wheels, acts as a 
flanch for keeping the bearing wheels on the rails. The inner ends of the 
axletrees on the inside of the pendulous arms, the inventor prefers, for the 
sake of strength, to bend upwards, and he attaches them to the centre of 
the main axletree by a suitable joint or joints. When the guides are in 
use they are held in position by india-rubber or helical springs attached 
on each side to the lower end of the pendulous arms, and to the ends of 
cross-beams or arms extending across the main axletree. When the 
carriage is required to run on an ordinary road, the guides are drawn up — ■ 
by preference in a backward direction — by a bridle, chain, or cord and 
small windlass, or other mechanical equivalent, worked by the driver or 
other person. 
Securing Corks in Bottles. — Messrs.' Miller 8$ Siruthers, inventors. 
In carrying this invention into practice, under one modification, two 
holes are formed in the neck of the bottle or jar during the progress 
of manufacture, or while the bottle or jar is in a sufficiently softened 
state to admit of the material being easily pierced. These holes are 
by preference in the rim which forms the mouth of the vessel, bottle, 
or jar, and they are made opposite to one another, so that when the 
vessel is filled, and the cork or stopper is inserted, a short length of 
wire, a pin, or other retaining medium, may be easily passed through 
the cork. 
Damping and affixing Postage-Stamps. — Mr. T. Gordon , inventor. 
This invention comprises the following arrangement of parts : — The 
inventor has a reservoir for water incased in wood or metal forming the 
base ; in this reservoir he inserts a cotton with sponge attached, communi- 
cating by a small tube with a perpendicular square box or cylinder on the 
top of the base, of which there are two — one on the left and one on the 
right hand side — elevated by four small springs, so as to form openings for 
the reception of the letter. The left hand box or cylinder contains the 
sponge ; it has also a piston working in a sliding cylinder, which, when 
pressed, — the letter being placed in the opening formed as aforesaid — 
damps the corner of the letter ; the right hand box or cylinder, which is 
