Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PopElec 1908 06
PopElec 1908 06
THE of
average person in every walk
is familiar with the tele-
life
which you may call. At this point, it
must be borne in mind that each line
phone instrument and under- has its lamp and jack, and right here it
stands its operation and its many valu- might be well to define what is meant
able beyond that the en-
features, but by "line."
tire telephone system is a complete mys- A line is the circuit from your tele-
tery. the purpose of this article to
It is phone to your signal, and must consist
tell language the fund-
in plain, simple of two conductors or wires, which
amental principles underlying the oper- make continuous path for the elec-
a
ation of the telephone exchange and trical current. This is the fundamental
correct a number of erroneous opinions principle of all electrical work. There
that prevail among telephone users at must be a complete circuit to and from
large. the source of energy, and in modern
From each telephone, no matter where telephone systems, the telephone ex-
it is or how inaccessible the
located, change, which consists of switchboards,
locality,a pair of wires are carried charging machines and ringing ma-
from the top of the instrument to and chines, is the source of energy. You
terminate in some form of a signaling will hear it frequently spoken of as a
device. In up-to-date and modern ex- "common battery" or "central energy
changes, such as shown in the illustra- exchange."
tion herewith, these signals consist of Wewill now return to your small
miniature incandescent lamps. Each lamp signal and coupler which is lo-
lamp is mounted in convenient form cated at the switchboard. As we said
and is furnished with a small bull's eye before, these are miniature lamps, and
or opal, upon which is marked the in a space of one foot square over one
number of your telephone. When you hundred of such signals can be placed,
remove the receiver of your telephone to which can be connected a like num-
and place it to your ear, this little lamp ber of lines or, to express it more plain-
is lighted, and it gives three-fourths of ly, a likenumber of telephones, or what
a candlepower, which is amply suffi- are known in the telephone onice as sub-
cient to attract the operator's attention. scribers.
With each lamp there is furnished a To connect your line, say that your
coupling device, which is known among number is No. i. with your neighbor's
the telephone men as a "jack,'' and line, which we will say is Xo. 2, it is
bears the same relation to your tele- necessary to have some intermediate link
phone line as a car coupler bears to a for coupling, or. to use the correct
railroad coach, and is always used for phraseology for connecting these two
j
connecting your line to any line for lines together. This is always in the shape
62 POPULAR ELECTRICITY
of what is known as a "switchboard have to listen part of the time, and will
cord." This cord is about the size, and she overhear some of my conservation?"
looks a good deal like a sash cord, but No, she does not. When she finishes
instead of being made of hemp, it con- ringing No. 2, her little switch springs
sists of two flexible wires which are back automatically in its normal position
covered with a number of layers of and she pays no further attention to it.
woven linen. On each end of this cord Now we will go back to our cord
is fastened what is known as a "plug." which is provided with the two plugs
This is really the coupling pin for the or links. In addition to the little switch
jack on your line. There are 20 of the operator's which is connected to
to 30 of these cords and plugs, this cord, there are two little lamps at-
and as the cords are about six feet long, tached to the cord. Remember they
it would not be neat or workmanlike to are not attached to your line or to your
have them laying around in a careless neighbor's line, but are attached to this
and unsystematic manner. The cords connecting cord. One lamp is called
are mounted inside of the switchboard the answering lamp and the other is
and are provided with weights and pul- called the connecting or supervising
leys, just as the sash cord is equipped lamp. Now when a connection is made
in your window frame. When they are with this cord and two plugs, these
not in use by the operator, they auto- lamps are not lighted, but as soon as
matically drop down and out of sight, you have finished your conversation and
and all that appears on the front of the you and your neighbor hang up your
switchboard are the plugs themselves. receivers, these two lamps light up.
The operator has a connection with The operator then knows that you and
each pair of cords, by which she can your neighbor have left your telephones,
connect her own telephone to any one and she takes the connection down-
of the cords at leisure, and by a little without calling your attention to the
switch she can turn the connection from fact or without listening to see if you
a talking circuit to a ringing circuit. If have finished. The connection is broken
you will stop a moment and think, you just as a brakeman would pull the pin
will see that it will be necessary, after out of a car coupler and disconnect two
you have lit your lamp at the exchange railroad coaches.
by the removal of your receiver, for the From this short explanation it can be
operator to couple her telephone with readily seen that a telephone operator
your by the use of one of these
line never has the slightest reason or in-
coupling pins or plugs. She then turns centive to listen to a conversation, un-
her switch over to the talking position less a subscriber wishes her to do so.
and, after ascertaining from you the What does a telephone exchange room
number you want, she takes the free look like in your mind? No doubt you
end or the coupling pin or plug that is thL ^tv noisy place and
on the other end of this cord and in- things me iun somewhat carelessly and
serts it in the jack or the coupler of the the general appearance of things is
line that you want, say your neighbor's "topsy-turvy." And no doubt you think
line No. 2. Thus she has coupled to- the operators have a great deal of fun
gether two telephone lines in a manner and pass many a pleasant moment in
similar to that of coupling two railroad conversation among themselves but let
;
coaches together, and in telephone us see if this is really so. We will now
phraseology the operator has made one presume that we are entering an ex-
connection. She again moves her little change room of one of the large and
switch over to another position, which modern telephone exchanges in some
automatically turns on the ringing cur- moderate sized city of this country,,
rent on line No. 2, and this rings the and it would be well to state here that
bell of your neighbor's "Yes," but
line. the telephone systems and exchanges in
you say, "I understand this all right, but this United States of ours are far su-
how do we get loose when I finish talk- perior in design, workmanship and serv-
ing with my neighbor, and does the ice to those of any other country in the
operator listen all the time, or does she world.
POPULAR ELECTRICITY 63
As we step into the exchange room, is equipped with certain devices with
we notice a large, long cabinet which which she can cut in on any of the oper-
resembles somewhat in outline the mod- ators and ascertain if they are handling
ern upright piano, only it is a great deal their work in a proper manner. At
longer. At the cabinet are seated, closely another desk is the chief operator, who
together, 20 or more operators. This is has entire control of the exchange room.
the main switchboard, and somewhere Sometimes it is part of her work to
on board is located the end of your
this answer complaints and adjust any trou-
line,which terminates in the small lamp ble that may arise but her work is gen-
;
mouths, as shown in the illustration, for in gauging the sharpness of the sense of
producing the vowel sounds, a, e, i, o, u. hearing, and Dr. Marage devised the
His apparatus consists of an electric talking siren as a substitute. This siren
motor for compressing air used in the produces sounds, the intensity of which
operation of the siren, together ith is proportional to the pressure of air.
rheostat and switches for connecting and is therefore accurate in determining
with an ordinary lighting circuit. The the keenness of hearing of different indi-
manometer and the mouthpieces for viduals.
producing the vowel sounds are shown The manometer, which is something
on the right in the picture. A
rotating like a steam pressure gauge, is shown in
circular disk produces the sounds. It is the accompanying illustration. It indi-
provided with slots in groups of I, 2 and cates the pressure of the air operating
3, the vowels being distinctly heard the siren. The sound intensity is gradu-
when the air is blown through the slots. ally increased with the increased pres-
These sounds, as produced by the ap- sure oi air. while the ear to be tested is
paratus above mentioned, give the vow- placed at a definite distance from the in-
els as sung, but when the special molds strument.
ELECTRIC SELF-REGISTERING TARGET.
The electric self-registering target target, and Fig. 3 the annunciator at the
shown in the accompanying illustrations firing station.
is the invention of Lieutenant-Colonel Operation of the target is quite sim-
George A. Peters of Toronto, Can., now ple. The face of the target is a steel
-•'~ ~: "" -
plate, thick enough not to be pierced by
~
:
the bullets. Back of this plate are ar-
ranged a great number of hammers
hung from hinges so that they rest
against the plate when it is in position.
These hammers are shown plainly in
Fig. 2. A
bullet striking the plate at
any point will drive back the hammer
that is alloted to that particular area. As
1 [
° 1
--t- '
-,
the hammer flies back it closes for an in-
stant an electric circuit connected to one
of the annunciator drops on the annun-
ciator board at the firing station.
The annunciator drops are similar to
the annunciators on a telephone switch-
board, and operate in the same way. In
it has been driven back by a bullet, so other things it will be used in the State
that the target is automatically restored silk factory for the generation of heat in
to the operating position after each shot. 3,000 filature basins where the silk is
A
telephone line is also connected be- reeled from the cocoons.
tween the two stations so that communi-
cation may be held with a man behind ARTISTIC STREET LAMP DESIGN.
the target if desired. Aprize competition for the design of
a street lamp post, bracket and pedestal
was held recently by the Chicago Archi-
tectural Club. Prizes to the amount of
$200 were given by the Commonwealth
Edison Company and James B. Clow &
Sons of Chicago. Specifications upon
which the competition was carried out
called for a design with 75 to 100 candle-
power in incandescent lamps, and having
not less than two or more than four
bracket arms. The prize winning design
neighboring wires, while at other times (E. M. F.) that is able to cause the elec-
they pass them by as if entirely ignoring tricity to pass through all the devices
their existence. that are placed in the circuit. In the
Though at first sight it seems that case of a dynamo the increased electro-
there are infinite varieties of circuits, yet, motive force can, within certain limits,
generally speaking, direct current cir- be obtained by increasing the speed of
cuits can be divided into two great the dynamo. When this limit has been
classes, namely reached a further increase of electro-
(i). Series circuits. motive force can only be obtained by
(2). Multiple or parallel circuits. so combining two separate dynamos or
Strictly speaking, there is a still broad- sources, as to cause them to act as a
er classification that includes circuits of single electric source of higher electro-
all kinds, whether direct or alternating,
namely: Simple electric and
circuits,
compound electric circuits. Simple elec^
trie circuits consist in a combination of a
single source with a single electro-recep-
tive device, while compound electric cir-
cuits consist in the combination of more
than a single electric source, or more
than a single electro-receptive device, or
both. Since, however, we are now en-
FIG. DYNAMO AND 10 ARC LAMPS IN
SERIES CIRCUIT.
deavoring to point out some way in
which the apparent complexity of com- motive force. To do this it is necessary
pound electric circuits may be notably to connect them with each other in series.
decreased, we will confine our attention As we shall see in subsequent articles
to the classification of compound direct the proper operation of any electro-re-
current circuits just given, i. e., series ceptive device requires a certain electric
circuits, and multiple or parallel cir- pressure or electromotive force, in order
cuits. that a certain amount of electricity per
SERIES CIRCUITS. second or a certain electric current, shall
pass through the device. It is evident
In a series circuit one or more elec- that in the series circuit, since the same
tric sources have their poles so con- current strength passes through all the
nected with a number of electro-recep- different devices in the circuit, no matter
tive devices that the current passes suc- how many devices have been introduced
cessively through each of these devices into or removed from it, the current
from the first device to the last. The strength must be the same in all parts
manner in which this is done will be of the circuit. For this reason a series
readily understood from inspection of circuit is sometimes called a constant-
Fig. 7, which represents a single electric current circuit.
source or dynamo (D), connected in a Since in the series circuit the electro-
series circuit with 10 arc lamps. receptive devices are placed one after
POPULAR ELECTRICITY 69
another, the electric resistance of a series through all the separate receptive de-
circuit necessarily increases with each vices, must have a path provided by
device added, and decreases with each which it may return to the negative pole
device removed from the circuit, for the of the source.
total resistance of a series circuit is equal In order to prevent all the remaining
to the sum of its separate resistances. In lamps from being extinguished on the
such a circuit, therefore, the electromo- extinguishing of any particular lamp, it
tive force of the source must vary in is only necessary to move a switch, either
order to cause the necessary current to automatically or by hand, and thus pro-
pass through each of the devices, the vide a by-path through which the cur-
necessary E. M. F. increasing as addi- rent can flow past either the faulty lamp,
tional devices are introduced into the cir- or the lamp which has been purposely
cuit, and decreasing as some of the de- removed from the circuit.
vices are cut out or removed from it. The means employed for cutting out
For this reason a series circuit is some- or introducing any arc lamp into a series
times known as a circuit of variable elec- circuit is a switch such as is represented
tromotive force.
In many electro-receptive devices,
such as arc lamps,- different effects are
produced according to the direction in
which the electric current is passed
through the device. It is evident, there-
fore, that care must be taken to see that
the current passes through a circuit in
the right direction.
In the case of arc lamps, the light is
produced by the passage of an electric
current between two carbon rods, one
of which is generally placed vertically
to the other. It is found that the carbon
out from which the current flows, or the
positive carbon, has a much higher tem-
perature than the negative carbon, or
that into which the current returns after
having passed through the circuit. Since
the amount of light emitted by an in-
candescent or heated body rapidly in-
creases with its temperature, the light
thrown off from the positive carbon of
an arc lamp is greater in amount than
the light produced by the negative car-
bon. If, therefore, arc lamps are to be
employed for illumining the space below
FIG. 8. ENCLOSED ARC LAMP WITH
SWITCH.
them, it is necessary to make their upper
carbons the positive carbons. in Fig. 7,connected with the
at S, as
Since in the series arc circuit the elec- lamp No. When
this switch is turn-
10.
tro-receptive devices are inserted in ed so as to leave a space between the
breaks in the circuit, the circuit wires blades (a) and (b), the current passes
can change their direction to any desired between the two carbons and the lamp
extent, the only condition that must be burns. When, however, the switch is
fulfilled being that the wire which passes turned so as to bring the contact (a)
out of the lower carbon of the last device and (b) together, lamp No. to will be
placed in the circuit, must be connected extinguished, because so much of the
with the negative pole of the source. current passes through the low resist-
This fulfills the prime requirement of ance patli offered by the switch blades,
the electric circuit, i. e., that the elec- that the amount of current passing be-
tricity produced by the source, after it tween the carbons will be insufficient to
has pole and has passed
left its positive produce an arc.
70 POPULAR ELECTRICITY
In Fig. 7, only a single switch is rep- ticular spot and then leads
it back again
resented. Each lamp, however, must be to the main In such cases there
street.
provided with a switch. may be a comparatively great length of
In practice this lamp switch is pro- circuit wire in which no lamps whatever
vided with a handle or lever that pro- are placed.
jects from the top of the lamp, as repre- Either electric sources, or electro-re-
sented in Fig. 8 at (S). This switch can ceptive devices can readily be connected
be opened or closed from the floor by together in a series circuit. When a
means of a pole without lowering the number of electric sources are connected
lamp. in series, the electromotive force fur-
nished by the combined source, will be
equal to the sum of the electromotive
forces of the separate sources. If, for
+ p
— N
FIG. 10. DYNAMOS CONNECTED IN SERIES.
example, two dynamos, (A) and (B)
are connected as shown in Fig. 10, they
will be connected in series. To do this
it is only necessary to connect the nega-
0/ PaPs^&rSWzPs
N NEGATIVE LEAD OR CONDUCTOR N'
FIG. 13. MULTIPLE OR PARALLEL CONNECTION OF EIGHT LAMPS.
example, three LeClanche cells repre- to three times the electromotive force of
sented in Fig. 11. In order to connect any of the separate cells.
them in a series battery it is only neces- MULTIPLE OR PARALLEL CIRCUITS.
sary to proceed as in the case of the In a multiple or parallel circuit, a
dynamo-electric-machine, and connect number of separate electric sources, or
their opposite poles or terminals in the separate electro-receptive devices, or
manner indicated. both, have all their positive poles con-
As is well known the LeClanche cell nected to a single positive conductor, and
forms what is sometimes known as a all their negative poles similarly con-
single fluid cell that is. a cell in which nected to a single negative conductor. In
POPULAR ELECTRICITY
multiple or parallel circuits the conduct- through the positive lead between the
ors are generally known as leads. The lamps Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. A
lead connected with the positive pole of branching of the circuit takes place at
the source is called the positive lead, and each additional place where the other
that connected with the negative pole, the lamps are introduced into the circuit, as,
negative lead. Since the amount of elec- for example, at (B), where a portion of
tricity that passes per second, or the cur- the current passes through lamp No. 2,
rent strength that passes through the at (C), where another portion passes
conductors that connect the lamps with through lamp No. 3, and so on succes-
the leads, is much less than the current sively.
strength passing through the leads, the Now a certain quantity of electricity
wires in these separate conductors are per second, or a certain current strength,
made much thinner than in the leads. is necessary for the proper operation of
candescent electric lamps to the dynamo receptive device. The same current
(D). Here the positive poles of all the strength must therefore pass through
lamps are connected with the positive each of the thinner conductors that con-
lead or conductor (P P'), and the nega- nect the lamps with the positive and
tive poles with the negative lead or con- negative leads. In order that this may
ductor (N'N 7 ). It will be observed be the case, it is necessary that there
that there is no direct connection of the shall be the same difference of potential
far ends (P') and (N') of the positive or electromotive force on all parts of
and negative leads, as would be done in the positive and negative leads. Now,
the case of a series circuit. The two while there is necessarily what is called
conductors (PF) and NN')
are kept a drop of potential in the leads, or a de-
separate and distinct as positive and crease in the electromotive force, as the
negative conductors or leads respective- distance from the source increases, yet,
ly, and are connected with each other if the leads are made of fairly thick,
A CITY ELLCTKICaL.
Every school boy knows that Chi-
cago is not yet a hundred years old, in
name even, and has an actual corporate
existence as a, city of barely 70 years.
Not everyone, however, realizes Chi-
cago's still more wonderful develop-
ment in certain particular lines. The
electric light has only been before the
public as a public utility for some 30
years, yet Chicago bids fair before very
long to be the greatest electrical center
of all the world. A
few figures tell in
part the story.
Last year over 323,000,000 kilowatt
hours of electric current were supplied
the Chicago public. Compare this with
London with its population of 6,000.-
000. Last year according to the gov-
ernment report the so-called "World's
Metropolis" was supplied with but
213,000,000 kilowatt hours. The elec-
tric light was first introduced over there
at the same time that it was in Chicago,
and it would seem that the advantage
would be all with the older city. But
Chicago moves swiftly and London
somewhat ponderously.
TROLLEY GUARD FOR RAILROAD In a year or two Chicago will hive
CROSSINGS. the low rate of seven cents per unit or
to be jolted from the wire and the car kilowatt hour, which it is said will be
lefton the steam tracks "dead," unless the cheapest rate in the world, showing
a guard of some kind is provided to keep a profit to the producers of the elec-
the trolley wheel in contact with the tricity as well. There may be appar-
source of current. ently cheaper rates given by certain mu-
Various types of trolley guards have nicipal plants, but consumers eventually
been devised, a new one, possessing many pay more than the difference in taxes.
advantages being the National railroad And Chicago is developing in every way
trolley guard. This guard consists of a electrically — new electric lines year h\
wire mesh trough which is hung in an year and new electric amusement parks.
inverted position over the trolley wire It is in popular demand this wonderful
and fastened with suitably insulated electricitv.
NATURE OF A LIGHTNING DISCHARGE.
With the best appliances ever con- straight path ; others branch out into fan-
structed by man an electric spark or tastic forms.
discharge can only be made to jump Atmospheric electricity is known to
through the air a be a form of static
•distance of five to electricity. Static
ten feet and this
; electricity is the kind
with apparatus that which is generated
will develop hun- by friction. Most
dreds of thousands people have tried the
of volts. What then experiment of rub-
must be the enorm- bing their feet rap-
ous electrical pres- idly over a carpet
sure or voltage that and then holding the
will cause a light- finger near a gas jet.
ning flash to leap The spark which
from cloud to cloud jumps from the fin-
or cloud to earth? ger and passes to
Xo one knows. But earth through the
it is certainly up in gas pipe is a static
the millions of volts discharge similar to
— too great for the lightning. It is be-
mind to conceive. 1 i e v e d that the
The views shown clouds, as they
herewith, the two move s w i f 1 1
y
lower ones secured through the air, be-
through the courtesv come charged with
that by the aid of electric searchlights put in last September for trial, with
this has been overcome, and beautiful which the beautiful effects shown in the
effects obtained which rival the daylight accompanying illustrations were secured.
scene. These views were obtained through the
Plans and specifications were submit- courtesy of the General Electric Review.
POPULAR ELECTRICITY 81
Three batteries of electric searchlights beauty of the falls, but lent a pleasing
were placed at advantageous points. variety of effects, which appeared to be
Battery No. I comprised n 30-inch greatly admired and appreciated by the
and 10 18-inch projectors installed on a thousands of people who thronged the
platform 250 feet long, located in the parks on both sides of the river even-
Gorge at a point midway between the evening. An additional variation was in-
American and Horseshoe Falls, 20 feet troduced by noiselessly exploding loose
above the water's edge, and approxi-
mately 1,200 feet from the center of
Goat Island.
Battery No. 2 consisted of four 30-
inch projectors placed on what is known
as the "spillway" of the Ontario Power
Company, approximately 3,500 feet from
the American Falls.
Battery No. 3 was made up of 11
18-inch projectors located in Victoria
Park about 1,500 feet from the center of
the American Falls.
So satisfactory was the temporary
equipment that a permanent equipment
The tuning of the sending end is ac- discharged. In the wireless set the high
complished by bridging a number of frequency current charges the Leyden
Leyden jars in series with an inductive jars, which discharge across the spark
wound resistance coil around the spark gap with a crash, sending out a wave of
^ap as shown
in Fig. 6. much longer duration than the open cir-
It maybe well at this point to explain cuit set described in Part I. This charg-
the operation of a Leyden jar and also ing and discharging of the Leyden jars
occurs at every swing of the vibrator,
Deforest Sending End. resulting in a hot, fat spark that is espe-
cially desirable for wireless work. The
Leyden jars used should be four of the
one quart size, so connected that different
numbers could be thrown in the circuit,
as the capacity will vary with the differ-
B D ent sets.
An inductive resistance is simply a coil
A -110 VOLT A.C.GENERATOR of wire wound in the form of a spiral.
b- OIL TRANSFORMER Direct current will pass through this
c- CONDENSORS wire spiral impeded only by the natural
D -SPARK GAP resistance of the wire, which is compara-
E -INDUCTANCE HELIX tively small. When alternating current
PIG. 8.
is passed through such a coil, however,
connected with one terminal of a source The arrangement of the Leyden jars
of electricity and the inside coaling con- (D) and the inductive coil or helix E 1
I
nected to the other terminal, the jar will is shown in Fig. 6, and constitutes the
absorb a certain charge, which it holds tuning apparatus oi a sending station.
stored up until the two coatings of tin foil The tuning coil or helix is composed of
are electrically connected, when the jar is [O turns of copper wire wound on a hard
84 POPULAR ELECTRICITY
rubber frame 10 inches high and eight directly across the spark gap as
inches in diameter as shown in Fig. 7. in the circuit just described. The oil
The lead from the spark gap (see Fig. transformer consists of the primary of a
6) to the tuning coil is made of flexible few turns of heavy wire inside of which
is placed a greater number of turns of
NO A.C. GENERATOR
A-- Massie Sending End.
B -TRANSFORMER — p
C-5PARK GAP
D-CONDENSOR a
E-OSCILLATING CIRCUIT B =-c
FIG. 10.
1
conducting cord with clamp connection L
soldered to the end so that the inductance a- motor-generator
of the circuit may be varied instantly by b-transformer
coupling on to the different windings C CONDENSOR
at any point, as shown in Fig. 7. The D-5PARK GAP
wire used in winding the tuning coil E INDUCTIVE HELIX
FIG. 12.
T
B D
FIG. MASSIE SYSTEM COMPLETE.
11.
AA.C.GENERATOR
should be of the same size as used in the
B TRANSFORMER
aerial wire. The method of tuning the SPARK GAP
sending and receiving end will be taken GROUND
up in a later chapter. CONDENSOR
The DeForest system, as well those of INDUCTIVE HELIX
the principal other companies, has re- FIG. 13.
have done creditable work along this line. less telegraphy. Hehas done other note-
The diagram of the Stone sending end is worthy work as well,but particularly
shown in Fig. 10 and differs from the with receiving ends. The operation and
plan of the tuned set in Fig. 6 by using construction of the detector will be taken
what is known as the inductively con- up in a later issue. The plan of the Fes-
nected circuit, which is provided with a senden sending end is shown in Fig. 13
second transformer set, with secondary and consists of the transformer (Bj.
leading to the aerial. At the sending end which charges the oscillating circuit, the
of the Massie sets the current is usually spark gap (C), condensor (E), induc-
supplied by means of a motor-generator tance helix and aerial (F), and ground
to the transformer, which in turn charges (D).
the aerial wire. In Fig. n is shown the As will be noted the ground, instead
complete set. To the right is the trans- of being connected onto the lower part
former, in the center the hot wire am- of the inductance coil, as in usual cases.
meter which is used in measuring the is placed behind the condensor (C). In
wave length, next come the inductance Fig. 14 is shown the disposition and ar-
helix, spark gap and condensor. The rangement of the various parts of the
condensors used in place of Leyden jars apparatus.
are of the glass plate kind, consisting of The Slaby-Arco system is nearly simi-
thin glass plates covered with tin foil lar to the Fessenden. the difference lying
having a very low capacity. To the ex- in the placing of the condensor and
treme left is shown the complete re- ground. The inventors claim some spe-
ceiving set. Fig. 12 is a diagram of the cial theoretical points for this sysl
connections of the Massie sending end. which need not be taken up here. In
To Prof. Fessenden is given credit for operation the Slaby-Arco system is the
being inventor of the electrolytic detec- same as the others given, and need not be
tor, which is one of the most sensitive re- repeated.
ceiving devices known for use in wire- (To be continued.)
ELECTRIC "TUBES" OF LIGHT.
Davlight is hard to imitate by any Fig. i shows the interior of the rib-
form of artificial lighting-. But the new bon department of a store lighted by the
Moore light furnishes a very close ap- white Moore light. Colors are matched
proximation. Tubes of light are so much under this light at night and on dark
different from points of light, character- days with the same accuracy as in day-
istic of all other forms of illumination, light.
with the exception of the mercury vapor Fig. 2 will give a careful investigator
lamp, that considerable wonder is ex- an idea of how the system operates. First
cited when they are seen for the first will be noted the transformer, which pro-
time. duces the special form of electricity that
The Moore light consists of a clear is essential. This is the large device in
erates power by both steam and water the various stations along the line and
power plants located in different sections providing an apparatus for automatic-'
of southern California, but all are con- ally cutting it off in case of trouble. In
nected by transmission lines with the these stations power is taken from the
main distributing station at Los Angeles, main transmission line through trans-
which makes the total amount of power formers which reduce the pressure from
generated available in that city at any 75,000 volts down to 500 volts for trol-
time, if required. ley cars or no
volts for lighting pur-
One of the most interesting plants in poses. Circuit breakers, which are sim-
the entire system is the water power ply automatic switches, are used in these
station locatedon the Kern River, about stations for turning the power on or
125 miles from Los Angeles, in the off, the automatic feature being designed
Sierra Madre Mountains. Here power to instantly cut off the power in case
is generated by water from the melting of trouble, which if left on for a fev
snows in the high mountains and trans- seconds only might cause thousands of
mitted to Los Angeles and other cities dollars' worth of damage in burning out
where it is used for lighting and power expensive transformers or other appa-
purposes and for running trolley cars. ratus.
This power is transmitted at the tre- The great necessity for a circuit
mendous pressure of 75,000 volts, over breaking device for such high voltages
six heavy copper cables carried on im- resulted in the development of Kelman's
POPULAR ELECTRICITY 89
automatic oil circuit breakers, which the foundation stone of a great '"Peace
are now installed in all stations on the statue" to be erected on the Plains of
Edison Electric Company's lines, and Abraham, marking the final union of
which are doing the work required of French and English Canadians.
them in an entirely satisfactory man-
ner.
MOTOR DRIVEN ERASER
The switch blades which open or FOR DRAUGHTSMEN.
close the circuit, thus turning off or on A new
application of the electric mo-
the power, are placed in large iron tor is for the operation of an eraser. The
tanks, as shown in the picture, which device is adapted for use in draughting
are rilled with oil,it being necessary to rooms and is superior to the hand eraser
use the oil in order to prevent the de- as it is said to make absolutely clean
structive "arc" which would result if
the circuit was opened in the air. This
arc or flash would be of the same nature
as that which is often noticed at the
trolley wheel of a car, as it spins along
on the trolley wire, but whereas in the
case of the car it means only a harm-
less flashing, in the case of turning off
a large amount of power at 75,000 volts,
this arc or flash might be anywhere
from 10 to 20 or 30 feet long or even
more. Such a flash would be intensely
hot and would be very apt to result in
a destructive fire.
It may seem strange that oil, being of
an inflammable nature, is used in the erasures, owing to the high speed at
tanks instead of water. But water is which the eraser wheel revolves.
a conductor of electricity and the fluid The eraser wheel is driven with a flex-
used to "drown out" the arc must be a ible shaft by a small Westinghouse in-
non-conductor. Oil is a non-conductor. duction motor, which is easily moved
The mechanical arrangement of the from table to table in the draughting
blades, combined with the great weight room. The motor is provided with a
of oil, is such as to practically prevent flexible cord and plug for attachment
the formation of an arc, or in other to the incandescent lamp socket which
words, the arc is actually "drowned is usually provided at each draughts-
out" before it is formed, on the theory man's table.
that prevention is better than cure.
THE KILOWATT MADE EASY.
When the Commonwealth
Edison
QUEBEC'S ELECTRIC ILLUMINATIONS. Company's ordinance was before
rate
Quebec, oldest city of Canada, is to the city council of Chicago a short time
have a great celebration in August. The ago, one of the city fathers in opposing
three-hundredth anniversay of the town a motion to postpone the passage of the
is to be commemorated by fetes and il- ordinance remarked that "it didn't mat-
luminations. American, British and ter if the aldermen waited a year they
French warships to the number of 24 or wouldn't know the difference between a
more will be there to help, and they will kilowatt and a mutton chop even at the
be illuminated by electricity each night. end of that time." For their benefit and
Special electrical illuminations are being- that of the public at large here is the
arranged for the heights of the citadel kilowatt made easy.
and the upper town, including the famous Measurement of power is
electrical
Frontenac hotel, and they are expected to expressed in waits, the same as mechan-
surpass any of the kind ever before seen. ical power is measured in horsepcrv
It is expected that the Prince of Wales The watt is. therefore, the rate at which
will be there from England and will lav work is done by electric current. 746
90 POPULAR ELECTRICITY
watts represent one horsepower. This opening in the end of the frame. The
unit is too small, however, to measure motor is attached directly to the shaft
large quantities of current it:runs up of the fan.
into too many figures. So another unit is
—
used for commercial purposes the kilo- EMERGENCY STREET RAILWAY LIGHT.
watt. This equals i.ooo watts. The kilo- The illustration clearly describes a
watt, however, only measures the rate ot unique emergency lighting apparatus
work. To express the actual amount of used by a repairing crew with a large
work done the time element must come street railway company where a strong
in. that is. we must know how long the
HOOK— TO HrtJVG OV£77Z
current is flowing. Acurrent of one
kilowatt flowing for one hour will do a
certain amount of work. If it flows for
two hours it will do twice as much work.
and so on. An arbitrary unit of work
has been chosen, therefore, for commer-
cial purposes. It is the kilowatt hour.
This represents the work of 1.000 watt-.
or one kilowatt, flowing for one hour. It
is a little more than a horsepower hour.
Electric light and power companies,
consequently, charge a given sum for a 5 1-1G.HTS IN S&KIES
kilowatt hour.
U.K. SWITCH?
__ WOOD POLS
RFllL, COTV7T*FlC T7
, 1
ready to dry. It would ordinarily re- light was sometimes wanted along the
quire several hours for the prints to dry track after dark.
out by themselves, but with the aid of The construction is very simple. A
the Sturtevant propeller fan the air may wooden pole with a length equal to the
be circulated around the prints so rap- average height of the trolley wire is
idly that they will be dried in a small provided at the top with an iron hook
fraction of that time. As shown in the and at the bottom with a shoe for clasp-
picture the fan is mounted in a circular ing the rail. At a height of about seven
POPULAR ELECTRICITY 9i
feet is an iron bracket supporting a five- writer, as shown in Fig. 1. The tape is
light series cluster with an enameled then fed into the sending machine, as
steel reflector. Below this is a single shown in Fig. 2, where a wheel guides
pole jack-knife switch. Insulated wire it along its course. The holes in the tape
is run down the pole and attached to it allow electrical contact to be made, which
by cleats. sends impulses over the wire in the same
To operate, merely hang
the hook over manner that they are sent by an ordinary
the trolley wire and
spring the lower operator's key, only much faster.
shoe over the rail. Throw on the switch
and circuit is completed, giving a strong
light where required.
type using a moderate current in amperes comparatively simple. The largest single
be effective it is necessary to have lenses piece is the body casting. This is usu-
and reflectors of the most accurate and ally a circular casting of iron or steel,
perfect curves. The use of the parabolic hollowed on the inside to receive the
mirror in searchlight service is to pro- magnetizing coil, and corrugated on the
duce effective lighting at great distances, outside in order to secure the greatest
and this is done by providing a beam of possible surface area for heat radiation.
light of practically parallel rays, which Fig. 2 is a diagram, partially in cross-
can be concentrated on any object it is section, which shows very clearly the
desired to study on land or water. construction of the magnet. The mag-
The illustration herewith is taken from netizing coil is shown lying in the recess
a photographic image looking directly in the body casting. It will be seen that
into an Italian parabolic mirror with an the body casting amounts virtually to a
aberration of between 1/15 and 1/5 inch. great number of horseshoe magnets set
POPULAR ELECTRICITY 95
.
*% magnet lets go and the load is safely
deposited.
FIG. 1. LIFTING MAGNET RAISING 5,500-
A 50-inch magnet under actual test
POUND -'SKULL" OF IRON. has been known to unload a gondola car
containing 109,350 pounds of pig iron
side by side and arranged in the form of in two hours and five minutes. The aver-
a circle, the magnetizing coil being- age weight of metal moved, per lift, was
wound in the opening which would be 789 pounds. The current required to
formed by the open space between the energize the magnet was 30 amperes at
QMagnetBody
Central/ >&-Cabh
Terminal Box
legs of all these magnets. 220 volts. The cost of current con-
The object of the magnetizing coil is sumed by the magnet during the period
to increase the strength of the magnet. required unload the 54 tons of pig
to
An ordinary magnet is able to lift iron iron was than 25 cents.
less This was
or steel objects by virtue of what is accomplished by one man the crane —
called residual magnetism, which is pres- operator.
96 POPULAR ELECTRICITY
MOTOR DRIVEN BOILER TUBE CLEANER. scale forming substances are the salts of
Scale encrusted boiler tubes are not iron and magnesium. The inner surface
only extremely uneconomical in their of the boiler is soon covered with a
operation but they are a source of actual crust, which, if neglected, increases un-
danger. All ordinary feed-water con- til the tubes of water tube boilers, for
tains scale-forming elements, which, eith- instance, are completely filled.
er alone or with oils or grease from the If the deposit of scale in the boiler
engine, are precipitated on every surface tubes cannot be prevented by adding
with which the water comes in contact in chemicals to the feed water, mechanical
the boiler. Water, in passing through means must be resorted to in order to
the earth, dissolves manv substances and clean the tubes. Mechanical cleaners of
carries others in suspension. Bi-carbon- various types have been devised to bore
ate of lime (quicklime) and sulphate of their way through the tubes and remove
lime (plaster paris) are generally the the scale. This work cannot well be done
most troublesome. The bi-carbonate by hand as considerable power is re-
changes to carbonate at about 200 de- quired. The electric motor has been
grees F. and is precipitated. It forms a found applicable to this work. In case
soft scale, which with grease or oil be- there are a large number of boilers in
comes dense and adheres to the tubes and line, an ideal arrangement is to use an
plates. The sulphate forms a hard scale overhead track with a carriage for the
which is much more difficult to remove. motor. This scheme is shown in the
Earthy and organic matter are also illustration herewith, which is a view in
precipitated when the feed water reaches one of the power plants of the St. Louis
boiling temperature and often add Transit Company. The tube cleaner in
greatly to the amount of scale. Other this case is of the Weinland type and is
POPULAR ELECTRICITY 97
driven by a belt from the motor. As the in this way it will be seen that only one
successive tubes are cleaned the motor gear reduction necessary, and the con-
is
is moved back and forth on its carriage. crete wall separates the motors from the
mills, securing an unusually clean motor
room.
ELECTRIC MOTORS IN THE CEMENT At this plant there are 140 motors in
INDUSTRY. use, having a total output of 5,740 horse-
The marvelous increase in the con- power, while at plant No. 5 of the same
sumption of cement within the last 10 company, at Pittsburg, there are 148
years has brought forth a new industry motors having a total output 3,533 horse-
of great magnitude. Cement in the form power.
of concrete or reinforced concrete is be- It may be stated that in the manufac-
ing employed in almost every form of ture of Portland cement the essential ele-
building construction. Great skyscrap- ments are alumina, silica and lime. These
ers in the larger cities, chimneys, ma- elements are finely ground, mixed in the
chinery foundations, dwellings and right proportion (approximately 8 per
churches, bridges, etc., are among the cent, 21 per cent and 62 per cent of these
many structures made from concrete. It three ingredients, respectively, and 9 per
is said that last year over 50,000,000 bar- cent impossible to eliminate
impurities
rels of Portland cement was manufac- commercially), and
roasted at about
tured. 2,800° F., when they are again ground.
With this great development and in- There are many raw materials in which
creased output of cement every effort the necessary ingredients are found. The
has been made to utilize modern labor- right proportion is generally obtained by
saving devices, and electric power has combining two materials, in one of which
been employed to great advantage in eco- lime predominates, and in the other
nomically operating the up-to-date ma- and alumina. The materials used in this
chinery in cement manufacturing plants. country include cement rock and lime-
The accompanying illustration shows stone, also limestone and shale, or clay
12 motors at plant No. 4 of the Univer- ami marl. Blast furnace slag and lime-
sal Portland Cement Company at Buf- stone are also used as well as caustic -
fington, Ind. With the motors arranged waste and clay.
98 POPULAR ELECTRICITY
UNCLE SAM'S NEW SUBMARINE. minute, a range of electromotive force
The question of relative merit inthe of from 80 to 160 volts and a current
types of submarine torpedo boats de- capacity of 300 amperes at full load, with
signed by the leading American invent- a momentary capacity of 450 amperes.
ors bids fair to be settled before long. There are 60 cells of the well-known
The recent action of the Secretary of the Gould type of storage battery, with spun
Navy means that the Lake type of plates of the Plante pattern. It is esti-
—
underwater fighter -the invention of mated that at full speed the batteries will
—
Simon Lake shall have representation give a cruising radius of 20 knots,
in the Navy as well as the Holland. The whereas at an economical speed this will
principal point of difference between the reach 30 knots. For the purpose of
Holland design and the Lake boat is that speedy dashes in attack or escape the
the latter submerges on a level keel, motors and engines can be coupled to-
whereas the former dives to the bottom. gether on the driving shafts thus giving
The motive power of the new or Lake a combined propulsive power on the two
type of submarine consists of a double screws of 350 horsepower.
installation of gas engines and electric
—
motors one motor and one engine being
ELECTRICITY IN ITS INFANCY.
connected to each of the twin shafts.
The gas engines are for use only when Electricians say rightly enough that
the vessel is navigating at the surface. they have just started in to make this
All submarine work is performed with the electrical century and also to make
electricalenergy from a storage battery. everything electrical. Why not? The
For regular underwater propulsion the Lmited States leads in everything that
standard type of Lake boat has on each relates to electricity and here are some
shaft a six-pole, shunt-wound, Diehl figures.
motor, the motor beinsf thro 1
\r The Census Office reports that though
friction clutch. When merely the en- gas had nearly 75 years the start of elec-
gines are being used to drive the boat tricity, yet electricity as an illuminant is
the armature of the motor revolves free- now easily in the first place. Yet gas as
ly with lifted brushes and serves the pur- matter of fact has not lost in the amount
pose of a fly-wheel. Each motor has a consumed by the introduction of elec-
rated capacity of 37^2 kilowatts at 125 tricity. It is simply that electric lighting
volts when driven at 300 revolutions a has forced awav ahead of it. There are
POPULAR ELECTRICITY 99
beam of light through the small orifice revolving, receiving cylinder. The light
made in the exterior stationary cylinder. from this lamp will vary according to the
may be well to state that selenium
It strength of the current flowing, and the
is a material resembling sulphur in some decomposition effected on the deposit of
respects which permits the passage of this film will vary in extent with the in-
electricity through it in proportion to the tensity of the light, so that when the film
intensity of the light that falls upon its
surface. In other words, its electrical
resistance varies greatly as the light
varies. When exposed to light the re-
sistance is very much less, and the elec-
tric current passing through the circuit
containing a selenium cell will be cor-
respondingly greater than when the cell
is not subjected to the light.
A
selenium cell usually consists of two
small wires wound around a small piece
of non-conducting material, such as hard
rubber, and having the fused selenium
poured around the wires to electrically
join them.
Assume that the two glass cylinders
are revolving at the sending and receiv-
ing ends at uniform speed, and also that
the cylinders have a lateral movement,
like the reproducer on a cylinder grapho-
phone By this means all of the surface
of the cylinder carrying the fi will 1
m
eventually pass before the orifices in
the respective light-excluding stationary
cylinders
The developed photograph film around
the rotating cylinder of the transmitting
instrument is transparent, but the silver
deposit, representing the picture is more
ELECTRIC PICTURE TRANSMITTER.
or less opaque When the transmitting
cylinder is revolved and gradually
moved vertically, the lights and shadows has been developed it will be practically
of the picture are in turn brought in a duplicate of the developed film used at
front of the beam of light and the in- the transmitting or sending end. From
this developed film photographs may be
tensity of the light when it reaches the
printed.
selenium cell is thereby modified accord-
ingly As the beam of light falls upon In the year 1883 the writer developed
the selenium cell, its intensity is varied and patented a system by means of which
by the lights and shadows of the photo- photographs can be reproduced at a dis-
graph negative as they in turn pass be- tant receiving end upon an engraved
fore it. The strength of the current block by an engraving tool operated by
transmitted to the distant receiving in- electromagnets. From this block the
strument is accordingly varied as the re- original picture may be printed by plac-
sistance of the selenium cell is varied by ing the block in an ordinary printing
the intensity of the light falling upon it. press.
PART II.
Having in our introductory chapter from (A) is connected with one of the
considered the general principles which primary binding posts (C). Before it
underlie the science of electricity, it now gets there, however, it will be seen to
behooves us to become familiar with the split into distinct wires, one of
construction and the uses of the various which is seen to ascend and form the
instruments or apparatus which are em- primary coil (D and B) winding around
ployed in the application of electrical the core. For the present do not notice
energy in medicine. The best known, but the direction in which the arrows point.
not by any means most easily under- This will be made clearer later on.
stood, instrument is the so-called After winding around the helix it re-
Faradic induction coil, which produces turns and connects with the circuit-
the well-known interrupted current with breaker, which is the vibrator or inter-
which every person is familiar who has rupting- hammer. Looking at the dia-
ever handled a common toy battery. gram you notice at the extreme right a
The Faradic coil (physician's induc- battery post (A), then another batten-
tion coil) consists of an iron core, made post (A'), then a post upon which the
of a bundle of iron wire or a solid piece regulating screw (G) is mounted, and
of iron, which is covered with some in- finally the circuit-breaker. This circuit-
sulating material such as paraffin paper. breaker is of a hammer (H),
a sort
Around this core a course of wire is mounted on top of a spring which is in
wound called the primary coil. This is contact with the regulating screw at
also covered with insulating material. (M). This end of the regfulatingf screw
Gt
•Screuf -J
Then follows a winding of finer wire, is a platinum point. The spring of tne
the secondary coil. Thus we have a core, circuit-breaker may move forward (see
a primary coil and secondary coil en- diagram in broken lines), causing a gap
tirely separated from one another by in- at (M) and breaking the circuit at that
sulation. point. If the spring moves back, contact
Look diagram (Fig. i) and fol-
at the will be perfect at (M), and the circuit,
low the course of the wires which start at therefore, complete. The hammer is
the two posts (A) and (A'). These two placed opposite one end of the helix,
posts represent the two elements (posi- touching it when the spring carries the
tive and negative) of the battery gener- hammer, forward. When there is con-
ating and furnishing: the current. The tact at ( M ) , there is a gap between helix
current is constant (galvanic). The wire and hammer. When there is contact be-
POPULAR ELECTRICITY 103
tween core and hammer there is a gap The make and break of a circuit gives
at (M). rise to some characteristic physical ef-
The battery post (A') is connected fects. Every interruption of the current
with the post upon which the regulating means a reversal of its direction or po-
screw mounted. The primary binding
is
larity. Thus we see that the faradic
post (C) connects with the circuit- current is an alternating current. Since
breaker. The primary binding posts (C the alternations are comparatively slow,
and C) hold the wires that go to the we may speak of interrupted currents of
patient. this kind as being currents of low fre-
quency. The frequency of an alternat-
Let us follow the complete circuit.
ing- current, as we have seen in our first
From (A) to the primary coil and to
lesson, expresses the speed of alterna-
(C), then to the circuit-breaker, then
tion.
to (C). \When contact at (M) is com-
plete, the circuit at that point is per-
When the current is actively in evi-
dence, magnetization of the helix takes
fect. The only gap or break in the cir-
place. This means that the helix is sur-
cuit is between the two binding posts
rounded by lines of magnetic radiation.
at (C) and (C). This break is filled
by the patient's body.
Thus we see that the waves of magnet-
ism radiate in the same space which is
Whenthe battery is generating elec-
the scene of action of the electrical radi-
the current will pass through the
tricity,
ation in the primary and secondary coil.
primary wire which winds around the There is a necessary cutting or intersec-
helix. The latter is magnetized while tion of magnetic waves by the convolu-
the current passes. The magnetic helix tion of the primary and secondary wind-
will attract the hammer of the circuit-
ings of wire. The more convolutions of
breaker and cause a break at (M). The
wire, the greater the number of intersec-
moment this break occurs, the circuit is tions of magnetic waves. This is of im-
broken, the current stops, the helix
portance because upon the number
ceases to be magnetic and the hammer is
of intersections of magnetic and elec-
let go and springs back to its original
trical lines of energy depends the in-
position, which means that contact at
crease in the electromotive force (volt-
(M) is again made and the circuit of age) of the current.
the current re-established. The helix
Thus we see that the faradic current
again becomes magnetic, the hammer is
is characterized by alternation of polar-
again attracted towards the helix and
ity, the frequency of alternation being
away from the platinum point at (M).
comparatively low, and by an increase in
It is a continuous make and break of the
the electromotive force, the increase de-
circuit.
pending on the number of turns in the
The secondary coil (F) is not con- primary or secondary wire. The fact
nected with the battery. Being placed in that the direction of the current is re-
the magnetic field of the primary coil it versed whenever an interruption of the
gets its current by induction from the circuit occurs is illustrated in our dia-
primary coil. Its only attachments are gram by the position of the arrows see (
to its own binding posts (E and E') be- position of arrows indicating opposite
tween which the patient's body is inter- directions of current flow in the same
posed. The make and break of the cir- circuit at B and D).
cuit the secondary coil corresponds
in
For the purpose of applying galvanic
in every particular to the make and (constant) currents or faradic inter- I
break in the primarv circuit. Being an rupted) currents the modern physician
induced current its direction or polarity usually equips himself with a switch-
is constantly changing.
board upon which the different devices
Most coils are provided" with what is for the regulation of electrical energy
called a shield (L) which can be pulled are mounted. This switchboard is con-
out, thereby exposing more and more nected with the cells that produce the
of the helix and increasing the amount electrical energy, or is connected with
of electricity involved in the magnetiza- the lighting circuit from the stvet. I.i
tion of the core. the latter case it is wired in series with
104 POPULAR ELECTRICITY
an incandescent light consuming a cer- tween the rheotome and the milli-ampere-
tain quantity of electricity. In this way meter in the lower left hand corner. The
the amount of electrical energy sup- milli-amperemeter measures the quantity
plied to the switchboard is definitely lim- of current passing. There are many
ited and controlled. The switchboard types of this instrument. The best
may be laid on a table or placed on the known and most frequently employed
wall or mounted in a more or less elab- type is shown in Fig. 3.
orate roller cabinet. The shown in the lower
rheostat
is
mentioned there are switches to control XX) goes directly to the patient. The
the primary and secondary faradic cur- other supplies the rheostat, which repre-
rent, the galvanic current, the milli-am- sents resistance, and is increased or de-
peremeter and the rheotome. The rheo-
stat is usually in the circuit of whatever
current is used. Two binding posts for
the patient complete the equipment of
the switchboard. Some faradic coils
have two circuit-breakers, one at each
end of the helix, for very rapid or only
ordinarily fast interruption. The ap-
pearance of the ordinary switchboard is
shown in Fig. 2.
The instrument in the upper right
hand corner is the ( faradic) induction
coil, that in the upper left hand corner
is the rheotome, consisting of a clock-
work which allows the current to pass
only at certain intervals. The length ne. BDLLI-AMPEEEMETER
of the interval is controlled by the pen- creased by the handle. Both wires supply
dulum on the face of the instrument and a lamp which takes up as much electricity
also by the switch which in our illustra- as will pass through the rheostat. It is in
tion is shown below the instrument, be- a shunt circuit. Sometimes this lamp
POPULAR ELECTRICITY IO:
is wired in series with the patient by ural magnets, those which naturally and
being placed either between (PP) and constantly possess the property of mag-
patient or (NN) and patient. netism, and artificial magnets, those in
The rheostat controls the galvanic as which the magnetic property is produced
well as the faradic current. It controls artificially, e. g., by electricity in the
CORES
smmm&m
LONGITUDINAL- -SECTIONS' WIRES :ross
FIG. 6. CONSTRUCTION OF BENNETT COIL.
the galvanic current absolutely and ex- helix of an induction coil. The mag-
clusively. The faradic current has other netic field the sphere of influence sur-
is
most in the elaboration of this subject, ing circuit and on both sides of the chair
Dr. H. C. Bennett of Lima, Ohio., and occupied by the patient who literally sur-
C. Bachelet, a physicist in Xew York. rounded by a flood of magnetic waves.
The construction of the Bennett in- (To be continued.)
strument is shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
The body of the instrument consists ELECTRICALLY HEATED FABRICS.
of a heavy pasteboard drum over which Early in the development of electric
a great quantity of insulatedwire is science a curious phenomenon was dis-
wound. This coil is covered or sur- covered, which is known as the thermo-
rounded by a tubular battery of com- phile effect. It was found that when two
pound electromagnets. The construction different metals were joined together,
is shown in longitudinal and transverse and a current of electricity sent through
section. The inside space (vortex, them, heat was generated at the junction.
eddy) receives the part to be treated, A modern application of the thermophile
e. g., arm
or leg. The instrument is takes the form of electrically heated fab-
placed in the circuit of an alternating rics. These fabrics are loosely woven
current, preferably no volts and 60 and small wires made up of alternate
cycles. sections of different metals are inter-
The Bachelet instrument is simpler, woven through the fabric. When cur-
consisting of a flat box ten inches square rent is sent through the wires the junc-
and about two inches thick. It contains tions are heated.
several powerful electromagnets. The Applications of the thermophile are
POPULAR ELECTRICITY 107
numerous, and they are used to a consid- covered with thin metal plate. The cur-
erable extent, especially in Europe, for rent is conveyed to the fabric by rubbing
foot warmers in railway coaches and contacts on the axle, and the temperature
carriages. Perhaps their widest applica- necessary at any moment can be regulat-
tion is in medical practice, where they ed. The losses of steam through turn-
are used for warming- operating tables ing joints and the stains caused by con-
during long operations ; also in com- densation waters are avoided, and above
presses, gloves, knee caps, leggings, etc., all, the mass of these cylinders and their
for applying heat locally to different great thickness can be reduced to the
parts of the body. It is stated that the minimum without danger of bursting,
which is frequent and dangerous in
steam heated rolls.
BOOK REVIEW.
CONVERSATIONS OF ELECTRICITY.
PART Bv Joseph G. Branch. Chicago,
I.
voltage wire and is therefore charged upon a dry, clean board and removing
above the normal. Some interesting ob- the wire with a piece of dry board
servations regarding the effects of elec- not large enough to stand on, or
tric shocks are given in Cassier's Mag- with several thicknesses of dry paper
zine from which the following extracts (a newspaper), or, in case of emergency,
are taken: a bundle of dry clothing.
"Touch one side of a circuit lightly
with the finger while making contact A KITE TELEPHONE.
with the other side either through a An interesting combination of a kite
ground or by actually touching it the ;
and special telephone set to be used for
sensation is similar to receiving a violent war purposes is proposed by Edward E.
blow in the chest a small burn that is
;
Harbert of Chicago. The principal fea-
deep, but not painful, will be found on ture of the invention consists of an egg-
the finger where contact was made. shaped telephone case, having on one
Make a better contact, as by touching the side °glass tube with electrical connec-
circuit with a piece of metal held firmly tions a. the top end and in the sides, and
in the hand, and the blow will be strong a q v of mercury in the lower por-
enough to knock the experimenter down. tico. ? large end of the case is
probable that no burn will result, as
It is weighted. A transmitter and receiver,
the current has a large surface through on a complete metallic circuit, are in-
which to enter the hand ; in rare cases the closed in the case, which can easily be
person may become unconscious for a opened. The case is suspended, large
short time. Grasp the wire firmly in the end up, from a light double wire running
hand, and for a time at least it will be over a pulley which is attached to the
impossible to release it. Serious burns kite line close to the kite. Large box
are made where the wire touches the kites are used of sufficient strength and
hand, and unless the victim succeeds in size to support che apparatus as well as
wrenching himself free, or help is quickly their own necessarily heavy flying line.
rendered, the result is liable to prove The big box kite is sent up in the air
fatal. The last case is of very rare oc- by the party which is approaching the
currence it is pretty sure to obtain con-
; beleaguered spot and to it are paid off
siderable space in the daily papers when from reels the kite string and the tele-
it actually does occur, while in many of phone wires. At intervals the secondary
the reports seen the victim may exclaim, kites are sent up. When careful calcu-
with Mark Twain, 'Accounts of my death lation shows the kite is directly over the
greatly exaggerated.' On the other spot to be reached the kite line reel is
hand, people are knocked down by the checked and the telephone reel is allowed
current every day. It is rather peculiar to run, lowering the egg-shaped case
that the 500 volt shock will, in the ma- from the pulley to the ground. When it
jority of cases, kill a horse. strikes on any surface it tips upon its
"Trolley current is a 500-volt circuit, side because of its shape and the mer-
with the exception of perhaps half a cury in the glass tube runs down to the
dozen lines recently installed, which go top, making connection between the two
to 1,000 or over; and the statements electric terminals and establishing a cir-
above apply to the trolley as well as to cuit which immediately rings a bell at the
motors. As the return circuit is through sending station. The operator then knows
the rails, the circuit is always grounded. that the apparatus is on the ground and
It is well to remember, in case of a fall- cuts out the bell circuit.
ELECTRICAL MEN OF THE TIMES.
BION J. ARNOLD.
It is interesting to follow the life of a ments which have won for him the hon-
genius, the more so if he be a young ored place he now holds in the profes-
man whose future holds promise of new sion would make a long story. It will
and greater things. That Bion J. Ar- suffice tosay that he was made delegate
nold is a genius none can deny a ge- — to the International Electrical Congress
nius not of the kind who devotes his in Paris in 1900; was president of the
time to the pursuit of the elusive but American Institute of Electrical Engi-
whose energies are given to the solving neers, 1903 to 1904 vice-president and
;
household
MORE COMFORT IN THE HOME.
BY ELIZABETH H. CALLAHAN.
"How can I solve this servant prob- food within the utensil. It does not
lem," said a delicate little woman to me throw out the heat to make the air of
one day. "I cannot afford to pay the the kitchen heavy, and this alone proves
wages they ask, neither am I able to it by far the most healthful method of
stand by a hot stove and get overheated. cooking. No more matches for the
Our family is small, but there is just so small boy of the house to make a blaze
much cooking that must be done." "Why or gas burners for him to turn on. Elec-
not try cooking by electricity," I asked. tricity is the "safe fire" to have in the
"Oh, I know nothing about electricity house with children. The housewife no
and am afraid that is a dream of the longer dreads the hour for preparing
future." Then I hastened to assure this dinner. Any of these devices may be
little woman that cooking by electricity ready for use within a few moments
is no dream but a very pleasant reality, after attaching the plug at the side of
and showed her how simple, safe, help- the utensil. Simple, you say. Why a
ful and clean it is. I might go on in- child could cook with electricity, and
definitely describing the merits of cook- indeed it seems like child's play after
ing with electricity. using a coal range.
We are all familiar with the coal and Let me describe a few of these uten-
gas range. They both have their good sils. The cereal cooker or steamer is a
points, but they also both have their dirt combination which may also be used as
and heat. How much better it is to a water heater or double boiler. When
have a clean oak table that never needs steam is used a small quantity of water
to be blackened, only wiped with a damp is sufficient, and the heater uses less
cloth when necessary. We have at the current and requires less time for cook-
back of this table a switchboard on ing. It is made of sheet aluminum.
which are fastened the cords that are The coffee percolator is also made of
attached to the cooking devices when sheet aluminum and is an ornament to
they are in use. The neat, shining any breakfast or dinner table. This
utensils appeal to the careful housewife, method of making coffee extracts the
and this table becomes her pride and flavor from the coffee bean without the
pleasure. harmful ingredients. There is no alco-
The complete outfit consists of cereal hol to spill on the table and make a dis-
cooker or steamer, griddle, broiler, cof- agreeable odor. Simply connect the cord
fee percolator, water heater, plate warm- to the chandelier above the table and
er, frying pans, and best of all, an oven. within a few moments a delicious cup
No more headache on baking day. On a of coffee is ready to be served.
warm day in summer the kitchen is as The plate warmer or stove is made of
cool as the parlor, for electricity does cast ironand has a flat top on which any
the work assigned to it and cooks the ordinary sauce pan may be placed. We
POPULAR ELFXTRICITY in
meals can be prepared in half the time — and iron in the cool air. In speaking of
no more cross hostesses because the fire the laundry, we must not forget the
won't burn. Only a happy, cheerful motor to run the washing machine. Just
housewife, who sits down to a quickly attach the small motor to the machine
prepared meal without the worried look and you will find where the washing
she used to wear. used to take the whole morning, in less
Do we use electricity only in the than an hour it will be hanging on the
kitchen, you ask ? Oh no In every room
! line.
in the house we have some means of In the dining room we have the
comfort procured through the agency of ing dish which has become a household
electricity. necessity. Many a dainty meal can be
112 POPULAR ELECTRICITY
prepared by the hostess when she does we all know the comfort and almost im-
not wish to go into the kitchen for the mediate from pain which
relief comes
after-theater or Sunday night supper. It from the application of heat.
is also just the thing for the young For the bath room we have the hot
folks, who may wish to make candy at water heater for the man of the house to
a time when it is not convenient for heat water for shaving or mother to
them to be in the kitchen. The chafing heat baby's milk at night.
dish ma}" be carried up stairs if neces-
sary where the invalid member of the
weather is cool we can turn on
If the
nace.
Why need we have our backs aching
because we have run a sewing machine
all day? If electricity did our washing.
why not our sewing. Let the motor run
the machine and the seamstress need
only guide the seam and rest her weary
limbs. If she wishes to press a seam all
she need to do is to connect the small
iron to a convenient lamp socket and
press her seams without going into the
kitchen and wasting her time waiting
for an iron to heat or often for the fire
to come up.
It takes but a few moments when our
friends drop in of an afternoon to turn
en the switch by the side of the tea ta-
IT'S COZY BY THE LUMINOUS RADIATOR.
ble in the parlor and attach the cord to
the side of the kettle. In a few mo-
est amusement. He prepared many of ments the tea kettle is singing merrily
his meals, having a chafing dish table and we have a nice hot cup of tea to re-
with everything convenient to his hand. fresh our friends.
He gave many a delightful "spread" to Do the men who go to the offices
his friends, and his family blessed the where the electric fan makes a delight-
chafing dish for saving them man}" a ful breeze ever think of buying one for
trying hour. their wives to cool them
as they go
And what has electricity done for the about their necessary duties' Could any-
sick folks? The heating pad takes the thing be pleasanter on a hot day than to
place of the hot water bottle that usual- sit in a room when an electric fan is
ly breaks at the time it is most needed. running? We almost forget that it is
or leaks, causing the patient to take warm and look around for a wrap, won-
cold. The heating pad may be regulated dering meanwhile how we ever were able
to give three degrees of heat bv a switch to do our work before electricity did it
which the invalid can easily turn, and for us.
POPULAR ELECTRICITY 113
Photo by Gerlach.
UNIQUE LIBRARY ILLUMINATION.
artistic and practicable application of
electricity to library lighting.
A REVELATION.
When on low heat it fills the demand for It is morning in the electrical house,
a mild foot warmer, and on a high heat a touch of a button lights the face of
it quite effective for a local heater
is a tiny clock on the dresser and the
under the desk, or some similar location. master of the house can see that it is
time to get up. The weight of a finger
UNIQUE LIBRARY ILLUMINATION. on another button lights the room
Reading, at times a pleasure, be-
all another button pressed and the electric
comes more than ever enjoyable amid luminous radiator sends its cheering
luxurious surroundings such as are pic- heat out into the room.
tured in the accompanying illustration. In the bathroom the water for the
Of all the furnishings, the feature to first morning bath is heated as fast as it can
attract the attention is the candelabra of be drawn, by the instantaneous water
electric incandescent lamps with its um- heater. The luminous radiator quickly
brella-like reflector or canopy which heats the room. The electric shaving
casts the rays downward. The lamp mug prepares the suds for the morning
globes are frosted, so that the glare does shave and the >electric vibrating ma-
not become objectionably strong". The chine is ready to administer the invig-
various corners and nooks in the library orating massage.
arc also illuminated by individual bracket With the mistress of the electrical
lamps. The photo from which, the house there is no waiting for sleepy
cut was reproduced shows an interior eyed servants no poking at slow burn-
:
view of one of Chicago's most beauti- ing fires no carrying and handling of
:
ful homes, and is an example of the coal and ashes. While she is dressing
H4 POPULAR ELECTRICITY
she touches a button, and the invisible lated to any degree. She can run the
fires in the electric kitchen are started ice cream freezer or the sewing machine
and by the time she appears in the all day and not get tired. Behold She !
kitchen the cereal is cooking and the is also the dish washer, and to her
tea kettle boiling away. In a few min- you can trust your daintiest china, with-
utes the breakfast is prepared in the out fear of injury. She delights and
electric stove and the day is fairly be- educates the children by turning their
gun. — Everbest Magazine. toy wind-mills and merry-go-rounds.
She has at her command numerous
THE NEW SERVANT GIRL. little machines that are very useful one ;
watch her whirl out a batch of clothes She can play the piano better than
in the washing machine, change a little Paderewski, himself. The stereopticon
belt and run them through the wringer. she can run beautifully and never make
Then she irons the flat work on a family a mistake in slipping scenes along. On
mangle, and smooths the fancy pieces a cold winter's night she will meet you
with a hand iron. at the door with a bright welcome and
With her portable vacuum cleaning a warm reception. With her fans and
machinery she can clean a room in short sprayers going, the atmosphere of her
order. She simply runs the dirt collec- house is as pure and invigorating as the
tor, which is on the end of a long rub- mountain air.
ber tube, over the rugs, mattresses, por- This matchless maiden has switches
tiers, walls, etc., and the suction forces in her hair, fire in her eye, wheels in
the dirt and dust through the tube into her head, volts in her throat, rubber in
the dust pan in the cabinet, which also her neck, speed in her feet and healing
contains the works. in her hands. Her favorite amusement
It's perfectly wonderful but !she is looping the loops. Her lineage is
knows how to manufacture ice. She aristocratic, dating back to Benjamin
turns the kitchen refrigerator into a Franklin. She is extremely fond of her
miniature ice factory and freezes a coat- relations,and woe to the party that gets
ing of ice all over on the inside of its between her and her connections. De-
different compartments between the out- spite her culture and refinement if she
er case and the inner linings. No ice is not properly treated, she will shock
man's dirty tracks up the back steps for you.
her. Take her and trust her and she will
Her baking and cooking are something bring you comfort, safety and happiness.
to be remembered, nothing burnt on What! Never met her? How unfortu-
one side and raw on the other, since the nate Come and be introduced to "Miss
!
A MOTOR FOR THE SEWING MACHINE. the belt and starts the machine. Per-
Application of a motor to the sewing fect regulation of the speed is obtained
machine is highly appreciated in any after a few minutes' practice. In fact
household where a considerable amount the needle may be stopped with greater
of sewing is done. Motors for this pur- promptness than when running from the
pose are now manufactured which are foot pedal, and the usual control over
equally satisfactory for drop-head or sta- the speed is readily, learned.
tionary-head sewing machines.
In the Westinghouse type of sewing AN ELECTRIC LAUNDRY WASHER.
Modern conveniences for doing house-
work go a long way toward solving the
problem of securing and retaining do-
mestic help. One of the great stumbling
blocks has always been the laundry work,
but a neat electrically driven washer, sim-
ilar to the one shown in the illustration,
is much dismay to the
less apt to strike
heart of a prospective servant than is
the old-fashioned wash tub.
No particular knowledge of electricity
is necessary in the operation of the ma-
chine. Simply moving the little con-
duction coils we sell at the store, and So Ralph worked secretly in the store-
which are used for the shocking
little room that day and set up the camera
outfits. On the door I will nail another and made the electrical connections as
strip of tin so it will just brush over the described. After dark that evening he
strip on the floor when the door is open- opened the shutter of the camera. But
ed. From the tin on the door I will run next morning nothing had happened,
a wire to the other terminal of the in- and the box was still up over the camera
duction coil. I will also connect a dry and a plate was spoiled by the daylight.
battery with the coil, as it would be On the second night something hap-
connected if we used the induction coil pened, however. In the morning when
as a 'shocker.' Then I will put the two Ralph went to look at his camera trap
littlemetal handles of the induction he found the door open and the box was
coils which you take hold of when you down over the camera. Very carefully
want to get a shock from the coil, very he covered the box and camera with a
close together in my dish of flash-light black cloth and carried them to his dark
—
powder not quite touching, but less than room and developed the plate. The
a sixteenth of an inch apart. When the picture with this story shows how well
door is opened the connection will be he succeeded. The thief entering the
door was one of his father's employes
and who had never been suspected of
dishonesty. When the flashlight was ex-
ploded he evidently became frightened
and left the store in a hurry. He was
never seen again in the town, for he
evidently suspected that he would be
found out.
All the same, there were no more
robberies and Ralph got the credit for
discovering the thief.
connections as you would use with any time. When the steel spring leaves a peg
other cell should be made. When not in the current is broken and the magnets
use the cover should be removed and exert very little pull until the next peg
the elements thoroughly cleaned with comes under the spring and closes the
hot water. The solution, when not in circuit again.
use, should be kept in a corked bottle. By arranging the circuit-making pegs
on the wheel in the proper position, the
electromagnets may be made to give a
ELECTROMAGNETIC TOY ENGINE. series of pulls, one for each armature
projection as it gets near the pole pieces
Boys who have access to a fairly well
of the magnets. As each armature
equipped workshop will find that an elec-
leaves the pole pieces on the other side
tromagnetic engine is not hard to con-
the circuit is broken by the spring leav-
struct. The one illustrated in the accom-
ing the peg. The circuit is not made
panying cut is a patented device, but by
again till the next armature comes near
studying its construction carefully some
the pole pieces and the next peg closes
valuable ideas as to the method of pro-
the circuit. In this manner the wheel
cedure in constructing a similar one may
may be made to revolve rapidly. For
be gained.
the sake of variety gear wheels may be
The toy consists of a main frame with
added as shown in the cut.
two electromagnets suspended from the
top. These might be two electromagnets
from an ordinary doorbell. The iron
cores of the magnets extend downward
HOW TO CONSTRUCT A SHOCKING COIL.
some distance and between them is Parts needed for a simple shocking
mounted a fly wheel as seen in the cut. coil can all be made at home with the
This fly wheel carries on each side four exception of the wire which will not
armature pieces of soft iron which pass cost over fifty cents. The coil complete
consists of the following parts : Iron
wire core, primary winding, secondary
winding, two wood ends, and vibrator.
The iron wire core can be made from
soft annealed iron wire such as is sold by
all hardware stores, the size should be
No. 22 or smaller. The wire is first cut
in lengths of 3^ inches, a sufficient
amount being cut to form a bundle cl-
inch in diameter.
The primary winding is wound over
the completed core. Two layers of Xo.
22 single silk-coated wire are used, be-
close to the cores of the magnets as the ing wound on continuously from end to
wheel revolves. end and leaving ^4-inch space at each
The magnet coils of the electromagnets end, for insertion in the wood supports.
are connected with a dry battery. Cur- The wire should be wound on closely
rent comes from the battery to the termi- and evenly as possible, although any
nal (m) up an insulated wire to the coils, slight irregularities will not hurt in this
through the coils to the iron frame on the size coil. About four layers of good
other side, down the frame to the axle of strong typewriter paper are wrapped on
the fly wheel to one of the four iron pegs over the primary winding and glued
(O), and through the steel spring (V) to down with shellac glue.
the other terminal of the battery. The secondary winding of thin wire
It will be seen that the coils are in is composed of a large number of lay-
circuit as long as the steel spring is ers. For this we will need two ounces
against one of the four pegs, and there- of Xo. 30 double silk coated magnet
fore the magnets exert a strong pull on wire wound on over the primary wind-
the armature mounted on the wheel which ing continuously as in ease of the prim-
is nearest the magnet pole pieces at the ary. The winding operation can he
120 POPULAR ELECTRICITY
greatly facilitated by providing a sim- the plan in Fig. i. Here we have a view
ple winding machine, the work will also of the coil with the primary and second-
be much nicer than by hand, which ary shown. When the key at (G) is
proves very tedious. This machine may closed the battery current flows around
be rigged up as the ingenuity of the ex- the core ( H ) ,through the two layers of
perimenter may suggest. When the sec- primary wire. In flowing around this
ondary wire has been wound the whole core the current changes it into a state
coil is dropped in a pot of boiling para- of magnetism, and it will in this state
fine wax. This is necessary or the coils attract iron objects such as tacks, etc.
would not have insulation enough from This fact is taken advantage of and a
one another. It also helps to hold the small iron disk (C) is pivoted right be-
secondary in shape. The boiling is con- hind the core by a small brass spring-
tinued until all bubbles cease to appear (D) which is screwed fast to a bind-
ing post (B).
A second contact post is also provided
at (A) through which the battery cur-
rent completes the circuit. If the key at
(G) is closed the current flows around
the core through the primary winding,
thereby setting up a state of magnetism
which attracts the soft iron disk (C).
When the disk flies forward the contacts
are broken at (E). As no current then
flows the magnetism ceases to exist and
allows the hammer to fly back only to
make connection and be attracted again.
It is this rapid "make and break" of the
FIG. 1. current which will cause a smart shock
to be felt by grasping the metal handles
at the top, the parts can now be taken (K) leading to the secondary terminals.
out and laid aside to dry. While there is no actual connection be-
The coil ends or supports can be made tween the first and second windings, yet
out of wood, hard rubber or ebonite. If a current is set up in the secondary
wood is used it should be stained to a when the vibrator starts in operation,
dead black which much resembles ebon- which is of higher voltage than that in
ite. The ends can be sawed round or the primary coil. This is due to what
square, the round ends, however, look
much better. The size should be i%-
inch in diameter and %. -inch thick with
a T 4-inch hole drilled in the center. The
ends are now fitted on the core and
should make an exact fit. The parts are
now mounted on a neatly finished wood
base four by six inches in area and
/
J
2 -mch thick. Screws can be run from FIG. 2.
Parts which go to make up the vi- the coil is often called an induction coil.
brator can be picked up by any boy For the actual construction, the parts
around his shop, with the probable ex- given below are required. A brass
ception of the platinum which can be se- binding post shown at (A), Fig. I is re-
cured by breaking a burnt-out incan- quired. This is one inch in height with
descent bulb and taking out the lead-in holes threaded through the center y%-
wires. inch from the bottom. The soft iron
Before taking up the construction of disk (C) may be either round or square
the vibratorwe had best study out the and ^4-inch in diameter 3/16-inch thick.
operation which is fully explained by This disk is soldered or screwed to a
POPULAR ELECTRICITY 121
strip of thin spring brass ^-inch wide ends may then be fastened to this key,
and one inch long. Through the oppo- one on each side. The insulation should
site end of the strip a hole is drilled and then be removed for a space of about
the strip is screwed to the post (B) at five inches, starting a little way from
the screw hole ^-inch from the bottom. the place where wires are fastened. The
A small piece of the platinum wire is other ends of the wires must now be
hammered flat and soldered in the mid- fastened securely to a wall or block of
dle of the brass spring, this is shown at wood enough away from the clock
far
(E), Fig. i. Through the binding post, to prevent the wiresfrom sagging and
a large thumb screw is run. In the end thereby coming into contact with each
of this screw is placed a small platinum other. The wires should be fastened
contact which touches the platinum as about one inch apart. To connect the
placed on the brass spring. The vi- clock in the circuit it is only necessary
brator is now ready to be mounted to connect a wire to each of the open
which is done according to the plan as points and to the bare wires on the
given in Fig. 2. clock. This completes the work and if
The connections are all as shown in you have done everything correctly the
Fig. i, and the wires connecting the dif-
ferent parts may mostly be run in
grooves in the bottom of the base board.
To start the vibrator some little adjust-
ment will be necessary first screw up ;
A common alarm clock can easily be electric bell will not ring until the wires
made an electric bell instead of
to ring are twisted together by the alarm key,
the regular alarm. The apparatus nec- w hich turns around as the alarm goes
r
essary to make this change consists of off. The bell may be stopped by open-
the following articles : An electric bell, ing the switch, or, if you have no
two dry batteries, a switch, a few feet switch, the same thing can be done by
of bell wire and a little insulating tape. removing a connection from the bat-
The above apparatus is to be connect- teries or bell. When you wish to set
ed as in the diagram Where ( B ) is :
the alarm, the key must be turned un-
the bell, (C) the dry batteries, (S) the til the wires are not twisted. Then
switch, and (G) the gap in which the close the switch or replace any connec-
alarm clock is connected. This gap tionsyou may have removed.
must be closed when the alarm is released A way to set up the apparatus is
neat
and opened whennot time for
it is to make a box large enough to hold the
alarm to go therefore neces-
off. It is batteries. A cover should be fastened
sary to put an attachment on the clock on with hinges. The clock may be
which will open or close the gap as de- mounted on the cover anil the wires
sired. fastened to the end of the box. The bell
The easiest way to do this is as fol- may be screwed on one side of the box
lows. Cut off two lengths of bell wire, and the switch on another side. The
each about a foot long. Wrap some in- wires from the batteries may be brought
sulating tape on one end of each piece. out through holes in the box to make
Then turn the alarm key on the back connection with the bell, switch, and
of the clock about five times, so as to clock. You will then have the ap
wind the alarm a little. The insulated ratus in compact form.
NEW ELECTRICAL INVENTIONS.
WIRELESS TELEGRAPH ANTENNA. ELECTRIC KETTLE.
The picture shown herewith is not an Appreciation of the advantages of elec-
illustration of a kite although it has the tricity for domestic purposes is by no
appearance of being one. The device is means confined to the United States, al-
the antenna for a wireless telegraph sys- though this country is the most lavish
tem and is the invention of Mr. Sewall consumer of electric current. Here is
Cabot of Brookline, Mass. The term an Australian, Mr. David Curie, of Kal-
antenna, as applied to wireless telegraph goorlie, who has patented an electric tea-
systems, has reference to the conductor kettle. The accompanying diagram shows
which is used to radiate the invisible the construction, which embodies an air-
tight and water-tight chamber for the
electric resistance coil which furnishes
the heat.
The kettle is rectangular in cross sec-
£3J&£
than the melting point of the metal to surface of the electrolyte and out of con-
be recovered. The metal would, there- tact with the air, so that oxidation can-
fore rapidly oxidize, or burn up, if it not take place. The tubes fbbj leading
were to come in contact with the atmos- to the ring (E) have a constant circula-
phere. tion of cold water through them, as doe-.
The electrolytic apparatus shown in also the compartment (D), so that the
electrodes are kept at a comparaiively
low temperature.
The above process is used for extract-
ing those metals and alloys, such as cal-
cium, which are lighter than their molten
electrolytes and which will rise and col-
lect on the upper electrode, as shown in
the illustration.
ELECTRIC HEATING.
HOW TO READ A WATTMETER. Question. — How does an electric cooking
Question. — How do you read a wattmeter utensil, curling iron or other similar
electric
and tell how much current is consumed each device derive its heat from electric current?
month?— W. H. W. — R. S.
V-
SHORT CIRCUITS €