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A Home-Built Miniature Motorbike for Youngster

by THEODORE HODGDON

A youngster will get some keen thrills out of driving his own specially designed midget motorbike along the highways at a clip of 40 m.p.h. Read this article to learn how to build one of these miniature jobs or cut down a big machine to make it suitable for a 10-year-old boy.

AN EXCEPTIONAL opportunity for the mechanically-minded person to exercise his ingenuity and creative ability is afforded in the construction of miniature motorcycles for youngsters ranging all the way from three up to eight or ten years of age.

When complete, these tiny motorcycles operate exactly like their larger brothers, which may be seen in the hands of sportsmen and motorcycle policemen. The tiny engines propel the little machines along at 35 or 40 miles an hour, yet are easily controlled at a twist of the wrist by regular motorcycle throttle and spark grip.
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An Electric Miniature Mono-Railway

IT IS a well known fact among experimenters that when a whirling gyroscope is set in an upright or inclined position it will not change unless some strong exterior force is applied. Due to this peculiar quality, which is known as the precessive effect, the gyroscope can be utilized in the construction of many scientific instruments and practical devices which are used in every day life.

One of the most important uses to which the gyroscope is put is that of keeping a mono-rail train in an upright position as it speeds along on its single track. The most practical and outstanding railway of this kind is known as the Brennan Mono-railway, which is used in Ireland.
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Model of Rome Took Thirty Years to Build

After more than thirty years of work, a French architect, Paul Bigot, has completed a stupendous task, the building of an accurate relief map of Rome as it was about the fourth century, A.D., when the city was at the peak of its power. At that time Rome was the center of as much of the world as was then known. It had gathered the riches of conquered countries and was crowded with temples, palaces, shrines and stadiums. Read the rest of this entry »

Builds Organ of 550 Pipes in a Garage

Using his garage as a workshop, and giving only his spare time to the task, H. T. Adams, of Ham, Surrey, England, built the 550-pipe organ shown in the photograph at the left. Although Adams, an automotive engineer, had had no previous training in the work, he constructed every part of the twelve-foot-high organ himself, except the metal pipes. The only plans which he employed were those to guide him in assembling the intricate mechanism of the console.

“Woolworth Cow” Eats Wire Grass

ALEXANDER CALDER, New York sculptor and artist, recently gave an exhibition of his work at the Fifty-sixth Street Galleries. Although many fine works of art were shown, the amusing toy novelties of this versatile craftsman attracted the largest share of attention.

Using scraps that may be picked up around any home and every day articles purchased from the five and ten cents stores, Calder constructed many startling novelties. The “Wool-worth Cow” shown here was made of a wooden darning egg, a door bumper, coat hangers, bottle tips, rubber tips and wire.

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How Auto Horns Work

What happens when you press the button? You’ll see quickly if you make these simple working models.

By Kenneth M. Swezey

THE makers of auto horns have come as far from their early baa-DOO-gah! days as have their brother engine designers. So if the horn on your new car both sounds better and carries farther, it’s no accident.

Some horn developments have been purely technical, but others have turned upon the physics of sound. Designers have found, for instance, that pitch is more important than loudness (amplitude) in achieving carrying power, and that loud sounds aren’t so unpleasant if they have a musical tone.
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Home-Built Tracks for Electric Trains

by DICK COLE

You’ll add immeasurably to the fun you’ll get from your toy train if you build these extra tracks and bridges for it.

UNDOUBTEDLY thousands of boys throughout the land will be the recipients of electric trains for Christmas. It is safe to say that no other toy offers such a wide field for experimentation. However, the initial gift usually includes only the electric locomotive, a string of cars, and a comparatively short length of oval tracks. The novelty of seeing the train go ’round and ’round soon wears off. In fact, probably two weeks after Christmas, many electric trains will be stored away in the closet—forgotten.
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Heliograph Uses Sun to Flash Morse Code Messages

HELIOGRAPHING is an old method of signalling practiced by the army, forest rangers, boy scouts and other groups in the field, and it is recommended as an effective means of communicating at a distance. The apparatus, known as a heliograph, is a simple rig, as you will see by the plans for a home-made model. There are two parts to the apparatus. First, the sun reflector and sighting device, and, second, the transmitter. Each is mounted upon a tripod.
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Make Yourself a Set of Real Hopi Indian Puff-Guns

With a little practice you can blow arrows through this gun into a five-inch circle at 10 paces. Wholly aside from the amusement and skill, it strengthens lungs and chest muscles. The arrow flies swiftly and has a surprisingly flat trajectory. Drop in 50 feet is usually less than 6 inches.

GET a straight piece of bamboo about 1-1/4 inches in diameter and 4 feet long. Each end should be cut through a joint and the ends filed smooth and square. An old brass bedstead will furnish a piece of tubing 50 inches long. If a seam runs down the side so that air escapes, solder it up. If you run into difficulties, you can get a piece of seamless tubing from a light fixture house for a few cents.
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Galloping DINOSAUR is Fascinating Toy

A TOY saurian from the far-away past proves to be a refreshing novelty to the youngsters. The toy is extremely simple to make, as there are only six major parts. In addition to these, four wheels and some wire complete the whole thing.

The sides or the two body pieces are separated about an inch or more. This is accomplished by using glass beads for spacers on the wires which form the joints. Stiff copper wires about 2 in. long are cut for the two pivots. These are bent over about % in. at one end and thrust through the holes in the side pieces. The rear wire is first passed through one rear leg. The side and leg are then laid upon the table with the wires pointing upward.
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An Airplane Swing for the Back Yard

by Dick Cole

Children will get endless hours of fun out of this airplane swing, run by pedal-driven propellers. Any handy man can build one out of inexpensive junked auto parts and a few lengths of pipe.

OF ALL the sensational “rides” at an up-to-date amusement park, perhaps none is more thrilling than an airplane swing. It affords many of the sensations of actually flying, but without any danger. There is no case on record where a passenger has been seriously injured in an airplane swing. So, while it may look spectacular to see the cars of the swing whirling over people’s heads, the hazardous element is lacking in a strongly constructed swing.
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Electric Spikes Roast Weinies

MANY weinie roasts planned in advance are dismal failures because when that day arrives it is pouring rain and the usual procedure is to call off the party. No need for that if you’ll utilize the little stunt below. You can hold your roast indoors.

All you need is two boards, a few nails and an electric light cord. Nail the 110 volt cord underneath the top board with large-headed nails. The nails should be placed between the strands of the cord for better heating effect and to hold the cord in place.