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models to order

Just dream up a gadget and the Slonim brothers will make you a model. They’ve already sold over 10 million miniatures to the U.S. armed forces.

By Harry Kursh

TWO brothers were responsible for the greatest combined Army-Navy catastrophe in America’s wartime history. In one day, two U.S. Navy submarines and their supply ship were mistakenly bombed and destroyed by a flight of B-25′s. Not far away, a squadron of Navy TBF’s was obliterated by a shattering volley from anti-aircraft guns.

Clearly to blame for these twin disasters of error were Joseph and Samuel Slonim. Yet, they never went to jail. They were never even investigated. In fact, they got close to $5,000,000 for their trouble from Uncle Sam.

Yes, the tragedies took place—-but only in miniature! Shortly after Pearl Harbor, the armed forces decided to expand its training for quick and accurate identification of Allied and enemy war equipment through the use of authentic miniatures. These called for sturdy metal construction and accuracy even down to the rivets of tank and ship plates.

For this purpose, the U.S. Government bought close to 10,600,000 precision scale models of planes, tanks, guns and ships from the Comet Metal Shop, owned and operated by the brothers Joseph and Samuel Slonim. Thanks to these tiny scale models, many of the most serious errors were averted in actual combat.

For more than fifteen years the Slonims, still in their 30′s, have been working in what they like to call their magic house of miniatures, turning out solid metal models of almost anything for anyone. Although the government took all they could turn out during World War II—from $2,000 3-foot models of the USS Iowa to thumb -sized models of Sherman tanks—their work is definitely not limited to military affairs. They’ve made models for a wide variety of hobbyists, designers, doctors, engineers, teachers and dentists. A good many of their individual orders come from professional and amateur inventors.

One of the original wall-type can openers, for instance, was first made as an authentic model for its inventor in the Slonim shop. It was urgently needed by the inventor in order to get cash backing so they turned it out for him in record time at a cost of $200. But from it he was able to get on the road to a private fortune.

In fact, it wasn’t too long after, when the pleased inventor returned in a limousine and ordered 1,500 models of the can opener. He was billed for $1,500. After they were cast, wrapped and ready for delivery, .Joe Slonim phoned: “Where do you want them sent?”

“No place,” replied the inventor. ‘I just wanted to give you some additional business. Give them out as souvenirs with my compliments so that everyone can see what ingenious work you do.”

The Slonims have developed their own secret casting process, which to this very day is protected by patents.

“You know,” Joe Slonim recalls, “during the war I think an actual battleship like the Missouri could have been built in our shop from the government plans we had. We cast models of the Big Mo according to a scale that followed it right down to details on gun turrets that came out hardly bigger than specks of sand. But our casting process is really our ultra secret weapon.”

Their process made possible precision casting with lead in such a way that delays of from two to four weeks were cut down to as little as 72 hours. For the first time, it became possible for an American outfit to compete with the accuracy of hand-made imported toys. Soon, the Slonims added the registered word Authenticast as part of their business name and orders from department stores poured in.

Today, the Slonims annually get more than $250,000 worth of toy orders alone from the country’s department stores and from stores in such far away places as Hong Kong, Israel and Turkey. They employ about 50 skilled workers—designers, die casters and machinists—and keep 14 salesmen on the road selling in practically every state.

Their toy catalog, which they sell for 25 cents even though it costs them about a $1 to produce, is in great demand not only from store buyers, but from collectors and hobbyists as well. The toy soldiers, accurately garbed in the uniforms of dozens of nations, are only a few of the more than 6,000 items listed in their present catalog covering almost every phase of life.

Within recent years, their precision cast toys have found a practical use with top American firms. Plant engineers have learned that they can save thousands of dollars in costly plant-moving errors by first rearranging floors with scale models.

But perhaps their most famous individual customer is Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. An avid toy-soldier collector, the celebrated screen actor has already gathered more than 200 miniature soldiers of all nations in authentic uniforms from the Slonims.

Inventors, particularly, like to cash in on the unique Slonim service. One recently paid $1,000 to have a model of a pea sheller made. Joe and Sam don’t know exactly how it was supposed to work or even if it was successful. “We never ask questions,” Joe explains. “We just do the job and mind our own busines’s.”

That kind of tight-lipped patronage from the Slonims has brought inventors flocking by the hundreds to their doors at 91-06 132d St., in Richmond Hill, N.Y.

Even though inventors seldom need more than an original model for patent purposes, many take advantage of a special filing service. The Slonims will keep all original die parts on file at the request of customers and guarantee their preservation. In the event of a demand for quantity cast reproductions that could cost an inventor as little as 8 cents each, the Slonims merely pull the die off the shelf and cast models for him just as authentic as the original.

“Trouble is,” says Joe, “too many inventors think that because a die is made of steel and you can’t scratch it with your fingernail, it can’t be damaged.

“But you’d be surprised,” he points out, “how many want castings, then come back with the original die nicked around the edges, threads stripped, and with an accumulation’of rust.”

One successful inventor paid $950 to have his original patent model made by the Slonims but he insisted on taking his die home with him. When he came back to have reproductions made to aid him in his already established business, it was so badly damaged that it cost him another $350 to have it put into working shape.

Very often inventors come to the Slonims with only a crude sketch and a mental image of the kind of device they want to patent. Wherever possible, the Slonims will work with such an inventor step by step, until they get accurate drawings and blueprints of whatever it is he has in mind. Once that’s settled, it’s a simple matter for Slonim shop craftsmen to turn out a solid metal scale model, whether it be in alloys of lead, zinc, aluminum or bronze.

No order is considered too trivial for a Slonim Authenticast. Earlier this year, the shop received a bulging envelope from a midwestern department store. It contained an order. For hours, the Slonims waded through all sorts of paper forms the store had sent to be filled out. Finally it turned out that all they wanted was one tank. Total cost—60 cents!

In contrast, one major oil and heating company is now having the Slonims make up a $2,000 4-inch cross-sectional scale model of one of their huge stoves for use in training salesmen. After that, at little more than the cost of a pack of cigarettes for each, thousands will be cast from the original and mounted on wood as desk souvenirs for the company’s potential customers.

How much longer the Slonims will be available to private industry is anyone’s guess. Right now, the armed forces have dropped a $100,000 contract in their laps— the Slonims are still the only ones they can turn to.

“All I hope,” Joe laughs, “is that military equipment gets a little simpler. Do you know that in World War II, the miniatures we turned out had a total of over 88,000,000 precision parts?”

There’s one question visitors always ask. And for that, Joe Slonim has a ready answer: “No, we haven’t made an atom-bomb model yet. But if one is made, you can be sure it’ll be an Authenticast.”

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Portland’s Zoo Railway

HAPPY tots and smiling adults ride around the new $3,859,000 Portland, Ore., zoo on America’s latest railway—the Portland Zoo Railroad Co. The rocket-styled, Diesel-powered Zooliner hauls three gleaming Skydome coaches and a luxurious club car which tote 99 adults or 132 kids. The pike is headed by famed Pacific Northwest author and historian, Stewart H. Holbrook, Chairman of the Board, and John H. Jones, President. All aboard!

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SCAMPER

Using an air propeller, this model zips along at 40 mph as a car and does 20 as a ski-equipped boat.

By Paul Del Gatto

BUILT as a car, this model is a supercharged bundle of energy. Free-running, it surges forward as if shot from a cannon and tops 40 mph. Most people won’t have the space to let it go and will have to use a tether. Even at that, it will do better than 35.

Personally, our favorite version is the one featuring the hydro-ski arrangement. Though not as fast as the car, 20 mph is still very high for a boat of this size. Yet it isn’t the speed that impresses us so much as the sight of this unusual water bug rising up on the skis. The air prop lends to the fascination by creating the illusion of some weird form of aircraft skimming across the water. Of course you may experience a somewhat different type of reaction, but one thing is certain: no matter which version you try, you will enjoy it every bit as much as we did.

The chief material used in the construction of the model is balsa wood. However, if you have hardwood handy don’t hesitate to use it. It may mean a few more hours work on the construction, but the time lost there will be made up when it comes to applying the finish. Hardwood, of course, also makes a more durable model.

Beginning with the main hull, cut out two blank shapes from 3/4-in. thick balsa or hardwood. Then cement them together lightly to obtain the desired thickness of the hull. Roughly shape the hull to a symmetrical outline with a whittling knife, using the cross section templates as a guide. When complete, sand the hull to the desired final shape.

At this point the wheel or hydro-ski axles can be assembled and installed. Before doing this, it is first necessary that the shaped hull be pried apart for their installation. Both the wheel and hydro-ski axles are bent from 1/16-in diameter wire. The bottom half of the hull is then recessed to take the axles and then the two halves of the hull are cemented together with the axles in place.

The skis for the water version are cut from approximately .020-in. thick brass and soldered to axles. Try to obtain a similar angular setup to what we have shown, as we have tried it this way and know it works fine.

The engine nacelle mount can be cut out from 1/8-in. plywood or laminated from two 1/8-in. thick hard balsa sheets. Shape it to a symmetrical piece as was done for the hull; then recess the top of the hull V8 in. and cement it firmly in place.

The engine nacelle is blanked out from two 1×2-in. balsa blocks cemented lightly together just as the hull was. Here again the shaping procedure is similar to that of the hull. When this phase has been completed, pry the two halves apart and hollow them out approximately as indicated on the plan. Then mark the position of the firewall and cut the two halves across at that point. Since only about ^ in. or less will be lost in cutting, just remove the difference from the cowl portion to account for the Va in. thickness of the plywood firewall.

Before cementing the two nacelle halves together all necessary cutouts for air, fuel, needle valve and cylinder head will have to be made. This is best done by first cementing the firewall in place to the lower shell and cowl, then mounting the engine permanently in place. Next check the top shell and cowl portion against the engine installation for the exact location of the required cutouts. When the assembly has been completed, recess the nacelle to fit on the mount and cement it in place. All that remains is to add such fixings as the canopy, tail piece, exhausts, bridle hooks for tether and the 3/16-in. hard sheet balsa or hardwood side fairings.

Before attempting to apply a finish, the next phase is to fillet all joints with Plastic Wood to obtain greater strength and a better appearing model. After this is done, give the model a final smooth sanding.

If a glow plug engine is used, remember the finish will have to be fuel proof. Begin by applying three to four coats of sealer, sanding smooth between each coat. Then apply three to four coats of clear fuel-proof dope. The colored dopes should be of medium consistency when applied.

Brush on at least five coats and, when dry, rub down the finish with a fine grit rubbing compound such as Duco No. 7 to obtain a high gloss.

In testing the models, particularly as extensively ‘as we did, we undoubtedly experienced all that you will in operating your own car or boat. If you are free-running the car, be certain that the engine is offset about 2° to the right as we indicated on the plan. The reason for this is there is a natural tendency for the car to veer to the left due to the propeller’s rotation. This force is known as torque. Now it may be necessary to use a little more or less offset, but this will best be determined while the car is being tested. In all probability your air-car will have to be tethered for lack of space. Braided wire of .015 in. diameter and 50 feet in length will do. It, in turn, is fastened to an .040 in. diameter wire bridle strung between two hooks. For a center post, drive a big nail or spike into the ground.

If you are testing the air-boat, the first thing you should do is add a little right turn to the rudder, even if you have offset the engine to the right. Make all your test runs from moderate to high speeds so that the model will quickly get up on the skis and not dig in and porpoise back and forth. In launching the model, keep the bow out of the water and follow through with a gentle sweep of the hand. About the most troublesome thing that might occur is a dunking if the turn is too sharp. Remedy: decrease the turn, dry out engine, run it and let her go again. Your efforts will be well rewarded.
BILL OF MATERIALS
Quantity Dimension Use
1 piece 3/4 x 4-1/2 x 26-in balsa or hardwood Hull 1 piece 1 x 2 x 18-in. balsa Engine nacelle.
1 piece 3/16 x 2 x 18-in. balsa or hardwood Side fairings.
1 piece 1/8 x 3 x 18 in. balsa Nacelle mount, tail piece Miscellaneous: 1/8-in. plywood firewall; 1/16-in. dia. wire for axles; 1/4 in. O.D. tubing; celluloid canopy; 1-3/4-in. dia. wheels for car or ,020-in. brass for skis; 1-1/4 in. dia. spinner; .020 to .049 engine; fuel-proof cement; fuel-proof clear and colored dopes; Plastic Wood; wood sealer.

Inflation Hits Toy Balloon Market

IN SPITE of the depression toy balloons have continued to go up, but this can no doubt be laid to an inflation of the stock.

This cat, 12-1/2 feet high, is one of the many inflated comic figure balloons built for the use of parades, department store displays, carnivals, or what have you.

Toy Air Limousine Has One Hundred Fifty Rubber Band Prop Power
A TOY produced by a western manufacturer is guaranteed to fly several hundred feet. It is equipped with 150 rubber band propeller power, and has a steering wheel, gauges, levers, in fact about everything that is found on a regular machine. The windows are of celluloid and the passenger department is luxuriously upholstered.

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Intergalactic Space Control Panel

A fascinating, safe, electrical toy for junior space travelers.

By Robert Brightman

“GEE, Bob, when are you ever going to finish that control panel for me?” When your youngster starts off on a tack like this and keeps it up for a few weeks there is only one way to keep peace in the family. And that is to finish the job. The control panel as it is called by my son and all his friends is one of the most fascinating toys a father can make for his boy. Essentially it consists of a six-volt transformer, a series of toggle switches and miscellaneous lights, bells, buzzers and meters.

The first step is to rummage through the spare parts box and amass all the electrical parts you can possibly use. Visit your local radio shop lor the necessary transformer to convert 117-volt alternating current into harmless six volts. As you can see from the wiring diagram, two lengths of bus bar along the bottom of the box form common connections for various parts.

It is a good idea to first assemble all the parts you are going to install and then drill and cut the necessary holes in the sloping front of the control, panel. Of course you can do this with the box assembled, but you will find it much easier to do this before it is finished.

The switches are wired so that they do not turn on the lamps directly above them. If they did, operation would be too easy. As every parent knows a small boy always likes to do things the hard way! Wire them so that they turn on the lamps or bells farthest from the switches. The voltmeter is wired across the six-volt posts of the transformer and will of course always register six volts. The milliam-meter is wired in series across one of the lamp circuits or can be wired in series with one of the secondary leads of the transformer.

The more controls and switches the merrier. You’ll find that after a while you may want to add more devices. Simple enough, just remove the back and go to work. The earphones and corresponding jack were in fact such an added improvement. The jack is merely connected to a flashlight battery. Flipping a switch turns on the juice so that a clicking is heard in the phones. The two knobs shown are rheostats to dim two of the lights.

Another added innovation is the series of banana jacks on both sides of the panel. The upper two on the left are connected to the secondary of the transformer so that a source of six-volt alternating current for testing is readily available. At least two switches must be turned on before any of the lights will work. The first switch turns on the line current to the transformer. This is rigged so that a 7-1/2-watt pilot light glows when it is on “on.” The next switch completes the circuit in the secondary of the transformer. At this point any one of the various other switches can be turned on to make the lights blink, bells sound, buzzers burp and pandemonium reign.

Note the automobile curb feeler. This is hooked up to a buzzer and looks like a miniature antenna. Touching it of course causes the buzzer to sound—only when its switch is “on.” Such secondary switches are a constant source of delight to a boy and his friends. Sometimes the buzzer will work and sometimes it will not, depending-of course upon the switch position.

Fold-Away Playhouse

Long-wearing, water-resistant playhouse in cottage or ranch house style can be folded quickly into storable. portable package. It will not crack or peel, can be cleaned with damp cloth. It stands 5-1/2 feet high, and has a roll-up door. The house is made of Vinylite plastic and has wooden frame for holding it extended. Doughboy Industries, Inc., New Richmond. Wis.

HE MAKES DOUGH FROM DOUGH

By Roger Fuller

PLAY-DOH is that mildly-scented modeling stuff your kid works into demented shapes, then shouts “Daddy! Look!” It comes in colors and your little Leonardo can blend the putty-like dough to his heart’s content. The guy who makes the stuff has kids, too, and they can play with platinum yo-yos now, if Daddy wants them to. Play-Doh was originally a wallpaper cleaner young Joe McVicker inherited, with built-in headaches. Who wanted a wallpaper cleaner any more? “Aah, paint over it” was the popular cry of the post-war PTA set. The Cincinnati business was flat on its back and so was Joe, after an operation, when he got the Play-Doh idea from his little girl, who was pudging the dough by Daddy’s bedside. A field-test in a nursery school yielded suggestions that Joe color the putty and have it tested so nothing drastic would happen to any young customer who might suddenly eat the “rightnowsterous” he had modeled. Joe went ahead, and any proud parent of a very young sculptor knows the rest. Joe feels much better than he did and his once moribund business is grossing about $3,000,000 per annum. Inspirational? Back to your basements, dreamers! You may yet find a use for chewed bubblegum!

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More Christmas Suggestions

For the junior scientist what would be more appropriate than this photo electric eye apparatus. Motors can be made to run by waving your arm, burglar alarms installed without wiring and music can be produced from varying light beams.

Any member of the family will appreciate a flashlight. This model features a chrome case and a positive contact thumb switch.

For the handy man a good saw is a worthy-gift and one which he will appreciate. A streamlined sled that steers will meet the fancy of youths of all ages. An easily operated steering bar controls sled’s direction.

Another typewriter that will make an excellent gift for someone. This neat machine is the next thing to a full size type. A canoe such as the one shown below will add many pleasant hours to next summer’s trip.

Around and around it goes. This toy merry-go-round operates like the familiar railroad hand car and can be set up either indoors or out. It accommodates four children. Below What shop enthusiast wouldn’t appreciate this complete workshop, tool chest. Chest includes every hand type of woodworking tool used in the shop.

Popular for home use this new portable features a paper support rack. Extra long carriage return bar makes it easy to operate.

Balloon tires, combined horn and light and tool box case are a few of this bicycle’s features. Right – all-wave radio set is something that the whole family will enjoy for years to come.

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Christmas Suggestions

For the amateur scientist this Micro-photography outfit is the ideal gift. Permanent records of all experiments can be kept on photographic prints. The microscope and the camera can be used independently.

Cellulose wrappings add much to the appearance of gifts. At right are examples of what attractive wrapping will do. Below—This toy airplane will thrill any youth who receives it. Plane performs like a real ship.

Encased in a neat bakelite case this handy purse camera opens automatically when a button is pushed. It takes extremely sharp pictures.

A typewriter is the ideal gift for any member of the family. Here is one embodying all of the features found on a large machine yet small enough to carry about in a traveling case.

Junior will have the time of his life with one of these iron horses. Pushing on the foot levers causes the coaster to gallop just like a real horse.

For the workshop fan this practical wood turning lathe is just the thing. While inexpensive it does exceptionally fine work. Operates on light motor.

New Christmas Toys Declare All-Out War

A GENERATION of mothers and fathers, most of whom were determined a few years ago that they “wouldn’t raise their boys to be soldiers,” find themselves confronted this year with a selection of Christmas toys almost exclusively of a war-like nature. The toy-makers explain that the children demand them—and 5-year-old Billy Navard and Craig Smith, shown on this page, seem to be enjoying their martial playthings immensely. Above, Craig rides a pedal fighter plane and scans the skies for enemy craft. At left, Billy fires a coastal defense gun which shoots wooden bullets, while, below, he speeds over rough terrain in a motorized division’s army supply truck.

Vault Bank
Save-Master opens automatically, after pre-deter-mined amount has been reached for which the dial has been set. The owner himself sets dial for amount to be saved. It takes nickels, dimes and quarters, is made of metal, and has no key, opening when full. Patterson Distributing Co., 504 W. Second St., Dayton 2. Ohio.

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NEW for CHRISTMAS

FOR THE HOME

PLASTIC SHADES of Vinylite adhere directly to glass without adhesive, can be peeled oil easily. Transeal, North Ave., Plainfield, N. J.

REFRIGARRANGERS are light, durable easy-to-clean containers of Bakelite styrene for leftover foods. Valley Forge Creations. Malvern. Pa.

PANCAKE TURNER-GREASER carries a replaceable absorbent pad to grease the pan. Without pad, holes drain grease. Paul Laux. Shavertown. Pa.

STORM WINDOWS of plastic can be used on homes, farmbuildings. withstand all weather. Easy to install. Central States Bag Co., St. Louis, Mo.

AUTOMATIC PERCOLATOR perks your coffee, keeps it hot. Made of aluminum, it has measure markings up to eight cups. Buckeye Aluminum, Wooster, O.

KNIFE RACK has sharpening slot in center, holds six knives by concealed jaws which can’t damage edges. New England Carbide Co., Cambridge, Mass.

FOR THE CAR

NYLON CAR COVER in forest green weighs only 5-1/2 pounds, is mildewproof. withstands all weather. Edge is elastic. American Agency. Broadway. N. Y.

AUTOMATIC LIGHT DIMMER for Oldsmobile is called Autronic Eye. mounts behind windshield as shown and lowers lights when a car approaches.

WINDSHIELD PROTECTOR of polyethylene plastic . protects parked car against sleet and snow. Central States Bag and Paper Co.. St. Louis. Mo’.

SQUEEZE BOTTLE-FILTER converts ordinary water into chemically pure, soft water for batteries, irons. Crystal Research Labs.. Hartford. Conn.

CAR CHAIR has adjustable head and arm rests, folds for carrying in small zipper case. Weight is 6-1/2 pounds. Kelley Chair. Louisville, Ky.

INSUL-8-TOR blanket cements to car hood, muffles noises, protects paint. Ricar Corp.. 180th St. N. Y. C.

FOR THE KIDDIES

MARIONETTES with Vinylite heads that (eel like human skin can be washed with damp cloth, easily manipulated by children. National Mask and Puppet Corp.. Brooklyn. N. Y.

JET ZOOM for rocket-travelling small fry is made of plastic, shoots pine-foot paper spiral with repeating action. Spirals are replaceable when worn. Tigrett Enterprises. Chicago. Ill.

PLAY TENT of Vinylite has inflatable base, stands 5 feet high, weighs 4 pounds, folds into small package. Bilnor Corp., Maspeth, L. I.

MAGNETIC ROADWAY enables child to steer tiny car through tunnels, past houses. German Inventions-Novelties. POB 384. Grand Central. N. Y. C.

BACKFIRING FORD, antique model, has caps inserted in bottom which explode when trigger is pulled, can be used as pull-toy. Replica of Model T. Precision Specialties, Los Angeles. Cal.

BLOW ORGAN of Bakelite operates on lung power, produces notes that sound like the real thing. It has 14 keys, weighs about 8 ounces. Magnus Harmonica Corp., Newark, N. I.

FOR THE SPORTSMAN

AUTO-LIFT HOOD on Evinrude’s new 15-hp Super Fastwin Hits for easy engine servicing when two clasps are opened. Evinrude, Milwaukee. Wis.

WARMUFF for outdoorsmen straps around your waist to keep hands warm. Supplied with heating unit Pacific Products. 10th Ave.. Portland. Ore.

NYLON SPOOL for Neo-Caster reel weighs one-third ounce, eliminates spool inertia and backlash. Kilian Tackle Co.. Baldwinsville, N. Y.

KAMP-PACK waterproof kit contains 17 items, three complete meals for four people. Only water is added. Bernard Food Industries. Chicago. Ill.

FLOODLIGHT LANTERN burns gasoline, has detachable handle reflector. Coleman. Wichita. Kan.

TUNABLE DUCK CALL named Mutone gives different tones by simple adjustment. No moisture effects. Rene-Craft Products. Wilmette. 111.

Newest thing in pool: elliptical table

Combination billiards and pool is played on this table with an elliptical cushion and a single pocket on one of its two focal points. A ball hit to pass over the other focal point rebounds into the pocket every time. The table was designed by Arthur P. Frigo Jr., Union College senior, and is made by Gotham Educational Equipment, New Rochelle, N.Y. Game is played with nine numbered balls and a cue ball.

FRONTIER CABIN

$1.00 – 5 for $4.00 BIG ENOUGH FOR 2-3 KIDS!

This huge, western-style cabin is a child’s dream come true.

Size Approx. 3 ft. high—9 ft. square, 23cubic ft. inside. Endless hours of play run. Big: enough for 2-3 kids to ‘Live’ in this cabin of their very own. Constructed of specially treated, safe… flameproof and waterproof DuPont Polyethelene. Use year round, indoors or outdoors. No tools needed, nothing to assemble. Sets up in a jiffy, folds compactly for easy storage. Walls and door are realistically imprinted in authentic brown split-log design. Peaked roof is in contrasting color. In a youngster’s imagination it quickly becomes a RANCH HOUSE… FARMHOUSE… PLAY-HOUSE or A LIFE-SIZE DOLL HOUSE FOR GIRLS. A Bunkhouse — Jail house —Sheriff’s Office—Secret Clubhouse for Boys. This King-size cabin is our greatest bargain in years. A comparable $3.98 value now only $1.00. This sale price is made possible by your buying directly from factory. We are the largest mfrs. and Distrs. of playhouses in the U.S. Over 260,000 satisfied customers. They make wonderful gifts. Buy several. Add 25c each house, postage and handling charges. Sorry, no C.O.D.’s. Special Offer: 5 for $4.00. GUARANTEE: Try without risk or obligation for ten days. Let the kids play in and enjoy it. If they are not delighted return for immediate refund.

Special…
GIRL’S PLAYHOUSE NOW AVAILABLE!

Same size, shape and price as cabin. Imprinted brick wails, French windows, folded wood-slat shutters, flowers, shrubs, sloping roof, large door. etc.

Orders Shipped Within 24 Hours!

NOVEL Mfg. Co. Dept 601, 125 E. 46 Street, New York 17, N. Y.

Odd Playground Gate Bars Older Children
Cut out of a high, galvanized-iron fence and roughly resembling a keyhole, a silhouette of an average ten-year-old child serves as an entrance gate to a new playground for small children in an eastern city. Only those boys and girls who can pass through the silhouette opening without stooping or squeezing through sidewise are allowed to enter the play area. The photograph above shows a playground instructor halting a girl who is too tall to enter without stooping.

“Human Quoits” Is Amusing New Bathing Beach Game

YOU have to use your head in this amusing new game of “human quoits” in which padded barrel hoops are tossed at the heads of players buried in the sand, the object being to “ring” them. It’s a game amusing to spectators as well as players, and one in which the human targets get quite a thrill, since, buried in sand as they are, dodging is impossible. If you want to try out this game on your own beach, light weight hoops can be made by winding cotton batting and a covering fabric around a core of light gauge steel wire.

Strange Shapes for Play

Unconventional and modern playground equipment has been developed in Ulm, Germany, by architect Joachim Kimpel. A 10-year study of children’s methods and behavior at play by the architect, a gardener and a psychologist led to the redesigning of recreational equipment for climbing, spinning, balancing and swinging.

Each apparatus took days of study. Scale models were made before the experts decided which of the projects was best suited for the children. The specially designed playground equipment is intended to develop all the child’s physical abilities, particularly his coordination and balance.

Although the modern design stresses function and mechanics, it retains qualities of good form that will readily capture a child’s imagination.

Dolls Dance to Radio Music

FROM Germany comes the latest radio novelty. It is a platform upon which a group of dolls dance to the tune of music issuing from your radio receiver.

The device is a mystery until you understand the dance platform is caused to vibrate by means of a small needle which connects with a headphone, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

This headphone is connected up with your radio receiver, so that the same current sounds the music and excites the dancers. The effect of the contrivance is extremely fascinating.

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“Bombs Away!”

THIS lively game will give you all the thrills of knocking the daylights out of an enemy city with well-placed “demolition bombs” without the least danger to the bombardier, although the area below is bristling with antiaircraft guns.

The bomber (Figs. 3 and 4) slides on a revolving arm supported by a central post (Fig. 2) and is moved by hand until it is over target selected. By looking through the bombsight with its cross-wires the airman can get a direct line on target and release marble “bomb” by a hand lever. Forward of the low wing is the bomb-bay, a 1/2 in. hole bored down through solid wood fugelage. Midway the wood is slotted to receive pivoted bomb-release lever. At rear of wing is bomb-sight, a piece of metal tubing set in a hole bored at an angle has been properly adjusted (Fig. 5). Suspend a small plumb-bob, such as a .22 bullet, by a thread from center of bomb-bay, and sight through eye-piece. Bottom of bob and line of vision along sights should coincide. Move brad slightly up or down in hole in tube to adjust, then solder brad in place.

Paint on platform buildings, tanks, bridges, etc., or construct 3-dimensional subjects designed to collapse or topple over (Fig. 6). Beveled roofs cause end walls to spread under a direct hit, theoretically wrecking the building. Trains, boats and bridges are balanced on a narrow base and full over under a direct hit. The barrage balloon, precariously balanced on a wire loop, is easily knecked down. A rim around the circular platform prevents bombs from rolling away. Streets of the city (Fig. 1) are painted gray, river light blue, railway black, buildings in appropriate colors or camouflage, and unoccupied spaces green.

Each bombardier is supplied with a dozen bombs of one color, different colors for each player. Tally correct number of points (see Table A) for various targets; the largest number of points are for the most difficult targets, which, of course are the smallest. When a hit is made on a hospital, school, church or library, the bombardier loses points, as indicated. First bombardier to tally 151 points wins the game.

Now you can organize a bombing squadron and let the small fry fire away without your having a care in the world about any real damage being done.—Hi Sibley.

Plane Silhouettes on Playing Cards Help Identify Aircraft

Civilians can join in one of the soldier’s favorite pastimes—identifying combat aircraft—with playing cards that have silhouettes of Allied and enemy planes on their faces. The United States planes are spades, British are hearts, German are diamonds, and Japanese are clubs. In the corners are the “pip” signs. The airplane card idea was suggested by officers of the Third Air Corps, Tampa, Fla., who have been conducting classes in aircraft identification.

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Money Making Toys For Christmas

By JOSEPH H. KRAUS

How to Make Money from These Plans OF four items illustrated here, only the “Human Roulette Wheel” requires much work. Three are well fitted for profitable sales, the roulette wheel and the illusion box most so. The track circuit for toy trains is an ideal window display. Sell your services to local toy stores, offering to arrange for them an automatic display which is mysterious and attracts attention. The light twinkler makes an excellent display, but is best for home use.

The illusion box is a form of an old magical trick; the other items (including the illusion box circuit) were originated by the writer of this article, and home workshop users have full permission to use them.

A well-made illusion box should find sale at from $10 to $25, depending on size, and whether the control is included. Your window-trimming skill can be sold to advantage by including in it the automatic train circuit, for five to ten dollars, at least. The human roulette wheel can be made for as little as one dollar (without motor) but models for amusement and game purposes should bring ten dollars or more, depending on size and finish of product.

• RADIO parts can frequently be used to increase the effectiveness of Christmas tree illumination, and similarly, for producing small-scale illuminated signs of the moving, or changing, type. An example will be found in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Here part of a regular selector switch (such as used for switching shortwave coils) is used for progressive controls of a group of lights. If an old switch is not available, a similar construction may be made from a piece of fiber, a sweeping brush-con tact arm, and a number of contacts circularly arranged to be wiped by the brush as it passes. The brush itself is fastened securely to a shaft, to which a rather large wooden pulley is firmly attached. A brush for contact presses against this shaft. On the comparative sizes of the wooden pulley and the pulley on the motor, depends the rate of the flicker, or rotation of the brush. The larger the pulley on the shaft and the smaller that on the motor, the greater will be the speed reduction. The motor speed can be further controlled by a rheostat. Fig. 2 shows a simple construction for the home use; Fig. 3 presents the side view; and Fig. 1 shows the circuit diagram where the storage battery is used to furnish the power.

A variation of this construction uses a fiber brush which passes between two contacts, thus opening the circuit and extinguishing the lights on that line. By such a system, all of the lights are on with but one exception; whereas in the illustration here given, all lights are off except that to which the circuit is completed by the motor driven brush.

When the railroad track circuit, illustrated in Fig. 4, is properly set up, the short train stops until the long train clears the track. At the proper moment the short train dives across the intersections. However, the short train running on the shorter track may sometimes continue to run around its oval for half a dozen times without stopping. On occasion the trains are so close together that spectators will gasp while awaiting the crash, but the crash does not occur. Sometimes one train will nose out the other, sometimes barely clear the tail end. Everything depends on the length of the section A-B, the length of the section C-D, and whether one or two sections of rail are placed between A or C and the cross-over. In this track circuit, insulated tracks must be used; such as those used for operating signal systems, in which the center rail and one outside rail are insulated, are an absolute requisite. At the same time, insulated connections are used on both outside rails at points A and B, and on the insulated outside-rail section at points C and D. After the track has been set up, place the short train on the track, so that the engine is on the crossover, in the direction of travel. Apply current and allow the train to travel around the track at full speed. Naturally, when it reaches the track section between A and B there is no current on the outside rails: consequently, the train coasts to a stop. If the train, under its own momentum, continues across the insulated section AB, the length of this section must be increased to prevent this. Now, place the long train on the other track; it continues around until the circuit is closed from one outside rail, through the wheels of the car, to the other outside rail, and thence, through a short piece of wire, to section A-B. Now, the short train will start to get under way and will be operating at full speed at the time the last car passes the cross-over. While the insulator at C is shown near the cross-over, it is preferable to insert this either two or three sections away from the cross-over, so that the short train will not hit any of the cars of the longer train. Naturally, if the short train is equipped with a magnetic remote-control system, the system must be plugged or cut out entirely, to prevent the progressive selector from reversing the motor and thus making the train inoperative. It might also be suggested that this exact circuit need not be followed precisely, as long as the principle is used: thus, the trains could run on two ovals, one inside the other, with the shorter train crossing near the end of one of the oval sections. Signal lights may be cut into the circuit to operate directly from the trains and tracks, producing a more realistic effect. As mentioned originally, this layout is a positive attention-getter for a window display, uncanny in its performance and entirely automatic.

The “illusion box” illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is a simple, square, wooden box provided with a light, a diagonal partition, half of which is a sheet of glass (preferably plate) fitted into a dovetail in the partition, and a small framelike extension which projects 3″ from the opening. All dimensions for the construction are given in Fig. 6. An automobile bulb is fastened on either side of the partition; an empty vase is placed on one side of the glass, and one exactly similar, containing flowers, is placed on the other side. The inside of the box is painted a dull black. When the bulb in front is lighted, the rear one out, the reflection of the empty vase will be seen in the glass. When the front bulb is turned out and the back one lighted, the vase behind the glass will be visible. This elusive change from one vase to another can also be used for changing an empty box of cigars to a full one, a chicken to an egg, a dollar bill to a five-dollar bill, or any other conversion desired. Little more need be said about the construction. Reference to Fig. 7 will give the circuit for the control of the lamps, which employs an ordinary Christmas-tree flasher, two bells connected as shown, and the automobile lamps A and B (which may have to be of different candlepower). The circuit of an ordinary bell is completed from one binding post through the coils, thence to the contact, and back to the other binding post through the metal strip on the hammer. It is necessary that the wire from the magnet to the contact be cut.

The original toy illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11, is a small scale reproduction of the “Human Roulette Wheel” found at the seaside amusement resorts. A series of circular discs are caused to rotate in the directions indicated by the arrows; a celluloid doll, weighted with lead, slides down on the rotating discs and, after being tossed back and forth, finally bounces out through one of the openings. There is no way to predict where the doll will make its exit. The construction may follow the lines illustrated in Fig. 11. A large pie-pan is turned upside down; two phonograph discs, 12″ in diameter, are cemented together to form a pulley wheel. A bearing is soldered to the exact center of the under side of the pan (or tray); and the shaft, wheel and middle turntable are fitted in position. All turntables are 3″ in diameter, and may be of plywood, turned out to shape, or metal discs cut out of 3/16″ sheet iron. A shaft is fitted to each in the exact center. If the builder decides to use iron discs for the turntables, the friction drive shown in the upper right corner of Fig. 11 will serve. It has the advantage that any of the discs may be stopped by hand, with little danger of the fingers of a small tot being accidentally injured by the rotating pieces. However, if this toy is carefully finished, there is no danger of any such accident.

If wooden turntables are to be used in the construction, the most advisable method of drive is the belt. In this case, the shafts of the turntables extend through the bearings for a distance of one inch, and are fitted with small V pulleys. Two small pulleys are fitted to the driveshaft (the center turntable), and two cords run to the pulleys, in sets of three, as the diagram illustrates. A small toy or other motor drives the toy.

After this part of the construction has been completed, solder in the small fences, cut from strips of brass, and bent as shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. These fences are not more than an inch high, and serve to keep the dolls on the turntables for a greater length of time. In fact, if the openings are rather small, it is not unusual for the dolls to zigzag back and forth for as long as 15 minutes.

Any suitable chute is built, and so situated that the dolls will slide down and fall on the center turntable.

In order to convert this toy into an interesting game, each exit is painted a different color. The entire toy is given a coat of enamel, and the dolls must now be prepared. Small dolls about high are used to represent the people who normally form the cargo of the “Human Roulette Wheel.” While jointed celluloid dolls are preferred because of the antics of the tiny performers, others will answer just as well. Along the seam of the celluloid doll a cut is made, and a small quantity of lead shot inserted. The seam is then either cemented with a cement of acetone and celluloid, or cloth or a rubber band is used to close the opening. Small bits of cloth must now be sewed to the dolls; or the discs will merely slide under the weighted dolls and there is little action. The color of the cloth should match the color of the openings; six dolls should be prepared; and bets may be made at odds of 5 to 1 that the doll will not emerge from the colored opening assigned to it. The cloth produces sufficient friction to produce a lively toy, which never performs the same way twice in succession.

Racing Electric Planes Is New Aviation Game

Aviation fans may play at a round-the-world race in a new game designed by Assen Jordanoff, veteran pilot and frequent contributor to Popular Science Monthly. Each of the players, which may number up to twenty, chooses a toy plane that moves across a large-scale map of the world. Its movement is controlled through an adaptation of a familiar amusement device in which a player rolls marbles that fall, according to his luck and skill, into holes of various scoring value. When a marble drops through a hole it establishes an electric contact and starts a motor that runs the plane, which continues to move all the time the marble is returning to the base of the game board. The holes farthest from the player produce the longest hops, since the marble closes the contact for a longer time. The player whose plane first reaches the far end of the course is the winner.

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HANDY HANDSET

Sound-powered telephones make superlative yuletide toys

By HAROLD P. STRAND

SURE THEY WORK—and you don’t even need batteries! What are they? Just a pair of sound-powered telephones that are certain to turn a couple of kids into a pair of happy hooligans for many a fun-time session. And what’s the secret? There really isn’t any— other than the fact that a crystal earphone will work as either an earphone or a microphone, depending on whether you talk or listen. Connect two such units in series, attach them to a suitable support so that you can hold one to your ear and the other to your mouth, and you have the main elements of this setup.

As you can see from the photos and drawings, the handles for the handsets are strips of aluminum which have been bent into the required shape. The bases are made of wood, and almost anything will do for the jacks and connectors. To put the telephones in operation, just connect them together with up to 100 feet of twin or twisted wires, and start talking. Happy holidays!

Modern Mania for Mergers Now Menaces Minor Sports

RAILROADS, banks, and other big business organizations have no monopoly on the merger idea. Inventors, bereft of original ideas, are now turning their attention to combining separate ideas into one complete whole merging, as it were, the well-known ideas of the past.

Nowhere, perhaps, has this tendency been so pronounced as in the world of minor sports. Polo long ago merged with swimming in a game known as water polo, tennis and fly-swatting emerged as ping-pong, dominoes and rummy met in China and returned as mah jong, while labyrinth puzzles and golf united in the popular craze of putt-putt.

On this page are illustrated a couple of new ones. Above we see where bowling and roulette have gotten together under the modern urge, while at the right is revealed a combination of miniature golf and billiards.

The new bowling game is played on a regulation alley which curls up at the end, where an electrical wheel is located. The wheel has nineteen spokes, the ends of which are hinged and bear a painted number. The entire wheel revolves at a regulated speed, and the player attempts to gauge the time so that his ball will hit the desired number when it reaches the bottom.

Bilgo is the name given to the combination of golf and billiards, while golf and pool are known as Poogo. Both games are played on a six by twelve table inside a wooden frame.

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A BOY’S DREAM COME TRUE

Give a boy a tree house and he can have all the adventures of a safari in his own backyard.

For adventurous little boys, a tree house offers many delights. It is a hideaway, a place to store secret treasures, a camping-out spot. From it one can see without being seen. It can be reached by ladder only and it is relatively inaccessible to adults. The one shown here also has certain nautical details to please would-be seafarers. It was designed and built by Gerald Repp of our Art Department for his 7- and 9-year-old sons and has proved itself rugged enough to .withstand both the elements and the wear and tear of the young. Our woman’s day Workshop has made complete plans and specifications for building the house, in a tree or on the ground, using simplified construction methods. The materials are inexpensive and readily available.

The house is 5′ x 6′, an A-frame with walls of exterior plywood. The deck is 19′ long, comes to a point like the prow of a ship. It is built of 1″ x 3″ subflooring nailed onto a framework of 2″ x 4″s and has railings of 1″ x 3″s.

The best way to handle the project: (1) build the framework of the A’s and the deck in your yard or workshop; (2) hoist up the deck frame first, then the A-frames, via rope, to a helper stationed in the tree. Then nail on the house walls, deck flooring, posts and railings. The finishing touches: fresh paint, a screen door and screening at the open sides of the A’s.

SIMPLER. ON-THE-GROUND VERSIONS
If you do not have suitable trees, or do not want to go through the acrobatics of getting the house up in a tree, you can build an on-the-ground version, with or without deck and railings. The house alone, resting on a framework of 2″ x 4″s with tongue and groove flooring nailed on, can be successfully tackled by any amateur. It takes little time, no real skill, is built of inexpensive materials. The only tools needed are in the simple hammer and saw category.

Tub Sub

THE bathtub battle fleet has a colorful new recruit—a plastic “rocket” submarine that performs a series of gliding dives on- pill-power. The manufacturer, Payne Products, Inc., of Midland, Mich., supplies effervescent tablets designed to propel the craft for six or seven minutes. Agitating the water slightly makes the submarine dive oftener.

When the submarine is placed under water to start its voyage, the gas-releasing “fuel” acts as a pump, expelling water and sending the craft to the surface. Then it submerges again, and the cycle is repeated. Balance and glide as the toy rises and sinks provide its forward motion.

BOYS! MAKE LEAD SOLDIERS BY THE DOZEN

Mould Your Own Army — Band — Athletic Teams

With the new Gilbert Electric Kaster Kit, you can easily make a whole regiment of lead soldiers. Color them, too, with Kaster Kit paints, so they look just like the finest soldiers you can buy. Extra Kaster Kit moulds make football and baseball players, a military band, cannons, animals and other exciting models…Earn extra money by selling Kaster Kit models to your friends.

Kaster Kit operates by electricity. Safe and easy. See it at your nearest toy store. Complete with i mould and 24 pigs of metal $4.95.

GILBERT KASTER KIT

Archery and Poker Game in One
POKER and archery are combined in a new game that has a target on which are painted all the cards of the poker deck, as shown in the photo above. Points are scored by shooting five regular arrows into the cards to make four aces, a full house, three of a kind, or whatever your shots draw. The young lady in the photo above, Miss Helen Thompson, wintering at Ormond Beach, Florida, has just shot three aces and a pair of kings—a winning hand.

Auto Barber Chair Calms Child

THE novel automobile barber chair pictured below is the latest device for keeping children quiet while having their hair trimmed or dressed. This new chair was introduced at the Hairdressing Fair of Fashion at White City in London recently. The model car is rather complete in equipment for the amusement of the child customer. The brake at the right side is used by the barber to lower or raise the chair.