A Seesaw Merry-Go-Round
By HARRY D. TIEMANN
A LOT of fun can be had with the teeter-totter merry-go-round shown in the illustration, and any boy can make it who is at all handy with carpentry tools. If built substantially it will amuse the youngsters, big and little, for years. It will go up and down like a seesaw and spin around like a top until the passengers are dizzy.
Read the rest of this entry »
Harmless Steam Cannon Shoots Ball Bearings
THIS tiny steam cannon operating in much the same manner as Archimedes famous cannon will prove an interesting project for the workshop. The cannon works in a very realistic manner simply by heating 3/8-inch steel bearings until they are red hot then dropping into the barrel of the cannon in which a small quantity of water has been poured. The hot bearing striking the water converts it into steam which immediately expands and shoots the bearing out of the cannon.
Read the rest of this entry »
This looks like a really nice toy.
Model Tank Packs a Wallop
EQUIPPED with four electric motors, this control-line tank brings a remarkable note of realism to living-room war games in the home of Alfred J. Brosseau, of Cambridge, Mass., who spent a year and a half building it. Measuring 6″ by 12″, the model can imitate any action of its big brothers.
Read the rest of this entry »
Forget the kids, I want a set of these!
Child Size Blocks Make Bridges
RECENTLY brought on the market by a California woodworking company is a set of child-size building blocks which can be used outdoors to make doll houses, child-size bridges, railways and other childishly imaginative structures. The set consists of blocks about four by six inches which are used in conjunction with flat boards that dovetail in proper relation to each other so that every imaginable kind of furniture and dwelling can be erected. No fastenings other than the lock joints are used. Picture below illustrates what can be done in the way of building bridges.
The Mysterious Submarine
By F. D. BURKE
THE interesting little toy described in this article will, when placed in water, automatically dive and come to the surface again, repeating this performance, on an average, once a minute over a long period of time. It not only makes a very good toy for a boy but can be used also for advertising purposes. Placed in a glass tank and displayed in a show window, its actions will attract the attention and interest of passers-by, who will stop to wonder how it operates.
Read the rest of this entry »
Miniature Racer Zips Track at 124 Miles an Hour
Flashing around a miniature track, a tiny racing car recently set a world speed record of 123.98 miles an hour. The car is a new model, manufactured and sold complete except for the engine. The bottom pan is a one-piece aluminum casting and the racer has an over-all length of almost 16 inches, a wheelbase of 10-1/2 inches and a tread of 6-1/8 inches. The top, which is detachable to expose the engine, is made of plastic.
Read the rest of this entry »