NEW ELEVATOR WORKS WITHOUT CABLES
Elevators travel under their own, self-contained power in a system upon which a New York inventor has just received a patent. Each car is suspended from a hollow drum containing a driving motor. Under control of the operator, the drum revolves and climbs a vertical series of rollers by means of a worm on its exterior, as shown in the diagrams.

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Wire Network Fools Seagulls

RESERVOIRS containing the water supply of a California city were becoming favorite nesting-places of sea-gulls flying in from the nearby Pacific until engineers hit upon an ingenious method of sheltering the pools. Wire cables were stretched across the reservoirs, dividing them into checkerboards marked off into 50-foot squares. The wire network proved entirely successful in protecting the pools from sea-gulls, the birds steering clear of water criss-crossed by the shiny wire.

Until the simple network method was devised attempts were made to drive the gulls away by shooting. An automatic exploder was installed, but it was expensive to maintain and not so efficient as the wire cables.

“Air Cleaners.” Is that what the kids are calling them nowadays?

ELECTRIC UNIT CLEANS AIR OF HARMFUL PARTICLES
Experimental models of an electrical unit to remove dust, soot, pollen and other solid and liquid particles from the air are being tested by Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing company. Data are being gathered by physicians who are using similar units in treatment of patients afflicted with various types of asthma or pollen fevers. The unit is arranged to draw particle-filled air past two small wires, suspended horizontally. Connected to a power pack, which raises their voltage, these wires “charge” all air particles in their vicinity. This is called “ionizing” the air. Next, the ionized particles are drawn through a series of plates which also are charged. The plates have opposite polarity, with the result that the air particles move and cling to the plate, just as a needle jumps over to a magnet. Thus, air is made to clean itself. In addition, a film of oil covers each plate to make certain the particles stick to the plates. The air, freed of particles, then is sent into the room by a fan. The unit requires no more current than an ordinary electric lamp.

Man Who Conceived NRA Invents Locking Bottle Top

A BOTTLE stopper which can be locked into the neck of the container is the newest creation of Frank E. Vanderhoof, Greenwich, Connecticut, inventor and father of the NRA. The “locking cork” was designed especially for use on bottles containing poisonous liquids so that contents could not be accidentally swallowed. The locking mechanism of the stopper consists of a pair of steel ball bearings which lock against the inside of the bottle when the key is turned. Once locked it is impossible for anyone to remove the cork without breaking the bottle. In size the locking closure is no larger than the ordinary stopper.

Stilt Walker Comes Down to Earth
WHEN Donald Pletsch, a veteran stilt-walker, grew tired of being a mere long-legged pedestrian he decided to come down closer to earth, so he built himself a pair of one-wheeled skates from the remains of a coaster wagon. Walking on them appears to be a simple feat, but try it yourself and you’ll find out differently.

That thing looks a little unstable to me…

Mechanical “Beanstalk”
Work at a height of 22 feet is easily-reached by a mobile hydraulic platform. The user operates’ a manual hydraulic pump that boosts the tubular-steel platform to its maximum altitude in two minutes. It is lowered by pulling a pressure release. Four screw jacks lift the equipment off its rubber-tired casters and hold it in position during use. The complete unit can be folded to permit passage through a doorway six feet six inches high and less than 2-1/2 feet wide.

Hey! Look at the Blonde!
Motorists approaching a cafe near Atascadero, Calif., often find their attention caught by what, at first glance, seems to be a comely waitress. Their second glance, of course, takes in the cafe sign—as the manager had planned. The attractive blonde waitress is a costumed window display dummy.

ELECTRIC EYE REVEALS AD IN MIRROR

Designed to be installed in the lobbies of hotels and public buildings, a new advertising device offers a passer-by a chance to inspect his appearance in a mirror, and invites him to take a folder from a pile on a shelf. When he reaches for a folder, he unwittingly interrupts a beam of light that falls upon a photo-electric cell. Brilliant lights automatically flash on behind the mirror, which is now seen to be transparent, and illuminate an advertisement within the cabinet for a predetermined period of time.

Mechanical “Baggage Smasher” Tests Cartons
A CALIFORNIA company has installed in its shipping department a revolving drum which subjects shipping cartons to all the knocks and jolts suffered in railroad handling. Cartons which do not survive the drubbing administered by the testing machine are not used for shipments. Savings in damage claims and delayed shipments has already repaid the expense of the machine.

EXCITING WIND-TUNNEL GAME TEACHES PLAYERS TO FLY

Entertainment and instruction are combined in an exciting aviation game devised by Assen Jordanoff, veteran pilot, whose articles on flying have appeared from time to time in this magazine. Each of the contestants sits before a miniature wind tunnel, as shown above, and attempts to keep a model plane on an even keel in the breeze by manipulating standard aircraft controls.

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NEW PRODUCTS AND INVENTIONS

The latest contribution to the field of automatic merchandising devices is this dispensing unit that makes pure, cool and refreshing canned fruit juices available to a thirsty public. From its magazine of 214 standard size 6 oz. cans, it delivers a choice of 6 juices, ready for consumption on the spot. The customer simply moves the lever to desired juice, and inserts his nickle.

Speedier fire fighting operation has been added to the 4 lb. carbon dioxide extinguisher recently announced. The extinguished is discharged by merely pulling a trigger. This type of discharge control permits the extinguisher to go into action faster. Photo above.

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SCHOOL USES MACHINE TO MARK ALL EXAMINATION PAPERS

School children of Ironwood, Mich., now have their examination papers marked and graded by robot scorers. In a test, a student is handed a list of questions with a choice of several possible answers, together with a supplementary card bearing numbers corresponding to the answers. He uses a punch to mark upon the numbered card the answer that he believes is correct. When the test is completed, the perforated cards are fed into the robot machine. A light flashes opposite each question correctly answered, and a meter dial indicates the total grade credited to the student.