Listening for Echoes, Renting Snakes, Smelling Fish by Electricity
AMONG the strangest jobs in the world would be listed tea tasters, coffee drinkers, wine tasters, cheese tasters, perfume smellers, color matchers, bee-doctors, and the like. To this group might be added those whose jobs are illustrated here. In a famous German electrical factory, the effectiveness of sound dampening materials is tested by a man who sits in a swivel chair to listen for and measure echoes.
By Raymond B. Wailes
Many Novelty, Toy and "Jokers" Supply Stores sell small glass "meters" or "thermometers." as they are called, attached to a card supposed to represent the quantity of intoxicating liquor the individual can consume, a state of health, denote a fortune, etc. The items are designed to provoke mirth and hilarity, but they operate on a scientific principle and can be used admirably for demonstrating some physical laws. What to do and how to conduct the experiments are details covered in the accompanying text.
By Raymond F. Yates
Fortunes From Needed Inventions
INVENTORS in the United States have been greatly stimulated during the past few weeks because of a definite improvement in spirit, reflected in a rapidly rising stock market and a greatly quickened production pace. The pessimists are gradually coming around to the point of view that there is "plenty of life left in the old girl yet." Thousands of new inventions will be sold in the coming years and, what is more, they will be sold easily and they will bring higher prices than ever before in the history of this land. We have at hand much of interest this month. The writer has been touring the Eastern and Mid-Western parts of the United States during the past year and has found many new needs voiced both by large and small manufacturers, many of them now making ample preparation for expansion of business activity during the coming months.
THAT "necessity is the mother of invention" is a truism again called to attention with the discovery of "mechanical sheep" now in commercial operation at Milan, Italy. Like the German production of "Ersatz" materials during the World War (called mud by other nations), Italy was forced to seek a substitute for wool during her Ethiopian conquests, when "sanctions" were applied. Wool is one of the raw materials for which Italy depends almost entirely upon foreign countries. When foreign countries "refused" to sell wool to the "aggressor," scientists strained to develop a substitute; and now, two years after the discovery of the method, a most satisfactory product is being produced in vast quantities, by one of the worlds' largest rayon companies.
High-Power Telephoto Photography
By Herbert C. McKay
A TELEPHOTO camera, suitable for the amateur, can be built up from an inexpensive box camera and a small telescope, or it can be made from one of the deluxe miniature cameras together with a highly corrected glass. Between these two extremes it is possible to arrange combinations of any degree of refinement.
IN the constant battle to cut down the infant mortality rate due to diseases easily contracted when vitality is relatively low, physicians have developed a new type of oxygen tent, which uses dry-ice in combination with the oxygen. Of course, it is a well-known fact that carbon dioxide stimulates respiration; dry-ice is pure carbon dioxide.
New French invention produces an entirely new system of drive which is remarkably flexible.
UNIQUE in the annals of automobile development is a new type of vehicle designed by a Frenchman, M. Lame, and demonstrated at the Lepine Exhibition. This tricycle type of automobile, powered with a three h.p. motor, was able to develop a maximum speed of 43 miles per hour. Its more modern version is shown on the cover of this issue.