Delivery Cars That Advertise SOME unique delivery trucks and wagons are used by Los Angeles merchants, and one of the most odd is the car shown below.
MUSIC heard clearly inside the brain although no sound waves were entering the stopped-up ears of the hearer, is a new achievement of the science of electro-acoustics demonstrated by Mr. Sergius P. Grace, assistant vice president of the Bell Telephone Laboratories.
THESE pictures show the new portable talking picture exhibition equipment, a device observers expect to revolutionize educational methods, in that lectures of the world's greatest scientists, teachers and preachers can now be exhibited in talking movie form in any size school, church, hospital or home and can be set up in any small hall in less than 15 minutes.
The NEW Shop-Laboratory Way
Big Shop Laboratory Worth $60.00 without Extra Cost.
Aviation, Talking Movies, Radio, Super-Power, Television, Refrigeration, Lighting.
By JAY EARLE MILLER
Did you know that tire tape manufacturers, shoemakers, and sewer tile contractors deserve credit for breaking many of the world's sport records? This may sound strange to you, but after you've read this fascinating article you'll agree that the statement is absolutely true.
The laws of nature which enabled Biblical trumpets to shatter the walls of Jericho are explained in this article. On a smaller scale you can perform the same historical feat with ordinary water tumblers.
By SAM BROWN
HE WAS very grave in his demonstrations. He exhibited a delicate goblet of thinnest glass. He struck the glass sharply with his finger so that it sang out with a low, musical note.
That’s an interesting place to put the engine… New Type of Taxicab in Service QUITE an aid for congested districts is this German three-wheeled taxicab, recently exhibited in motor shows in Europe. The cab is very easy to handle in traffic.
Here is the story of the wonder plane of the world by the brilliant man who conceived, engineered and built it. Read Dr. Dornier's sparkling analysis of future flying problems, and of the proposed New York-South America flight to be made this spring with the DO-X!
by DR. CLAUDE DORNIER Builder of largest airplane in the world.
ON a memorable bright day last fall the largest airplane in the world, the flying boat, DO.X, which I designed and built in my factory on the shores of Lake Constance, was hauled out of the workshops where it had taken shape and launched into the lake ready for its trial flight.
Is the day of the airplane which will be piloted by pushing a button almost here? A new gyroscopic control keeps an airplane on an even keel and on a predetermined course more accurately than the most experienced human pilot.
A MECHANICAL pilot, a small instrument weighing only 50 pounds and small enough to be stowed away under a chair, recently piloted a tri-motored airplane on a three-hour flight between Dayton and Washington far more accurately and with greater precision than the most accomplished human pilot.
Young Hound Stands Seven Feet BRIAN, thoroughbred Irish wolf hound, only eleven months old and still growing, measures seven feet from toes on the ground to his nose in the air when his master, J. G. MacKenzie, of Lima, Ohio, holds up his forelegs.
A NEW instruction device has been installed for student airplane pilots by Professor Roland Spaulding, aeronautics expert at New York University who is shown above giving members of the first women's aviation school a few pointers on flying. One of the girl pupils sits in the chair "cockpit" and works the controls which in turn manipulate the model Curtiss Robin plane. The plane is in front of a wind tunnel and responds to the air currents just as a full-sized plane would respond up among actual currents of air
Smooth Soap Powder Is Found To Be Highly Explosive SOAP dust in suspension is violently explosive. It is a well known fact that many dusts are highly explosive. Accumulations of dry coal dust are capable of blowing up a coal mine; rubber dust, aluminum dust and other industrial dusts are explosive but it comes as […]
I misread the head line as “Men Easier to Hunt Than Women” and was a bit confused. I did a little googling and this seems to still be a pretty open question. Men Easier to Hurt Than Women HUMAN cheeks and foreheads are the most sensitive parts of the body to pain according to investigations […]
HOME MOVIE INVENTION Reduces FILM COSTS THROUGH an invention which enables motion pictures to be taken laterally as well as horizontally upon the same film, it is declared the cost of motion pictures for the home has been reduced 75 per cent. The reducing of film costs was worked out by means of a camera […]
This article is trying to describe the discovery of the isotope carbon-13 in 1929 Twin Discovered for Carbon CARBON is the latest chemical element to be shown to have a twin. Last winter two California physicists showed that oxygen, long supposed to be single, was not only double, but triple. Now Dr. Arthur S. King, […]
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 […]
I’m not really clear on how the paddle wheel works. Is it flexible? It seems like it would be very unhappy on ice or concrete if it’s not. Automobile Sleigh Develops Speed of 35 Miles an Hour on Snow Roads LESTER COBB, of Norway, Maine, has invented an automobile sleigh which will not mire in […]
I’m not really sure what the point of this photo is. Why are we comparing the size of a bus to a plane? The bus is pretty nifty looking though. The front kind of looks like a Darth Vader helmet. Or I’ve been playing way too much SWTOR lately. Probably the latter. World’s First Motor […]
M0re information on the good Dr and his inventions may be found here. Pioneer Inventor Is Conducting a Radio Movie Station DR. C. FRANCIS JENKINS, noted Washington scientist and pioneer in the field of radio vision, is now conducting a new high powered transmitting station near Washington, for the broadcasting of motion pictures by radio. […]
For real thrills there's no sport like skate sailing, says Mr. Brown—and he goes ahead and proves it in this article. Moreover, he gives you plans for building your own sail and full directions on how to operate it when it's finished.
By SAM BROWN
HERE he comes—there he goes!
Just like that! Like saying "Jack Robinson!"
And thrills. . . Man!
Maybe you've felt the smooth gliding swiftness of skating. And the flying sensation of skiing. And the speed of ice yachting. And the fun of tobogganing. But if you've left out skate sailing, then you've missed the grandest sport ever dished out by Old Man Winter.
Those wings look awfully small… New Flying Machine Patterned After Structure of an Owl AS THE result of intensive study of the flights and structure of heavy birds, Robert Myers, of Rockford, 111., has designed and built an ornithopter from which he expects to develop ideas for further experiments with such ships. The strange ship […]
Your Body Heat Is Sufficient to Cook Pan of Potatoes SCIENTISTS have learned that our bodies are living machines of the combustion type in which the burning of fuel (food) is accompanied by the consumption of oxygen, liberation of heat energy and production of carbon dioxide as is the case in all combustion engines. Scientists […]
World’s Largest Vacuum Cleaner Keeps Rail Bed Clean THE Pennsylvania railroad has perfected the largest vacuum cleaning machine in the world to keep clean the right of way near principal terminals. The powerful machine lifts the stone ballast and foreign matter from along the track into a great cleaning chamber and then redistributes the thoroughly […]
Beautiful Figures Make Letters BEAUTIFUL figures of girls of a motion picture studio are used for making neat advertising letters, nineteen of them being trained to form large letters by reclining on the grass for their sun baths.
Salesman Hoists Auto Nine Stories to Reach Prospect WHEN Edward Horton, stage and talkie star, would not grant an interview to Ralph Johnson, Los Angeles automobile salesman, who wanted to sell Horton a car, the salesman tried various means of reaching the star. He was persistently put off and couldn’t even get Horton to look […]
MESSIEURS Moyne and Clement, French inventors, have devised a remarkable new type of speed boat with circular fins that they expect will propel their new submarine shaped craft across the Atlantic ocean in 30 hours. The model of the craft is being put through tests. There are stabilizing fins at the bow and stern. The principle of operation included two helices rotating in opposite directions to counteract torque.
By HI SIBLEY
These old time favorites among trappers are simple and humane. They will trap pets for your menagerie.
Simple materials, a little time, a little patience, and you can have a good string of traps of your own!
There is a lot of good sport in trapping small animals, especially when you make your own traps. Besides, one never knows just what sort of varmint he's going to catch and that adds a thrill or two.
By JAMES NEVIN MILLER
THE familiar principle of the perforated paper roll by which player pianos are operated is brought into play by experts of Uncle Sam's Census Bureau to aid in the gigantic task of tabulating the age, sex, and a score of other facts concerning every one of the 120,000,000 individuals who make up the population of the country.
German “Midget” Car Can Be Taken Apart in 20 Minutes THE well known German engineer Zaschka has invented a new “midget” automobile which is designed for speedy dismantling for storage purposes. The car can be “knocked down” within 20 minutes into three main sections which eliminates the necessity of a garage for storage. The sections […]
by Rear Admiral E. R. Stitt (U.S.N.)
and Lt. Com. J. C. Adams (U.S.N.)
Senior Flight Surgeon, Aircraft Squadrons
Fighting seaplanes of Uncle Sam's navy are launched into the air by means of powerful catapults which throw them into the air like giant slingshots. This is only one of the unusual stunts which naval flyers are required to perform—which explains why only the most perfect pilots win the title of "naval aviator."
Novel Limousine-train Resembling Locomotive Travels the Highways A THEATER corporation has placed on the highways a “trackless locomotive,” which is also called a limousine train. The car is equipped with radio receiving sets and microphone for speaking. It was especially designed and built at a cost of $25,000. It has a special four-speed transmission, a […]
Wireless Cigarette Lighter A NEW cigar lighter attached to the automobile dash board is pressed until a red glow appears and can then be removed.
WHEN A. Winters, a Californian, needed a cooler sleeping place he built a bedroom on top of a forty-foot steel tower, up in the air where the breezes are blowing. The room is large enough for a bed, two chairs and a small table.
Why, you might almost call it an Oldsmobile. Tiny Steam Car Goes 10 m. p. h. BILLY OLDS, Jr., two and one-half years, is the proud possessor of this steam car which he can drive at a speed of 10 m.p.h.
Product of a "reliable importer" seized in his hotel room, a plant for making "old stuff" from denatured alcohol.
A dry officer shows how denatured alcohol is cut with water and doctored with creosote and burnt sugar, and below, wrapped with straw.
New Sun Hat Doesn’t Touch Head and Is Collapsible A LIGHT sun hat that collapses and doesn’t touch the head has been invented by Dr. Henry T. Pistole, of Dallas, Texas. The hat is made of wire covered with fabric. The hat support is attached to wearer’s body by a belt around the waist, no […]
By R. D. ADAMS
The Mechanic Who Made Houdinis Trick Magic Apparatus In response to numerous requests from readers who enjoyed his thrilling articles, concluded in the December Modern Mechanics, telling of the methods by which Houdini, the master magician, performed his tricks, Mr. Adams has given us another interesting "behind the scenes" story. He built much of Houdini's apparatus.
Owl Declares War on Man ANYONE who has met a “man-eating” owl is invited to communicate with Professor Albert M. Reese of the University of West Virginia, at Morgantown. Such a bird came to live in Morgantown one day last summer, Professor Reese declares and for a few days actually terrorized pedestrians in one section […]
Landing airplanes on top of buildings was a really common theme in articles of this time. It’s kind of boggling that anyone thought it could be done safely. Runway for Airplanes Atop Skyscrapers A NEW YORKER has invented a novel turntable runway which he believes will be suitable for landing and take-off of airplanes from […]
Machine “Eats” Old Light Bulbs BURNED out electric lamps which have been thrown into ashcans as worthless are now considered so valuable for salvaging purposes that a new machine, called a rumbler, has been perfected to thresh the brass shells out of this former waste. A New York company collects 300,000 incandescent lamps annually and […]
by Jay Earle Miller
What is the screen grid tube? What does it do? What are the advantages of the condenser speaker? These are a few of the questions that occur to folk trying to keep abreast of developments. Mr. Miller, who attended the Chicago radio shows, here gives the answers.
I WENT to a furniture show the other day and saw some clever new adaptations of radio to home decorating.
And then I went to a radio show and saw the finest furniture exhibit in Chicago.
Combination Sports and Street Suits Made in Germany A SUIT which is equally suitable for street wear and sports has been innovated by the tailors of Berlin, Germany. The change can be performed in a few seconds. Some Germans are partial to the one-piece sports suit and enterprising tailors schemed a one-piece suit with belt […]
Outboard Motors Propel Floating Theatre in Holland ALMOST every canal bank in Holland, the land of canals and dykes, is a prospective theatre auditorium for the operators of a floating motion picture theatre. An enterprising theatre man conceived the idea of building a boat which would carry the projection apparatus and a ground glass screen, […]
By H. H. DUNN
Captain Whitelaw, dean of salvors, wrested nearly 300 ships worth $50, 000,000 from savage seas. He here tells of many ingenious means of raising ships and the dangers encountered.
MORE than sixty years ago, a boy of twenty, sitting on the rim of a dry-dock in San Francisco Bay, saw a small vessel rammed and sunk only a few hundred yards away. He had been working about a year as a carpenter on the drydock, putting on patches, stopping leaks, doing rough work with hammer and nails and saw.
Carries Own Grass 200,000 Miles WHEN Charles Miller, of Portland, Oregon, found the wanderlust too much for him in spite of his love for the old home, he decided to see the world and carry his home right with him, too. So he built a complete bungalow on the chassis of his car—not even forgetting […]
Mobile Bank Tours Suburbs A ROVING bank on wheels has just been put into service by the Seaboard National bank of Los Angeles, to serve a wide and diversified clientele of depositors whose demand for swift and convenient banking facilities is thus met. Guards armed with riot guns and a sub-machinegun protect the automobile bank […]
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 […]
Canine College Has Some Star Pupils in Hollywood A SCHOOL—the only one of its kind in the world—where dogs are instructed in the best methods of living amicably with their owners, with other human beings and with their fellow-dogs, has been established in Hollywood, California, and rewarded, in the few months of its existence, with […]
AN experimental model has proved a success, plans are now being made for the anchoring between New York and Bermuda of the first seadrome for ocean flying airplanes and it is the hope of the supporters that as a result such seadromes will eventually dot the oceans providing safe landings for aircraft.
The one-ton steel model of the seadrome was placed in the Choptank River at Cambridge, Md. The model was one-thirty-second the size of the intended dromes.
Seems like it would be pretty dangerous for this guy to get hit in the head… Mirror in Cap for the Sheik MODERN youth has solved the problem of the embarrassing necessity for carrying his mirror, for on sale at various men’s stores in London is a novel cap inside which is a mirror. All […]
Scaltiel, "master thief" of stage, reveals secrets of light-fingered gentry who operate throughout the world depriving victims of their valuables.
PERHAPS there is no stranger profession than that of Scaltiel, master thief and the smoothest pickpocket of them all, but who is as honest as the day is long, practicing his talents for the entertainment of theater goers and who now reveals the innermost secrets of the schools for the training of pickpockets.
World’s Largest Binoculars A HUGE pair of binoculars, pictured below, believed to be the largest in the world, were placed on exhibit at the optical congress at Northampton Polytechnic, Northampton, Massachusetts.
West Claims Most Beautiful Filling Station in the Entire World Dispensers of gasoline and oil at filling stations have come a long way from the day when a gasoline pump at the wayside or curb was considered sufficient to meet the demands of the public. Most filling stations are now artistically designed but it remains […]
Replica of Tank Is Made of Soap ONE hundred and thirty pounds of soap were used in the construction of a replica of a giant army tank at a recent soap exposition in Berlin, Germany. Cakes and slabs and sheets of soap were used throughout, pieces of soap being carved down to small knobs to […]
Home-made rockets can be easily prepared and attached to almost any model airplane for successful experiments in flying rocket ships.
By KENNETH B. MURRAY
IN THE experiment about to be described, a thirteen-year-old Michigan high school boy planned and constructed a regular model airplane to which was attached a home-made rocket. After considerable experimentation in balancing the plane and positioning the rocket a sufficiently stabilized arrangement was made and the plane tested out.