Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 88.djvu/94

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66
Popular Science Monthly

From Cellar to Sidewalk

HANDLING ashes, ice and boxes between the sidewalk and the basement is often attended by much heavy lifting and the usual employment of two men, or is done with a chlumsy elevator. With a new hoist shown in the illustration this work is accomplished by one man and more rapidly than it could be done even with an elevator.

When not in use the hoist mast telescopes and is wholly contained below the basement doors. When it is to be used, a handle in the basement is turned and the mast automatically raised to the required height where it locks itself.

The operator can now raise ashes or other heavy articles out of the basement by turning a handle on the side of the hoist within easy reach from the sidewalk level. A pressure of seven pounds on the handle will raise one hundred pounds on the end of the cable.

The upper part of the hoist is on ball bearings so that when the weight is raised to the proper height it can be swung readily to the sidewalk or into a wagon.

Rubbish removal is slowly being modernized. Here is the newest form of collapsible derrick for city houses


This clock, built entirely of straw,
manages to keep accurate time in spite
of its flimsy fabric

A Clock Made of Straw

A CLOCK made in Germany is constructed of nothing but straw. Not even a piece of stiffening cardboard or a drop of glue has been used. It is six feet high and is two feet square. There are eight pendulums which allow speed regulation. By pressing a button which comes out automatically on one side, the clockwork is wound up and runs for five hours. By pushing another button, the hands can be set. The dial, figures, pendulum, hands, even the chain, weight gears and the skeleton are of straw. The chain is fourteen inches long and endless. In the construction of this clock, thousands of stalks of straw have been used, mostly three and four fold to give greater strength.


Shooting at Jupiter

IT is reported from France that Jupiter, which has been especially brilliant lately, has often been mistaken for an enemy airship flying over Paris, and that guns have been trained on it.