Chapter XXI Tools and Materials
281. Your Workshop. If possible, keep all your work, tools and apparatus in one room, and lock the door when you leave.
The work-bench may be made of an old kitchen table, or of a strong, large box. The tool chest may be made of any clean box about the size of a soap box. Shelves can be made by setting soap or starch boxes on their sides, one above the other.
282. The tools needed are generally mentioned in the proper places, under the directions for construction. It is better to buy your tools as required, than to buy too many at once, some of which you may not need. If you have absolutely no tools, not even a saw or hammer, you will be obliged to buy or borrow, although a great deal can be done with a good knife. Do not be satisfied with rough-looking pieces of apparatus.
There are a few important tools needed for this work. While substitutes can be found for most of them, the boy who has access to a wood-working bench and tools will be able to do better and more rapid work than the boy who has no such tools.
283. List of tools. The following tools are needed, if rapid, accurate work is desired:
(1.) Lead pencil. (2.) A rule, divided into sixteenths for measuring. A straight foot rule will do,—cost one cent. (3.) Steel point for scratching lines on tin and copper. A stout needle-point is just the thing. (4.) An awl for making holes in wood; one that is a little less than ⅛ in. in diameter is best. (See App. 25.) (5.) A try-square with a 6 in. blade, so that you can mark out your apparatus with square corners. You can use a square-cornered box or piece of pasteboard, if you have no try-square. (6.) Chisels are very useful, but you can do wonders with a good sharp knife. (7.) Screw-driver. Do not use a good knife-blade for a screw-driver. (8.) A saw, one with teeth that are not too coarse is to be preferred. (9.) A plane is extremely useful to make your wood-work smooth and neat; but a great deal can be done with the sharp edges of broken glass, followed by a good rubbing with fine sand-paper. (10.) A brace and a set of bits may be needed in 2 or 3 cases, but nearly all of the holes can be made as in App. 25. (11.) Punches for sheet-tin, etc., will save much time. (See App. 26, 27.) For small holes in binding-posts, etc., use a flat-ended punch, ⅛ in. in diameter. You should have one ¼ or 5⁄16 in. in diameter, if you make your yokes, armatures, etc., as in Chapter VIII. A blacksmith will help you out with this. (12.) A center-punch or sharp-pointed punch for making dents in metal. A sharp-pointed wire nail will do for tin and copper. (13.) Files for metal. (14.) Some sort of a vice or clamp. (See App. 79, 80.) (15.) Shears for cutting sheet-tin, etc. A pair of old shears will do. (16.) An anvil or piece of old iron that may be used to hammer on to flatten tin, etc. An old flat-iron makes a good anvil. (17.) Hammer.
The small hollow handle tool sets are very handy, and they contain small chisels, awls, screw-driver, etc. These sets cost from 50 cents up.
284. Materials. For wood you will find the sides and ends of clean soap or starch boxes about the right thickness; they are fairly smooth to begin with. For thin wood use cigar boxes. The pieces from old boxes should be removed with care, and saved in one place, which may be called your lumber yard. All nails should be removed with a claw-hammer. Look out for nails when using a saw, plane or other edged tool. (See § 297.) The edges of bases, etc., may be bevelled as shown in Fig. 95. This is not necessary, but it adds greatly to the appearance.
285. Screw-Eyes. Brass screw-eyes, with copper burs, make excellent binding-posts. (App. 45, 46.) Those that are ⅜ in. in diameter inside the circle are about right. These are about 1¼ in. long in all, with a ½ in. thread.
286. Copper Burs, such as are used with rivets, are very handy. The size that is ½ in. in diameter, with a ⅛ in. hole, is good.
287. Copper Wire. This can be bought at an electrician’s. The only trouble, however, in buying small quantities is that you may have to pay a large price in proportion. If you get it on ½ lb. spools you can handle it much better (see App. 23) than you can if you have it in a tangle. It is well to have ½ lb. of No. 24 or 25 for electro-magnets, current-detectors, etc., etc. ½ lb. of No. 30 will not be too much, if you make induction coils. If you handle your wire carefully, single cotton-covered will do. Double cotton-covered is better than single, but it costs more. Be careful not to injure the covering. (See below for splicing wire.) Look out for broken wire.
288. Splicing Wire. Fig. 125. Do not simply touch two wires together and imagine that you have a good connection; a mere twist is not sufficient. Clean the ends of old wire thoroughly with a file or knife-blade, and join them as shown in Fig. 125.
289. Copper. Sheet-copper can be purchased at a tinsmith’s or at a hardware store. Electricians usually have a thin variety of copper called brush copper, which makes good battery-plates, binding-posts, etc. You can cut this thin copper with an ordinary pair of shears.
290. Iron. For thin sheet-iron, nothing is better than sheet-tin. (See tin.) Hoop iron is thicker than tin, and makes good yokes, etc. In many cases, ordinary nails may be used where a magnetic substance is needed. Annealed iron wire is extremely soft. (See text-book for experiments with steel and iron.)
291. Steel. Old files, watch-springs, clock-springs, corset-steels, knitting-needles, harness-needles, hack-saw blades, sewing-needles, etc., are generally made of a good quality of steel.
292. Zinc, in the sheet form, can be bought at a hardware store. For a few cents you can get quite a large piece. Get the thick pieces for heavy battery-plates of an electrician. You do not need anything that is thicker than ⅛ in. The zinc rods are usually amalgamated.
293. Lead can be bought at a plumber’s, tinsmith’s, or hardware store. You may want some for a storage cell.
294. Nails. Wire nails are best for light work. Get an assortment from ½ in. long up to 1½ in.
295. Screws. It is better to use brass screws around electrical apparatus. For the small work, for binding-posts, etc., use ⅝ No. 5. Another handy size is No. 7, from ¾ to 1¼ in. long. The round-headed screws are best, unless you want to countersink them.
296. Tin. This is really thin sheet-iron, covered with tin. Save up tomato-cans, cracker-boxes, condensed-milk cans, etc. The cracker-boxes are just as good as sheet-tin, as the pieces are large and clean. You can remove the solder from cans by heating them in the kitchen fire. Knock out the bottoms with a poker when the solder gets soft. Clean the tin with sand-paper.
297. Carbons. You can get carbon rods or plates at an electrician’s. If you have arc electric lights in your city, you will be able to pick up carbons; these, however, generally have a coating of copper, which must be eaten off with dilute nitric acid. This is a bother. You will find it cheaper to buy the ½ in. rods that are 12 in. long, and uncoated.
298. Shellac. Your wood-work will be much improved by using shellac upon it after you have thoroughly sand-papered it. You can get it, all prepared, at a paint store. Wood-alcohol is used to thin it if it gets too thick. Keep it in a wide-mouth bottle. Paint it on quickly and evenly with a brush, and do not go over it again when it is partly dry. Wait until it is thoroughly hard before putting on a second coat. It should be fairly thin to spread well. Clean your brush in wood-alcohol before putting it away, and keep the shellac bottle tightly corked. A small tin can or a teacup is best to hold the shellac when using it.
HOW TWO BOYS MADE THEIR OWN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS
By THOMAS M. ST. JOHN, Met. E.
This book contains 141 pages, 125 illustrations, and directions for making 152 pieces of apparatus. Size, 5×7½; red cloth.
CONTENTS: Chapter I. Cells and Batteries.—II. Battery Fluids and Solutions.—III. Miscellaneous Apparatus and Methods of Construction.—IV. Switches and Cut-Outs.—V. Binding-Posts and Connectors.—VI. Permanent Magnets.—VII. Magnetic Needles and Compasses.—VIII. Yokes and Armatures.—IX. Electro-Magnets.—X. Wire-Winding Apparatus.—XI. Induction Coils and Their Attachments.—XII. Contact Breakers and Current Interrupters.—XIII. Current Detectors and Galvanometers.—XIV. Telegraph Keys and Sounders.—XV. Electric Bells and Buzzers.—XVI. Commutators and Current Reversers.—XVII. Resistance Coils.—XVIII. Apparatus for Static Electricity.—XIX. Electric Motors.—XX. Odds and Ends.—XXI. Tools and Materials.
“The author of this book is a teacher and writer of great ingenuity, and we imagine that the effect of such a book as this falling into juvenile hands must be highly stimulating and beneficial. It is full of explicit details and instructions in regard to a great variety of apparatus, and the materials required are all within the compass of very modest pocket-money. Moreover, it is systematic and entirely without rhetorical frills, so that the student can go right along without being diverted from good helpful work that will lead him to build useful apparatus and make him understand what he is about. The drawings are plain and excellent. We heartily commend the book.”
—Electrical Engineer.
“Those who visited the electrical exhibition last May cannot have failed to notice on the south gallery a very interesting exhibit, consisting, as it did, of electrical apparatus made by boys. The various devices there shown, comprising electro-magnets, telegraph keys and sounders, resistance coils, etc., were turned out by boys following the instructions given in the book with the above title, which is unquestionably one of the most practical little works yet written that treat of similar subjects, for, with but a limited amount of mechanical knowledge, and by closely following the instructions given, almost any electrical device may be made at very small expense. That such a book fills a long-felt want may be inferred from the number of inquiries we are constantly receiving from persons desiring to make their own induction coils and other apparatus.”
—Electricity.
“At the electrical show in New York last May one of the most interesting exhibits was that of simple electrical apparatus made by the boys in one of the private schools in the city. This apparatus, made by boys of thirteen to fifteen years of age, was from designs by the author of this clever little book, and it was remarkable to see what an ingenious use had been made of old tin tomato-cans, cracker-boxes, bolts, screws, wire, and wood. With these simple materials telegraph instruments, coils, buzzers, current detectors, motors, switches, armatures, and an almost endless variety of apparatus were made. In his book Mr. St. John has given directions in simple language for making and using these devices, and has illustrated these directions with admirable diagrams and cuts. The little volume is unique, and will prove exceedingly helpful to those of our young readers who are fortunate enough to possess themselves of a copy. For schools where a course of elementary science is taught, no better text-book in the first steps in electricity is obtainable.”
—The Great Round World.
Exhibit of Experimental Electrical Apparatus
While only 40 pieces of simple apparatus were shown in this exhibit, it gave visitors something of an idea of what young boys can do if given proper designs.
THINGS A BOY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ELECTRICITY.
By THOMAS M. ST. JOHN, Met. E.
The book contains 180 pages, and 260 illustrations; it measures
5 × 7½ in., and is bound in cloth.
CONTENTS: Chapter I. About Frictional Electricity.—II. About Magnets and Magnetism.—III. How Electricity is Generated by the Voltaic Cell.—IV. Various Voltaic Cells.—V. About Push-Buttons, Switches and Binding-Posts.—VI. Units and Apparatus for Electrical Measurements.—VII. Chemical Effects of the Electric Current.—VIII. How Electroplating and Electrotyping are Done.—IX. The Storage Battery and How it Works.—X. How Electricity is Generated by Heat.—XI. Magnetic Effects of the Electric Current.—XII. How Electricity is Generated by Induction.—XIII. How the Induction Coil Works.—XIV. The Electric Telegraph, and How it Sends Messages.—XV. The Electric Bell and Some of its Uses.—XVI. The Telephone, and How it Transmits Speech.—XVII. How Electricity is Generated by Dynamos.—XVIII. How the Electric Current is Transformed.—XIX. How Electric Currents are Distributed for Use.—XX. How Heat is Produced by the Electric Current.—XXI. How Light is Produced by the Incandescent Lamp.—XXII. How Light is Produced by the Arc Lamp.—XXIII. X-Rays, and How the Bones of the Human Body are Photographed.—XXIV. The Electric Motor and How it Does Work.—XXV. Electric Cars, Boats and Automobiles.—XXVI. A Word About Central Stations.
—XXVII. Miscellaneous Uses of Electricity.
This book explains, in simple, straightforward language, many things about electricity; things in which the American boy is intensely interested; things he wants to know; things he should know.
It is free from technical language and rhetorical frills, but it tells how things work, and why they work.
It is brimful of illustrations—the best that can be had—illustrations that are taken directly from apparatus and machinery, and that show what they are intended to show.
This book does not contain experiments, or tell how to make apparatus; our other books do that. After explaining the simple principles of electricity, it shows how these principles are used and combined to make electricity do every-day work.
Everyone Should Know About Electricity.
A VERY APPROPRIATE PRESENT
Things a Boy Should
Know About Wireless
By
THOMAS M. ST. JOHN, Met. E.
Author of “Things a Boy Should Know about Electricity,” “Fun with
Electricity,” “The Study of Elementary Electricity and Magnetism by
Experiment,” “The Study of Electric Motors by Experiment,” “Electrical
Handicraft,” Etc., Etc.
126 Pages—109 Illustrations and Diagrams
Bound in Cloth—Net $1.00
This book contains much practical and some theoretical information regarding the operation and explanation of wireless outfits. It discusses enough of the theoretical side to make the student sure of himself and to give a well-rounded knowledge of this most practical subject.
The author has explained the various pieces of apparatus needed in a wireless station in such a clear manner that the student can not fail to understand how they work and why they work. The numerous drawings and diagrams simplify the discussions to such an extent that the reader will not want to skip a single paragraph.
“Things a Boy Should Know About Wireless” will be welcomed by thousands of enthusiasts and it should find its way into every library.
From
THOMAS M. ST. JOHN
Cascade Ranch.
East Windham,—N.Y.
The Study of Elementary
Electricity and Magnetism
by Experiment
By THOMAS M. ST. JOHN, Met. E.
The book contains 220 pages and 168 illustrations. It measures
5 × 7½ in., and it is bound in green cloth.
This is a text-book for amateurs, students, and others who want to take up a systematic course of electrical experiments at home or in school. It will give a practical and experimental knowledge of elementary electricity, and thoroughly prepare students for advanced work. Full directions are given for
TWO HUNDRED EXPERIMENTS.
The experiments and discussions are so planned that the student is always prepared for what follows. Although the experiments may be performed with the apparatus that is usually found in school laboratories, the author has designed a complete set of apparatus for those who want to have their own outfit.
If you want to take up a systematic course of experiments—experiments that will build a lasting foundation for your electrical knowledge—this book will serve as a valuable guide.
Fun With Magnetism and Fun With Electricity have started more young men upon electrical careers than any other scientific outfits ever placed before the public. The thousands upon thousands that have been sold in all parts of the world have furnished fun and science for people of all ages, and the mere fact that they are listed by the New York Board of Education, and recommend to the pupils and teachers of the New York public and private schools is a guarantee of their value. Were it not for the fact that these are made in such large quantities and sold by stores, agents and mail-order houses, the price would be much higher. Don’t fail to get these. They have a national reputation.
FUN WITH MAGNETISM
This outfit contains a 32-page book of instructions, with 45 illustrations, together with a complete set of apparatus for performing 61 fascinating experiments. It will give you some new ideas about magnetism and start you at the right place in your study of electricity. Think what that means—to start right!
The book contains experiments with the horseshoe magnet, with bar magnets, with floating magnets, etc., etc., thus giving a practical knowledge of the subject; and it is all done in such an interesting way that one can’t help remembering it. Every experiment clinches some fact and every fact is important.
Amusing Experiments.—Something for Nervous People to Try.—The Jersey Mosquito.—The Stampede.—The Runaway.—The Dog-fight.—The Whirligig.—The Naval Battle.—A String of Fish.—A Magnetic Gun.—A Top Upside down.—A Magnetic Windmill.—A Compass Upside down.—The Magnetic Acrobat.—The Busy Ant-hill.—The Magnetic Bridge.—The Merry-go-Round.—The Tight-rope Walker.—A Magnetic Motor Using Attractions and Repulsions.—And 43 Others.
FUN WITH ELECTRICITY
The author of this Fun with Science series has spent a great deal of time and money in experimenting to devise apparatus that will do the proper work and be, at the same time, simple and cheap, and in no outfit has he succeeded better than in Fun with Electricity. When you think of an outfit retailing for 50c. and covering the whole subject of “Static Electricity,” giving 60 scientific experiments upon its production, conduction and induction, with a 55–page book of instructions with 38 drawings, and a complete set of apparatus of 20 articles for performing these 60 experiments, you will understand why the sales of this outfit have been enormous. As the subject is presented in a fascinating way—and not as mere dry science—every one likes to do the experiments. No wonder these sets are highly praised by parents and educators in every part of the country!
There is Fun in these Experiments: Chain Lightning.—An Electric Whirligig.—The Baby Thunderstorm.—A Race with Electricity.—An Electric Frog Pond.—An Electric Ding-Dong.—The Magic Finger.—Daddy Long-Legs.—Jumping Sally.—An Electric Kite.—Very Shocking.—Condensed Lightning.—An Electric Fly-Trap.—The Merry Pendulum.—An Electric Ferry-Boat.—A Funny Piece of Paper.—A Joke on the Family Cat.—Electricity Plays Leap-Frog.—Lightning Goes Over a Bridge.—Electricity Carries a Lantern.—And 40 Others.
There isn’t an outfit anywhere at any price that gives better value for the money. An ideal present for a boy.
FUN WITH PUZZLES
Here is an outfit that every boy and girl should have, for it is amusing, instructive and educational. It is real fun to do puzzles and to puzzle your friends, and this book contains some real brain-teasers that will make you think. The book contains 15 chapters, 80 pages, and 128 illustrations, and measures 5×7½ inches. If you can’t do any particular puzzle you will find its solution in the “key,” which is bound with the book. If you want to win prizes by doing the puzzles in the magazines, you will find this book of four hundred puzzles a regular school of puzzles that will give you a thorough training for this kind of work. The book alone is well worth the price, to say nothing of the outfit of numbers, counters, pictures, etc.
Contents of Book: Chapter (1) Secret Writing. (2) Magic Triangles, Squares, Rectangles, Hexagons, Crosses, Circles, etc. (3) Dropped Letter and Dropped Word Puzzles. (4) Mixed Proverbs, Prose and Rhyme. (5) Word Diamonds, Squares, Triangles, and Rhomboids. (6) Numerical Enigmas. (7) Jumbled Writing and Magic Proverbs. (8) Dissected Puzzles. (9) Hidden and Concealed Words. (10) Divided Cakes, Pies, Gardens, Farms, etc. (11) Bicycle and Boat Puzzles. (12) Various Word and Letter Puzzles. (13) Puzzles with Counters. (14) Combination Puzzles. (15) Mazes and Labyrinths.
Secret Writing is explained in this book, and it shows how you can write letters to your friends and be sure that no one can read them unless they are also in the secret. This one thing alone will give you a great deal of enjoyment. Get this outfit and have some fun.
FUN WITH SOAP-BUBBLES
Fancy Bubbles and Films are not easily blown without special apparatus, and even with the proper outfit one must “know how.” That’s why we furnish a 16–page book with every set to show just how to do it. With the aid of the 21 illustrations and the directions you can produce remarkable results that will surprise and entertain your friends. A child can do it as well as a grown person.
Soap-Bubble Parties using these outfits create real sensations. Why not be the first in your town to give a “Fun with Soap-Bubbles Party?” Just write and ask about the price for any special number of them—say six or a dozen.
Contents of Book: Twenty-one Illustrations.—Introduction.—The Colors of Soap-Bubbles.—The Outfit.—Soap Mixture.—Useful Hints.—Bubbles Blown with Pipes.—Bubbles Blown with Straws.—Bubbles Blown with the Horn.—Floating Bubbles.—Baby Bubbles.—Smoke Bubbles.—Bombshell Bubbles.—Dancing Bubbles.—Bubble Games.—Supported Bubbles.—Bubble Cluster.—Suspended Bubbles.—Bubble Lamp Chimney.—Bubble Lenses.—Bubble Basket.—Bubble Bellows.—To Draw a Bubble Through a Ring.—Bubble Acorn.—Bubble Bottle.—A Bubble Within a Bubble.—Another Way.—Bubble Shade.—Bubble Hammock.—Wrestling Bubbles.—A Smoking Bubble.—Soap Films.—The Tennis Racket Film.—Fish-net Film.—Pan-shaped Film.—Bow and Arrow Film.—Bubble Dome.—Double Bubble Dome.—Pyramid Bubbles.—Turtle-back Bubbles.—Soap-Bubbles and Frictional Electricity.
“There is nothing more beautiful than the airy-fairy soap-bubble with its everchanging colors.” This outfit gives the best possible amusement for old and young.
FUN WITH SHADOWS
No wonder shadow-making has been popular for several centuries! What could give keener delight than comical shadow-pictures, pantomimes, entertainments, etc.? Professional shadowists use wires, forms, and various devices to aid them, and that is why they get such wonderful results on the stage. Do you want to do the same thing right in your own home and entertain your friends with all kinds of fancy shadows? You can do it with this outfit, for the book contains 100 illustrations and diagrams with directions for using the numerous articles included in the box. You will be surprised to see how easily you can make these funny shadows with the aid of the outfit. Better get one now and make shadows like a professional.
The Outfit contains everything necessary for all ordinary shadow pictures, shadow entertainments, shadow plays, etc. The following articles are included: One book of Instructions called “Fun with Shadows”; 1 Shadow Screen; 2 Sheets of Tracing Paper; 1 Coil of Wire for Movable Figures; 1 Cardboard Frame for Circular Screen; 1 Cardboard House for Stage Scenery; 1 Jointed Wire Fish-pole and Line; 2 Bent Wire Scenery Holders; 4 Clamps for Screen; 1 Wire Figure Support; 1 Wire for Oar; 2 Spring Wire Table Clamps; 1 Wire Candlestick Holder; 5 Cardboard Plates containing the following printed figures that should be cut out with shears; 12 Character Hats; 1 Boat; 1 Oar-blade; 1 Fish; 1 Candlestick; 1 Cardboard Plate containing printed parts for making movable figures.
FUN WITH PHOTOGRAPHY
Popular Pastimes are numerous, but to many there is nothing more fascinating than photography. The magic of sunshine, the wonders of nature, and the beauties of art are tools in the hands of the amateur photographer. If you want to get a start in this up-to-date hobby, this outfit will help you. You will enjoy the work and be delighted with the beautiful pictures you can make.
The Outfit contains everything necessary for making prints—together with other articles to be used in various ways. The following things are included: One Illustrated Book of Instructions, called “Fun With Photography”; 1 Package of Sensitized Paper; 1 Printing Frame, including Glass, Back, and Spring; 1 Set of Masks for Printing Frame; 1 Set of Patterns for Fancy Shapes; 1 Book of Negatives (Patented) Ready for Use; 6 Sheets of Blank Negative Paper; 1 Alphabet Sheet; 1 Package of Card Mounts; 1 Package of Folding Mounts; 1 Package of “Fixo.”
Contents of Book: Chapter I. Introduction.—Photography.—Magic Sunshine.—The Outfit.—II. General Instructions.—The Sensitized Paper.—How the Effects are Produced.—Negatives.—Prints.—Printing Frames.—Our Printing Frame.—Putting Negatives in Printing Frame.—Printing.—Developing.—Fixing.—Drying—- Trimming.—Fancy Shapes.—Mounting.—III. Negatives and How to Make Them.—The Paper.—Making Transparent Paper.—Making the Negatives.—Printed Negatives.—Perforated Negatives.—Negatives Made from Magazine Pictures.—Ground Glass Negatives.—IV. Nature Photography.—Aids to Nature Study.—Ferns and Leaves.—Photographing Leaves.—Perforating Leaves.—Drying Leaves, Ferns, etc., for Negatives.—Flowers.—V. Miscellaneous Photographs.—Magnetic Photographs.—Combination Pictures.—Initial Pictures.—Name Plates.—Christmas, Easter and Birthday Cards.
FUN WITH CHEMISTRY
Chemistry is universally considered to be an interesting subject, even in school, and it is certainly an important one in these days of scientific progress. This outfit starts you at the right place and presents the elements of the subject in a most interesting fashion. The experiments are so enjoyable that you will take pleasure in doing them over and over again, and you will want to do them for your friends. You can have a lot of fun with this set, and even if you have taken advanced courses in the subject you will find something new in these experiments. The more you know about chemistry the more you will enjoy it, for then you can more easily appreciate what a splendid outfit this is for the money.
The Outfit contains over 20 different articles, including chemicals, test-tubes, adjustable ring-stand, litmus paper, filter paper, glass tubing, etc.; in fact, everything needed for the forty-one experiments. The Book of Instructions is fully illustrated, and measures 5×7½ inches.
Fun Found Here: From White to Black, or the Phantom Ship.—Yellow Tears.—Smoke Pearls.—An Ocean of Smoke.—A Tiny Whirlwind.—A Smoke Cascade.—An Explosion in a Teacup.—A Gas Factory in a Test-Tube.—Making Charcoal.—Flame Goes Over a Bridge.—A Smoke Toboggan-Slide.—Fountains of Flame.—Making an Acid.—Making an Alkali.—A Chemical Fight.—Through Walls of Flame.—An Artificial Gas Well.—A Lampblack Factory.—Steam from a Flame.—The Flame that Committed Suicide.—Chemical Soup.—A Baby Skating-Rink.—A Magic Milk-Shake.—The Wizard’s Breath.—A Chemical Curtain.—Scrambled Chemicals.—And Many Other Experiments.
ELECTRIC SHOOTING GAME
Shooting Animals by electricity is certainly a most original game, and it will furnish a vast amount of amusement to all. The game is patented and copyrighted—because it is really a brand-new idea in games—and it brings into use that most mysterious something called electricity. While the electricity is perfectly harmless, there being no batteries, acids or liquids, it is very active and you will have plenty to laugh at. It is so simple that the smallest child can play it and so fascinating that grandpa will want to try it.
The “game-preserve” is neatly printed in colors, and the birds and wild animals are well worth hunting. Each has a fixed value—and some of them must not be shot at all—so there is ample chance for skill. Tissue-paper bullets are actually shot from the “electric gun” by electricity, and it is truly a weird sight to see them shoot through the air impelled by this unseen force.
The Outfit contains the “Game-Preserve,” the “Electric Gun,” the “Shooting-Box,” and the “Electric Bullets,” together with complete illustrated directions, all placed in a neat box.
NEW IDEA TIT-TAT-TOE
Splendid game for two, three, or four players; great improvement upon the good old game; fascinating game instantly learned; nothing better for children’s parties and progressive birthday parties; box with game-board, 12 men, directions; discount for party orders.
REAL ELECTRIC TOY-MAKING FOR BOYS
CONTENTS: Chapter I. Toys Operated by Permanent Magnets.—II. Toys Operated by Static Electricity.—III. Making Electromagnets for Toys.—IV. Electric Batteries.—V. Circuits and Connections.—VI. Toys Operated by Electromagnets. VII. Making Solenoids for Toys.—VIII. Toys Operated by Solenoids.—IX. Electric Motors.—X. Power, Speed, and Gearing.—XI. Shafting and Bearings.—XII. Pulleys and Winding-Drums.—XIII. Belts and Cables.—XIV. Toys Operated by Electric Motors.—XV. Miscellaneous Electric Toys.—XVI. Tools.—XVII. Materials.—XVIII. Various Aids to Construction.
While planning this book, Mr. St. John definitely decided that he would not fill it with descriptions of complicated, machine-made instruments and apparatus, under the name of “Toy-Making,” for it is just as impossible for most boys to get the parts for such things as it is for them to do the required machine work even after they have the raw materials.
Great care has been taken in designing the toys which are described in this book, in order to make them so simple that any boy of average ability can construct them out of ordinary materials. The author can personally guarantee the designs, for there is no guesswork about them. Every toy was made, changed, and experimented with until it was as simple as possible; the drawings were then made from the perfected models.
As the result of the enormous amount of work and experimenting which were required to originate and perfect so many new models, the author feels that this book may be truly called “Real Electric Toy-Making for Boys.”
Every Boy Should Make Electrical Toys.