BRIEF NOTES ON RECENT INVENTIONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 497, 4 September 1912, Page 7

BRIEF NOTES ON RECENT INVENTIONS.

There seems to .be no end to the various methods of advertising. One ef the latest novelties along this line ia a rocking chair, the arms of which are arranged to display advertisements. ) The advertisements are printed on a web which is mounted on rollers in the hollow arm of the chair, and are displayed through a glass-covered opening in the upper face of the arm. As the chair is rocked to and fro, a lever in one of the rockers is actuated to turn the rolls and bring new advertisements into view.

Not long ago, during a pest of moths, a novel system of catching the insects in large quantities was adopted. It consisted in throwing the beam of a searchlight out of the mouth of a large suction fan, and, as the moths gathered, they were sucked into the fan and thus entrapped. A similar idea for household use has occurred to an inventor in Ch'cago, who has patented an apparatus consisting of a suction fan and an electric light mounted ill the inlet tube leading to the fan, while a trap of wire' netting is connected to the outlet end of the suction tube. This apparatus is adapted for catching flies and other insects that are liable to enter the house.

A very original method of testing the quality of a violin has just been patented. It consists of using the violin as a sounder for a gramophone The stylus or needle of the gramophone is clamped to the bridge of the violin, and the violin is supported ic inverted position over a gramophone record. By testing a number of violins with the same record, a customer may be able to judge for himself which of the violins produces the softest and swestest tones. A Western inventor has devised a saw, in the handle of which is a receptacle for oil which may be used for lubricating the saw. The oil receptacle is provided with a valve connected with a spring-pressed button which may be operated at --will to deliver oil to the blade of the saw.

For the purpose of washing small pieces, such as nursery articles, a wash pail has been invented which not only serves as a boiler, but is also provided with a corrugated scrubbing board at one side. The pail is fitted with a cover to be used when boiling the pieces, and is formed with grooves at one side to receive a fairly wide washboard. Tht device should be useful in apartment houses, in which tubs are not conveniently located for the washing oi small articles.

The] annoyance which bathers frequently experience of having watei fill the ears may be obviated by the use of an ear plug which has recently been patented by a Los Angeles inventor. The plug consists of a rubber bulb, formed with a sleeve in which a tube is fitted, provided at its outer end with a drum. The drum is covered with a waterprool diaphragm of silk and wire gauze. As the bulb is perforated, the plug does not interfere with the hearing. The two ear plugs are secured to the head by means of a strap similar to that used with head telephones. For the purpose of ferrying automobiles across streams, a novel boat has been provided, which is fitted with paddle wheels adapted to be coupled to the driving shaft of an automobile, so that the automobile itself furnishes the power by whicfc the boat is propelled across the stream. The driving wheels of the automobile are lifted off the deck ol the,, boat by means of jacks. The steering gear of the machine is connected to a rudder so that the operator of the machine may pilot the ferryboat wherever he wishes. In order to preserve the tyre of ai airmobile from puncture, an inven tor has devised a wheel in which the tread surface consists of a'number oi balls, preferably wooden balls mounted in slots formed in the sidi plates of the wheel. These balls bear against a pneumatic tyre o: standard type. The cushioning effect of the tyre is thus preserved, while the wear is taken by the balls.

A peculiar muzzle for horses ha; rsccntly been patented which is designed to protect the nostrils -whei the horse is running at high speed, sb as to break the force of the,wind and-permit natural breathing of th< animal. The device is adapted to fc« secured to the bridle of the horse, and consists of a frame over whict dust and air proof fabric is stretched. This is adapted to be mounted at a convenient distance from th; animal's nostrils and mouth.