Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 88.djvu/304

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��Popular Science Monthly

��Potato Roaster for Campers

A POTATO roaster for camping parties may be made from a sheet of stiff sheet metal — iron will usually be

���The potatoes are held on nails, and the heat circulates evenly

the handiest — through which a number of nails spaced equally distant are driven. The potatoes are pushed upon the nails and the loaded tray lowered over the glowing coals of the camp fire. The heat circulates about the potatoes evenly; so they are roasted uniformly.

An Electrical Peddler Chaser

PROBABLY the greatest source of annoyance to the housewife is an- swering the door-bell for agents who peddle things not worth buying.

A little device shown in the accom- panying sketch will save her much an- noyance. The little box is placed at the front door over the bell button on a level with the eye. It contains a sign which shows through a small window. The sign is operated similarly to an old- fashioned window shutter by an electro-

��^/ WZ DO NOT NEED ANrJtim

��Tom. , GooD-erE.

����magnet ; when not in use the two leaves of the shutter lie horizontal as in the right-hand drawing. In this position the sign cannot be read. The leaves are hinged to a double-armed rod, which, in turn, rests on a long lever, the lever being pinioned very near the magnet on a small bracket. This increases the lift of the magnet, so that about a quarter of an inch of movement on the left end will give about an inch and a half at the right, which is sufficient to bring the leaves in a perpendicular position and to exhibit the sign, which is drawn back by gravity.

A push button is situated at a point in the house from which a view of the front walk or porch may be obtained; or, if the front door contains a glass, near the kitchen door. When an agent rings the bell the button is pressed and he is dismissed by the sign. He can't argue with this "Agent Chaser."

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This sign is guaranteed to rout any peddler

��The nails have their heads filed to a point, and prevent the casks from slipping

Prevents Casks Slipping While Unloading

OILY barrels or casks give truckmen much trouble when they are loaded upon wagons or drays, owing to the ten- dency of the unwieldy object to slip on the ways which are placed between the truck or wagon floor and the sidewalk. This difficultv can be removed by driv- ing a row of stout nails into the ways and filing the heads to a sharp point. \A'hile not seriously marring the face of the casks, the points prevent them from slipping.

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