Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 89.djvu/166

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���Two strips of strong paper are an effective means of protecting a mirror from breaking

��How to Pack Mirrors to Prevent Breaking

WHEN mirrors are to be stored or to be shipped by mail, they may be securely packed in the following manner: Carefully paste two strips of stout brown paper diagonally across the mirror, as shown in the illustration. In the case of very large mirrors, use several strips of paper. Then wrap carefully in heavy Manila paper.— G. H. Holden.

A Clothes-Line Prop That Will Not Drop or Slip

AN improvement over the ordinary clothes-line prop is shown in the ac- companying figure. It is made of spruce, i}i in. by 2 ins., and as long as needed. A hole is cut at the top, as shown. This allows the user to raise or lower the line without allowing the prop to fall. Yet it can be detached readily. The slanting cut at the bottom prevents slipping on the ground and the point may be shod with a piece of hoop- iron. — J.\MES E. Noble.

��Popular Science Monthly

A Hoop with a Guiding Hub

THE attached drawings illustrate an improvement over the old-style hoop.

Instead of a plain hoop, four spokes with a hub are added, and in place of the plain, straight stick, for giving the hoop motion, a stick with a slight up- curve at one end is used.

This hoop may be started from the hand as well as stopped and picked up without stooping, and is at all times under control. Motion to the hoop is given by pushing it along as shown at the left in the illustration below. A straight view of hoop, with a notch for the stick on either side of hub, is also shown, as well as the method of hold- ing, starting and picking up the hoop by means of this curved stick.

�����This prop is stable yet detachable

A piece of hoop-iron strengthens the lower

end. An L-shaped notch at the upper

end holds the line securely

��An ingenious hoop has a hub for guiding

Wood Blocks for Flooring

CREOSOTED wood blocks, already extensively used as paving material for city streets, have been coming into use as flooring for the last four or five years. Durability, noiselessness un- der heavy traffic, and sanitary properties are chief advantages for paving and also give special value for making floors, especially for use where heavy trucking, the moving of hca\>- machinery, or other severe use makes the maintenance of floors a serious iirohlem. The rather high cost is the chief disaihantage in the use of wood blocks.

Wood blocks are now widely used for flooring in factories, warehouses, ma- ( liine shojis, foundries, various types of platforms, whar\es, and docks, and for such miscellaneous i)urposes as hotel kitchens, hospitals, laundries, and slaugh- ter houses.

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