Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 89.djvu/587

 Removing High Lamp Bulb

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��\\' circ l)urnt-(iui l)ull)s riMunved in large c'li-ctrically-lightfd cano- pies over

�� ��the entrances of hotels, theaters and public l)uildings? Ordinaril\- a long extension ladder is required. A man holds the foot of the ladder to firevent it from siip[)ing; another climbs it to re- move the burnt-out bulbs and insert new ones.

A simple de\^ice has recently been put on the market which is intended to be used on the end of a long bamboo pole and which enables one man with an ordinary ladder to do this work.

The device consists of three sleeves carrving a set of metal tongues which are bent in the shape of a bulb and covered with rubber pro- tectors for nearly their en- tire length. The two end- sleeves slide within the middle one. The lower sleeve is fixed on the end of the bam- boo pole by means of a spread cotter- pin. The lower ends of the tongues are joined to a disk held in the upper sleeve and joined to the fixed bottom sleeve by means of a coil- spring. To a small eye-lug at the top of the upper sleeve a string is attached which extends down to the hand of the operator.

The man stands on the U>p of his ladder and lifts the jiole up so that the bent tongues slip over the bulb. If the bulb is too large, the man pulls the string, thus moving the top sleeve down so that the tongues can spread out to fit the bulb. By turning the pole around screw- driver fashion, the bulb is taken out of the socket. It is prevented from drop- ping to the floor b\- the tendency

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��Above, a device for re- newing the bulbs in high theater and hotel canopies consists of a long pole at the end of which are rubber-covered fingers to grip the bulb securely

��At left, the end of the pole, showing how the rubber- covered fingers grip bulb. The fingers can be spread out or contracted to suit the size of the bulb

��of the tongues to return to their normal position and by the rubber protectors, which grip the bulb firmly. The pole is lowered, the old bulb taken out, and the new one inserted.

If the operator does not wish to move his ladder for each bulb to be taken out, he slides the middle sleeve down over the first one. The top slee\-e and the tongues can then be bent to either side.

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