Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 89.djvu/794

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ANY storekeepers still use double flat sheets of wrapping paper, in bundles which are usually piled in some out-of-the-way place difficult to reach. A contrivance for holding this paper may be made as follows:

Fasten two iron shelf-brackets to the wall about 30 in. apart and 4 ft. from the floor. On top of each bracket screw a strip of wood 2½ in. square by 20 in. long; then nail a small strip 3 in. wide and ½ in. thick to the outer edge of each one of the large strips so that the small strips are ½ in. higher. Cut grooves with a half-round chisel or bore holes with an auger in the top of each large strip as far as the small strip. Iron rods the length of the distance between the strips can be inserted in the grooves with the wrapping paper hanging over them where they can be obtained quickly. The small strips nailed on the sides of the large strips prevent the rods from slipping out.—

N THE front end of a confectionery store there was placed a large steam radiator made in a perfect circle of vertical pipes—one of the old-fashioned kind. The leaseholder of the room utilized the large volume of heat in a very unusual manner. Having a large trade in roasted peanuts and not caring to have the roaster in the front of the store the peanuts were kept hot in the bags on the radiator.

To give this arrangement a pleasing appearance a large disk of galvanized sheet iron was cut and a tinner seamed it to an apron so as to make a huge "can cover" to fit snugly over the radiator top. The bags of peanuts were kept on this metal cover and served hot to the customers.

MILLER in a small flour mill had occasional trouble with a bin that was continually running over. By applying the device described the difficulty was overcome by stopping the flow of the grain automatically.

A paddle is inserted in the bin and a rope attached to it which is run over pulleys and fastened to a lever that opens or closes a slide valve in the grain spout. When the grain is running out of the spout it is naturally settling in the bin, and if the bin gets so full that it covers the paddle, the paddle is slowly pulled down with the sinking grain. After the grain has been shut off and the level is below the paddle, the weight opens the valve. A paddle with two square feet of surface will pull hard enough to break a small rope, so very little surface is required.—