Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 90.djvu/274

 558

��Popular Science Monthly

���Miss Dayton's studio contains countless thousands of plastic clay figures. At the right of the sculptress is a replica of the old Windsor Hotel depicting the fire

��as if they were real. The effect is startingly realistic and highly amusing. In one of the films only recently completed there are no less than nine figures, all of them moving about as if they were flesh and blood. The rather jerky action serves only to enhance the amusing result.

To appreciate the amount of labor re- quired in making these new films it must be remembered that each time one of the sculptured figures moves a new pose must be made. This means, in other words, that the camera must stop until the sculptor goes over each plastic figure and molds it into the correct position before he can photograph it. There are sixteen different poses to a foot of film. Hence for the ordinary reel of one thousand feet there are sixteen thousand separate poses for each figure. Imagine the work required when three or more figures have to be made for each scene!

Helena Smith Dayton, of New York city, is the original sculptress with the keen sense of humor and the skilful fingers who makes the figures.

��The invention consists of three jointed arms which tend to fold together in a straight line because of the action of two sets of oppositely-wound coil springs placed at the end of one arm and at the joint of the other two. The first set of springs is inclosed in a casing pivoted to a clamp around the stationary steering column, while the free end of the other two arms is rigidly attached to the rim of. the steering wheel. As the wheel is turned from its straight-ahead position, the three arms open out against the action of the coil springs, like lazy tongs. Since the springs are oppositely wound, one spring in each set is wound more tightly than the other in the turned position. The two springs wound to the greatest will cause the arms to swing them the wheel as soon as

��degree

back and with

the hand pressure is removed

��Bringing the Steering Wheel Back to Position Automatically

A STABILIZER has been patented by means of which the steering wheel of an automobile can be automatically brought back to its normal position after having been turned. The result is that the steering gear directs the vehicle in a straight line even though the wheel is not gripped.

���COILED SPRINGS

��As the wheel is turned from its straight-ahead position the three arms open like lazy tongs

�� �