Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 90.djvu/872

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��Popular Science Monthly

��The Upside-Down Watch — Successor to the Wrist Watch for Soldiers

THE wrist watch, which rose so high in popularity on account of the endorse- ment given it by men of the army and navy, has retired to second place in the soldiers' favor. The reason for this is not that this style of watch proved to be less con- venient than it promised, but that bullets and bursting shrapnel which constantly threaten the exposed men are like4y to strike the arm wear- ing the watch and drive bits of broken glass and metal into the flesh, thus aggravating the wounds.

The watch which now holds first place (it was invented by R. A. Hempel of Berlin) is worn suspended from the belt by a loop of leather. The loop ends in a pocket into which the watch fits, as shown in the illustration. The front surface of the pocket has a circular opening through which the face of the watch shows. A small strap encircles the watch and fastens it securely in place, buckling on the outside of the pocket. The watch hangs top-downward, but when the wearer raises it in his hand or glances down at it as it hangs from the belt, it is in just the proper position to be read. If it should happen to be shattered by a bullet the particles of glass or metal would be caught and held in the leather case so that they would do no harm. Many a fighter has had to thank the watch on his wrist for stopping a bullet that might have necessitated the loss of an arm. The very fact that the upside- down watch is carried against a more vulnerable part of the body than is the wrist watch, makes it all the more valuable as a protective medium. It may be worn under the cartridge belt.

���The watch appears upside-down to everyone but the one who is wearing it

��Covering Steam Pipes with a Glass Lighter than Cork

SPUN glass, which consists of extremely fine glass threads, is being used in Germany as an insulating material to retain the heat in steam pipes. Since it is considerably lighter even than cork, it adds less to the weight of the pipe than other insulating materi- als. Furthermore, it is not affected by vibra- tion, by high tempera- ture or by the action of water, steam or acids. It retains its pristine insulating power after long lapses of time, and can be used a second time, because of this lack of deterioration.

Successful experi- ments reveal the fact that the admirable in- sulating capacity of spun glass is due to the air held in the inter- stices and to the mir- ror-like surfaces of the glass, which constantly reflect the heat.

���The surf bather's receptacle for her valuables and bath-house key

��The Summer Girl Carries Her Vanity Case Even Into the Surf

THE feminine bathing suit has graduated from the ranks of the purely service- able into the class of artistic creations. Many and varied are the styles and colors which its scant breadths display. But in many instances the effect of the costume is marred by the unattractive rubber cord and brass bath-house key which the bather wears around her neck. The latest addition to the up- to-date suit, however, is a belt strap from which a waterproof -bag is sus- pended. In this not only* the objectionable key but jewelry and other valu- ables may be kept in safety. The bag is made of a rub- berized material and it is fastened securely with a rust-proof clasp.

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