Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 91.djvu/170

 154

Electric Experimenting Table Made from an Old Commode

/VN old commode such as is very often XjL discarded or sold for little or nothing can be very easily and cheaply transformed into a high class electrical experimenting workbench in the following manner. First procure a nice smooth board and nail it firmly to the two uprights A, which are found on nearly all old commodes. This forms the switchboard B, upon which all switches, rheostats, meters, etc., can be conveniently mounted.

In the accompanying drawing, a very convenient arrangement is shown. The dry cells, storage battery, or transformer is placed in the little cupboard C, at the bottom of the stand, from whence the two wires lead to the switchboard and are there connected as the user may see fit. All the wires are run behind the two uprights A, so as to make all the wiring invisible, which adds much in neatness.

The terminals for connecting motors and other experimental apparatus are placed upon the little back board D. Old battery binding posts may be used for this purpose.

��Popular Science Monthly

���o

�I

�o

� �o

�I

�6

����A board placed on the towel hanger sup- ports of a commode for an instrument board

Each terminal is operated by a switch on the board so that it is not necessary to disconnect a wire in order to shut off the

��current. It is also very convenient to have one of the terminals connected in series with a rheostat E, so that the quantity of

���All instruments and tools may be kept in the drawers while the top is used for a table

current can be regulated. A ground con- nection F might also prove handy for various experiments.

A call bell G and small electric light H can also be mounted on the board. For anyone possessing a wireless telegraph set, this stand is doubly convenient, as the aerial switch can be placed on the board and the instruments mounted directly on the top of the stand, if desired. Innumer- able other connections and uses will readily present themselves, depending on the apparatus possessed.

Tools and instruments can be kept in the drawers / and thus be always handy and out of the way. A small hand vise can be fastened on the stand if needed. The principal advantage of it all is that everything is conveniently contained in one unit. — J. Edward White.

��Panels Made Out of Rubber Storage Cells for Radio Apparatus

IN making panel facings for loose couplers or cabinet sets cut up an old hard rubber storage-battery case and use it for the switch-panel facing. When drilling be care- ful not to apply too much pressure. A plane may be used on this material if great care is taken ; but it is very brittle and will break easily. It may be polished with sandpaper.

�� �