Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/238

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��Popular Science Monthly

��Loading Bullets Without a Mistake in the Weight of Powder and Shot

A RIFLE-SHELL must contain just so much powder, or else the range and accuracy of the weapon will be seri- ously affected. The shell casings, the bul- lets and the little primer caps that set off the shells are made up in large quanti- ties and are as simi- lar as human skill can make them.

The primer cap is inserted in the base of the shell before loading. Hence it is ■only necessary to load the shell casing with the necessary weight of powder, in- sert the bullet and clinch it firmly into position to secure uniformity in com- pleted shells. With- out mechanical aid this would mean ex- tremely careful weighing of the powder, transferring the powder to the shell, tamping it firmly in place, inserting the bullet and, finally, clinching the end of the shell-casing about the bullet, this last operation requiring mechanical assistance. Altogether it would be a tedious task, this loading of shells by hand, and one in which there would be great likelihood of error.

To avoid such a great waste of time, the machine, here shown mounted on the well - lighted workbench, has been evolved. It is composed of adjacent cylindrical chambers mounted above a common funnel, in one of which is placed the powder supply and in the other the bul- lets, Oscar (the loader) has but to manipulate the lever in his right hand, first to feed just the right amount of powder into the shell placed under the load-

���top of the bench, and then to feed in the bullet. By means of a foot treadle, the bullet is pressed firmly down on the powder; the casing about the bullet is clinched; and the clamping device is lowered and released so that the loaded shell may be remov- ed by Oscar's left hand.

The whole opera- tion of loading with this semi-automatic loading machine oc- cupies but a few seconds and the work is done correctly, w ithout possibility of error.

��A Very Busy Sun Dial

"Let others tell of storm and showers I "11 onlj count your sunny hours."

��T

��With this semi-automatic machine, the whole operation of loading a bullet occupies but a few seconds

��HE mammoth sun dial which has been erected in San Francisco, by a realty company, must have a busy life because in the bright California climate, sunshine and daylight are almost synonymous terms.

In spite of all the modern timepieces available, the symbolic sun dial is enjoy- ing an unexpected renaissance.

���ing connection just below the

��This huge sun dial is thirty-four feet in diameter

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