Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/264

 248 Popular Science Monthly

A New Portable Electric Light for How One Man Can Both Tow and Manhole Work Steer a Disabled Automobile

��NO longer will it be necessary for workers in sewer, telephone or elec- tric conduit manholes to grope their way in the darkness or to burn their fingers with the exposed flames of candles or kero- sene lamps. A large Eastern elec- tric concern has just brought out a portable lighting outfit which weighs only forty pounds and which is provided with two twelve candle power lamps which can be lighted at the same time for ten

consecutive hours. The contrivance

consists of a small

metal case inside of which is fitted a little

five-cell storage battery which can be

allowed to stand idle indefinitely in any

condition of charge or discharge. Both

of the electric bulbs are on long cables

and are provided

with wire guards

and metal shields

to concentrate the

light on the work

being done.

���Using the portable lighting outfit, which weighs only forty pounds, for manhole work

��corner

���ANEW draw-bar towing device en- ables one man to both tow and steer a disabled automobile to the nearest garage for repairs. The unit is designed par- ticularly for use in connection with Ford automobiles. It consists of a hinged two-part rod which is at- tached to the rear axle of the to\\'ing vehicle by means of a chain, and to the front axle of the damaged ear by means of a special clamp and set screw. The rearmost part of the rod, made of a fiat bar, differs from other types of towing units in that it extends back of the axle of the towed vehicle and is at- tached to the cross rod of the car's steering linkage.

Evidently the draw-bar rod tends to turn the front wheels of the towed vehicle as the towing vehicle turns a and the di- rection of the pull on the bar is changed.

��In center above : The tow-bar col- lapsed to fit into the tool box. Directly above : The tow bar in use

��Cross -rod of steering linkage pivoted here

��Easy chain /j hooK-

���At left: The rear part of the bar pivots about the clamp over the front axle of the damaged vehicle

��axle of •damaged car

�� �