Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/315

Popular Science Monthly 299 

CLOTHES line holder that will grip the line tighter as the weight is increased can be made in a few minutes out of two large screweyes, a 2-in. carriage-bolt and a piece of hard wood about 6 in. long, 2 in. wide and ¾ in. thick, cut as shown.

First, drill a hole that the carriage-bolt will easily pass through in one corner, about 1 in. from the end and ½ in. from the side. Now round off the corners to the shape shown in the sketch. Next, screw the screweyes into the clothes-post far enough apart so that the wooden block will easily pass between them, as shown. They should be screwed in until the centers of the eyes are about 1½ in. from the post. Then place the Wooden block between them. Line up the hole with the screweyes and insert the bolt.

To use the holder, lift the end and drop the clothes line in the space between the screweyes. Pull down the end again and it will wedge itself against the clothes line with a grip that will tighten as the load grows.—

BAROMETER, which will prophesy weather conditions a day in advance, may be made from an ordinary incandescent bulb. Select a 60-watt lamp. One that has burned out will do. Hold it under water and file off the glass tip at the end of the bulb. The vacuum will cause the water to enter through the hole thus made, filling the bulb completely. The barometer should then be suspended with bulb end downward.

When a drop of water appears suspended at the outlet, you may look for a storm to-morrow; when the drop disappears, fair weather is in store. There is a perfectly natural reason for this phenomenon. Stormy weather is always preceded by low barometric pressure. The atmospheric pressure having decreased, the weight of the water inside the bulb tends to force water through the outlet. This force is small, but it is sufficient to allow a drop of water to escape and hang suspended from the tip of the bulb. On the other hand, fair weather follows an area of high barometric pressure. The pressure of the atmosphere, under such conditions, will prevent the water from escaping and the suspended drop will be forced back into the bulb.

This simple barometer may be screwed into a wall or ceiling lighting fixture, which is out of service.—

HIS windshield is made of sheet metal bent to conform to the shape of the handlebar. As shown, three fastenings are used, but more may be applied if desired. One is at the head and the other two are about half way between the grips and the head. It is topped with an isinglass protector, fastened as illustrated. There is a flare of each grip to make room for the hands, and to shelter them from the wind and rain.

The mudguard is also made of sheet metal. It consists of two wings bolted to the frame so that the front guard will clear, the footboards having just room to fold up.—