Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/472

456 A dustguard is made from the canvas piece as shown at B. This is cut large enough so that a seam at the edge may be made for holding the ⅜ in. rod, which is drilled, or a turn is put in at the right

place for fastening it to the mudguard and seat-frame. The upper edge of the canvas is tacked to the lower board of the seat. The lower edge is tacked to a small piece which is used as a footboard.

When these parts are finished, it is ready for the leatherette covering. This is fastened with tacks having leatherette-covered heads. Horsehair is packed in between the leatherette covering and the seat-board to form a cushion. The leatherette is tacked to the upper board and all surplus edges are cut away, leaving only enough for a flap over the rear opening between the boards where there is space for tools. This flap has some gimp binding sewed to its lower edge to keep the material from fraying. Two eyelets are made and buttons are attached to the wood so that the flap may be used to keep tools from falling out.

The seat is finished with a ⅜-in. brass rail, which must be bent in the shape shown and attached with screws to the edge of the upper board. A rubber foot pad attached to the footboard adds to the appearance of the seat—

NE of the most extensively used cleaning mixtures on the market has its wide sale because it is not inflammable as benzene and similar products are. It is practically nothing but a mixture of benzene and carbon tetrachloride which when mixed in certain proportions will not burn or explode when a match is applied to the mouth of the container. It was found that the best results were obtained when these two substances were mixed in the proportion of nine parts, by volume, of carbon tetrachloride to one part of benzine. This mixture does not detract from the cleansing properties of the benzene but rather adds to them.

LEAKY valve is the cause of many a flat tire, but the valve itself is not always at fault. Very often, even after a new "insert" (the inside part or valve proper) is bought and put in, the slow leak is as bad as ever. The trouble is in the rubber gasket inside the cap. This becomes displaced and swung around so that it presses on the stem and causes the air to pass out slowly. The motorist naturally screws the cap down tighter in an attempt to stop the leak which only aggravates the trouble. Straightening the cap will effectually stop the leakage.

ELLULOID scrapings dissolved in acetone make a very good cement. The resultant solution should be heated slightly to clear it up. Another satisfactory way is to moisten the two surfaces with ordinary wood alcohol and press a weight over them. Shavings of vulcanite dissolved in sulphuric ether also serve the same purpose.

LARGE corporation recently made a canvass of its offices and collected all of the brass paper weights for the metal.

In order to supply paper weights to take the place of those collected, one was devised that is inexpensive, ornamental and useful. The body is made of wood, which is turned in a lathe. A recess is made in the bottom, in which a piece of cast iron is held in place with a wood screw.—