The Boy Mechanic: Volume 1 | Page 7

will occupy very little space in the grip.

** Homemade Snowshoes [9]
Secure four light barrel staves and sandpaper the outside smooth. Take
two old shoes that are extra large and cut off the tops and heels so as to
leave only the toe covering fastened to the sole. Purchase two long
book straps, cut them in two in the middle and fasten the ends on the
toe covering, as shown in Fig. 1. The straps are used to attach the
snowshoe to the regular shoe. When buckling up the straps be sure to
leave them loose enough for the foot to work freely, Fig. 2. Fasten the
barrel staves in pairs, leaving a space of 4 in. between them as shown in
Fig. 3, with thin strips of wood. Nail the old shoe soles to crosspieces
[Illustration: Made from Barrel Staves]
placed one-third of the way from one end as shown. --Contributed by
David Brown, Kansas City, Mo.

** Fish Signal for Fishing through Ice [10]
Watching a fish line set in a hole cut in the ice on a cold day is very
disagreeable, and the usual method is to
[Illustration: Bell and Battery in a Box]
have some kind of a device to signal the fisherman when a fish is
hooked. The "tip ups" and the "jumping jacks" serve their purpose
nicely, but a more elaborate device is the electric signal. A complete
electric outfit can be installed in a box and carried as conveniently as
tackle.
An ordinary electric bell, A, Fig. 1, having a gong 2-1/2 in. in diameter,
and a pocket battery, B are mounted on the bottom of the box. The
electric connection to the bell is plainly shown. Two strips of brass, C,
are mounted on the outside of the box. The brass strips are shaped in
such a way as to form a circuit when the ends are pulled together. The
box is opened and set on the ice near the fishing hole. The fish line is
hung over a round stick placed across the hole and then tied to the
inside strip of brass. When the fish is hooked the line will pull the brass
points into contact and close the electric circuit.

** Homemade Floor Polisher [10]
A floor polisher is something that one does not use but two or three
times a year. Manufactured polishers come in two sizes, one weighing
15 lb., which is the right weight for family use, and one weighing 25 lb.
A polisher can be made at home that will do the work just as well.
Procure a wooden box such as cocoa tins or starch packages are
shipped in and stretch several thicknesses of flannel or carpet over the
bottom, allowing the edges to extend well up the sides, and tack
smoothly. Make a handle of two stout strips of wood, 36 in. long, by
joining their upper ends to a shorter crosspiece and nail it to the box.
Place three paving bricks inside of the box, and the polisher will weigh
about 16 lb., just the right weight for a woman to use. The polisher is

used by rubbing with the grain of the wood. --Contributed by Katharine
D. Morse, Syracuse, N. Y.

** Tying Paper Bag to Make a Carrying Handle [10]
In tying the ordinary paper bag, the string can be placed in the paper in
such a way that it will form a handle to carry the package, and also
prevent any leakage of the contents. The bag must be long enough for
the end to fold over as shown in Fig. 1. The folds are made over the
string, as in
[Illustration: Stages in Tying a Bag]
Fig. 2. The string is then tied, Fig. 3, to form a handle, Fig. 4.
--Contributed by James M. Kane, Doylestown, Pa.

** Equilibrator for Model Aeroplanes [11]
On one of my model aeroplanes I placed an equilibrator to keep it
balanced. The device was attached to a crosspiece fastened just below
the propeller between the main frame uprights. A stick was made to
swing on a bolt in the center of the crosspiece to which was attached a
weight at the lower end and two lines connecting the ends of the planes
at the upper end. These are shown in Fig. 1. When the aeroplane tips, as
[Illustration: Warping the Aeroplane Wings]
shown in Fig. 2, the weight draws the lines to warp the plane so it will
right itself automatically. --Contributed by Louis J. Day, Floral Park, N.
Y.

** Repairing Christmas-Tree Decorations [11]
Small glass ornaments for Christmas tree decorations are very easily

broken on the line shown in the sketch. These can be easily repaired by
inserting in the neck a piece of match,