Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 88.djvu/592

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564

How a Boy Delivers Packages with His Own Bicycle-Trailer

A BICYCLE-TRAILER of effective design has been built by a Battle Creek boy to expedite his work. With the trailer he finds it easy to transport bundles and boxes and to finish his task in much less time than if he attempted to haul the bundles on a small express

��Popular Science Monthly

���The inventors of automobile appliances are now giving

much attention to trailers. This boy invented his own

trailer for carrying packages with his bicycle

��wagon, such as that commonly employed.

The trailer is simple in construction. A two-wheeled platform is fastened to the bicycle by means of a curved rod, which follows the contour of the rear wheel and which is bolted to the saddle fittings.

The metal rod obviates any possibility of a rear-end collision, while the pulling power of the bicycle is not impaired. The trailer does not impose an unusual burden on the rider, especially when the wheels of the trailer are kept well oiled.

A Pocket Safe

CONVERT a pocket flashlight into a purse by simi:)ly taking out the battery

Why the Automobile "Goes Dead "

It frequently happens that an automo- bile, particularly the Ford car, will stop suddenly and all attempts to "make it go" will prove ineffective. Battery and all other parts of the ignition, the mag-

��neto and spark-plugs, seem to be in good condition and yet the car will not "spark." In this case the fault probably Hes in the contact-Inrushes of the mag- neto. A small particle of dirt, getting under the contact-brush, will effectively stop the car. Examining the brushes in such a case will save much unnecessary work, and a trip to the garage.

��The Refreshment Tree

AT Mount Lowe, Califor- nia, the thirsty visitor has only to turn on a faucet projecting from a large tree near the hotel and water be- gins to flow. No waterpipes are to be seen and ciu'iosity is aroused at once.

As a matter of fact, the lower part of the tree is hol- low, and the pipes were run along underground between the roots and up through the hollow part to a knot hole, where a faucet was attached. Around the faucet the hole was plugged up with cement which looks like the tree it- self. Drinking is popular

haps because the visitors think

tree of knowledge.

��here, per it is the

���To passers-by the tree is an inexhaustible

supply of water. But the source of water

is a pipe ingeniously concealed within the

trunk of the tree

�� �