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Proceedings of the stated meeting held Wednesday, November 16, 1898
Dec., x898. ]
Proceedings.
477
Franklin Institute. [Proceedings of the slated meeting held Wednesday, November z6, z898.] HALL OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, PHILADELPHIA~ N o v e m b e r 16, I898. MR. H. R. HEYL, in t h e chair. Present, 126 m e m b e r s a n d visitors. Additions to m e m b e r s h i p since last report, 13. T h e Secretary reported a vacancy in t h e Committee on Science and t h e Arts, caused b y t h e death of Mr. G. Morgan Eldridge. Mr. J. J. De K i n d e r was elected to fill t h e u n e x p i r e d t e r m of the deceased member. Mr. George D. Burton, of Boston, presented a communication describing an electrical process of his i n v e n t i o n for u n h a i r i u g and t a n n i n g skins, illustrating t h e subject with t h e aid of a n u m b e r of l a n t e r n sli~es, and an electrolytic bath, in which t h e u n h a i r i n g of a n u m b e r of kaugaroo hides was experimentally shown. The, process consists substantially in subjecting the skins, for unhairing, to an aqueous b a t h c o n t a i n i n g unslaked lime a n d a small addition of arsenic tersulphide, and passing an electric c u r r e n t t h r o u g h this b a t h with the aid of suitable electrodes. T h e i n t e r n a l a r r a n g e m e n t cf t h e b a t h and t h e m a n n e r of disposing t h e hides t h e r e i n m a y be modified in various ways. T h e t a n n i n g process is substantially similar to t h e u n h a i r i n g process, except t h a t t h e desired t a n n i n g a g e n t is introduced into t h e bath. T h e i n v e n t o r claims t h a t the processes of u n h a i r i n g and t a n n i n g are very materially facilitated by the use of t h e electric c u r r e n t in t h e m a n n e r just described, t h e operations b e i n g completed in a fraction of t h e time ordinarily required. T h e subject was discussed by Dr. Goldschmidt, Dr. W a h l and t h e author. T h e inventions were referred to t h e Committee on Science and t h e Arts for investigation a n d report. Dr. Chas. J. H e x a m e r read a paper describing his m e t h o d for fire-proofing wood, w i t h especial reference to r e n d e r i n g t h e woodwork of warships incombustible. After reviewing briefly the state of t h e art, t h e speaker gave an account of a series of e x p e r i m e n t s w h i c h he h a d m a d e for t h e purpose. He h a d obtained t h e best results by the suitable injection into t h e ~ood of waterglass solution followed by a solution of sal-ammoniac, by w h i c h a deposit of silica was effected w i t h i n t h e pores of t h e wood. T h e details of t h e operation were briefly described, and are reserved for publication. T h e subject was referred to t h e Committee on Science and t h e Arts. Mr. Win. McDevitt, Inspector of t h e P h i l a d e l p h i a Board of Fire UnderwriterS, made some r e m a r k s on t h e inflammable a n d explosive properties of
Science and the Arts.
478
[J. F. I.,
smoke and their influences in causing the spread of fire. The speaker illustrated his remarks experimentally in a most instrnetive manner, with the aid of a model building. The subject was discussed by Drs. Hexamer, Goldsehmidt and the speaker. Adjourned. WM. H. WAHL, Secrelary.
COMMITTEE
ON S C I E N C E
AND THE A R T S .
[Abstract of proceedings of ttte slated meeting held Wednesday, November 2,
~898.] Reports on the following subjects were considered: Passed firstreading :
An Inertia Indicator.
Wilfred Lewis, Philadelphia, Ps.
The following reports were adopted :
Improvements in Pneumatic Dispatch Tube Apparatus. B.C. Batcheller, Philadelphia. ABSTRACT.--For a complete description of the Bateheller system, the reader is referred to the JOURNAL for August, 1898, A r l . " R e c e n t progress in the development of pneumatic dispatch tubes, by B. C. Batcheller." The report finds that although a large number of patents have been granted to various inventors looking to the use of pneumatic tubes of sufficient size for the transmission of mail matter and parcels, the Batcheller patents were the first to form a complete system of practical value for larger tubes, in proof of which the report cites the successful application of this system to the 6- and 8inch pneumatic dispatch tubes now in practical operation in Philadelphia, New York and Boston. The system is protected by a series of patents of the United States, granted to B. C. Batcheller. For the skill with which the engineering details of the system have been worked out, and the ingenuity displayed in adapting the elements used in the inventions to their respective purposes, the award of the Scott premium and medal is recommended. [Sub-Commillee.- A. Falkenau, Chairman ; John M. Hartman, C. J. Reed.] Chimneys for Incandescenl Gas Burners. Ernest M. White, Philadelphia. ABSTRACT.--For a full description, with illustrations of these improvements, the reader is referred to page 464 of this impression of the Journal. The invention is patented to applicant (see U. S. patent No. 589,323, Aug'us]; 3 r, 1897). The report finds the White chimney to be an improvement over the narrow cylindrical chimney in common use. Being larger in diameter than the ordinary chimney, it allows an incandescent mantle that is worn or damaged to
Proceedings.
477
Franklin Institute. [Proceedings of the slated meeting held Wednesday, November z6, z898.] HALL OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, PHILADELPHIA~ N o v e m b e r 16, I898. MR. H. R. HEYL, in t h e chair. Present, 126 m e m b e r s a n d visitors. Additions to m e m b e r s h i p since last report, 13. T h e Secretary reported a vacancy in t h e Committee on Science and t h e Arts, caused b y t h e death of Mr. G. Morgan Eldridge. Mr. J. J. De K i n d e r was elected to fill t h e u n e x p i r e d t e r m of the deceased member. Mr. George D. Burton, of Boston, presented a communication describing an electrical process of his i n v e n t i o n for u n h a i r i u g and t a n n i n g skins, illustrating t h e subject with t h e aid of a n u m b e r of l a n t e r n sli~es, and an electrolytic bath, in which t h e u n h a i r i n g of a n u m b e r of kaugaroo hides was experimentally shown. The, process consists substantially in subjecting the skins, for unhairing, to an aqueous b a t h c o n t a i n i n g unslaked lime a n d a small addition of arsenic tersulphide, and passing an electric c u r r e n t t h r o u g h this b a t h with the aid of suitable electrodes. T h e i n t e r n a l a r r a n g e m e n t cf t h e b a t h and t h e m a n n e r of disposing t h e hides t h e r e i n m a y be modified in various ways. T h e t a n n i n g process is substantially similar to t h e u n h a i r i n g process, except t h a t t h e desired t a n n i n g a g e n t is introduced into t h e bath. T h e i n v e n t o r claims t h a t the processes of u n h a i r i n g and t a n n i n g are very materially facilitated by the use of t h e electric c u r r e n t in t h e m a n n e r just described, t h e operations b e i n g completed in a fraction of t h e time ordinarily required. T h e subject was discussed by Dr. Goldschmidt, Dr. W a h l and t h e author. T h e inventions were referred to t h e Committee on Science and t h e Arts for investigation a n d report. Dr. Chas. J. H e x a m e r read a paper describing his m e t h o d for fire-proofing wood, w i t h especial reference to r e n d e r i n g t h e woodwork of warships incombustible. After reviewing briefly the state of t h e art, t h e speaker gave an account of a series of e x p e r i m e n t s w h i c h he h a d m a d e for t h e purpose. He h a d obtained t h e best results by the suitable injection into t h e ~ood of waterglass solution followed by a solution of sal-ammoniac, by w h i c h a deposit of silica was effected w i t h i n t h e pores of t h e wood. T h e details of t h e operation were briefly described, and are reserved for publication. T h e subject was referred to t h e Committee on Science and t h e Arts. Mr. Win. McDevitt, Inspector of t h e P h i l a d e l p h i a Board of Fire UnderwriterS, made some r e m a r k s on t h e inflammable a n d explosive properties of
Science and the Arts.
478
[J. F. I.,
smoke and their influences in causing the spread of fire. The speaker illustrated his remarks experimentally in a most instrnetive manner, with the aid of a model building. The subject was discussed by Drs. Hexamer, Goldsehmidt and the speaker. Adjourned. WM. H. WAHL, Secrelary.
COMMITTEE
ON S C I E N C E
AND THE A R T S .
[Abstract of proceedings of ttte slated meeting held Wednesday, November 2,
~898.] Reports on the following subjects were considered: Passed firstreading :
An Inertia Indicator.
Wilfred Lewis, Philadelphia, Ps.
The following reports were adopted :
Improvements in Pneumatic Dispatch Tube Apparatus. B.C. Batcheller, Philadelphia. ABSTRACT.--For a complete description of the Bateheller system, the reader is referred to the JOURNAL for August, 1898, A r l . " R e c e n t progress in the development of pneumatic dispatch tubes, by B. C. Batcheller." The report finds that although a large number of patents have been granted to various inventors looking to the use of pneumatic tubes of sufficient size for the transmission of mail matter and parcels, the Batcheller patents were the first to form a complete system of practical value for larger tubes, in proof of which the report cites the successful application of this system to the 6- and 8inch pneumatic dispatch tubes now in practical operation in Philadelphia, New York and Boston. The system is protected by a series of patents of the United States, granted to B. C. Batcheller. For the skill with which the engineering details of the system have been worked out, and the ingenuity displayed in adapting the elements used in the inventions to their respective purposes, the award of the Scott premium and medal is recommended. [Sub-Commillee.- A. Falkenau, Chairman ; John M. Hartman, C. J. Reed.] Chimneys for Incandescenl Gas Burners. Ernest M. White, Philadelphia. ABSTRACT.--For a full description, with illustrations of these improvements, the reader is referred to page 464 of this impression of the Journal. The invention is patented to applicant (see U. S. patent No. 589,323, Aug'us]; 3 r, 1897). The report finds the White chimney to be an improvement over the narrow cylindrical chimney in common use. Being larger in diameter than the ordinary chimney, it allows an incandescent mantle that is worn or damaged to