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hooks on their faces, are placed in two lower holes of the vertical tubes, upon which the picture hangs, by rings fastened to the lower part of the frame. To the back of the upper part of the picture frame, a piece of tube, similar to the vertical one, is affixed, but the holes run right and left from the centre with rings at each end. Two studs carrying small pullies are placed in the vertical tubes on a level with the pieture; a small cord passes through both these pullies, and each end being brought through the rings before mentioned are attached to two studs, which, being placed in appropriate holes in the horizontal tube at the back of the picture, support it at any required angle from the wall. In this arrangement, it will be requisite to employ a step ladder, to get at the top button to alter the angular position of the picture: to obviate this, it is proposed to use a longer cord passing through four pullies down to a small windlass, and attached by a stud to the vertical tube near the bottom of the picture. By winding or unwinding this cord the picture is placed at a greater or less angle from the wall with ease.

The gra

duated rods or tubes, may be in the form of a descending ornamental chain (several beautiful drawings of which accompany the specification,) all that is necessary, being to preserve an uniform horizontal position of the corresponding openings; the mode of suspending them is by the upper part being hook shaped, and sliding on an iron rail placed round the room, concealed by a handsome brass moulding. When heavy weights are to be carried, whether of pictures or curtains, two flat surfaces or rails are formed upon which an elongated carriage runs freely by means of two antifriction pullies; a stem descending between the rails and terminating in an ornament, carries the curtains. For small pictures, connecting rods may be attached to the vertical suspenders, and the picture attached to them. These improvements are intended to be applied to all kinds of house or bed curtains, and to supersede the use of the ordinary rods and rings. The claim is-1. The mode of constructing apparatus for suspending picture frames, as shown in 11 figures accompanying the specification. 2. The mode of constructing apparatus for the suspension of curtains.

WILLIAM CRANE WILKINS, OF LONG ACRE, AND MATTHEW SAMUEL KENDRICK, OF THE SAME PLACE, LAMP MANUFACTURERS, for certain improvements in lighting, and in lamps. Enrolment Office, October 28, 1840.

The first of these improvements relates to the construction and use of Argand lamps; from the oil cup at the base of the burner, an inner tube rises, having on its exterior surface a spiral groove or worm: the outer case, or tube, has a groove cut vertically on

its inner surface; the cotton holder has a projecting peg at each end, one of which takes into the spiral groove, and the other into the vertical, whereby the holder is made to move upwards or downwards when motion is communicated to the inner tube by turning round the oil cup. In this way, the cotton wick and flame of the lamp may be adjusted from time to time, without removing the glass or glasses, while, by having no separate inner revolving case or racks and pinion, diminution of bulk in the burner, as well as increased stability are obtained. Seven different forms of glass chimnies are set forth, in which the diameter of the chimney is contracted in such a manner, as to incline the ascending column of air towards the flame of the lamp, whereby more perfect combustion and increased light is obtained. (This appears a very excellent sort of lamp, and in a subsequent number we shall give a drawing and more particular description of it.) The second improvement, relates to a new method of feeding or supplying oil to the reservoirs of Argand lamps; these lamps as usually constructed, unscrew at the base of the cistern, which has to be disconnected and inverted every time a fresh supply of oil is required. This is proposed to be obviated, in pillar lamps, by using two reservoirs for oil in connection with an air chamber placed below; the upper reservoir is furnished with a valve, which, when opened, allows the oil to descend into the air chamber; the air thus displaced rushes up a pipe, and acting on the surface of the oil in the middle reservoir, forces it up to the burner, which is thus continually supplied being an ingenious application of Hero's fountain to this purpose. In wall, or hanging lamps, the oil cistern, or principal reservoir, communicates by means of a valved opening with a supplementary cistern on a level with the top of the burner. Oil is supplied through an opening in the top of the cistern, closed with a screw cap; when the lamp is lighted, the valve being opened, the oil fills the secondary cistern and rises to the level of the burner; in proportion as the oil is consumed, a continuous supply escapes from the larger into the smaller cistern, and thence to the burner. A rod passes from the valve, through a tube to the top of the reservoir; both that and the orifice of supply being concealed by an ornamental casing with which they are covered. The third improvement consists in an improved mode of constructing concentric wick lamps; the circle for holding the wicks, instead of being made of pieces of tin turned over into a ridge at top, are made of one piece of iron, without any ridge, whereby all risk of leakage is avoided. Vertical wires screwed at the end and acted uopn by nuts, raise or lower the cotton. The fourth improvement relates to gas burners, and consists in the introduc

tion of one or more perforated diaphragms inside the burner, which is stated to cause the gas to issue in a more equal and uniform manner from the burner. The fifth and sixth improvements relate to signal lights of different colours for steam-vessels, railway stations, &c., that their relative positions may be instantaneously changed, so as to prevent any mistake arising. An argand lamp is gimbled and placed in a reflector with a white glass, in a suitable frame a little above the bow of the vessel. Another lamp with a bright red or other coloured light is similarly mounted over the first, at the extremity of a pole, so centred as to turn either to the right or left, but hanging perpendicularly when at rest, by means of a weight. By means of ropes the red lamp can be inclined to the one or other side of the white light, and thus

447

clearly indicate whether the vessel is on the starboard or larboard tack. Finally, the application of lenses of various coloured glasses, which are made hollow, and slip on to the glass chimney of the lamp when wanted. The claims are:-1. The improved construction of argand lamps, and also the glass chimneys before referred to. 2. The method of feeding table, wall, and other lamps. 3. The construction of concentric wick lamps in the manner described. 4. The addition of perforated diaphragms or other analogous substitutes, to the inside of gas burners. 5. The mode of fixing and working signal lights, as set forth. 6. The employment of moveable lenses to slip over the glass chimneys of lamps, when different colours are required to be used.

Registra on the

tion.

Sept. 28

Time for which protection is granted.

years.

Subject of Design.

Table

Framework for a steam engine Contracting clasp

Button

30

Shoulder strap

Engraved metal roller

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

1

1

1

3

1

3

3

1

3

3

1

3

3

22ND OF

Frederick Payne Mackelcan, of Birmingham, for certain improved thrashing machinery, a portion of which may be used as a means of transmitting power to other machinery. October 1; six months.

Thomas Joyce, of Manchester, ironmonger, for a certain article which forms or may be used as a handsome nob for parlour and other doors, bell pulls, and curtain pins, and is also capable of being used for a variety of useful and ornamental purposes in the interior of dwelling-houses and other places. October 1; six months.

William Henry Fox Talbot, of Lacock Abbey, Wilts, Esq., for improvements in producing or obtaining motive power. October 1; six months.

William Horsfall, of Manchester, card maker, for an improvement or improvements in cards for carding cotton, wool, silk, flax, and other fibrous substances. October 1: six months.

James Stirling, of Dundee, engineer, and Robert Stirling, of Galsten, Ayrshire, doctor in divinity, for certain improvements in air engines. October 1; six months.

George Ritchie, of Gracechurch-street, and Ed

OCTOBER.

ward Bowra, of the same place, manufacturers, for improvements in the manufacture of boas, muffs, cuffs, flounces, and tippets. October 1; six months.

James Fitt, sen., of Wilmer Gardens, Hoxton Old Town, manufacturer, for a novel construction of machinery for communicating mechanical power. October 7: six months.

John Davies, of manchester, civil engineer, for certain improvements in machinery or apparatus for weaving, being a communication. October 7: six months.

Thomas Spencer, of Liverpool, carver and gilder, and John Wilson, of the same place, lecturer on chemistry, for certain improvements in the process of engraving on metals by means of voltaic electricity. October 7; six months.

Thomas Wood, the younger, of Wandsworth Road, Clapham, gentleman, for improvements in paving streets, roads, bridges, squares, paths, and such like ways. Oetober 7; six months.

Charles Payne, of South Lambeth, Surrey, gentleman, for improvements in salting animal matters, October 13; six months.

Robert Pettit, of Woodhouse-place, Stepneygreen, gentleman, for improvements in railroads and in the carriages and wheels employed thereon. October 15; six months.

Henry George Francis, Earl of Ducie; Richard Clyburn, of Uley, engineer; and Edwin Budding, of Densley, engineer, for certain improvements in machinery for cutting vegetable and other substances. October 15; six months.

William Newton, of Chancery-lane, civil engineer, for an invention of certain improvements in engines to be worked by air or other gases, being a communication. October 15; six months.

James Hancock, of Sidney-square, Mile-end, civil engineer, for an improved method of raising water and other fluids. October 15; six months.

Henry Pinkus, of Panton-square, Esq., for an improved method of combining and applying materials applicable to formation or construction of roads or ways. October 15; six months.

Charles Parker, of Darlington, flax spinner, for improvements in looms for weaving linen and other fabrics to be worked by hand, steam, water, or any other motive power. October 22; six months.

Richard Edmunds, of Banbury, Oxford, gentleman, for certain improvements in machines or apparatus for preparing and drilling land, and for depositing seeds or manure therein. October 22; six months.

Thomas Clark, of Wolverhampton, ironfounder, for certain improvements in the construction of locks, latches, and such like fastenings applicable for securing doors, gates, windows, shutters, and such like purposes, being a communication. October 22; six months.

Gabriel Riddle, of Paternoster-row, stationer, and Thomas Piper, of Bishopgate-street, builder, for improvements on wheels for carriages. October 22; for the term of seven years, being an extension of the original letters patent granted to Theodore Jones, of Coleman-street, accountant.

LIST OF PATENTS GRANTED FOR SCOTLAND FROM 22ND OF SEPTEMBER, TO 22ND OF OCTOBER, 1840.

John Lambert, of No. 12, Coventry-street, in the parish of Saint James, Westminster, gentleman, for certain improvements in the manufacture of soap. (A communication.) September 24.

James Buchanan, merchant, of Glasgow, for certain improvements in the machinery applicable to the preparing, twisting and spinning, and also in the mode of preparing, twisting and spinning of hemp, flax and other fibrous substances, and certain improvements in the mode of applying tar, or other preservative to rope and other yarns. September 24.

Alexander Francis Campbell, of Great Plumstead, Norfolk, Esq., and Charles White, of Norwich, mechanic, for improvements in ploughs, and certain other agricultural improvements. Sept. 29.

Amand de Plangue, of Lisle, in the kingdom of France, but now residing at 126, Regent-street, Middlesex, gent., for improvements in looms for weaving. (A communication.) September 29.

George Delianson Clark, of the Strand, Middlesex, gent., for improvements in coke ovens. (A communication.) October 5.

Richard Beard, of Egremont Place, New Road, Middlesex, gent., for improvements in printing calicoes, and other fabrics. (A communication.) Oc tober 7.

Robert Beart, of Godmanchester, Huntingdon, miller, for improvements in apparatus for filtering fluids. October 14.

Thomas Farmer, of Gunnersbury House, near

Acton, Middlesex, Esq., for improvements in treating pyrites to obtain sulphur, sulphurous acid, and other products. October 14.

LIST OF IRISH PATENTS GRANTED FOR OCTOBER, 1840.

H. C. Rouquette, for a new pigment. John Hawley, for improvements in pianos and harps.

W. Stone, for improvements in the manufacture of wine.

F. Vouillon, for improvements in the manufac ture of ornamental woven fabrics.

M. Poole, for improvements in looms for weaving J. Lambert, for certain improvements in the manufacture of soap.

NOTES AND NOTICES.

Wood Tyre for Railway Wheels.—Sir,-Although Mr. Dircks is entitled to all the solid advantages, arising from the practical adaptation of the foregoing principle, it is quite clear, that the merit of invention belongs to Mr. John Rivington, jun., whose suggestion to that effect appeared in No. 819, April 20, 1839. The mode of construction adopted so successfully by Mr. Dircks, is highly creditable to his engineering skill, but to the "novelty of idea" he must resign all pretensions, upon the incontrovertible evidence of your pages. Yours obediently, W. B. October 14, 1840.

New Floating Fire-engine.-A floating fire-engine of great power is now building for the Emperor of Russia, by Mr. Merryweather, engineer, Long Acre, London; it will be worked by four cranks, manned by upwards of fifty men. The engine will be placed in an iron boat, now in course of erection at Messrs. Fairbairn and Co.'s works, which will be propelled by two paddle-wheels driven by the same eranks that work the engine, suitable gearing being em*ployed for transferring the motive power to either at pleasure,upon the plan suggested by Mr. Baddeley in No. 588 of the Mechanics' Magazine. powerful machine will combine several novel and important improvements, and in the facility and rapidity of its transport, as well as in readiness and power of working will greatly exceed anything hitherto seen in this country.

This

Extraordinary Despatch in Fitting up the “ Polyphemus" Steam Frigate.-It will be recollected that the steamer of war Polyphemus, of 800 tons burthen, was launched at Chatham on Monday, the 28th of September, the same day that the London, of 92 guns, was launched. The former vessel proceeded upon the following Thursday, the 1st of October, to the engineering establishment of the Messrs. Seawards and Capel, of London, who have completely equipped this fine vessel with engines of 200 horses power, with all her fittings, spare gear, implements, and stores, and coal-boxes of wrought iron to contain 229 tons of coals, in the short space of 22 working days. We believe this is the shortest time upon record of a vessel of this magnitude having been fitted. She proceeded down by steam to Chatham on Wednesday, the 28th inst., to take in her masts, being quite completed in her machinery. It is considered that it would require a period of six months in any port out of Great Britain to fit a vessel of war of the same size. There were about 220 men employed by the Messrs. Seawards on the vessel. Her engines are upon the same system as those of the Gorgon, Cyclops, Alecto, and Prometheus. The Polyphemus will be immediately armed with two 10-inch guns, and will proceed direct to the Mediterranean.