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Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 4

Inventions, Processes, and Wrinkles

Inventions, Processes, and Wrinkles

Iridescent Paper.—

Boil in water eight parts (by weight) of nutgalls, five parts of sulphate of iron, four each of sal ammoniac and sulphate of indigo, and one-eighth part of gum arabic. Wash the paper in this decoction, and then expose it to the fumes of ammonia until the desired result is reached.

Flyer for Platen Machines.—

Mr A. Merfitt, of Nottingham, has invented a very ingenious automatic flyer, which can be adapted to almost any make of platen machine, which may be thrown out of gear at pleasure, and offers no obstruction to working by hand; and which is said to add one-fourth to the speed of the press to which it is attached, besides saving soilage of work.

A Useful Typometer.—

The Gutenberg-Journal describes and illustrates an ingenious typometer, the invention of M. Sixte Albert. It consists of a narrow band of steel divided off and numbered in divisions of typographical points and millimetres. A peculiarly shaped attachment at one end serves as a lock when the measure is rolled up, and also as a standard measure of height of types, rules, and leads.

Luminous Powder.—

This invention is described in the American Lithographer and Printer, and is a decided novelty. The material is applied in exactly the same manner as bronzes, and in daylight has merely the appearance of a white powder; but if exposed to the light, the design becomes luminous in the dark, and will shine all night. Advertisers ought to recognize the applications of this novelty.

Winchell's Paste.—

Professor Alex. Winchell is credited with the invention of a cement that will stick on an anything. Take 2oz. of clear gum arabic, l½oz. of fine starch, and ½oz. of white sugar. Pulverise the gum arabic, and dissolve it in as much water as the laundress would use for the quantity of starch indicated. Dissolve the starch and sugar in the gum solution. Then cook the mixture in a vessel suspended in boiling water, until the starch becomes clear. The cement should be as thick as tar, and kept so. It can be kept from spoiling by dropping in a lump of gum-camphor, or a little oil of cloves or sassafrass. This cement is very strong indeed, and will stick perfectly to glazed surfaces, and is good to repair broken rocks, minerals, or fossils.

To Make Paper Waterproof.—

Any kind of paper can be made waterproof by pulling it through a weak solution of carpenter's glue, to which a trifle of acetic acid is added. To each quart of such solution an ounce of bichromate of potassa is added, and when the mixture is dissolved the paper should be pulled through two sheets at a time, in the usual manner followed when we damp paper for printing. After pulling through the solution, hang the paper up to dry in daylight (not in a dark place), and after it is found to be dry, leave it hanging for about fifteen minutes more, when the paper will he perfectly waterproof and highly suitable for many various purposes and different kinds of work in our trade.