Popular Science Monthly
��69
��Shall Personal Vanity Prove a Handicap to the Government?
BECAUSE Dame Fashion, in one of her capricious moods, has de- creed that platinum jewelry is the fashionable thing to wear, that metal has steadily advanced until to-day it is worth five times as much as gold. As a result all chemical laboratories and institutions throughout the coun- try are greatly handicapped by its scarcity. For producing sulphuric acid, which is an absolute necessity in the production of high explosives, platinum is essential. To relieve the present condition the rt __,_ American Chemical So- ciety suggests that the loyal public refrain from purchasing platinum in the form of jewelry and discourage the use of the metal for ornamental pur- poses. This would be in line with economy, also.
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���The Many-Sided Bathing Cap. Change It to a Suit- Bag When You TraverHome
THE convertible bathing-cap of a New York merchant has many virtues. Inflated, it serves as a waterwing or a football. Deflated, it becomes a wrapper in which to carry your bathing suit.
The cap is made from strips of waterproof material sewed together to a foot- ball's shape. It can be folded in half lengthwise by pushing one end down into the hollow of the other end. When this is done it will conform to the shape of the head and it will be ready for use as a cap. Straps are at- tached to the side for securing the cap under the chin.
A circular bladder can be placed inside this same piece of goods and inflated to change it into a ball for playing on the beach. With a bladder of different shape placed inside it, it can be used as a water- wing with straps to fasten it around the body.
���This cap when opened out forms a bag for the bathing suit. When inflated it is a rubber ball
��FASTENER TUBE OF FLAP CLIP \ INNER BAG /
���This safety chain can be used for securing a wallet to a man's pocket or to a lady's handbag
The steel chain is wound up on a spring- revolved drum when the wallet is pocketed
��At Last!— The Safety Chain for Frustrating the Pickpocket
FROM sad experience, many a man has learned that placing his wallet in even an inside pocket will not prevent it from being stolen. But if the wallet is attached to the safety chain invented by Law- rence R. Delaney, of Gage, Okla- homa, a pick- pocket could not remove it with- out taking the coat along, too!
A fine steel chain connects the wallet with the coat pocket. When you pocket your wallet, this chain is wound up on a spring-revolved drum in a very thin casing which is sewed to the bottom of the pocket. The chain, which has its free end secured to your pocketbook, is about a foot long, so that you can draw it out conveniently. When you return the wallet to your pocket the chain winds up automati- cally. Should a pickpocket attempt to rob you, the tug on the chain would betray him.
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