Projects for the Young Mechanic

Dover Publications, 2013. — 176 p. — ISBN13: 978-0486491172.From creating artificial pearls to building a steam boiler, these vintage projects for indoors and outdoors offer a tremendous range of possibilities. Over 250 classic plans and instructions explain how to make model airplanes, greeting cards, a motion-picture camera, a radiophone, a cipher code, motor-driven sleds, and other projects. Drawn from the best of Popular Mechanics magazines from the 1910s and '20s, they combine the excitement and satisfaction of building and creating with the lasting value of learning the practical applications of scientific principles.
The step-by-step instructions are accompanied by charming drawings and photos that clearly illustrate each project. Girls and boys will be captivated by these antique instructions and plans, and adults will appreciate the projects' nostalgic appeal.Four-Passenger Coasting Bobsled
An Ice Boat and Catamaran
Mind-Reading Effect with Cards
An Air Pencil to Make Embossed Letters
An Endless Dish or Floor Mop
Combination Tie Rack and Collar Holder
Skates Made of Wood
An Ice Glider
Prony Brake for Testing Small Motors
A Mystic Fortune Teller
Holding Prints in a Liquid-Filled Tray
Cellar-Door Holder
An Emergency Pencil Compass
Renewing Carbon Paper
How to Clinch a Finishing Nail
To Prevent Washbasin Bottom from Wearing Out
Snowshoes: How to Make and Use Them (Part I)
Soldering and Riveting
A Whistle
Card-and-Coin Trick
How to Make a Costumer
Window Catch Used for Locking an Extension Table
Relieving Pressure on Heated Canned Foods for Opening
Clothespin Bag
Snowshoes: How to Make and Use Them (Part II)
Combination Settee Rocker and Cradle
A Snowball Thrower
Springs on the Chains of a Porch Swing
Homemade Water Meter
A Snowball Maker
An Inexpensive Bobsled
Motor Made of Candles
Kettle-Handle Support
How to Make a Monorail Sled
Binding Magazines
A Shellac Cement
A Blackboard for Children
How to Make a Ski Staff
A Game Played on the Ice
An Electric Display for a Show Window
Strainer for a Milk Pail
Baking Bread in Hot Sand
How to Make Small Cams
Display Holder for Coins
Holder for Skates while Sharpening
A Homemade Direct-View Finder for Cameras
A Non-Rolling Spool
How to Make a Cartridge Belt
Removing Iodine Stains
Bed-Cover Fasteners
Collar Fasteners
Operating a Bathroom Light Automatically
A Finger-Ring Trick
Preventing Marks from Basting Threads on Wool
House Made of Poles
An Electric Water Heater
Camps
A Drinking Tube
Washing Photographic Prints
Camp Furnishings
A Fruit Stemmer
A Homemade Fountain Pen
Destroying Caterpillars on Grapevines
A Camp Provision Box
Wall Pockets in a Tent
Camp Stoves
Attractor for Game Fish
Simple Photographic-Print Washer
How to Make an Electric Fishing Signal
A Chair Swing
Another Broom Holder
Squaring Wood Stock
A Wind Vane
How to Make a Flutter Ring
A Kitchen Utensil Hanger
Homemade Hinges for Boxes
To Remove Odors from Ice Boxes
Preventing Window Sash from Freezing to the Sill
A Hanger for the Camp
Locking Several Drawers with One Lock
A Lightning-Calculation Trick
An Adjustable Nutcracker
Substitute for a Rubber Stamp
A Furniture Polish
A Hanging Vase
Filing Soft Metals
Locking Screws in Door Hinges
To Remove Grease from Clothing
Paper Glider That Loops the Loop
A Water Filter
A Combination Electrically Operated Door Lock
Lock for a Fancy Hairpin
An Aeroplane Kite
Distilling Apparatus for Water
Telephone Stand for a Sloping Desk
The Tricks of Camping Out: Part I — The Camping Outfit
The Tricks of Camping Out: Part II — Cooking in the Woods
A Camp Water Bag
A Mold for Making Hollow Candy Figures
Ornamenting an Old Tree Stump
Marker for a Hat
A Quickly Made Door Latch
An Electric Lure for Fish
A Table Box for Campers
Novel Homemade Picture Frames
Rectangular Opening to Use over Camera View Finder
Clipping File Made of Envelopes
Handle for a Drinking Glass
Combination Camp-Kitchen Cabinet and Table
Locking Device for Latch Hook on Gate or Door
A Vanishing-Cuff Parlor Trick
Inexpensive Table Lamp Made of Electrical-Fixture Parts
Wire Holders Keep Cabinet Doors Open
“Switchboard” Protects Milker from Cow's Tail
Reflected-Light Illumination with Homemade Arrangement
Bedroom Shade and Curtains Arranged for Thorough Ventilation
Coffee Grinder Repaired with Rubber Faucet Plug
Coal Hod Made from Iron Pipe
Frayed Shoe Laces Repaired with Pitch or Wax
An Enameled Armchair Made of Wooden Strips
A Curling-Iron Heater
A Stepmother for Incubator Chicks
A Cardboard Writing and Drawing Pad
Homemade Shoulder-Pack Tent
Kitchen for Hikers
Bird House Made of Kegs
A Drinking-Glass Holder
Needle Threader for a Sewing Machine
Winding Coiled Springs
Revolving-Wheel Ruling Pen
A Portable Folding Boat
Nontangling Pasture Stake
Inkstand Made of a Sheet of Paper
How to Wind Wire on Electrical Apparatus
Hourglass Sewing Basket
A Perpetual-Motion Puzzle
How to Transfer Drawings
Pivoted Searchlight Made of an Old Milk Strainer
Gravity-Feed Coal Hopper on Truck
Taking Photographs in Falling Snow
A Double-Contact Vibrator
Battery Buzzer Converted into a Telegraph Sounder
Lawn Seats Built on Tree Stumps
A Hinged Box Cover Made without Hinges
Automatic Flash Light Snaps Chicken-Coop Marauder
A Fishing-Tackle Outfit in a Shotgun Shell
A Split-Bamboo Lettering Pen
How to Make a Houseboat
Wood Box with a Refuse-Catching Drawer
Disappearing-Coin Trick
Watering Window-Box Flowers
How to Make Combined Kites:
Part I—A Dragon Kite
A Movable Sunshade and Seat for Garden Workers
To Keep Grass and Weeds Out of Tennis Courts
Buttonhole Bouquet Holder to Keep Cut Flowers Fresh
Cooler for a Developing Tray
Doorbell Push Button on Screen Door
Working Wood by the Application of Heat
A Parlor Table
Homemade Fuses for Battery Circuits
Reproducing Flowers and Leaves in Colors
Dishwasher and Drier
How to Make Pop-Corn Cakes
Threading a Darning Needle
A Fish Scaler
A Disappearing Towel
Ammonia-Carrying Case for Insect Bites
How to Make Combined Kites:
Part II—A Festooned Kite
Simple Experiment in Electromagnetism
Double Lock for a Shed
Ferrules for Tool Handles
Mallet Made from Wagon-Wheel Felly and Spoke
A Mystery Sounding Glass
Repairing a Broken Canoe Paddle
Tightening Lever for Tennis Nets
A Desk Watch Holder
Cleaning Silverware
An Eight-Pointed Star Kite
Second Handle on Hoe or Rake Saves Stooping
Photo-Copying Lens Increases Angle of Camera
Belt for Sprocket Drive Made of Brass Strips
Rain Alarm with Drop-of-Water Contact
Coaster Steering Gear Made from Cream-Freezer Drive
Pad for Glass Vessels Made of Corks
A Shaving Lamp and Mirror for the Camp
Automatic Electric Light on Talking-Machine Cabinet
Device for Suspending Parcels from Overhead Hooks
Steel Wool as Aluminum-Ware Cleaner
A Submarine Camera
The Magic of Numbers
Muffling the Ticking of a Watch or Clock
A Simple Cipher Code
Cheese Grater and Ash Tray Made from a Tin Can
An Improvised Typewriter Desk
An Inexpensive Imitation Fire
Jardinière Made of Metal-Lamp Body
Replacing a Broken Coffeepot Knob
Homemade Magnesium Printer
Decorative Toys and Boxes Made at Home
Care and Storage of Camp Equipment
Useful Periscope Which a Boy Can Make
Trap for Coyotes
Utilizing an Empty Paste Pot
A Colonial Mirror Frame
A Turntable Stand for Potted Flowers
Index for Popular Mechanics Magazine on Bookshelf
Trimming Board with Foot Control and Counterweight
Folding Card Table Handy for Invalid in Bed
A Pigeon House
Roses Tinged Blue by Chemicals
Making Photographic Trays
Camp Lantern Made of a Tin Can
How to Build Model Airplanes
Simple Hanger for Cut Films
Registers Used as Ventilators
Testing for Leaky Tire Valves
Neat Tips on Wires
A Neat Radio Interrupter
Keeping Water Out of Automobile Casings
An Improvised Dark Room
Feed Box That will not Overrun
Homemade Greeting Cards
Ventilating Doors for Garage
Renewing a Radio Crystal
Improving the Hand Drill Press
A Homemade Motion-Picture Camera
A Practical Sliding Gate
An Improvised Developing Tray
Tool for Removing Headlamp Rims
A Simple Battery Radiophone
Useful Hints for the Motorist
Simple Method of Making Candles
A Simple Picture-Frame Clamp
“Moving-Picture” Toy for Children
A Substantial Radiant Electric Heater
Book Ends Made of Angle Iron
Dead-End Switch for Inductances
Waterproofing Felt Hats
Motor Wheel Serves as Home-Shop Power Plant
Starting a Saw Cut Smoothly
Joining Rag Strips for Weaving
Auxiliary Piping Prevents Overheating
Repair for Broken Eyeglass Spring
Match-Box Holder and Lighter
A Two-Handled Cord Reel
Pulling Light Car Out of Mud
Keeping Insects from Light Bowls
Making Varicolored Papers for Stage Effects
Dining Table Made from a Small Gate-Leg Table
How to Bleach Beeswax
Shooting Gallery for Toy Pistols
How to Bake a Fish in Clay
Swing Stand Used during the Winter
A Simple Wire Stretcher
Making Loud Talkers for Radio-Receiving Sets
Efficiency of Spark-Plug Points Improved by Sharpening
How to Make Artificial Pearls
Cork Prevents Double Exposures
An Auxiliary Seat for the Auto
Socket Wrench for ConnectingRods
Thought Transference with Dice
Reading Lamp Made from Music Rack
A Camp-Site Incinerator
Sewing Kit Made from a Cigar Box
A Novel Photo-Print Washer
The Care of Leather-Bound Books
Fusible Alloys for Setting Crystals
Making a Toy Catapult
Straightening a Bent Auto Axle
Windmill Controlled from the House
Wheatstone Bridge for Coil Winding
Spreader for Split Rims
Two Effective Card Tricks
How to Make an Inlaid Checkerboard
Safety Spring-Hanger Bolts
A Simple Dimming Switch
Combined Spring Spreader and Tire Remover
Spring Prevents Breaking of Fish line
A Jumping-Frog Toy
The “X-Ray” Pack of Cards
Corked Bottle Used as Float
Artistic Lamps Made from Vases and Drain Tile
Soil Crusher Made from Mower Wheels
Hook Pulls Straw from Stack
Flexible Liquid Court-Plaster