_The Marble Board._--This may be quite a simple affair--such as a boy
can carry in his pocket for use in the playground--just a piece of wood,
such as a cigar-box lid, with a number of holes cut along one edge, and
a handle added (Fig. 65); or it may be a much more elaborate form
intended for use as a table game.
[Illustration: FIG. 65.]
In this latter case there is a front board, similar to that in the
simple form; but behind each hole there is a little compartment for the
collection of the marbles (Fig. 66). To make this you need two pieces of
wood, about 2 in. wide, and as long as the table is broad: any sort of
wood will do. These are for the front and back of the contrivance. The
front must next be marked out for the marble holes, allowing about 1 in.
for the hole and 1 in. for the space between. Of course, the wider the
spaces between the more difficult it becomes to score. These holes must
then be cut out by means of a fret saw, or, if you do not possess one,
by means of saw and chisel. The back and front must then be secured in
position by means of end-pieces nailed or screwed on. These should be
about 3 in. long.
[Illustration: FIG. 66.]
The next piece of work is the adjustment of the partitions. For these
cigar-box wood is best. You can either cut these partitions to the exact
distance between the front and the back, and glue them into position; or
else you can make them a little larger, and fit them into grooves cut
into the front and back: but that is a nice little piece of carpentry
for you.
When you have done this, all that is necessary is to give the whole
thing a coat of paint, and place numbers over the various holes--taking
care that you do not put all the high numbers together.
Boards similar to this are used in the Colonies for a game known as
"Bobs." Larger balls are used, and propelled by means of a cue as in
billiards. If you can obtain the balls, this is a delightful game, and
one well worth making.
_A Wooden Wind Wheel_ for the garden is a splendid little model to
make--interesting in itself, but doubly desirable because so much can be
done with it. Of course, it can be made quite small and very simple, and
still provide unending amusement to smaller brothers and sisters; but
for our own purpose it is just as well to make a larger and stronger
specimen, one which can be employed as a power station for the working
of smaller toys.
The main parts are: (1) a circular hub, about 2-1/2 to 3 in. in
diameter, and 1 to 1-1/4 in. in thickness (for the smaller varieties a
cotton reel will do admirably); (2) six or eight sails, each about 6 or
7 in. long and 3 in. wide at the extreme end, tapering down to a little
more than the width of the hub at the other; (3) a hardwood axle; and
(4) a driving wheel. For this last a cotton reel will do splendidly,
especially one of those with wide flanges and a slender centre. The
general arrangement is shown in Fig. 67.
[Illustration: FIG. 67.]
The cutting of the hub is not a very difficult matter if you have a fret
saw. It should be cut across the grain if you can get a suitable piece
of wood. The sails also are quite easy to make. For these you cannot
beat cigar-box wood. The cutting of the grooves in the hub for the
insertion of the sails is the most trying piece of work. These grooves
should be just large enough to allow the sails to fit tightly, and
should be cut at an angle of 45° across the hub. The sails should then
be glued in with carpenter's glue.
For the axle secure a piece of round wood, such as an odd length of
half-inch dowel-rod. This should be cut to a length of about 4-1/2 to 5
in. On this should be fixed the wheel itself, and, at a sufficient
distance to prevent the sails catching the string, the bearing wheel. A
French nail in each end of the axle will then secure it in position
between the side supports and secure an easy running.
If you have a play shed in the garden, this apparatus can be erected at
the top of a high post projecting through or at the side of the roof.
The driving strings can then pass through a hole in the roof or the
wall, and the power can be transmitted by a double pulley wheel and
another driving string. If you have no play shed, it is not at all
difficult to rig it up outside a window. You can try that, and prove
your own inventive abilities.
_How to use the Wind Power Machine._--One thing which this mechanism
will drive in good fashion is an overhead tramway system--a very pretty
little toy when in working order.
For this all that is required is a number of cotton reels, a length of
stout cord, and one or two of the model trams described on page 21. If
you care to, you can make proper "standards" for the cotton reels. Fig.
68 shows such an arrangement. The flat base is for heavy weights when
the system is rigged up on a table or other place where nails cannot be
used. These reels must turn freely to allow the easy passage of the
cable. In one place there must be a double reel (Fig. 69) for the
transmission of the power. The lower reel will act as the ordinary cable
wheel, while the other, glued firmly to it, will carry the driving belt
from the wind machine described above.
[Illustration: FIG. 68.]
[Illustration: FIG. 69.]
The model trams must be fixed to the cable. This is done by means of two
wires, fixed to the pole of the tram and twined round the cable. When
this is connected up and the cable drawn tightly round the standard
reels, the vehicles circulate rapidly on what is really a complete model
tramway system.
Another interesting contrivance to which the wind power can be harnessed
is
_A Roundabout._--This attractive little toy can be made quite readily
from one or two reels, and four ordinary wooden skewers.
The first thing required is a base board, for which any tolerably smooth
and heavy piece of wood will suffice. Now in the centre of this fix an
upright piece of thick wire (a knitting needle will do); and glue on a
cotton reel at the base of this.
In order to secure the absolutely smooth running of the roundabout it
will be necessary to improvise some sort of "bearings." For this there
is nothing better than two hard glass beads. If one of these beads be
sunk into the top of the reel just mentioned, and the other fixed in
the bottom of another loose reel, the upper one will revolve freely on
the lower (Fig. 70). This loose reel will be the driving wheel of the
contrivance and will hold the power band from the wind wheel. Fixed to
this running wheel, and immediately above, will be another reel for the
actual merry-go-round. Into the sides of this uppermost reel bore four
holes, and insert the pointed ends of the four skewers, arranging them
so that all four are at right angles. The running will be facilitated if
another glass bead is sunk in the top of this reel.
[Illustration: FIG. 70.]
All that remains now to complete the roundabout is to fix four
figures--horses, boats, or similar--at one end of each skewer. These
figures can be drawn on cardboard and cut out; or they can be sawn from
fretwood.