Figure 158 represents the only motor of a little figure which, placed in
a cell on top of a flight of stairs, will, upon the bell of his
residence being pulled, fly out heels over head, and, tumbling
somersaults down the steps, alight in a chair at the bottom, in order to
be at his ease before his visitor.
[Illustration: Fig. 158.]
It is a small piece of light wood, two inches long, one-sixth of an inch
thick, half an inch broad.
At its two ends are two holes, C and D, which receive two pins, around
which the legs and arms of the figure play. At each end also is a small
receptacle, nearly concentric with the holes C and D, having an oblique
prolongation towards the middle of the piece of wood. From their ends
proceed two grooves, G and F, in the wood, a-twelfth of an inch wide.
Nearly fill one of these receptacles with quicksilver, and glue
pasteboard on the sides to close it up.
To the axis passing through C fix two legs with long feet. The other has
the arms with hands so placed as to become a base when the figure is
turned backwards. On the G H part a head of elder-pith is glued, painted
and dressed with a wig and cap. The body is made of the same substance,
and a silk petticoat or skirted coat is added.
To prevent the figure or its legs turning any more after reaching the
resting-place of the feet, two small pegs are made to meet a
prolongation of the thighs.
[Illustration: Fig. 159.]
[Illustration: Fig. 160.]
To make the arms present themselves firmly and horizontally when the
figure turns backwards, furnish the arms with two small pulleys,
concentric to the axis of the motion of these arms, over which run two
silk threads, uniting under the front of the figure, and fixed to a
small cross-bar joining the middle of the thighs. Adjust these threads
till there is no unsteadiness in the figure when it is placed up or down
on its four supporters.
Generally a box is made to contain this figure, and open out into being
the flight of stairs to be performed upon.
[Illustration]