Class X.] STAFFERS ASSAYING- APPARATUS—PHILLIPS’ FIRE AXXIIIILATOR.
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Deyeux (France , No. 470, p. 1200), has exhibited alarge and complete assortment of utensils of the samedescription.
Lemolt (France , No. 303, p. 1101) has exhibited agalvanic battery, patented in France and England, inwhich zinc is combined with a preparation of carbonagglutinated.
Katkller and Son (Bavaria, No. 28, p. 1099) haveexhibited black-lead crucibles, for melting gold, silver,iron, steel, &c. These crucibles have a high reputationfor supporting with security the highest temperatures,such as are requisite for smelting iron, steel, &c., amiwhich is due to the introduction of a fire-proof strength-ening substance. They are also very cheap, a crucible tocarry 100 marks’ weight, being sold for four shillingsfree from Rotterdam . The Jury award Honourable Men-tion to these crucibles, Sc c. (Prize Medal awarded inClass XX VII).
Seel, jim. (Prussia, No. 4$3, p. 1078), has exhibiteda remarkably complete and beautiful steam apparatus,fitted for chemical and pharmaceutical purposes, withstill, digesting, and evaporating vessels, and cases fordrying and filtration, at single temperatures, in Germansilver, and which maybe considered one of the most com-plete things of the kind in the Exhibition. A PrizeMedal was awarded to Mr. Seel.
Aunoldi (Prussia, No. 778, p. 1093) has exhibited agood assortment of chemical apparatus, crucibles, evapo-rating basins, funnels, See., made of white clay fromThuringen Forest, much resembling, in appearance andquality, our Wedgewood ware for similar uses. Inparticular may be noticed the great size of some of thevessels, sucli as a cylindrical one 2 feet in deptli and ISinches in diameter; also a hemispherical basin, 20 inchesin diameter.
Gpessler (Prussia, No. 854, p. 1096) has exhibited acarbon battery, in which the zinc rods have for theirsection a rectangular cross to expose a greater surface,and the exterior cylinder is composed of carbonpowdered and strongly agglutinated by sugar, it is under-stood, or other saccharine cement, so composed as todissolve with extreme slowness.
Dr. ItEixscH (Zweibrucken, Bavaria, No. 831) hasexhibited a galvanic battery of his own invention, inwhich a zinc cylinder surrounds one of earthenware fullof powdered coke. It is used to excite an electro-magnetic apparatus.
Kinzelbach (Wnrteinburg, No.26, p. 1115) has exhi-bited a silver hydrometer.
Wolff (Wurtemburg , No. 13, p. 1115) exhibits variouschemical apparatus and graduated vessels for measuringfluids. Honourable Mention was awarded by the Juryto Mr. Wolff for his pharmaceutical apparatus for dis-tilling.
Luiime (Prussia, No. 83, p. 1053) has exhibited a richcollection of pharmaceutical apparatus: lamps of dif-ferent kinds for cooking, calcining, distilling; gasometersconstructed in glass, and japanned zinc areometers,mortars, machine for making pills, platina crucibles, anapparatus in platina for preparing hydrofluoric acid;simple apparatus for ascertaining the quantity of sugar |in solution by polarized light; glass tubes and variouskinds of apparati for use in laboratories made at theZechliu glass works. For this valuable collection ofchemical apparatus the Jury voted a Prize Medal.
Batk.a (Austria , No. 135, p. 1014) exhibits boxes withchemical tests, lamps, retorts,, supporters in wood, alko-meters, various kinds of apparati made from Bohemianglass, and a test apparatus for beer, after the design ofProfessor Steinlieil, of Vieuna. A Prize Medal wasvoted to M. Batka.
Bkaxdeis (Austria, No. 133, p. 1014) has an apparatusfur the chemical analysis of beer, invented by ProfessorBalling, of Prague .
Staffel (Russia , No. 148, p. 1371) exhibits anapparatus for assaying precious metals.
This invention of Mr. Staffel is intended to supersede ;neither the solution by fire, nor the various chemical Itests which have been brought to a state of great per-fection : it is simply designed for practical purposes, I
when neither acids nor fire can be made available. Theapparatus is constructed on the principle of specificgravity , which has been extended to specific volume. Thegreat difficulties to be contended with were, 1st, theelasticity of the air; 2ndly, its temperature; 3rdly, capil-larity ; 4thly, the closing of the apparatus hermetically;and, 5tlily, the furnishing a scale for various weights;but after four years of unwearied study and labour Mr.Staff’d overcame these difficulties. The apparatus con-sists of a glass tube, fixed in a brass case, the bottom ofwhich forms a cylinder, which receives its movement bymeans of a screw. An annular dial, furnished with ahair, for an indicator, shows the degrees from u to 99,and controls the motion of this screw. The degrees,from 100 and upwards, are indicated on a plate, fixed atthe side, which plate stands in connexion with the dial.
The glass tube is closed hermetically at the top with aglass cover, to which is annexed a capsule, a perpen-dicular glass cylinder, and two brass bars, serving as ascale.
By tbe side of the apparatus is a bar, by means ofwhich the dial is brought to zero, and at the same timethe fluid in the cylinder is reduced by means of a handleto the normal point. The object to be tested is thenweighed by means of weights adapted to the purpose;after which the object is placed in a grate suspendedwithin the fluid, and the capsule carefully closed. Thehandle is then set in motion and turned, until the weight,previously ascertained, is indicated upon the dial, whilethe fluid in the perpendicular cylinder will rise to adegree corresponding with the figure on the dial. Thefigure thus obtained gives the alloy, the remainder theamount of pure metal. For example, if it he required totest an object weighing 24 grains, it will be necessary tostop the dial-hand at 24, and of the fluid in the cylinder,then 8, the result will be
24 - 8 = 16,
which will give the standard of the gold.
If the gold be alloyed with silver and copper, whichwill be indicated by the paleness of the colour, it will benecessary to refer to the brass bar for the purpose ofshowing the alloy. The differential weights of the alloybetween gold and copper, and between gold, silver, andcopper, are indicated by various scales.
If the object weigh 39 grains, and the cylinder show 11,then the result will be
39 - 11 X 243T
= 17’23 proof.
The volume of fine silver or gold is marked . . F;
The volume of copper, or any other alloy is marked C;
The volume of specific difference is marked . . D;
The volume of weight is marked . . . 1, 2, 3, See.
If a fusion of 28 F + 11 C is to ho made, the figuremust be F = C — D, of F + D = C, or 28 F + 11 C =39 F -f 11 D - ty copper or alloy.
The practical utility of the instrument will chiefly he—
1st. The determining the quantity of gold or silverused in manufacturers’ wares from either of these metals,and thereby enabling the employer to ascertain whetherthe finished article contains the exact amount of metalfurnished to the workmen.
2ndly. In ascertaining, if required, the value of a chain,though the gold used in the several links be of a differentstandard.
3rdly. In previously ascertaining the standard of afusion, when various sorts of silver, of unequal size andweight, are to be melted together.
4thly. In ascertaining the value of coins with thegreatest accuracy and despatch.
Fire Annihilators by Chemical Application.
Phillips (Class V., No. 92, p. 222) has exhibited afire annihilator. This is a portable machine for theimmediate production of steam, and carbonic acid andother gases, which, being directed upon the burningmatter, is designed to check the progress of the flamesmore speedily than the usual application of water. It isin form cylindrical, and slightly conical; it varies in size