** Locking Several Drawers with One Lock [314]

A series or row of drawers can be secured with one lock by using the

[Illustration:  Drawer Lock]

device shown in the sketch.  This method takes away several dangling locks and the carrying of many keys.  A rod is used through the various staples over the hasps.  The rod is upset on one end and flattened to make sufficient metal for drilling a hole large enough to insert the bar of a padlock.  If the bar is made of steel and hardened, it is almost impossible to cut it in two.  —­Contributed by F. W. Bentley, Huron, S. Dak.

** Testing Small Electric Lamps [314]

The accompanying sketch shows the construction of a handy device for testing miniature electric lights.  The base is made to take in an electric flash lamp battery.  Two strips of brass, C and D, are connected to the battery.  The lamp is tested by

[Illustration:  Lamp Tester]

putting the metal end on the lower brass strip and the side against the upper one.  A great number of lamps can be tested in a short time by means of this device.  —­Contributed by Abner B. Shaw, North Dartmouth, Mass.

** How to Make a Pin Ball [314]

The pin ball shown in the illustration is made of calfskin modeling leather and saddler’s felt.  Two pieces of leather are used, and one piece of felt, all three being cut circular to a diameter of about 3 in.  The felt may be about 1/2 in. thick, and leather of a deep brown color is recommended.

Moisten the leather on the back side with as much water as it will take without showing through the face.  Lay it on a sheet of heavy glass or copper, or other hard, smooth, nonabsorbent material.  Place the design, which has been previously prepared, over the face of the leather.  Indent the outline of the design with a nutpick or any other pointed tool that will not cut the leather.  Remove the pattern, and go

[Illustration:  Made of Leather and Felt]

over the outline again to deepen the tool marks.

The space between the border and the design is now stamped with a cuppointed nail set, care being taken not to cut the leather, especially if the tool be new.  Rubbing the edges of the nail set over a piece of emery paper will serve to dull them, if they are too sharp.

When the designs have been worked on the leather, paste or glue the leather to the two sides of the belt, and punch a hole in the center through which to place a cord for hanging up the ball.

** Cleaning Woodwork [315]

An easy method of removing the dirt and old varnish at the same time around a kitchen sink is told by a correspondent of National Magazine as follows: 

Make a soft soap from common yellow laundry soap, and when it is almost cold stir in one tablespoonful of concentrated lye and one-half cupful of kerosene.  When the mixture becomes a heavy paste, it is ready to be spread over the woodwork with a paint brush.  Allow the soap to remain for a day and a half, then wash it off with plenty of hot water.  The woodwork will be clean and ready for varnishing when it dries out.