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262 THE MARINE REVIE RATCHET DIE HOLDER FOR USE IN CONFINED PLACES---THE DIES ARE DESIGNED FOR READY REMOVAL FROM THE HOLDER is shown in the accompanying illus- tration. A tuning-fork or other means of producing sound is attached to the wall of the tank, the fork being set in vibration by a hammer actuated by clockwork. The whole device is so arranged as to be portable, and capable of being tightly pressed against the outer surface of the ves- sel. For maintaining constant or altering the volume of the liquid, the mechanism is provided with an aux- iliary device, which can be manipu- lated in all positions from the outside. This auxiliary device may consist of a member or component which can be regulated as regards volume, and which projects from the outside into the liquid tank. When this member is rotated the liquid is pressed on to the walls, and so in- W . May, 1919 sures the-liquid making contact, even when the device is suspended. Thread Cutting Tools Manipulating thread-cutting dies jn confined situations aboard ship or ashore is often a serious problem which some- times makes it necessary to dismantle a unit partially, to provide ample work- ing space. With the object of eliminat- ing this difficulty, the Borden Co., War- ren, O., recently developed the device shown in the accompanying illustration. As this die holder has but one handle, which works on the ratchet principle, the device can be used near a_ bulkhead, engine column or other obstruction. The dies shown with the holder are for threading pipe. The sizes of dies ac- -commodated by the holder run from % to 1 inch. The tool is finished to afford a good grip for the workman and to permit it being easily cleaned. The ratchet mechanism is entirely inclosed. The object of this is to pre- vent the ingress of dirt or chips which would prevent it functioning property. The tool is made right or left hand to Auxiliary Electric Plant ORPEDO gunners _ invari- ably aim for the engine and boiler rooms of ves- sels when attacking, which pro- cedure generally puts the electric power plant out of commission. This puts out all lights and leaves the wireless outfit without operat- ing current. Realizing the need of a simple auxiliary self-con- tained power plant that could readily be installed on deck or in the 'tween decks, the Emergency Fleet corporation, during the war, adopted the lighting unit which is shown in the accompanying illus- trations. It can be. started in- stantly and in case of a vessel be- ing torpedoed or meeting with other accident will furnish current until the carburetor is flooded with water as the vessel goes under, «the upper. illustration graphically shows how the outfit. is useful in furnishing light cur- rent while the crew is abandoning ship. In emergencies of this kind, light is necessary to avoid con- fusion and delay. The outfit illus- tiated 915 4° product of. the Matthews Engineering Co., San- dusky, O., and while primarily designed for shore installations, it was accepted by the govern- ment for use on transports in Overseas. service. It comprises a 6-kilowatt generator direct-con- nected to a 4-cylinder 3% x 5-inch overhead-valve internal-combustion engine operated at a shaft speed of 900 revolutions a minute. The plant is automatically started, gov- erned and stopped. <A 56-cell _110-volt 128 ampere-hour storage battery is provided for starting. Control is through the medium of a switchboard made by _ the Matthews company. <A_ valuable feature for automatically testing the reliability of the plant at stated intervals consists of a time clock, locked, and under the su- pervision of the chief officer of the vessel. He can set the clock's adjusting dial which causes the plant to start once in every 24 hours and run for 20 minutes for test purposes.