All About Inventions and Discoveries
The Romance of modern scientific and mechanical Achievements

7° All About Inventions cated cone, with a small loop at the crown to slip over the crutched top of the rod by which it is held in position. But this system of lighting is erroneous, inasmuch as dark shadows and indifferent light are thrown beneath the burner, such as upon a table, which in reality is the point where the maximum of light should be given. As the mantle was improved in strength efforts to turn it upside down were made, but this problem proved to be far more tantalising than it appears to the uninitiated. Three inventors, working independently, discovered how to achieve the desired end in 1903, and their work ushered in the epoch of inverted incandescent gas-lighting which to-day has such a world-wide vogue. But in these days the utilisation of gas for light- ing in reality constitutes its most subsidiary applica- tion. The quantity of gas consumed for this purpose is insignificant in comparison with its other multi- farious uses. The gas-stove has ousted the kitchen range for domestic purposes, while the gas-fire is driving the open grate into well-deserved oblivion for heating. But the most extensive applications are to be found in the industrial world. There is scarcely a branch of manufacture where “town-gas” has not effected its conquest. In fact, it has been intro- duced into many trades in which, for many years, it was considered to be impracticable, and has con- clusively established its superiority to the previous methods of heating and the supply of power. The latter development, which has now attained enormous proportions, dates really from the day when Dr. Otto evolved the four-cycle explosion engine.