The Self-Winding Garden Line: A Spring and Pinion Reel the Line Back, and It Can Chalk Itself

"In fig. 1, A represents a metallic case or box, the size of which being according to the length of the line wound up within the same. This box is divided into two sections, B and C, fig. 4, by a diaphragm, D. In section C is arranged a coiled spring, E, fig. 3. On the spindle to which the spring is attached is keyed a cog-wheel, F, which is made to engage in a pinion, G." "This apparatus is very convenient for all purposes requiring the use of a line, as laying out gardens, walls, beds, rows, &c. It can also be used by builders as a guide-line or chalk-line, and for which either purpose it may be self-chalking, if so desired, by filling the chamber K with chalk dust."

**Case.** Use a round tin about 10 cm across and 5 cm deep. Cut a disc of tin as the diaphragm D and fix it across the middle on small brackets, dividing the tin into two sections. **Spring and wheel.** Coil a strip of spring steel round a spindle in the lower section, fix its inner end to the spindle and its outer end to the tin's wall, and fit a printed cog-wheel F on the spindle, with about six times as many teeth as the pinion. **Pinion and spool.** Mount a printed pinion G meshing with the wheel, its shaft passing through the diaphragm into the upper section, and fit a printed spool H on it there. Wind cord on the spool and lead its end out through a hole in the case to a ring or knob L. **Chalk chamber.** Glue a small tin compartment with a sliding cover in the lower section, filled with chalk dust, which the cord passes through, if a chalk line is wanted. **Test.** Draw the line out 5 m between two stakes to lay out a bed, then let it go and time how quickly it winds back. Count the turns of the spool per turn of the spring.

**C. Richel** of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, received US 70,022, dated 22 October 1867. The line's free end was led from the spool through a chamber J to a ring or knob L outside; access to the chamber K was by a sliding cover M, and a supplementary cover on the side made removal of the chamber easier. His claim is the spring mechanism in combination with the chalk-box and line. **Honest limits.** A tin case, printed gears and a coiled strip stand in for his metal case and works. The notebook ignores friction and assumes an even spring torque; its turns, ratio and sizes are examples. Your laid-out bed is the result.