We annex illustrations of a meter designed by Mr. A. Schmid, of Zürich, and which, according to _Engineering_, is now considerably used on the Continent, not only for measuring water, but the sirup in sugar factories, in breweries, etc. It consists of a cast iron body containing two gun-metal-lined cylinders, and connected by an intermediate chamber. Round the body are formed two channels, one for the entrance and the other for the discharge of the water, etc., to be measured. Within the cylinder are placed two long pistons, provided with openings in such a way that each piston serves as a slide valve to the other, the flow being maintained through the ports in the connecting chamber. The arrangement of openings in the piston is shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and the intermediate passages in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. To the upper side of each piston is attached a cross-head working on a disk placed at each end of a horizontal shaft. To one of the disks is added a short connecting rod that drives the spindle of a counter. [Illustration: SCHMID'S WATER METER.] * * * * * WASHING MACHINE FOR WOOL. The washing machines in use for wool on the rake principle have during the last few years experienced many improvements in the details of their arrangement, which we have illustrated at different times in our columns. The introduction of these improvements and alterations shows that the washing of wool has attracted more attention on the part of observant manufacturers and machine makers, and demonstrated at the same time that the machines hitherto in use, with all their advantages, left much to be desired in other respects. The main difficulty with all washing machines for wool has been the avoidance of felting of the wool, which tendency is increased by the use of warm water for washing and by the agitation that some consider necessary for a thorough cleansing of the wool and removal of the adhering impurities, but which agitation is deprecated by others. [Illustration: IMPROVED WOOL WASHING MACHINE.]