It is after having, during a long period, made use of the instruments of which we have spoken, and fully experienced their inconveniences, that, aware of the indispensable necessity for such instruments in the arts and sciences, we have thought it our duty to make known to the public _a New Apparatus_, which is, not only calculated to fulfil the same purposes, but presents advantages which it is easy to appreciate. The price of it is only the sixth part of that of the glass-blower’s table[1]. It is very portable, and capable of being attached to any table whatever. It unites the advantages of not fatiguing the workman, of leaving his hands free, and of rendering him absolute master of the current of air, which he can direct on the flame either of the lamp or the candle,--advantages which are not offered in the same degree even by the table of the glass-blower. [1] In Paris, the blowpipe which is here described is sold for six francs (five shillings English); or, with the improved lamp and candlestick, twelve francs. The instrument which we have presented is, properly speaking, nothing but a simple blowpipe, C, (pl. 1, fig. 19) communicating with a bladder, or leather bag, fixed on E, which is kept full of air by means of a bent tube, D, through which the operator blows occasionally with the mouth. This tube is closed at its inferior extremity, F, by a valve, which permits the passage of air into the reservoir, but not of its return, so that the air can only escape by the beak of the blowpipe. The valve at F is constructed in the following manner:--At about two inches from the end of the tube a contraction is made, as represented at _a_, pl. 1, fig. 24. This reduces the internal diameter of the tube about one-third. A small conical piece of cork or wood is now introduced into the tube in the manner represented by _c_. The base of the cone must be large enough to close the tube at the point where it is contracted; it must, however, not be so large as to close the tube at the wide part. A brass pin is inserted in the point of the cone, as is shewn in the figure. Between the cone and the end of the tube, the piece of wood, _b_, is fixed; the shape of this piece of wood is best shewn by figure 25, on the same plate. There is a hole in the centre, in which the pin of the cork cone can move easily. The cone or valve is therefore at liberty to move between the contraction _a_, and the fixture _b_. Consequently, when air is blown into the tube at _e_, the valve is forced from the contraction, falls into the position indicated by the dotted lines _d_, and allows the air to pass by its sides. When, on the contrary, the operator ceases to blow, the valve is acted upon by the air in the bladder, which, pressing back at _f_, drives the valve close against the contraction, and effectually closes the aperture. A slight hissing is heard, but when the contraction is well made, and the cork is good, an extremely small quantity of air escapes.