More than one of these 7 encyclopedias carries each of the following subjects — but every one of them treats it in a sentence or two and then moves on. They are gathered here so the different accounts can sit side by side.
Sounding
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the operation of trying the depth of water and the quality of the bottom, especially by means of a plummet sunk from a ship. In navigation two plummets are used, one called the hand lead, weighing weighing about eight or nine pounds; and the other, the deep sea lead, weighing from 25 to 30 pounds. The former is used in shallow waters, and the latter at a distance from shore. The nature of the bottom is commonly ascertained by using a piece of tallow stuck upon the base of the deep-sea lead, and thus bringing up sand, shells, ooze, etc., which adhere to it. The Thomson sounding apparatus consists of an iron drum attached to a frame. The wire to which the lead is attached is wound around a grooved disk controlled by clutchnd A dialedonient the frame registers the depths. The Sigsbee sounding device is the invention of Admiral Sigsbee, U. S. N.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: . See Challenger Expedition
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Sousa
Collier's New Encyclopedia: JOHN PHILIP, an American musician and conductor, born in Washington, D. C., in 1854. He studied music and began teaching at the age of 15. From 1880 to 1892 he was the leader of the United States Marine Corps band. In the latter year he organized his own band, and for many years successfully toured Europe and the United States. In 1911 he JOHN PHILIP SOUSA made a tour of the world. He was a prolific composer of music, especially of marches, many of which attained wide success. He also wrote music for several He wrote "The Fifth String" operas. (1905); "The Dwellers in the Western World," and "Through the Year with Sousa" (1910). During the World War he conducted musical instruction at the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, and there organized a remarkable band which was used in recruiting in various parts of the country.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: sooza, John Philip (1854-), an American composer and bandmaster. He was born in Washington, District of Columbia . His musical ability was so pronounced that he became leader of a band at the early age of seventeen. He was instrumental in the organization of the famous United States Marine Corps Band, and was its leader, 1880-92. Under his management the band made several concert tours in the larger European cities and won no little reputation for American band music . Mr. Sousa is the composer of a number of popular marches and other musical compositions. See Thomas ; Theodore; Orchestra
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Speedwell
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the common name of plants of the genus Veronica, natural order Scrophulariaceae, natives of tem- COMMON SPEEDWELL perate climates all over the world. The species consist of herbs, undershrubs, or shrubs. The flowers are of a blue, white, or red color, having two stamens. V. Virginica has a white corolla. V. officinalis, or common speedwell, was once extensively used as a substitute for tea, and also as a tonic and diuretic. V. Teucrium, or germander-leaved speedwell, has much the same properties as common speedwell, and V. Chamaedrys, or germander speedwell, is a very general favorite, on account of its being among the very first that opens its flowers in the early spring.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a ship fitted out by the Pilgrims in Holland for their journey to the New World. The Speedwell set out from Southampton with the Mayflower in 1620, for New England , but, meeting with a series of mishaps, was sent back from Plymouth, England. Those of the Pilgrim party who had become disheartened were sent back to Southampton in the Speedwell. See Mayflower
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Spelter
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a commercial name for abbreviation of zinc; also a technical a yelspelter-solder, an impure zinc of used in soldering brass lowish color Germany as joints. It is known in , and and possibly gelbliches englisches zinn owes its color to the presence of a small word is also amount of copper. The sometimes used in applied to an alloy metal. See ZINC. the composition of bell
The Encyclopedia of Founding: The plates of manufactured zinc are called spelter in commerce. Spelter solder is made from equal parts of zinc and copper; this is for ordinary use on brass. A little harder, for copper and iron, is zinc 3, copper 4. See SOLDERS; ZINC.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a commercial name for zinc The name is given also to a yellowish zinc solder used in closing brass joints. Bell metal is not infrequently known as spelter. See Zinc
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and The Encyclopedia of Founding and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Spermaceti
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a neutral, inodorous, and nearly tasteless, fatty substance, extracted from the oily matter of the head of the sperm whale by filtration and treatment with potash-ley. It is white, brittle, soft to the touch, sp. gr., 0.943 at 15°, melts from 38° to 47°, and is chiefly used in ointments and cerates. Spermaceti was formerly given as a medicine; now it is chiefly employed externally as an emollient and in the preparation of a blistering paper.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: sper-ma-se'ti, the peculiar fatty substance obtained in the cavity of the head of the sperm whale. It is used in the making of ointments, cosmetics, and in the manufacture of sperm candles. See Whale ; Candle
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Spiegeleisen
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a name applied to a variety of cast iron which is coarsely crystalline, the large crystal planes having bright reflections. It contains about 5 per cent. carbon and considerable manganese. See IRON and STEEL.
The Encyclopedia of Founding: A name now generally given to the varieties of pig iron, containing from 10 to 20 per cent of manganese. When the percentage exceeds that amount it is called ferro-manganese. See FERRO-MANGANESE; MANGANESE.
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and The Encyclopedia of Founding
Spirit Level
Collier's New Encyclopedia: an instrument used for determining a line or plane parallel to the horizon, and also the relative heights of two or more stations. It consists of a glass tube nearly filled with alcohol, preferably colored. The remaining space in the tube is a bubble of air, and this occupies a position exactly in the middle of the tube when the latter is perfectly horizontal. The tube is mounted on a wooden bar, which is laid on a beam or other object to be tested; or it is mounted on a telescope or theodolite, and forms the means of bringing these instruments to a level, the slightest deviation from the horizontal position being indicated by the bubble rising toward the higher end of the tube. Spirit level quadrant, an instrument furnished with a spirit level and used for taking altitudes.
The Encyclopedia of Founding: A glass nearly filled with alcohol, just enough air being allowed to remain in it to form a bubble. The tube is then closed and fixed in a metallic or wooden case. See LEVEL.
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and The Encyclopedia of Founding