Book 3 — Cleaning a Clock with Kerosene Fumes

A simple way of cleaning a clock is as follows: Remove the pendulum and procure a ball of cotton wool, about half the size of a fist. Saturate this with kerosene, and place it in a saucer, or a tin lid, in the case under the works of the clock. Close the case and leave the cotton for several days. It will then be found that the fumes from the kerosene have brought down the dust from the works; in fact, the cotton will be covered with black specks. It only remains to oil the bearings of the works, and the clock will be quite in order.—S. Leonard Bastin, Bournemouth, England.