Abstract: A portable tool and method for simultaneously terminating a plurality of conductors in a connector positioned in a connector support which is mounted on a wiring board. The connector includes a housing defining a series of spaced wire-receiving cavities and a metallic terminal element having a wire-receiving portion disposed in each cavity with the conductors positioned in alignment with the cavities. The tool includes means for detachably mounting the tool on the connector support, a ram which reciprocates relative to the connector, an insertion assembly carried by the ram, movable cutter means carried by the ram adjacent the insertion assembly, and fixed cutter means underlying the conductors when the tool is mounted on the support. The insertion assembly includes a plurality of wire insertion fingers for moving the conductors into the cavities.

Abstract: In a nut installation head having a nut passage receiving a plurality of nuts in side by side relation, a transverse plunger passage communicating with said nut passage, a plunger reciprocating in said plunger passage to install a nut received in said plunger passage, a reciprocal feed for feeding a nut successively into said plunger passage, said head having an apertured nose with said plunger passage extending through said nose and said nut passage extending into said nose and said plunger moving through said nose. The improvement comprises a nut guide for said head, including a cylindrical slot formed in said nose, parallel to and displaced laterally of said plunger passage. A resilient retainer is nested within said slot having an upright recess. A hardened steel dowel of cylindrical shape is positioned within said slot and laterally and guidably nested partly within the retainer recess with a portion of the dowel extending into the plunger passage to guidably support a nut therein.

Abstract: A universal blower unit is provided which may be directly attached to any of the most widely distributed flexible line type grass or weed trimming tools, known as "Line-Trimmers" and sold under various designations including under the trademark "WEED EATER". The blower unit is secured to the motor housing following removal of the unit which normally holds the line employed in the line trimming operation. In securing the blower unit in place, a series of spacing studs are employed to orient and prevent lateral movement of the blower unit, and spring clamps extend up over the housing to hold the blower unit onto the motor housing and to hold the impeller in driving engagement with the output drive shaft from the motor. A small supplemental impeller is located adjacent the motor for cooling purposes. The blower unit is spaced downwardly from the motor housing and air is drawn in through the space between the blower and the motor housings.

Abstract: An elongated knife handle is provided with a blade carrier with a thumb button extending through a longitudinal top slot in the handle and is depressed for manipulating and latching the blade carrier in its sheathed and unsheathed positions. An integral upstanding abutment which extends higher than the thumb button is provided adjoining the forward end of the top slot and extends rearwardly along both sides of the forward end of the top slot to form a recess in which the thumb button is nested when it is in its forward or operating position to prevent the accidental unlatching of the blade carrier during heavy cutting operations.

Abstract: A saw operable from ground level for cutting limbs from a tree is disclosed. The saw comprises a plurality of relatively short, flat-sided, thin saw blades with each blade having saw teeth along at least one edge. The saw blades are connected together so that they can pivot relatively around axes perpendicular to the flat sides of the saw blades. Thus, when the saw is positioned over a tree limb the individual saw blades will inherently assume a position in a plane transverse the axis of the limb with the saw teeth in position to cut through the limb as the saw is pulled back and forth across the limb.

Abstract: A rotary cutter head mounted on the end of a handle to power rotate at high speed one or more centrifugally whirled free ends of a reserve of nylon line wound on a spool co-axially pivotally mounted within the head.A co-axially spring biased indexer is subject to inertia applied through the handle while the device is running to effect the feeding of precise increments of line from the spool to the free line ends. The indexer is automatically self-inhibiting when the line ends reach a predetermined optimum length of approximately eight inches and continues to be self-inhibiting until the line ends wear down, in use, to less than a predetermined minimum length of approximately five inches.

Abstract: A hand held band saw particularly adapted to split animal carcasses. The band saw includes a novel housing structure that permits quick and easy access to the housing's interior for cleaning of the interior, and for installing a new endless saw blade. The band saw also includes a novel blade guide roller assembly, and a novel blade take-up assembly, which cooperate to permit quick and easy installation of an endless saw blade.

Abstract: An electric shaver is constructed to operate by electric energy generated from a car battery. A holder is fixed to a dashboard of a car for accommodating the electric shaver when it is not in use. A plug of the electric shaver is inserted into a cigarette lighter socket secured on the dashboard to receive the electric energy generated from the car battery. The electric shaver includes a slidable hood for selectively protecting a cutting portion of the electric shaver and exposing the cutting portion to ambience. A switching means is associated with the slidable hood so that the electric shaver is automatically power supplied from the plug when the slidable hood is located at a position where the cutting portion is exposed to the ambience.

Abstract: A garment design aid for assisting a person in providing a pattern for a garment, the design aid including a main pattern template defining a hip region of the garment and including a hip adjusting means comprising: a first member that is pivotally attached at one end to the pattern template member on one side of the hip region, has at its other end a slot-extending circumferentially of said pivotal attachment that will allow movement of said first member across said main pattern template and has a suitably curved side edge; a second member that is pivotally attached at one end to the first member intermediate the first member's ends adjacent the hip region, has a substantially outwardly extending slot transverse to the slot in said first member and has a suitably curved side edge which cooperates with the side edge of the first member to define a variable hip profile of the garment; a pin fast with the main pattern template member and extending through the slots in the first and second members such that pivo

Abstract: A gauge to measure and to indicate the divergence of the axis of a bore in a bowling ball from a radius of the bowling ball. This enables the orientation of grip holes in one bowling ball to be measured so they can faithfully be reproduced in another bowling ball. The gauge includes a reference plate which is to be pressed against the outside of the ball, a plug pivoted to the reference plate which enters a bore and expands so as to bear against its inside wall to align the plug, and a pointer mounted to the plug which, with a scale on the reference plate, indicates the relationship between the bore and the radius of the bowling ball. This in formation enables one to set up a drilling machine to reproduce this hole in another ball.

Abstract: A stencil plate provides the outline of front, side and top views of a normalized human body in outline form, pivot holes corresponding to each joint and additional holes indicating the natural range of swing about each joint, particularly in the top view, some showing foreshortening as the result of holding the arm at an inclination to the horizontal plane provided. By swinging the stencil plate at a pivot point between the stages of drawing the outline, various body attitudes may be drawn. With such stencils, the layout of counters, consoles, equipment, etc., at a workplace may be suited to the operating personnel.

Abstract: The equipment unit comprises a checking bench constituted by a plurality of removable cross-members provided with uniformly spaced holes for fixing in different positions on longitudinal members, and two removable longitudinal sole-pieces each provided on one side with a lateral appendage for mounting measuring accessories. The vehicle body is secured to the sides of the bench at intermediate points while two brackets or sets of brackets for attaching or checking the body are fixed on the front and rear portions respectively of the bench. It is thus possible to modify the positions of the cross-members, sole-pieces and brackets with respect to each other and to carry out with equal ease a positive checking operation, a measuring operation or a body-reshaping and truing operation.

Abstract: A universal digital converter for drafting machines operable to sense and instantly display numerically on one of the machine scales incremental linear or angular movements thereof. A sensor mounted on the scale has a wheel in rolling contact with the drafting surface and generates signals proportional to the net distance moved in a selected direction and these signals are processed electronically to represent the distance travelled in any desired preselected scale ratio. The sensor is quickly positionable to measure movements of either the horizontal or vertical scales, as well as angular movements of the protractor ring of a standard drafting machine.

Abstract: A method for drying a thick wet layer coated on one face of a cardboard sheet, the method being, of the type in which the coated cardboard sheet is fed continuously and a high frequency electric field is applied thereto in such manner that the lines of force of said electric field go only through said thick layer to selectively heat said layer, wherein a further electric field is applied to the coated cardboard sheet in such manner that the lines of force thereof go at least through the cardboard sheet. The method includes starting to apply the further electric field before the first mentioned electric field is applied. Apparatus for performing the method is additionally provided, the apparatus including at least one pair of oppositely polarized electrodes positioned along one face of the cardboard sheet and a second pair of oppositely polarized electrodes positioned along the opposed face of the cardboard sheet.

Abstract: A grain dryer having upright grain passages defined by perforate walls confining grain columns therein, the grain passages having offset portions and common inlets and outlets and vertically spaced plenum chambers, and a duct with a fan and burner drawing air from the lower plenum and applying the air in the upper plenum, a pair of upright imperforate plates lying along the exterior of the grain passages and directing a portion of the air emerging from the upper plenum to be recycled by again passing inwardly through the column and into the lower plenum.

Abstract: Heat treating apparatus for continuous painted strip, comprising an elongated, convective heating oven through which painted strip is passed while jets of hot gas are directed against the top and bottom surfaces of the strip to dry and cure the paint film. The strip is suspended from tension bridles at opposite ends of the oven, and hangs in a relatively flat catenary curve therefrom. Spaced longitudinally within the oven is a plurality of pairs of headers which are arranged to follow the catenary curve of the strip, each of said pairs comprising an upper header located above the strip and a lower header located below the strip. Each of the headers has a plurality of jet nozzles directed toward the strip, and duct means is provided for supplying hot gas to the headers so that the nozzles send jets of hot gas impinging against the strip.

Abstract: The paper web is directly contacted with superheated steam to evaporate the water in the paper web by direct contact and to remove some of the superheat from the steam. The exhaust steam is again superheated and recycled back to the direct contact dryer.The paper web drying system includes a direct contact dryer, a superheater such as a heat exchanger, means for feeding the exhaust steam from the direct contact dryer to the heat exchanger, and means for feeding superheated steam from the heat exchanger back to the direct contact dryer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting and drying animal droppings at room temperature to substantially prevent the decomposition of the protein and urea therein. The droppings are collected on boards positioned beneath cages for the animals, and air at ambient temperature is forced over the droppings. The dried droppings are periodically turned and removed by raking apparatus which moves over the boards and either forces the droppings down tubular means to a conveyor below or sucks the droppings from the boards with vacuum.

Abstract: Hair styling apparatus including a cross frame member, support members extending upwardly from the cross frame member, a central power section associated with the cross frame member, light emitting members associated with the central power section, a plurality of rigid arm sections associated with the central power section, rigid cross arm members pivotally connected adjacent the free ends of the rigid arm sections, the pivotable connections between the rigid arm sections and the rigid cross arm members including mechanisms for adjusting the ease of movement between the respective sections, flexible conduit members extending from each of the cross arm members, electrical appliances disposed on the free ends of the flexible conduit members, the electrical appliances including light emitting members, hot air conveying members and the like.

Abstract: A thermo-pneumatic unit for thermal treatment of moving flat materials such as a drying process for cowhides includes a blower which is located on one side of the travelling path of the materials and adapted for generation of thermally adjusted air flow having specified initial direction and mass velocity distribution so that larger mass velocity is focussed upon the portion of each material requiring higher rate of thermal treatment. Ideally, an even thermal effect is obtained over the entire parts of each material and thermal energy loss is effectively avoided even when the material has initial local variance in moisture content or temperature. A collector for blown air on the other side of the travelling path collects the blown air, which assures higher evenness in thermal effect with less thermal energy loss.

Abstract: A typodont having one or more removable teeth which may be simultaneously locked in place by a single locking ring. The typodont includes a jaw member having one or more openings for receiving the shanks of the individual removable teeth and a parabolic arch-shaped groove cut in the jaw member which is in communication with each of the openings. The removable teeth each have a notch which is cut in the shank of the tooth with the notch being in alignment with the groove when the tooth is inserted in a jaw member opening. A locking ring having a locking portion which is shaped like the jaw member groove can be placed into the groove so that the locking portion will engage each of the notches in the shanks, thereby locking the removable teeth into place.

Abstract: A resilient, compressible, spherical member is attached to each end of an elongated, flexible strap. Each member is dimensioned for close fitting emplacement in a ski boot after which a boot clamp is fastened to removably retain the member in the boot. Thus clamped, the strap may be slung over the user's shoulder, with a boot at either strap end, for boot transport. In a modification, the strap may be looped over a ski rack and a lock is provided between the members. A flexible elongated band is dimensioned lengthwise to fit snugly about ski equipment, such as a pair of skis and ski poles, and is provided at its ends with eyelets for locking engagement with the lock whereby the equipment may be locked to the rack.

Abstract: A cutter wheel for a dredging apparatus mounted for rotation about a shaft and having outwardly projecting cutting blades mounted on openings formed in the cylindrical peripheral plane of said wheel, while a stationary suction mouth is provided inside said wheel which is adapted for being in fluid communication with the cutting blades on rotation of said wheel, said suction mouth being connected to said shaft so that it may be rotated by means of a piston-cylinder assembly to change its angular position.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling the position of the last section of a suction pipe with a drag head, wherein the suction pipe comprises at least two pivotally connected sections and wherein there are provided at least two independently operable hoisting winches for the suction pipe and wherein the hoisting installations are operated so that the last section of the suction pipe with drag head is kept at a specific, pre-determined angle of inclination.

Abstract: The invention described consists of a dredger having a floating hull and a two-part boom attached to the hull and extending forwardly therefrom. The rear end of the first part of the boom is hinged to the hull about a horizontal axis, while its front end has a platform also hinged about a horizontal axis, with structure being provided to keep the platform horizontal when this first part of the boom is inclined using a jib and cable. On the platform is a component pivoted about a vertical axis and on this component is pivoted, about a horizontal axis, the second part of the boom, which performs a sweeping dredging movement and has at its front end a disintegrator tool, and the suction inlet of a pipe for removal of dredged material. The structure keeping the platform horizontal may be a mechanical parallelogram, or servo controlled jacks. Piles on the floating hull and on the platform serve to stabilize the dredger on the sea-bed.

Abstract: A holder for pictures and the like formed by folding an integral sheet of transparent material to define a support portion, a face portion and a brace portion. The face and brace portions are joined to the support portion at spaced first and second fold lines and the three portions extend one relative to another in predetermined relationships for including acute angles therebetween. The brace portion has an end portion which terminates adjacent the face portion at a location intermediate the length of the face portion and the portions cooperate for retaining a picture and the like.

Abstract: A collapsible optical viewer is comprised of a front wall having a light-admitting opening therein; a rear wall assembly having a coincident viewing aperture therein; top and bottom walls contiguous with the front and rear walls; and, side walls, one of which includes a continuous extension for forming a channel proximate the front wall whereby a photographic film strip may be received therein. A blank suitable for assembling the viewer is also described.

Abstract: A microfiche carrier assembly is provided comprising a core of flexible but relatively rigid sheet material having a thin cover sheet provided with an adhesive surface for securing the cover sheet to the core so as to seal both faces and one end of the core. The cover sheet extends beyond the other end of the core to provide overhanging flaps forming a pocket therebetween with the adhesive surfaces of the flaps facing inwardly. A marginal edge of a microfiche is positioned in the pocket and is secured therein by the flaps. The microfiche carrier assembly is also provided with selector means in the form of a perforation at a predetermined location in a selector field to permit retrieval of a selected microfiche from a deck of microfiche carrier assemblies contained, for example, in a magazine.

Abstract: A container for confining a pile of pictures and displaying one of the pictures, a housing with a movable part facilitating removal and insertion of pictures, a viewing window, a backing device with a portion engaging and urging the pile of prints toward the window, and a movable spring or latch to hold the backing device against the displayed print, said backing device being released upon actuation of said movable part.

Abstract: The light box of the present invention comprises a peripheral wall which has opposite peripheral edges, a back wall adjacent one of those peripheral edges and a rigid one piece molded frame adjacent the other peripheral edge, the frame defining one side of the light box. The frame comprises front and rear faces and inner and outer side faces, gripping means comprised by a rearwardly opening channel on the frame which clampingly receives the aforementioned peripheral edge of the peripheral wall, that channel extending inwardly from the rear face towards the front face of the frame and being defined by a pair of opposed flanges each of which defines a respective one of the inner and outer side faces of the frame.

Abstract: A removable sign post holding apparatus including a body portion having a post-receiving opening, a plurality of retaining members disposed around the periphery of the body portion, the retaining members extending along the length of the body portion from a point adjacent the post-receiving opening thereof, a plurality of ground-engaging members associated with the retaining members and extending from adjacent the post-receiving opening of the body portion beyond the opposite end of the body portion a significant distance, each of the ground-engaging members having an enlarged portion adjacent the end thereof closest to the post-receiving opening.

Abstract: A lightweight magnetically attractive display device includes a relatively thin sheet-like intermediate layer which is adapted to be magnetically attractive at spaced intervals and which is supported in a generally planar configuration, and an outer face sheet adapted to be attached to the device in front of and adjacent the intermediate layer so that magnetized indicia characters can be removably attached to the device, against the outer layer, by the magnetic attraction between the intermediate layer and the magnetic portions on the indicia characters. As preferably embodied, the intermediate layer comprises a lightweight mesh screen made of magnetically attractive material. Alternatively, the intermediate layer may comprise a plurality of closely spaced magnetically attractive strands or a sheet of lightweight material having magnetically attractive particles dispersed therein.

Abstract: A pistol grip including a grip body of elastomeric material to be connected to the frame of a pistol and containing a recess within which a terminal portion of the frame extends downwardly, with the elastomeric material containing a cushioning recess which is located behind the first mentioned recess and gives to the grip body greater compressability in a front to rear direction to increase its absorption of recoil force upon firing of the gun.

Abstract: This invention relates to safety devices for shotguns preventing wrong sized cartridges from lodging in shotgun barrels.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a firearm comprising a barrel, a receiver, and a stock wherein the stock is comprised of a main stock and a forestock and the forestock is movable in a plane parallel to the axis of the barrel or is pivotable about the barrel, or both, and is fixable in each of its possible positions relative to the barrel.

Abstract: A fishing lure is made with a spring steel strip about 0.01".times.3/16".times.6". A 1/16" wire is attached to the front and rear to provide means for attaching a fishing line in front and a treble hook in rear. The strip is covered by a rubber tube or sleeve which is plugged around the wire in the front and the rear to form an air compartment and the rubber tube extends back to the treble hook to the cover the points thereof and also to form a stink bait compartment. The depth which the lure runs is dependent upon buckshot attached to the front or inflation of the tube by an air valve.

Abstract: An improved fly swatter including a working end and a handle having a terminal end. In one embodiment shown, the terminal end of the fly swatter handle is provided with a longitudinally extending recess in which there is a pick-up device which is adapted to be slidably and axially removed from the recess and which is composed of a pair of bifurcated members or legs which are hingedly connected to one another at a handle end and normally yieldably urged apart; the legs are adapted to be brought into and out of confronting relation by manipulation of the terminal end of the handle of the pick-up device. When removed from the fly swatter, the pick-up device is utilized for picking up dead flies and the like. In alternative embodiments illustrated, the pick-up device is carried in piggy-back relation to the fly swatter for removal and use.

Abstract: A device for providing a waterproof connection between two separate sections of a water canal in a toy kit. In that connection a connecting element with transversal sealing strips is used said element principally having a U-shaped section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a doll having movable jointed body parts, comprising a main body portion and limb portions, said limb portions being preformed individually, a body-shaped covering bag of air and fluid-tight material, joint regions between the limb parts being formed by the juxta-position of the limb parts within appropriate portions of said bag which holds the limb parts in their correct relationship with each other, and a fluid filling means introduced between the body and limb portions and the covering bag. If desired, the filling means may be a liquid, which is colored blood red.

Abstract: A toy apparatus with a photoemissive motor control system includes a chamber into which a phosphorescent member is placed, whereupon photoemission acts upon a photosensitive element to activate a motor control circuit for operation of a motor which drives the toy apparatus. An activation apparatus is provided, which includes a battery operated lamp for periodic re-energization of the phosphorescent member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing monokaryons of dikaryotic strains of Basidiomycetes by chemical means, for instance Pleurotus ostreatus, Kuehneromyces mutabilis, Flammulina velutipes or Lentinus edodes under gentle conditions so that essentially two monokaryons result per dikaryon-containing hyphal compartment. These monokaryons can be used for mating with compatible partners to give dikaryotic Basidiomycetes strains.

Abstract: A greenhouse construction and method of growing plants in cold climates employing a water layer defining in part a growing environment which transmits solar radiation into the interior of an enclosure constituting the growing environment. The water layer acts to absorb longer wavelength infrared portions of the solar spectrum preventing overheating of the greenhouse interior during cold and warm weather seasons, with the resultant heating of the water in the layer allowing it to act as a thermal storage medium during cold weather seasons. At the same time, the water layer transmits the photosynthetic shorter wavelengths of the solar spectrum to support plant growth within the greenhouse. The water layer is disposed in a ceiling structure, consisting of spaced transparent sheet layers combined with a pivotal reflector-insulator panel acting to cover the water layer during nighttime or other periods when solar radiation is absent or minimal.

Abstract: A planting system including a support tray, a plurality of interconnected sleeves, and a plurality of transplant frames adapted for insertion within each sleeve. Each assembly is configured so that a plurality of assemblies are nestable and stackable without jamming relative to each other. Each individual part and subassembly is also configured to be nestable in nonjamming relationship with other like parts or subassemblies.

Abstract: A container unit for the growth and transportation of plants includes a container having an open upper end having formed in the interior thereof a recess defining an annular step including a horizontal surface and a vertical surface. A soil receptacle contains soil having therein a plant, and the receptacle has an open upper end having extending upwardly therefrom an integral flange. The receptacle is positioned within the container with the flange of the receptacle being supported by and soldered to the horizontal surface of the container, to thereby form a sealed water receiving chamber between the exterior of the receptacle and the interior of the container. A disc retains the soil within the receptacle and has a central hole dimensioned to have extend therethrough the stem of the plant. The disc has a slit to allow the stem of the plant to be inserted into the central hole. The disc is positioned over and supported by the annular flange of the receptacle.

Abstract: An energy conserving shutter assembly for the inside of a window for securely additionally closing a window opening in a building so as to insulate the window further and inhibit air leakage past it includes upper and lower track members and a sliding shutter slidable in and between said tracks to open and closed positions, in the closed position of which the shutter closes off said window and maintains an insulating dead air space about it. In preferred embodiments of the invention a pair of shutters is present and is employed cooperatively, sealing means are provided between the shutters, the track and a window frame to inhibit air leakage, the shutters, sealing means and tracks are of thermally non-conductive material(s) and draping members are fastened to and cover the shutters, providing additional insulation.

Abstract: A fine-grinding machine has a stationary stand on which a workpiece is fixed and which has a vertically adjustable arm carrying a tube defining a tube axis and displaceable angularly and axially on the arm relative to its axis. A tool mount adapted to hold a fine-grinding tool and having a tool axis generally parallel to the tube axis is mounted on the tube for displacement along a diameter through the tube axis. The tube can be set at any angular position for adjustment of the diametrical direction of displacement of this tool mount. A central shaft angularly and axially displaceable in the tube has an inclined pin at one end engaging the tool mount so that the axial position of the tube determines the eccentricity of the tool axis relative to the tube axis. Rotation of this central shaft therefore will reciprocate the tool mount diametrically of the tube to an extent determined by this eccentricity.

Abstract: A centrifugal drum apparatus for finishing the surfaces of metal objects is disclosed, including a housing, a disk-shaped rotor member connected with the housing for rotation about a generally horizontal axis, and a plurality of finishing drums open at one end and having longitudinal axes arranged symmetrically about and parallel with the rotor axis, the finishing drums being rotatably connected with the rotor member. The apparatus includes a first drive assembly for rotating the rotor member about the horizontal axis, and a second drive assembly for rotating the finishing drums about their longitudinal axes. When metal objects are placed within the finishing drums and the rotor member and finishing drums are rotated, the surfaces of the metal objects are ground and polished through abrasion with the inner surface of the drums.

Abstract: A high-speed power tool has a housing for an electromotor, and a tool casing mounted on the motor housing. A finishing plate is mounted on the tool casing for movement relative thereto. The motor drives a transmission which includes a crank member having an eccentric portion connected to the finishing plate for imparting oscillatory motion to the latter. The arrangement for connecting the eccentric portion of the crank member to the finishing plate includes a bearing mounted on the eccentric portion of the crank member, and a sleeve surrounding the bearing and detachably connected to the finishing plate. Screws which are accessible from the exterior of the tool casing and of the finishing plate connect the sleeve to the finishing plate.

Abstract: A drive wheel for rotating a workpiece while the latter is in contact with a grinding wheel during a grinding operation. The drive wheel is in the form of a pneumatic tire with a tire valve which permits easy variation of the internal pressure in the drive wheel. Thus the relative softness or hardness of the drive wheel can be changed in accordance with requirements attendant to the grinding operation. The drive wheel is motor-driven and a speed control device operates to slow the motor drive shaft when high torque loads are applied to the drive wheel by the workpiece, during heavy cutting of the workpiece by the grinding wheel. Thus the workpiece rotates slowly during heavy cutting and faster during light cutting.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing and feeding an abrasive-containing suspension into the zone of action of work tools of polishing and finishing lathes consisting of units series-connected by pipes and forming a closed circuit, comprising a unit for preparing a suspension from starting materials, a distributing unit with branch pipes for feeding the suspension to each work tool, a reservoir for collecting a waste suspension and a unit for cleaning the waste suspension. The distributing unit is formed with a pipe having a variable cross section along the length thereof. The branch pipes are located on the pipe at points of greater cross section.