Introducing a, 277 Discoveries in France, Mineral, 149 Committees, The Admiralty, 277 Offices, The New Foreign, 6 Pakington (Sir J.) versus Sir C. Wood, 245 Office Building, The New, 197 Armstrong gun, Gosling's improvements upon the, 315, 348 335 Decimal Coinage in England, The Practicability of Patents for Instruments and Munitions of War, 197. Armstrong's (Sir William) improved water-pressure ma- Dockyard Factories, Economy of the, 184 Electric Telegraphs, Government, 325 Engines and Engineers in Her Majesty's Navy, 293 England and her Soldiers, 359 The War Resources of, 309 Exhibition of 1861, The, 38 Factories, Economy of the Dockyard, 184 341 Fishbourne (Capt.), On Naval Architecture, 53, 389 Flax, The Cultivation of, 342 Foreign Offices, The New, 6 Frigates or Rams, The Iron Steam, 165, 325 Gas, On the Production of Illuminating, 87 Gunpowder Manufactories, 230 Works, Explosions at, 277, 309, 342 Society of Arts' Exhibition of Inventions, The, 278 Specifications of Patents for Inventions, 69 Stone Buildings, The Preservation of, 86 Warfare, 37 Superannuation Bill, The Civil Service, 230 Telegraph Cables, Submarine, 295 Thames, The State of the, 373 Timber for Shipbuilding, On, 326 Tubal Cain of Our Country, The, 182 Warfare, Submarine, 37 War, Patents for Instruments and Munitions of, 197, Resources of England, The, 309 Yachts, Steam, 373 213, 247 Arts, fine, 11 chinery, 219, 236, 252 of foremen engineers, the, 55, 110, 176, 239, Atlantic cable, Allan's, 91, 238 B. Baggs' improved electrical apparatus, 78 Balloons, exploration of Australia by, 79 Mr. Coxwell on the construction and uses of, 352 Bank-notes, how to detect false, 368 Bath, Griffith's patent chair, 281 Batteries, floating, 127 314 Beeton and Sherer's "Dictionary of Universal Information" Bessemer on the manufacture of malleable iron and steel, iron-making process, 286 Betts v. Menzies, 271, 368, 399 Boats, Captain Kynaston's method of lowering, 139, 305, 383, 398 Boiler explosions, Wright's method of preventing, 318 Boilers, feed apparatus for. 285 feeder for steam, 367 Greenwood's improved steam, 170 on improved modes of constructing the flues of Bonelli's electric law, 239 Books, cheap, 89 list of new, 30, 46, 65, 79, 127, 137, 176, 185, 208, Boots and shoes, machinery for making, 31 Boot, the Cremerian, 351 Botanic gardens, the national, 345 Bradbury's (Mr. Henry) new method of printing from Breech-loading cavalry rifle, the new, 57 Bricks, fire, 279 rifled small arms, Leetch's, 408 Bridges," Latham's "Construction of wrought-iron, 72 Bright's (Sir Charles) patent insulators for over-ground | Docks, Thames graving, 331 telegraph wires, 364 British Workman," "The, 235 the Plymouth Great Western, 177 Dockyards, the Admiralty committee on, 410, 411 Douglas (Sir Howard) on "Naval warfare with steam," 13 Drains and water-courses, the clearing of, 363 Cables, Conybeare's patent apparatus for laying submarine Drying buildings, &c., an improved method of, 43 Canada, decimal coins for, 187, 257 Canal boats, raising and lowering ships or, 26 Capstans and Windlasses, Wardill's improvements in, 316 Carpentry and Framing," Burn's "Illustrations of, 199 Carriages for the King of Prussia, 167 Carter v. Cockhead, 400 Cartridge, new army blank, 176 Cartridges, Norton's submarine, 138, 193 Cartridge, the Enfield rifle, 256 Casting, Jobson's improved moulds for, 218 Cast-iron arches, 200 Cecconi's musical instruments, 240 Chaff-cutting machines, Gardner's, 42 Chambers, Hand's patent for drying, 127 "Chambers's Encyclopædia," 234 Chandler and Oliver's steam plough, 9 chambers, Hand's patent for, 127 E. Eastern counties, notes from the, 18, 32, 48, 63, 80, 96, 112, Electrical apparatus, Baggs' improved, 78 experiments. 352, 367 Electric conductor, new, 74 gun, Mr. Andrew Smith's, 200 "Electricity and the Electric Telegraph," Wilson's, 73 Mr. A. Varley on, 216, 232, 254, 271 Electric law, Bonelli's, 239 light apparatus, Harrison's, 48 telegraph cables, Hall and Wells' improved, 300, Chandler's improved machines for cutting hay and straw, Electro-magnetism, 208, 224, 321 Richmond and, 125 Charcoal, 31 Cheese press, Delta's " patent, 347 Chemical balance, new, 223 Chess and draughts for the pocket, 248 Cherbourg, the naval arsenal at, 289 China and Australia, telegraphs to, 283, 320 Chromo-lithography, 138 Chuck and lathe vice, 30 Civil engineering," Conybeare's "Principles and practice of, of North America," Stevenson's, 251 345 Clark and Colburn's "Recent practice in the locomotive Clarke's "Handbook of languages," 30 Clayton and Fearnley's apparatus for paying-out telegraph Clifford's system of boat lowering, 235, 288, 305, 383 Clock, Cole's portable astronomical, 408 Coal, machine, and shipping trades, current events in the Coast defence committee, the, 305 Coins, cracked, 272 for Canada, decimal, 187, 257 -physiognomy, 224 -telegraphy, progress of, 406 351, 367 Elongated rifled iron shot and shell, penetration by, 11 the, 225, 230, 265 Gullick and Timbs' "Painting popularly explained," 30 Gun-making at Woolwich Arsenal, 268, 281, 330, 342, 400 Gunpowder, Fairbairn on, 231 on the nature of the action of fired, 360 gun carriages, and ammunition, Whitworth's im- Mr. Andrew Smith's electric, 200 383, 400 Gun, the Armstrong, 91, 105, 140, 159, 175, 239, 320, 395, Hair, artificial, 321 H. Hale's improved war-rockets, 348 Hall and Well's improved electric telegragh cables, 300, Hand labour, wood carving by machinery and, 63 Hands' patent for drying chambers, 127 Harbours of refuge, 185 Harke's plough and pulverizer, 268 Harrison's electric light apparatus, 48 Hart's patent economizing gas-burner, 92 Hart v. Dacosta, 271 Hasting's "Transactions of the National Association," 250 Fearnley's apparatus for paying-out telegraph cables, Hay and straw, Richmond and Chandler's improved ma- Fencing for irrigation, tubular, 26 Moxon, Clayton, and, 42 Feeder for steam boiler, 367 chines for cutting, 125 Heat, and actinism, light, 95 caused by carbonic acid, sensation of, 46 the relative power of metals and alloy to conduct, Flotilla, the Indus steam, 332 Flues, steam boiler, 31 Force, on the conservation of, 16, 27, 75, 107, 167, 185, 203, 283 Foundry at Gosport, the Cort, 25 Fowke's patent fire-engine, 284 Fowler's steam ploughing apparatus, 395 39 France, the navies of England and, 39, 249, 264, 280, 377, 392 Fremont's (Col.) gold separator, 240 "Dictionary of Universal Information," Becton & Sherer's, naval affairs, 191 Docks and harbour, the Falmouth, 192 at East Greenwich. proposed, 31 Designs for articles of utility registered, lists of, 82, 210, 290 I. Furnace for the manufacture of iron and steel, Bessemer's Improvements in fishing-tackle, 238 patent couches for, 143 the new patent law of, 287, 303 Indian items, 46, 63, 79, 105, 159 Indus steam flotilla, the, 332 Inman, the late Dr., 142 Institution of Great Britain, Royal, 361 Intention to proceed with patents, notices of, 20, 31, 49, 66, Invention, priority of, 321 Mechanics' institution, the founder of the London, 63 Men-of-war, the steam power of, 346 "Mersey" steam frigate, the, 207, 208 coal, machine, and shipping trades, current events in Metals by rotation, dividing, 236 Patents published, specifications of, 20, 34, 49, 66, 82, 98, Peculation is prevented at the Royal Mint, how, 360 Percussion caps, Pursell, 193 Midworth's improvements in threshing and dressing Pipes, new mode of joining, 248 117 James's improved band-saw machines, Powis and, 173 Jobson's apparatus for crushing and sifting, 237 improved moulds for casting, 218 Johnson and Varley's improved pressure and vacuum Joiner's assistant," "The carpenter and, 30, 345 K. Kane, (Dr.) Monument to, 75 Knowledge, the taxes on, 264 Kynaston's life-boat hooks, 239, 305, 383 L. Ladies, machinery for the, 47 rapid money-making at the, 216 Model domestic dwelling, 368 Money making at the Mint, rapid, 216 Royal Mint, 375, 391, 405 Moxon, Clayton, and Fearnley's apparatus for paying-out Muirhead's "Life of James Watt," 278, 314 Lamb and White's life boats, 193, 268 Lamps, Prisley's street, 193 Lancaster's breech-loading rifle, 13, 265 Lardner, (Dr.) the death of, 312 Latham's "Construction of wrought-iron bridges," 72 the engineers of the Royal, 158, 176, 286 the new iron steam-ships for the, 296 the eastern counties, 18, 32, 48, 63, 80, 96, 112, the south west, 48, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 144, 160 Observatory in Algeria, 60 Powis and James's improved band-saw, 173 99 Macnee and others v. Nimmo, 239 Macintosh's system of national defence, 135 Madras railway, the permanent way of the, 251, 281 Malam's patent portable apparatus for making gas, 363 Mancaux's metallic stocks for fire-arms, 188 his inventions in the, 22, 94, 102, 134 Map of England and Wales, 225 Marine engine-room telegraphs for H. M. navy, 343, 383 making, materials for, 331 , papier mâché, &c, specifications of patents for the water-pipes, 289 Paramatta, the royal mail steamer, 382 ", French, 239 M'Arthy's cotton gin, 193 fresh water apparatus, Normandy's patent, 77, 88 Mason's steam fire-engine, and Shand, 124 Masting and rigging vessels, Webster's method of, 26 on which the third year's stamp duty has been Proceedings, parliamentary, 103, 119, 136, 152, 170, 187, 199, Projectiles, Sergeant Warry's improved gun and, 270 Prussia, carriages for the King of, 167 Rollers, press wheel, 256 "Routledge's Illustrated Natural Histery," 235 8. Sails and keels of vessels, 264 Saw machines, Powis and James's improved band, 173 Scoffern's "New Resources of Warfare," 279, 303, 320 Scotland, institution of engineers in, 216, 267, 296 notes from, 113, 128, 144, 160 Scott's patent apparatus for dressing, separating, and Tonnage laws, the, 169 Tools, inventions and inventors of, 94 Topsails, Cunningham's patent, 127, 256 Trials made with H. M. screw vessels of all classes, official tables of the results of, (see supplement) Tubular fencing for irrigation, 26 Tuck v. Silver, 336 Turning, machinery for, 189, 205 Twist or cord, Zahn's machine for making covered or incendiary shells for, 225, 270, 280, 805 Scoffern's work on new resources of, 279, 303, 320 Washing machines, Wheeler's patent, 90 Water apparatus, Normandy's patent marine fresh, 77 pressure machinery, Sir W. Armstrong's improved, THE MECHANICS' MAGAZINE. LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1858. connected immediately with their own vocations. | tion with the classification of the abridged speciWe need not go back to the days of WATT and fications of Patents, &c., which will be severally ARKWRIGHT to prove this. Every day men are explained in their respective places. The price now studying and inventing things which lie of the Magazine is raised from 3d. to 4d., but we more or less apart from their personal pursuits. do not for a moment anticipate that the slight EDITORIAL ADDRESS. The best steam-plough yet produced, which is increase will, by any reader, be deemed a serious MORE than thirty-five years have passed since described on another page of this number, was drawback, or an unreasonable accompaniment of the First Number of the MECHANICS' MAGAZINE invented by an engineer and farmer together. our enlarged efforts and expenditure. In conappeared, with its memoir of JAMES WATT The late electrician of the Atlantic Telegraph clusion, we wish our readers a Happy New its diagram of two solemn bricklayers in a Company was a doctor in Brighton. The most Year, and request them to contribute to the diving-bell-its portrait of a winged enthusiast effective cannon which the military man has yet happiness of ours by aiding us in circulating flying in the air, (downwards, of course)-its had given him, is the invention of Mr. W. G. this Magazine as widely as possible, that, as it cure for a cold its Tantalus's cup, with ARMSTRONG, an hydraulic engineer of New-flourished before many of them were born, so a despairing Tantalus in it-and its poetical castle. The standard work on Naval Gunnery, it may still flourish for the public benefit till Address to a Blacksmith on his birthday! was written by a general. One of the latest they and we are no more. Very small and very crude was that first three- schemes for draining London was propounded penny sheet, with its sixteen pages only, poetry by a Judge. A novel mode of ship-construcincluded. But small and crude as it was, it tion is about to be produced by an eminent proved to be the beginning of a publication constructor of marine steam-engines. It is which has unquestionably exerted great influences undoubtedly true that professional men require upon modern science-has formed the model to be informed of what is new in their own profor scientific journalists throughout the world-fessions; but it is not less true that, for the and has now taken a novel form, only that it most part, they desire also to be advised of what may give a fuller development to the energy is being done in the professions of others. And which belongs to it. Nor was that first number it is well for the world that they do; for many the precursor of great literary influences alone. of the greatest improvements made in the arts For in its pages Mr. ROBERTSON, its founder and manufactures are produced by men who and editor, took the lead in the establishment step aside from their own occupations to make of the London Mechanics' Institution, and them. We have no apprehensions on this subvirtually of all those kindred institutions which ject. On the contrary, we know that the now abound in the land. engineer will value us the more for our agricultural machinery; the agricultural machinist for our manufactures; the manufacturer for our ship-building; and men of science generally for all of these. We, the present editors of the Magazine, refer unhesitatingly to these early triumphs, since we had, of course, no personal participation in them. It was our pleasure to succeed to its control after it had grown in stature and come into favour. Nay, favour is a word that very imperfectly expresses the regard-we may even say the affection-which many hundreds of readers feel for the MECHANICS' MAGAZINE. To some few it is like an adopted child, to many more it is as an old and favourite friend; and we should be unworthy of the position we hold were we insensible to the interest which such persons feel in it. We are, however, fully sensible of it; and it is upon the solid basis of their esteem that we build our expectations of the future. All the friends of the Magazine were of late, however, agreed in believing that the time had come when a change in its form and size was eminently desirable. Its page was too contracted for the engravings of many modern machines, and its literary department afforded insufficient scope for all the demands of modern science. A want of a weekly scientific paper, handy in size, copious in information, and sound and reliable in its teachings was felt; and we were looked to as the most proper persons to supply the want. We have undertaken the task cheerfully, and the mere preliminary announcement of our intention in the matter has brought us so much support that our success is already assured. We hope and believe that this first number of our New Series will confirm our present friends in their friendship for us, and bring us many new ones. It will be observed that to our title of MECHANICS MAGAZINE, which is not, in the present day, a perfectly definite designation, we have appended a sub-title, viz.: "Journal of Engineering, Agricultural Machinery, Manufactures and Shipbuilding." This has been done with a clear and settled purpose, which, though it may not be evident to some readers, we need not here mention. Some gentlemen have, how ever, predicted our want of success because of the number of the branches of practical science which we thus embrace. But very close observation has shown us that this prediction is based upon a fallacy. It is a very great mistake to suppose that intelligent men wish to confine their scientific reading exclusively to subjects We have a word to add upon the management of the Magazine in its new form. We intend to fully maintain our independence, and with it, we trust, our consistency. For some cause or other, the scientific journals which do this are exceedingly scarce. We look to most of them in vain for a predominant unity of thought and purpose, from which alone the reader can derive any real culture-any abiding advantage. Such journals appear to be edited by a staff of writers who are void of nearly all faculties but that of mutual contradiction. The laws of science are repealed, perverted, restored, and abolished at will by them. We find the Atlantic Cable crack at the bottom of the sea one week because of the intense cold, and melt there the next because of the boiling heat. This week a plough answers admirably on account of its lightness-next week it is superior to all others on account of its great weight. In one number a ship steams at 15 knots because she is down at the head-in the next she steams at the same rate because she is by the stern. Now all this-or rather, all of which this is a disguised representation is exceedingly absurd and injurious. The laws of science are fixed, and those who undertake to expound them should not prevaricate. We know that perfection is not possible of attainment in dealing with the varied facts to which experience daily gives rise; but we shall, on our own parts, feel it due to the public to prefer even silence to false and doubtful comment. STEAM BOILER CONSTRUCTION. BACON hoped for an organ which should enable all men to construct scientific truths as a pair of compasses enables all men to construct circles. But, great as the progress of science has of late been, we see no promise of any such organ. The chief part of those scientific truths which are essential to the advancement of the useful arts, have to be produced by that cumbrous and clumsy instrument-experiment. "Science moves, but slowly, slowly, creeping on from point to point." And yet we have but little cause for complaint of this instrument. How much has it not done for us even during the present century, in bringing steam, electricity, and a thousand natural products under our control, and subservient to our uses? Steam-ships, railroads, iron bridges, and crystal palaces, are but a few of the results attained by aid of it. And it is daily giving us new and valuable advantages. No man has laboured more usefully, or more incessantly, on experimental subjects than Mr. FAIRBAIRN, and considering the awful destruction of life which boiler explosions have occasioned, he never, perhaps, laboured to better purpose than when he made his late experiments on the resistance of tubes to collapse. The complete results of these experiments, in so far as they were contributed to the Royal Society during the present year, are now, by the courtesy of the author, before us. On another page we have given, in his own language, the practical application of these results to the construction of boilers. The article needs no commendation to practical men. The experiments were instituted for the purpose of improving our knowledge respecting the forms of construction best calculated to sustain those high pressures of steam which have lately been rendered necessary by the general desire to economise fuel, and to extend the expansive principle; the resort to these pressures having been followed by numerous and aggravated explosions. The worst of these have resulted from the collapsing of the internal flues, which have been largely adopted, and the number of which late experiments at Sheerness Dockyard will tend to increase. It has been the habit of engineers to form these flues of boiler plate, riveted with simple lap-joints into cylinders; and these were considered to be of equal strength-when of the same material, diameter, and thickness-whatever their lengths. It is perfectly reasonable to suppose this, if the cylinders be unsupported at their ends; but, it is equally reasonable to suppose that where their lengths are short and variable, and their extremities held by rigid supports, their strengths would vary materially. In some experimental tests to prove the efficiency of some certain boilers, Mr. FAIRBAIRN had some misgivings as to the strength of the internal flues to resist a force tending to collapse them. In these experiments it was found We have introduced several improvements in that flues 35 feet long were distended with conthe details of the Magazine, chiefly in connec-siderable less force than others of similar con We have another word to add to correspondents. From these we shall be most happy to receive whatever they may please to send us, but we shall exercise our right of rejection more severely than heretofore. It unfortunately happens that some of our best men write very little, and some of our worst very much. This is an evil to be deplored; but our duty, as editors, is plain. We cannot sacrifice the patience of thousands of readers for the sake of gratifying one frivolous or mistaken writer. On the other hand, for really useful communications we shall at all times tender our best thanks. |