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HORIZONTAL COMBINED ENGINE AT THE LONDON

JUTE WORKS, PONDERS EN D.

THE CANAL BASIN FOUNDRY COMPANY, GLASGOW, ENGINEERS.

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in engines intended to drive machinery requiring to be put in motion with a perfectly regular velocity. We shall only add, in conclusion, that although the name of the Canal Basin Foundry Company may not be familiar to English ears, the firm have been engaged for over twenty years in the manufacture of steam engines, and have during that time turned out a greater number of compound engines than perhaps all the other makers of stationary engines in Scotland put together. If the principle were objectionable it is to be assumed that they would have discovered the fact long since. The circumstance that the manufacture of compound engines is seldom or never given up in favour of single-cylinder engines by long-established houses is very excellent testimony to the value of the principle in a commercial

sense.

PITTSBURG AND ITS MANUFACTURES.

ITTSBURG, which its name from

Park Brothers, of the Black Diamond Steel Works;
Hussey, Wells, and Co., Sinker, Nimick, and Co.,
Anderson, Cock, and Co., and Brown and Co.

employ 350 hands, who, with their families, are much longer, involving a great deal of labour and exlodged in comfortable rows of cottage houses built pense. As any description of the steel works of Pittsby the firm, which has also provided for them a burg would be unintelligible without a description of fine museum of geological specimens and a library of the process of manufacture, for which we have no employees. The capacity of the mills is 12,000 tons firms engaged in this manufacture, which are:standard works, which are fent free of charge to the space, we can only mention the names of the principal of the best class of iron plates per annum. The Duquesne Iron Works of Messrs. Hailman, Raham, and Co., engaged in the manufacture of bar, sheet, and hoop iron, also nails and spikes, contain thirty- Next to iron and steel, the most important staple seven furnaces, six trains of rolls, and twenty-seven of Pittsburg manufacture is glass, there being fortynail machines, capable of turning out 200 kegs of two firms in this trade, who run sixty factories, pronails and twenty tons of iron per day. They also ducing all the various descriptions of flint, lime, give employment to 280 consumers of Western pro- window, and green glass. The extent of the manuduce, who drew wages in 1865-6 to the amount of facture and its importance to Pittsburg may be Iverson, Preston, and Co., are estimated from the fact that the internal revenue tax 160,000 dollars. wholly occupied in the manufacture of bar and sheet paid by the glass manufacturers of Pittsburg for the iron, and screws. In their buildings, which are year 1864-65 amounted to 174,875 dollars. The first 520ft. long, by 120ft. wide, they have twenty boiling glass factory in Pittsburg was put in operation in and eighteen heating furnaces, eight trains of rolls, 1795, the second in 1808. The firm now working the two steam hammers and eleven engines, which are former is Lorenz and Wightman, that operating the capable of turning out 10,000 tons of manufactured latter is Bakewell, Pears, and Co. The principal iron. They employ 300 hands, to whom they pay per firms in this trade are the following:-King and Co., anuum PITTS, Unit, the site of the still older Fort uns about 200,000 dollars. The, established in tumblers, dishes, lamps, chimneys, &c., and run two Juniata Iron who make what is known as German flint glass, Duquesne, near which the unfortunate Braddock 1824, are also very extensive. They employ about furnaces, producing annually about 225,000 dollars met with his defeat so memorable in the annals of 500 hands, whose average monthly wages amount to worth of glass. They employ 150 hands, and pay colonial history, might also, with as much propriety, 30,000 dollars, and on a pinch could turn out 12,000 them from 80,000 dollars to 100,000 dollars annually. have derived its name from the innumerable coal tons of pig metal, 180,000 kegs of nails, 20,000 kegs Fahnestock, Albru, and Co., of the Eclipse Glass pits in its neighbourhood, which supply the coal that of horse-shoes, and 2,000 tons of boiler and sheet Works, have two furnaces, one for window glass, feeds the countless furnaces that give to Pittsburg iron. J. Painter and Sons, of the Pittsburg Iron the other for phials and bottles; they manufacture its national importance as the centre of iron manu- Works, who furnish a large proportion of the hoops about 25,000 boxes of window glass per annum, and facture, war's main sinew. It is, indeed, impossible for tubs, buckets, &c., used in the West and North employ 125 hands, who receive about 12,000 dollars to over-estimate the value of the apparently inex- West, have facilities for the manufacture yearly of per month; and they use in the manufacture of their haustible beds of coal that surround Pittsburg on 9,000 tons of bar, sheet, hoop, and band iron, and glass 600 tons or soda ash per annum, which is imevery side. The city of Pittsburg proper lies at the employ 300 men, who live in houses attached and ported from England at a cost of 100 dollars per ton. foot of a considerable eminence on a tongue of land belonging to the works. The Fort Pitt Iron Works Lorenz and Wightman, the successors of the oldest at the confluence of the Monongahela and Alleghany are owned by Messrs. Reose, Graff, and Dull, who firm in the trade, have one phial and bottle furnace, rivers, whose united waters here form the Ohio. But send a large portion of their manufactured iron to and two for window glass. They make about 50,000 the commercial Pittsburg extends for some distance Chicago customers, of whom they have naturally a boxes of window glass per year, in which they imalong each side of these rivers, and includes Alle- very high opinion. The manufactures are the ploy 225 hands, and pay them about 18,000 dollars ghany, City, Birmingham, Lawrenceville, Shaler, same as those of the firm last mentioned; and, in per month; amount of soda ash used, 800 tons. The and several other thriving boroughs that, in a legal addition, they made 5,000 tons of armour plating in Pittsburg Glass Works, owned by Messrs. A. D. sense, are independent towns. Birmingham, next 1863 and 1864. They employ 250 hands. The and H. Chambers, contain two window glass furto Alleghany, the principal of these, lies on the left Vesuvius Iron Works of Lewis, Bailey, and Dalzell naces and one phial and one bottle house, with a bank of the Monongahela river, on which side also are employed in the manufacture of iron and nails, capacity for turning out 2,000 boxes of window the coal pits are numerous, and are remarkable from and have a capacity for making 8,000 tons per year; glass, 720 gross of phials, and 550 gross of bottles the fact that, instead of being entered by shafts sunk they employ 225 men and boys, whose wages range per week; in making which 300 hands are employed, perpendicularly, they are worked by what are tech- from 150,000 dollars, to 200,000 dollars per annum. who receive about 1,000 dollars per day as wages. nically called day-holes, openings which pierce the M-Knight and Co., of the Birmingham Iron Works, Messrs. Page, Zellers, and Duffrun one furnace, and precipitous banks of the river horizontally. It is have facilities for turning out 6,000 tons of manu-employ seventy-five hands, who make 35,000 boxes from the comparative cheapness of this manner of factured iron per year; they employ 200 hands, of glass per annum, and receive in wages about working the coal-pits of Pittsburg, and their prox-whose average monthly wages amount to 12,000 8,000 dollars per month. M Kee and Brothers, who imity to the river-which enables the coal, without dollars. They also have a blast furnace at Kittaning, make druggists' and table goods, have their works changing car, to be rolled direct from the workings where they employ about 200 men, whose wages are at East Birmingham, where they run four furnaces in the pit to barges in the river below- that Pitts-8,000 dollars per month. The Clinton Iron Works of and employ 160 hands, and have capacity for mak-· burg coal owners are enabled to supply so cheaply Graff, Benuett, and Co., are also extensive works, ing over 500,000 dollars of goods per annum, and the manufacturers of their own city, and to ship employing in 1864 over 350 men and boys, in which use 250 tons of pearl ash, 900 tons of sand, and large quantities of coal to less favoured localities. year they produced over 8,000 tons of iron and nails. 300 tons of lead per annum. The Duquesne Glass Chess, Smythe, and Co., of the Tack Iron Works, are Works of Robert C. Schmertz comprise two furwholly engaged in the manufacture of nails, and naces, and employ 100 men, and have a capacity turn out about 3,500 kegs per week, giving employ- of turning out from 50,000 to 60,000 boxes of ment to nearly 200 hands, whose wages are window glass yearly, at a cost in wages of from nearly 4,000 dollars per week. The Ormsby Iron 125,000 dollars to 130,000 dollars, and consume Works, with a capacity of 4,000 tons per year, are 500 tons of soda ash per annum, The O'Hara Flint owned by Wharton, Brothers, and Co.; while the Glass Works are owned by James B. Lyon and Soho Works, with a capacity of 6,500 tons, are run Co.; they have three furnaces, of which only two by Morehead and Co. Graff, Byers, and Co., are at present in use. They employ 130 hands, run sixteen furnaces, and employ 200 hands. who received in wages 90,000 dollars in 1865-6, The Etna Works of Spang, Chalfant, and Co., con- and produced glassware to the value of 350,000 tain sixteen puddling and eight heating furnaces, dollars, into the composition of which 1,160 tons and in 1864 produced 6,525 tons of manufactured of sand, 156 of lead, 156 of pearl ash, and 26 tons iron and nails, and employed 280 hands. The of nitrate of soda were used. With regard to three Kensington Iron Works of Lloyd, Black, and Co., the other important firms, viz., William M-Cully and last we can mention, also employed 120 hands in Co., Rakewell, Pears and Co., and C. Johnson and 1864, and produced during fifty weeks, in that year, Sous, the information promised respecting the ex5,969 tons of manufactured iron. The above synop- tent of their works has not yet reached us, and we sis of the business of about one half the firms en- are, therefore, unable to lay it before our readers, gaged in the iron manufacture at Pittsburg shows We may say, however, that the firm first menhow important a branch of the national industry it tioned runs four large factories, two for window is, and to what extent it may be increased if we only glass, one for phials, and one for bottles. and that pursue such a wise course of legislation as to afford the two firms last mentioned are the two oldest it the necessary protection against the pauper labour in Pittsburg, and, perhaps, in the United States. of Europe. How necessary this protection is, is proved by the fact, that while the wages of English puddlers, rollers, &c., never exceed 78. or 8s.-less than two dollars per day-the wages of the Pittsburg operatives in the iron mills are never less than four dollars, while many of the more skilled workmen make as much as 12 dollars or 13 dollars.

The manufactures for which Pittsburg is specially famous are iron and glass. The one which first claims our attention, both from its extent, the amount of capital invested in it, the number of persons to whom it gives employment, and the value of its products, is the iron manufacture, under which we may also class that of steel. The whole number of firms engaged in the manufacture of bar and sheet iron, nails, spikes, bolts, nuts, rails, and other manufactures of iron, is thirty, and the amount of capital invested in their different establishments cannot be less than 10,000,000 dollars. There are also some seven or eight establishments wholly occupied in the manufacture of steel. The total value of the products of all these firms for the year 1866 was 27,124,592 dollars, and employ nearly 8,000 hands, giving support to over 25,000 persons. All of these establishments would well repay a visit, and while the extent of some of them is enormous, and their method of manufacture of the greatest interest, our limited space will not permit more than the very briefest notice of the principal ones. The largest iron works in Pittsburg are unquestionably the American Iron Works, owned by Messrs. Jones and Laughlins, of Pittsburg and Chicago, who have a capacity for turning out annually 29,000 tons of manufactured iron, and whose products in 1864 were 11,000 tons of bar iron and nails, consumed over 30,000 tons of coal, and gave employment to 13,000

men.

Then there is Fort Pit Foundry, famous for the manufacture of the huge artillery for the defence of our forts, and which the rebels found so troublesome when belching forth 450lb. shot from the turrets of our monitors. Between July, 1861, and 1865, this firm (C. Knapp and nephews), cast guns for the Government amounting to the total inconceivable weight of 50,735,455lb., while the total weight of metal melted for these guns equalled nearly 100,000,000lb. The whole number of guns cast by them has been 2,509 of different sizes, both army and navy, among which were 555 10-inch, and 190 15-inch guns; also one 20-inch "Rodman," and one 20-inch navy gun. The firm are at present turning out about thirteen tons of projectiles and one 20-inch Rodman per day, and also have two 20-inch navy guns under way.

Sligo Iron Works, owned by Lyon, Shorb, and Co., the manufacturers of the well-known Sligo firebox plates, are extremely interesting to any one fond of incessant hammering and deafening noise. They

From iron to steel the transition is natural; and, as might have been expected, the success of the Pittsburg iron manufacturers, in producing a quality of iron equal to the best made by their English rivals, soon led to attempts to produce steel also. The manufacture of steel is, however, carried on to a much more limited extent than that of iron, on account of the more general use of the latter. The number of firms engaged in the manufacture of steel in Pittsburg is, as we have said, seven or eight, respecting whom the general statistics that we can lay before our readers is that their united product for the year 1865 amounted to 44,000,0001b. The manufacture of steel, its conversion from the crude iron ore into the polished bar of tough elastic metal, which again is ready to be hammered either into the flashing sabre or the delicate and almost invisible hair-spring of a watch, is a much more interesting process than that of iron, but it is also

Two things are worth notice here in connection with the glass trade. The first is the entire dependence of the flint glass manufacturers on England for one of the most important articles of their manufacture-soda ash-of which they consume some thousands of tons yearly, at a cost of 100 dollars per ton. They are constrained to pay this tribute to foreign manufacturers solely on account of the war: of protection to American soda ash manufacturers, who are driven out of the field by their foreign rivals, and thus the United States is deprived of a lucrative industry, and annually muleted in some hundreds of thousands of dollars by persistence in a vicious freetrade policy. The next is the extraordinary wages which are obtained by the skilled workmen. are, in every window-glass factory in Pittsburg, numbers of men working as blowers and flatteners, none of whom receive less than 250 dollars per month, while some of the more skilful blowers frequently, and for long periods together, make as much as 20 dollars per day. It is doubtful if these wages can be matched in the whole world, except, perhaps, by those which are also paid to the melters in the various steel works in Pittsburg, some of whom, after paying for the help required in attending to their furnaces, have yet been known to receive as

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their wages, for their own share of the work, as much as 20 dollars and 22 dollars per day. Yet there are people who, in face of such facts as these, are ready to declare that American manufacturers need no protection.

Beside the manufacturers of iron, steel, and glass, Pittsburg has several firms engaged in the manufacture of hardware articles, such as locks, scales, coalscuttles, bolts, castors, hooks, and all the innumerable articles that go to make up the stock of every ironmonger. Prominent among these houses are Adams, M Kee, and Co., of the Novelty Works, who employ 350 men, boys, and girls, to whom they pay 3,000 dollars per week in wages, and whose catalogue is a dreadful list of some hundreds of articles. Lippincott and Bakewell employ 250 hands in the manufacture of axes, shovels, and saws, and pay them from 2,500 dollars to 3,000 dollars per week. Joseph Graff and Co., in the same business, employ 150 hands. There are several makers of agricultural implements, most of which, however, are intended for the South and South Western markets, who employ a large number of hands. Then there is the stove trade, in which a good deal of capital is invested, the principal makers being A. Bradley and Co., of the Etna Stove Works, whose foundry is capable of turning out seventy stoves per day. There is also a considerable number of oil, well, gas, and water tubing manufacturers, brass founders, nut and bolt makers, many of whom have very considerable establishments; but as our readers must be already fatigued with figures, they shall be troubled with no

more.

There are two copper works at Pittsburg, those of Park, M'Curdy and Co., near the Black Diamond Steel Works, which are occupied in rolling the cop per ingots into sheet copper, and those of C. G. Hussey and Co., in whose works all the processes of the manufacture may be seen in operation, from the smelting of the ore down to the rolling and stamping required to prepare the sheets for the tinner and brazier. The ores used in this mill are from the miues of Lake Superior, and they are brought in large masses sometimes exceeding 10,000lb. weight. There are a variety of other manufactures carried on in Pittsburg, but the ones mentioned above are all that have anything more than a local interest, save that of pork-packing, in which several large firms are engaged." Chicago Republican."

APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE
SUPPLY OF GAS TO BURNERS.
HE invention we here illustrate relates to the con-

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for daily lighting and extinguishing the public lamps by hand. Although specially designed for public use, it is equally applicable to lamps in any situation where a small but continuous though hidden flame during daylight is not objectionable. It has been patented by Mr. Edward Price, of the Hampton Court Gas Works, and the principle of its action is that as the pressure of gas is increased during the lighting hours, a bell, holder, or flexible diaphragm is acted upon and communicates motions to a valve which is opened and the gas allowed to pass to the burner, which, when the apparatus is at rest, emits but just enough gas to keep an almost imperceptible flame alight, but when in action allows an ample quantity to give an efficient light. The apparatus may be so arranged that when it is out of action the flame may be entirely extinguished at the ordinary burner, but as soon as it is put in motion may be relighted through the intervention of a small supplemental though hidden jet which is kept constantly

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near, the pressure in the mains is reduced, the diaphragm consequently falls, the valve closes, and the light is extinguished.

PULLEY FOR SHIPS' BLOCKS.

S been punys, lignum vitio in one piece, and HIPS' sheaves, or blocks have hitherto sometimes they have been made of cast iron, bronze, or porcelain. These sheaves or pulleys have many objections which the invention we are about to describe is intended to obviate. It has been patented by Mr. Henry Nick, of No. 11, Passage Saulnier, Paris, and consists in making sheaves or pulleys from wood and metal combined. Mr. Nick makes the body or disc of beech or other ordinary wood, and covers the grooved periphery with a strip of metal, the edges of which are turned over and stamped against the sides of the wood. He can thus in pulleys of lignum vitæ, and the slipping of the ropes thereon is thereby prevented. To prevent wear at the centre or to readily replace the nave he forms a central oval opening in the body or disc, and fits tightly therein a tube oval externally and internally. In this tube he fits a bearing oval externally and cylindrical internally. This bearing can be taken out when worn and another inserted. Two metal washers are secured one to each face of the body to protect the wood.

THE we con--burning. On the other hand, when the pressure in give the pulley a deeper groove than is usually made

the mains is decreased, as during daylight, so also is the flame at the burner decreased, or entirely extinguished, according to the construction of the apparatus; in the latter case, however, sufficient gas is allowed to pass to the independent jet to keep it always alight.

One of the forms of apparatus is shown in the accompanying engraving. A is a cylindrical shaped case made of tin plate and is screwed on to the service pipe or cone at B. Within this chamber a ring of metal C rises, to the upper part of which is attached a flexible diaphragm D. In the centre of this diaphragm a rod is fixed which carries the little valve E, fitting into a seat F. On the exterior of the case two tubes G and H are attached. The tube G is in communication with the chamber beneath the diaphragm while the tube H is in connection with that part of the apparatus which lies immediately below the valve, and when the instrument is not in action and the valve closed all communication from one tube to the other or from the service pipe to the tube H is cut off. What may be termed the "permanent leak," that is to say, the quantity of gas which is allowed to pass to the little supplemental jet at J by way of the small tube K, is determined by the size of the orifice in the jet. L is a guard attached to the burner cone M, and surrounds the jet flame to protect it from the wind. N is one of Sugg's patent public light governors which, although an extremely useful accessory for regulating the quantity consumed by the ordinary burner, is by no means indispensable for the proper working of this invention. In lieu of the bat's-wing or fishtail burner, as shown in the engraving, it is proposed that an Argand should be used wherever it can be employed without objection, a better light being thus produced, while it affords more security against any outward disturbance to the jet flame, which is in this case carried up through the central orifice of the burner. OO are two screw plugs which admit of condensation or other obstruction being removed. The arrows indicate the direction in which the gas flows.

The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The jet J is first lighted during the daytime, and the diaphragm D weighted so that the valve may remain closed at the maximum day pressure. As the time for lighting approaches, an increase of pressure in the mains becomes necessary. This pressure causes the diaphragm to rise and open the valve E, when the gas flows to and escapes at the burner P, where it is immediately ignited by the jet J. On the other hand, when the time for extinguishing draws

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In our engraving, fig. 1 is an external view, and fig. 2 a section of one of the combined wood and metal sheaves or pulleys complete and ready

for use.

Figs. 3 and 4 represent the disc or body a, which is of ordinary wood; a groove is formed in its periphery and an oval opening A false nave e of brass is forced b in the centre. into it. This false nave consists of a tube oval both externally and internally; it is represented separately in fig. 5. Into the false nave or tube c is fitted a bearing d which is a metal tube shown separately in fig. 7. It is externally of the same oval form as the tube c, but its central opening is cylindrical to receive the axis or spindle. Two metal washers ff are then secured by screws one to each face of the body or disc a; these washers, one of which is shown separately in fig. 6, give to the centre of the pulley a thickness greater than the thickness at the circumference, and thus protect the faces of the wood. The groove of the disc or body is covered with a strip of metal h; it is a ring stamped without soldering which exactly takes the form of the groove and is turned over more or less against the sides of

the wood.

RECENTLY, excavators employed on the new West Dock Works, Hull, when digging just where the outlet of the limekiln creek used to be, about 16ft below the surface, turned up a hard lump, which on examination proved to be some hundreds of small silver coins, halfpennies of the reign of King Edward I. When first discovered, the coins looked quite fresh, but on exposure to the air they changed to a yellowish tint. Some of them appear to be counterfeit, and others are a mixture of silver and copper; a few are dated. Another interesting discovery has been made in connection with works now in progress for the Dock Company. In clearing away for the foundation of the new dock offices, near the Wilberforce monument, a portion of the old moat, which formerly surrounded the town, and of a brick arch connected with the historical Beverley-gate, were laid bare.

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All literary communications should be addressed to the Editor of the MECHANICS' MAGAZINE. Letters relating to the advertising and publishing departments should be ad dressed to the publisher, Mr. R. Smiles, MECHANICS' MAGAZINE Office, 166, Fleet-street, London.

To insure insertion in the following number, advertisements should reach the office not later than 5 o'clock on Thursday evening.

We must absolutely decline attending to any communications unaccompanied by the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for insertion, but as a proof of good faith, ED. M. M.

Advertisements are inserted in the MECHANICS' MAGAZINE, at the rate of 6d. per line, or 5d. per line for 13 insertions, or 4d. per line for 26 insertions. Each line consists of about 10 words. Woodcuts are charged at the same rate as type. Special arrangements made for large advertise

ments.

ERRATUM.-In our notice last week of the death of the Deputy-Master of the Mint, the word "drawback" should have read "draw-bench."

C. P.-Burnell on "Limes and Cements" will probably answer your purpose.

E. H. C.-Your invention is intended to obviate an evil which has no existence. As there is always a maximum pressure behind the shot impelling it forwards, how can a vacuum be present?

RECEIVED.-G. H. W.-O. J. R.-W. H.-T. P.-F. R.W. J. P.-R. D.-C. F. T.-F. B.-R. H.-J. N-A. J.E. B.-R. S.-W. T.-H. J. S.-J. T. W.-L. B.-H. J. F.E. F.R.-T. B.-J. H.-H. B.-G. F.-J. T.-S. E.

Correspondence.

IRISH MAIL COLLISION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE "MECHANICS' MAGAZINE." SIR.-The melancholy catastrophe at Abergele shows us that with all the most perfect organization in railways, there is a new principle wanted that would shield passengers from such wholesale slaughter as took place on that occasion. Suggestions for new rules are freely offered, but, Sir, the engineers must come forward with some positive remedy, to wholly prevent such collisions in future. No half-and-half measures will suffice; something prompt and decisive must be chosen. The surest way to prevent collisions is to allow an advancing train alone to keep possession of the rails, to arm it so that it shall maintain them in defiance of any opposing baggage trucks or trains running down upon A deflective shield placed in front of the engine would be sufficient to do this. I submit to you my plan. A is the advancing engine with its shield in front, B the truck running down to meet it; the deflector catches up one of its front wheels and the truck goes off on the line C; if there are other trucks behind, and the coupling irons remain unbroken, the corresponding wheels are caught by the deflector. and they go off on the line D. Fig. 1 is the side elevation; fig. 2 the plan; a cross section of the deflector at a right angle to the line of rails shows the

it.

angle of inclination of the deflector to be 24deg.; this is shown by the line E E, fig. 3, which is an elebehind it. The deflector, strongly backed by timber, vation of the deflector in front, with the engine could be borne by a truck moving on five wheels: it does not require any great strength of apparatus to deflect or turn aside a quickly moving body; the deflector would be steadied by the trucks passing Over it; the centre of gravity of each truck being

altered, their whole weight could not bear upon it. Passengers in a deflected train would at least have a chance for their lives, while the protected train would go right through without injury.-I am, Sir, yours, &c., C. J. RICHARDSON, Architect and Engineer. 21, Carlisle-terrace, Kensington, W., September 8.

FARADAY'S APPARATUS. SIR,-IN the MECHANICS' MAGAZINE for August 28, a short paragraph is published under the heading" Faraday's Royal Institution Apparatus." Will you allow me to assure you, in reference to this paragraph, that Mrs. Faraday's first care was that the apparatus illustrative of the researches of her husband should be worthily distributed. To his most intimate friends portions of it were given-a little to each, as a remembrancer-the most important pieces being bestowed by his own express desire. In the Royal Institution are two cases, one devoted to the relics of Faraday's instruments, and the other to his manuscripts. I do not think that a single could in any way illustrate the genius of Faraday as piece of apparatus, complete or fragmentary, which a constructor, fell into the hands of the porter

referred to. What came to his share, through the benevolence of Mrs. Faraday, were the sweepings worthy of retention had been selected. I write this that remained after all portions that were considered note without Mrs. Faraday's knowledge; indeed, I have reason to know that she has not yet seen or heard of the paragraph which causes me to address you; and I would end by expressing an opinion that if you knew Mrs. Faraday, you would not suffer a line to appear in your journal which could give her uneasiness. This subject, I trust, will now be permitted to rest.-I am, Sir, yours, &c.,

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Royal Institution,

September 9.

JOHN TYNDALL.

[The paragraph in question did not originate with us, having appeared in other papers besides our own. -ED. M.M.]

ABERGELE ACCIDENT.

SIR,-Since the late serious accident on the NorthWestern line, I have been thinking that the directors, in order to calm the fears of the public, should at once alter all their sidings. Instead of shunting their trucks from the main line, every siding should be a loop line, so that the train might run in to it without stopping, and, with a few turntables, take on or leave, as the case may be. No doubt, an independent line for goods would be the best thing, but I am persuaded that if the loop line was properly arranged there would be no more accidents from that cause; besides, it would be far more cheaply worked, and there would not be half the wear and tear in knocking the trucks about, as at present.-I am, Sir, yours, &c.,

48, Mansell-street, Aldgate, September 14.

J. WALKER.

STREET TRAMWAYS. report of my paper on London street tramways, read SIR,-In expressing my thanks for your excellent before the British Association, permit me to correct passage referred to reads thus:-"A central wheel a passage that might cause a misconception. The would be used when on the tramway, which could be lifted when the carriage was required to leave the tram." The above is the system adopted in Manchester and Geneva, which I had occasion to describe, and hence a very natural error. I propose to leave the track at pleasure by the adaptation of a simple mechanical principle of coned tyres, which does away with the necessity of all objectionable complications, and also of the use of a central grooved rail; the rails I propose being laid as described in your report on my paper inserted in your magazine of September 4.-I am, Sir, yours, &c., HERBERT BRIGHT, C.E. 41, Fitzroy-square, W., September 16.

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Habal, Military, and Gunnery Items.

It is stated that as soon as the proper steps can be taken, the Bermuda dock will be sent round to Portland, where its utility can be practically illustrated by some of the heaviest and largest ironclads being docked and cleaned.

THE Board of Trade have ordered a telescope to be prepared for presentation to Captain Carlo Maggiolo, commander of the Italian barque "Mariquita," for the humanity displayed by him towards the shipwrecked crew of the Fanny," of Llanelly, who were picked up by him at sea and conveyed to Falmouth in August last.

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The King of Prussia has awarded a gratuity of five pounds each to John Cartwright, John Harding. and William Buckingham, masters of British fishing vessels, and to Henry Bute, a pilot of Hull, for their services in saving the crew of the Prussian vessel "Catharina," of Wyk, which was lost on October 2, near Heligoland.

WE learn from Alexandria that the floating dock constructed for the Egyptian Government by the Mediterranean Forge and Building Society, has just arrived. This immense piece of work, which measures 150 French yards long by 30 yards wide, and 11 yards in height, is looked upon as highly creditable to French industry.

AN ingenious mechanic has invented a hydraulic jack, which from experiment promises to be of great advantage to the service both on the score of efficiency and economy. By the old system it would require ten men to sling a waggon, &c., weighing 12 tons, but by means of this invention two men can lift a waggon of the same weight, or a 23-ton gun, with the greatest ease. The inventor is Mr. T.

Armstrong.

Miscellanea.

POSTAL arrangements have been concluded be-
tween Great Britain and the United States for the
joint carriage of the mails between San Francisco
and the British East Indies.

THE other day, while some men were employed on
a farm in Thornley, near Longridge, Preston, re-
cently purchased by the Earl of Derby, they came
upon a vein of lead. The quality of the lead is
superior, and the mine will be a good one.
THE designs for the New Law Courts, which were
deposited at the old Insolvent Debtors' Court, have
been removed, by order of the Government, to South
Kensington Museum, for exhibition and for the pur-
pose of study.

THE number of visitors to the Patent Office
Museum, South Kensington, for the week ending
September 12, was 6,009. Total number since the
opening of the Museum, free daily (12th May, 1858),
1,887,783.

THE workmen engaged in the improvements of the Temple buildings have commenced the demolition of the hall and clock steeple, preparatory to the rebuilding of another hall which is to extend nearer to the south side of the Temple church.

IN cutting some timber in Omaha, a few weeks since, a bullet was found imbedded in the trunk of a rock elm. The grains which had overgrown it show that it must have been deposited there sixtytwo years ago, a time when the country had not yet been visited by any white men, except the explorers Lewis and Clarke.

THE number of visitors to the South Kensington
Museum during the week ending September 12, 1868,
was-On Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday, free,
from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 15,966; on Wednesday,

till 6 p.m., 1,779; total-17,745. Average of corre-
sponding week in former years, 11,730. Total from
the opening of the Museum-7,762,986.

Patents for Juventions.

ABRIDGED SPECIFICATIONS OF

PATENTS.

THE Abridged Specifications of Patents given below are
classified, according to the subject to which the respective
inventions refer, in the following table. By the system
of classification adopted, the numerical and chronological

order of the specifications is preserved and combined with
all the advantages of a division into classes. It should be
understood that these abridgments are prepared exclu-
sively for this Magazine from official copies supplied by
the Government, and are, therefore, the property of the
Proprietors of this Magazine. Other papers are hereby
warned not to produce them without an acknowledg-
BOILERS AND FURNACES-679, 682, 718
BUILDINGS AND BUILDING MATERIALS-687, 714, 640, 748
CHEMISTRY AND PHOTOGRAPHY-None.
CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL, including agricultural imple-

ment:

ments and machines-719. 742, 750

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS— 691
FIBROUS FABRICS, including machinery for treating fibre,
pulp, paper, &c.-683, 685, 720, 746
FOOD AND BEVERAGES, including the apparatus for pre-
paring food for men and animals-726
FURNITURE AND APPAREL, including household utensils,
time-keepers, jewellery, musical instruments, &c-
680, 724
GENERAL MACHINERY-670, 671, 672, 675, 681, 695, 700,
705, 707, 723, 727, 728, 729, 734, 737, 745
LIGHTING, HEATING, AND VENTILATING-708, 739, 747
METALS, including apparatus for their manufacture-

686, 688, 731, 735

MISCELLANEOUS-674, 676, 677, 684, 689, 690, 696, 697, 698,
669, 701, 702, 704, 706, 709, 710, 713, 715, 716, 722, 730, 732,
736, 739
ROADS AND VEHICLES, including railway plant and car-
riages, saddlery, and harness, &c.-673, 678, 693, 712, 717,
721, 743

STEAM ENGINES-725, 733
WARFARE-692, 710

670 G. HART. Improvements in the prevention of smoke in steam boiler and other like furnaces. Dated February 27, 1868.

671 J. CHRISTIE. An improved lithographic printing machine, by means of an endless tympan and self-acting gripping scraper, to be worked by hand, steam, or other power. Dated February 28, 1868.

On the occasion of some gun practice at the Go-Thursday, and Friday (admission 6d.), from 10 a.m. SHIPS AND BOATS, including their fittings-703 vernment proof butt in Plumstead Marshes, on Saturday, a large shot missed the butt and went about a mile beyond into the outer marsh, and struck a cow belonging to Mr. Hill, of Abbey Wood, necessitating PROFESSOR WATSON, of the Detroit Observatory, its being immediately killed. A red flag is hoisted announces the discovery of another new minor planet, an hour before practising as a signal for the cattle which was made by him on the night of August 16. This invention relates to a mode of effecting the conto be removed, which was neglected in this instance. It appears like a star of the 10th magnitude, and at sumption or prevention of smoke in steam boiler and WE hear that some of the memorable Gibraltar twilight on the morning of the 17th its right ascension other like furnaces, and consists of an arrangement and Malta iron shields are now to be sent home again, was 35deg. 24min., and its declination Odeg. 48min. whereby air at a highly elevated temperature is allowed to mix with the unconsumed smoke and gases just as to be strengthened. It is to be hoped that no ex-south. Its apparent motion is west and north, they are passing, or immediately after they have passed, cuses of want of time for consideration will be here- 34sec. in right ascension, and 4min. of arc in declina-over the fire bridge.-Patent abandoned. after repeated, but that the skilful suggestions made tion. by practical men before the late iron-plate committee may be adopted, and the civilian talent of the country properly consulted and equally duly acknowledged. A CORRESPONDENT (says the "Army and Navy Gazette") draws our attention to an extraordinary order which has been issued from Dover to the troops in the south-eastern district. It directs that no bands, drums, nor music of any kind are to play the troops either to or from the place of worship, nor is any band or music (sic) allowed to play on Sunday, the regular beats and church-calls excepted." We apprehend that this is a departure from the regulations; certainly it is from the custom of the service. If any alterations be made as regards the observance of the Sabbath in the army, they should come from head-quarters, and be generally applied, and not from the general of a district, and confined to that district only.

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A PARLIAMENTARY return on the coating of ships has recently appeared, which gives various particu lars to coatings for ships used experimentally or otherwise in the Royal Navy during the past and former years. From this it appears that the cost of compositions of all kinds purchased or made by the Government was in 1863, £3,128; in 1864, £4,265; in 1865, £4,759; in 1866, £3.293; and in 1867, £3,461. A total of 42 ships were coated in

DR. HERMANN VOGEL, who accompanied the North German Expedition to Aden, as a photographer, states that of three plates taken of the solar eclipse, the last two only showed slight impressions of pictures, as they had been spoilt by the clouds, which, while they were exposed in the machine, had closed in. The three plates showed protuberances on the lower border. The photographers then washed, fixed, and lackered their plates, and took several copies of them on glass, which will be sent separately to Europe in order to insure their safe arrival.

ALWAYS striving to keep the public informed on scientific discoveries, the directors of the Polytechnic Institution opened a new electric organ on Thursday week. Mr. Pepper has taken the opportunity of introducing it to accompany his lecture on eclipses of the sun, with special reference to the last observed in India, and the nature of the red flames, with the instrument made by Mr. John Browning, of 111, Minories. We would advise our readers to lose no time in visiting this addition to the Royal Polytechnic attractions.

This machine consists of an endless tympan of leather, or any other flexible substance, revolving upon rollers. The paper or other substance which is intended to receive the impression is placed upon a table, and the stone, or any other material used for lithography, is made to travel under the tympan, within which is fixed a scraper in a box which grips and secures the paper or other substance between the stone and the tympan, without the use of cylinder and grippers, by means of a crosshead working on motion rollers, the pressure being regulated as necessary by a screw. The tympan and scraper are made selfacting by connecting rods driven by a cam from the main shaft, connected with crank axles to the crosshead working on motion bars. The scraper box is connected with the crosshead by a screw in the centre, which regulates the pressure. The tympan is worked by a large roller. having rack wheels, which are worked by a rack attached to the carriage.-Patent abandoned.

672 R. MILLS. Improvements in machines for washing, wringing, and mangling textile fabrics. Dated February 28, 1868.

For the purpose of washing textile fabrics or wearing apparel the inventor attaches a vessel to the sides of the machine and underneath the rollers, for the purpose of holding water, and in the said vessel, near the front, at any convenient angle, he places a wash board or brush cleanse them. We cannot here describe the wringing and for the purpose of rubbing the clothes or fabrics upon to

1863, 55 in 1864, 52 in 1865, 54 in 1866, and 61 in 10ft. in length, the distance between the extremities mangling processes.-Patent abandoned.

1867. Part of the compositions used was furnished from Government yards, and the rest by the Maritime Improvement Company, Messrs. Peacock and Buchan, M'Innes, Pilcher, Gisborne, Ruvett, Mackrell, Freeman and Co., and Captain M'Killop. The above particulars do not include samples of compositions furnished at the expense of the inventors for experimental purposes.

ON Friday morning last, while engaged in catching pilchards on the Dawlish beach, the fishermen discovered an immense fish, which they with some difficulty succeeded in killing with sticks. The fish was estimated to weigh 5001h., and to measure about of the forked tail being 3ft. Two experienced nautical men present stated it to be the albacore. The capture of this tropical fish on the west coast is quite unprecedented. The fishermen have notified the capture to Mr. Frank Buckland.

673 J. LIVESEY. Improvements in coupling, driving, and for other purposes.

retarding locomotive carriage of other wheels on railways, or

Dated February 28, 1868. This invention consists (with reference to the coupling and driving of the wheels of locomotives, tenders, carriages, and waggons) in the adaptation and application thereto of cranks and connecting rods placed near the ON August 15, a singular tidal phenomenon occentre of the axles, between the wheels, by means of curred off San Pedro, Southern California. A series which, together with a combination of centre and side of waves commenced flowing upon the coast, causing coupling rods, the weight of the train may be utilized so the tide to rise 63ft. or 64ft. above the ordinary high-as to increase the tractive power of the engine. We canwater mark, which was followed by the falling of the not here afford space for a full description of the invention.-Patent completed. tide an equal distance below the usual low-water mark. The rise and fall occurred regularly every half hour for several hours, causing considerable alarm among the inhabitants along the coast in that vicinity. The phenomenon is attributed to some sub-Patent completed. marine disturbances.

674 J. G. STIDDER. Improvements in water-closets, lavatories, and urinals, and in regulating supplies for same by This invention is not described apart from the drawings. water valves. Dated February 28, 1868.

THE following is from "Voss's Gazette ":-It has been decided that the gigantic Krupp cannon, intended for the defence of the port of Kiel, shall form, with twelve 96-pounders (breech-loaders), the armament of the Strand Fort. This monster is unique of its kind. The lump of steel from which it was made weighed originally 840 quintals (1001b. each). The interior gun, in a single piece, still 675 A. S. STOCKER. Improvements in machinery or appaweighs 400 quintals, and is surrounded by three steel bands of 600 more, so that the entire piece MESSRS. RANSOMES AND SIMS have won the second ratus for the manufacture of caps or covers applicable to bottles represents 1,000, while the heaviest English one is champion match of this season, which took place at and other vessels, and in the construction of such or other caps or only 450. The solid shot used for it weighs 1,100lb. Thame, Oxfordshire, yesterday week. Their plough-covers. Dated February 28, 1868. Here the patentec adds toothed wheels or other equivaand the shell 1,181lb. The management of the man, Barker, did a piece of his usual first-class lents to the apparatus or means employed and described weapon is said to be perfectly easy. The expecta- work, and the prize was accordingly awarded to him in the specification of a patent granted to him on or about tion is that by means of it an iron armour-plating against five competitors. The greatest excitement was, March 26, 1867, for improvements in the manufacture of 10 inches thick could be pierced at 3,000 or 4,000 perhaps, caused by the competition for the president's stoppers to be applied to bottles and other receptacles, and yards. But an enemy's vessel wishing to force the special prize, in which were five men using Ransomes' he constructs by such machinery caps or covers with entrance to the harbour, would be at only 800 paces ploughs, and thirteen those of Messrs. Howard. The screws or their equivalents in their inner peripheries, together with holes, projections, indentations, and suitable from this terrible battery, and would probably re-work was first-class throughout, but the first, configurations therein simultaneously with the manufac ceive at the first discharge more than 4,000lb. (nearly second, and third prizes were won by Messrs. Ran-ture of the cap or cover, and he uses and employs sheet, two tons) of iron, which would be sure to sink her. somes' implements. moulded, perforated, or other vulcanized india-rubber or

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