a great recommendation. In America, where this lantern was first brought out, it has already been largely adopted, and we understand it is in use there on all the principal railways. Fitzroy's prize barometers, which are also Mr. Boby, of Bury St. Edmunds, had a good show of haymakers and horse rakes. We specially noticed Mr. Boby's patent self- In the arcade of the building we found a acting horse rake, which is entirely new in novelty in carriage building, in the shape of a design and simple in arrangement, requiring very elegant canoe waggonette, constructed no frame. It gets rid of a considerable by Mr. T. B. Ayshford, of the Britannia amount of weight, and discards at once every-Works, Fulham. This vehicle is elegant in thing like complication, while it is so con- appearance and, although capable of carrying structed as almost entirely to dispense with nine persons, weighs only 7cwt. The body manual labour. The wheels are 3ft. 6in. high, is shaped like a canoe, and the back is raised, which allows a more than usually capacious and has a seat surrounding it. There are time for collecting. The axle is provided two doors, which are placed at the sides, and with two horns, to which the draft shafts are which are fitted with self-acting steps. The attached, so that the attendant bas only to draught of this carriage is exceedingly release the axle when the forward progress small, and for accommodation and comfort of the horse discharges the load collected by it is not beaten by any other vehicle the tines, which are again instantly brought of its class. Here also we found the to the ground by means of a lever which is safety petroleum oil store of Mr. Bertram, of worked very easily with one hand. Mr. 23, Ludgate-hill. This apparatus will be Boby has adapted to this rake his concentric found described and illustrated in the MEdisc adjustment, which enables the attendant CHANICS' MAGAZINE for the 2nd of October to set the tines higher or lower with the last Since that date, Mr. Bertram has introgreatest ease and facility. We purpose giv-duced several improvements. In the first ing a detailed description of this machine in place, he has added a thermometer to indicate an early number. The Tanned Leather the temperature, which, of course, gives Company, of 81, Mark-lane, London, had a notice of any danger from the presence of very large assortment of driving straps of heat. Then there is an arrangement for all sizes and lengths, varying from lin. to cutting off the supply when the main re12in. in width, and from any length you like servoir is full, so that no overflow can take up to 60ft. endless bands. These straps place. Mr. Bertram has also devised means were both single and double, and an exami- for carrying the waste oil, which drips from nation showed the leather to be of the right the measures, back to the main reservoir, sort for the work it had to perform. so that it is very cleanly in use, and there is no waste of oil. When we have added that the framework and stand are now made of iron, we think we shall have shown that the safety oil store is now as perfect as it can be made. We have every reason to believe that this store will be the one adopted in pursuance of the Petroleum Act of 1868. As this Act will shortly come into operation, it may not be inappropriate to close the present article with an extract from that Act, which may give a hint to some of our readers. The Act directs that:-"From and after the first day of February, 1869, no petroleum shall be kept, otherwise than for private use, within fifty yards of a dwelling house or of a building in which goods are stored, except in pursuance of a licence given in accordance with the Petroleum Act, 1862. Any petroleum kept in contravention of this section shall be forfeited, and in addition thereto the occupier of the place in which such petroleum is kept shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £20 a day for each day during which petroleum is kept in contravention of the Petroleum Acts, 1862 and 1868, or either of such Acts." Messrs. John Warner and Sons, of Cripplegate, had a variety of hydraulic apparatus, including pumps of every kind. They also had a number of their quadrant motion sluice cocks and valves, as described by us at the last Show, but to which we may again briefly refer as being one of the best things out in its line. In this valve, a segment piece in conjunction with the disc which closes the fluid passage, turns on a pin at the top of the valve case. The segment piece is constructed with teeth gearing, with a worm cut on the spindle, the stem of which passes out of the valve case through a stuffing-box, and on which a wheel is fixed. By this simple method, a clear water-way is obtained, the disc being drawn by the screw or worm entirely out of the way. Messrs. Charles Powis and Co., of Millwall Pier, exhibited one of their self-acting circular saw benches, which has been improved in detail during the past year. This bench is adapted for cutting planks, deals, and battens, at speeds varying from 15ft. to 50ft. per minute. The saw spindle runs in long gun-metal bearings, the outer end of which is supported by an outside standard. A self-acting feed motion is attached, specially designed with a view to economy in space and efficiency in working. The fence can be set at an angle for cutting feather edge boards, and always maintains parallel position with the way, whatever be the angle at which it may be placed. If the bench be required for cross cutting, the fence can be removed with very little trouble. The framing and table-top being cast in one piece, great strength, combined with portability, is obtained. We may add that this saw bench gained a silver medal at the late Havre Exhibition. Messrs. Richmond and Chandler, of Salford, had a special show of chaff cutters. This firm has taken the prize of the Royal Agricultural Society with their chaff cutters at every competition since 1854. They have recently introduced a travelling web into these machines, which, for hay and small stuff, works exceedingly well. Mr. J. H. Downing, of Swan-lane, Upper Thames-street, also had some very good chaff-cutting machines, as well as turnip cutters, root pulpers, and various mills and other farm implements. Messrs. Davis and Co., of 163, Fenchurchstreet, City, had a collection of Admiral cannot some times for testing the illuminating power. The modes of testing the purity of the gas are described with more elaboration than clearness. Sulphuretted hydrogen is to be tested for with lead paper, but the time the paper is to be exposed to the gas is not very obvious. It may be for ten minutes, it may be for three hours; but, at all events, the slightest coloration of the paper will render a gas company liable to penalties. Sulphur compounds, other than sulphuretted hydrogen, are, until further orders, to be tested for with an apparatus known as Dr. Letheby's "sulphur test," but what this apparatus is we are not told. A specimen, however, it is said, may be seen at the office of the referees. This test, and also that for ammonia, is to be continuous for twenty-four hours, which is very proper. They are to be made together, and the quantity of gas is to be measured by the same meter. But this singular difficulty presents itself in the directions:-for sulphur the gas is to be burned at the rate of three-quarters of a foot an hour, and for ammonia it is to be passed through the apparatus at the rate of a foot an hour. How one meter is made to measure these two rates of speed it is not easy to guess; but the apparent difficulty seems to have been got over, for it is said that "the appaTHE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE GAS ratus can be seen at the office of the referees." REFEREES. ter time 66 If we had not known before, it would have been made quite clear by these directions for the estimation of by no means proficient in the estimation of sulphur and ammonia that gentlemen named as gas referees," under analytical chemistry. They seem to have the City of London Gas Act. With no ill- supposed-and we are sorry to have to admit will to them, we pointed out that while the that they may have seen good reasons for Act directed the appointment of three "com- supposing-that a gas examiner might be as petent and impartial persons, two of those well informed as themselves on this branch appointed, who would doubtless be impartial, of science. Still, even for such an one, the had never had the opportunity of showing their directions are very confused, and, in the case competency; while the third, whose compe- of sulphur, involves a waste of material, tency could not be questioned, was in such a against which the companies who have to pay position that his impartiality might always the expenses of the testing would have a be open to challenge. One of the duties right to protest. Surely, the sulphur might assigned to these competent and impartial be determined in less than half a pint of persons was to prescribe the modes to be liquid, which would take a considerable quanadopted for testing the illuminating power tity of muriatic acid to neutralize; certainly, and purity of gas. They have just issued the three hours' boiling is quite unnecessary their" instructions to gas examiners," which and most assuredly the addition of a drop of we now propose to submit to a little exami-sulphuric acid to the washings would not nation. We have, of course, no interest in the show whether all chloride of ammonia matter, other than belongs to all consumers had been washed from the precipitated in the City. sulphate of baryta. Without doubt, also, The referees start with prescribing the if the filter paper and its contents be THE PANTELES UMBRELLA. LTHOUGH in point of elegance, lightness, and only made "red hot," as here directed, the and the theory of frigorific mixtures. The mass of carbonized paper will add consider- results of the experiments conducted upon ably to the weight of the precipitate. They different boilers, with a view to arriving at A finish, the umbrellas of the present day premean, doubtless, that the precipitate shall be, the number of pounds of water evaporated by sent a marked contrast to those of the last genein chemical phrase, "ignited," but the word one pound of coal, do not appear to be very ration, they yet remain the same in principle as is strange to their chemical vocabulary. satisfactory. There are so many circum- those used by our grandfathers. It is a fact, that In determining the ammonia, an alkali- stances occurring in practice that interfere although improvements in umbrellas have been metrical process is prescribed. The ammonia with the theoretical deductions, that it is patented from time to time, but very few of them is to be fixed by a standard solution of oxalic very difficult to determine a fair average have been introduced in practice. Up to the present acid, the amount of which left unneutralized value. From five and a-half to eight and a- time, no radical change has been made in the conby the ammonia of the gas is to be deter- half were about the limits ascertained, but so struction of that most important pedestrain admined by a standard solution of ammonia. much depends upon the description of coal, thorough general improvement in this article, in junct the umbrella. Now, however, we have a Now, we shall be glad to be informed how long the construction of the boiler, the liability to which a perfectly new principle has been introthis standard solution of ammonia is likely to priming, and other sources of error, that it dnced by Mr. Henry Smyth, of 21, Little Trinitypreserve its standard. It is quite unnecessary would be impossible to fix any accurate lane, Cannon-street, City. This is the "Panteles to say that no chemist would have prescribed standard. Chapter III. enters fully into the or "all perfect" umbrella, to which we briefly the use of such a solution, the employment theory of the action and the practical con- alluded in our notice of the Smithfield Club Show of which would inevitably lead to grave struction of steam boilers. Mr. Box recom- last week, and which fully justifies the name it errors. We have no space for farther com- mends a medium-sized boiler as that best bears. Although only recently brought proment at present, and as regards these direc- adapted for economizing the fuel, and afford-minently before the public, it has for some months tions we shall only add that if chemists being the maximum heating power. A valuable past been known in the trade, Mr. Smyth having employed for gas examiners, the referees have engaged themselves in such superfluous work as is involved in "teaching grandmothers to suck eggs"-if chemists be not employed we can't tell what their teachings may lead to. table is given at page 61, of the various proportions requisite to effect this object in Cornish boilers with single or double flues. The different parts, including the steam chest, firebars, safety valves, flues, and steam pipes, are all consecutively discussed, and their mutual One other thing we must mention. We relationship explained. We find a similar have looked into the Act of Parliament, and discrepancy between theory and practice in can find nothing in it which, in our opinion, the case of chimneys. Thus, by a table calauthorizes the referees to set up a shop for culated from the formula of Péclet, a chimthe retail of chemicals and chemical appa-ney at Dartford would be doing work equal ratus, either at the expense of or for the profit to 60-horse power. The author calculates its of the gas companies; and we recommend maximum power at 118 horses, and it has been the companies to look to it. known to be really working up to 112. It must be acknowledged that, in this instance, Péclet's rules do not tally with the results obtained by actual experiment. Contrary to what might at first be anticipated, it is more economical to evaporate at a high than a low temperature. evaporated at a comparatively low temperaSome preparations must be ture, since they would be injured by being exposed to a higher. It is true that it restead of a low temperature, but then it requires more fuel to evaporate at a high inquires also less time, so that what is lost in one way is gained in another. HEAT. manufactured and sold some thousands at his warehouse in the heart of London. In the stick of the which is fastened by a collar b at each end, and "Panteles" umbrella, a metal feather a is dovetailed which strengthens the stick, and acts as a guide for the runner e carrying the stretchers. The stretchers are held in the runner by ball and socket joints, the end of each stretcher terminating in a metal ball working in a socket, formed on the roller and covered with a cap d which is shown detached in the accompanying engraving. The ribs are render the draught of knowledge paTlatable is, or should be, the aim of every writer of scientific and educational literature. While we are far from exculpating those who have either neglected or refused to avail themselves of the means of self-culture within their reach, yet, at the same time, it must be acknowledged that the majority of the supplies of information were by no means of an The last three chapters are devoted to the inviting character. It must be borne in mind important question of heating and ventilathat very few undertake the task of hard tion, embracing the often agitated subject of study with alacrity, and that many need strong the best manner in which to heat and ventiinducements, in a manner almost similar to late public buildings, churches, hospitals, that in which a child's first spelling book is schools, barracks, prisons, and other similar furnished with the allurements of pleasing structures. Upon the supposition, which in pictures and nursery rhymes. Mr. Box has the main is correct, that air that has been once undoubtedly succeeded, in the volume on our inhaled should not again pass through the table,* in rendering his subject as attractive lungs, a person in sound health consumes or as possible. The calculations are divested of vitiates twenty-eight cubic feet of air per all mathematical complexity, and the process hour, a fact that should be borne in mind by of arriving at the correct results made mani- those who are accustomed to sleep in small attached in a similar manner to the upper notch on fest in plain figures. This mode of treating unventilated bedrooms. Some of the cal- the stick; thus the objectionable binding wires are the various mechanical and physical investi- culations relating to the time taken for the superseded by a sound mechanical arrangement. gations in connection with the effects of heat walls of a building to heat or cool are not of simple lock, constructed upon the spring and wedge The umbrella when closed is fastened by a very will be exceedingly valuable to the artizan quite so practical a character as those in the principle, contained in the lower part e of the runner and mechanic who may not be well acquainted rest of the volume. Ventilation may be with the rules of algebra or versed in the divided into two classes-mechanical and feather. By a slight turn of the part e, the catch c, and which catches into a notch in the metal intricate manipulation of the higher mathe-natural, or that produced by the simple is released, the umbrella can then be opened, and matics. It would be impossible to peruse this creation of a difference of temperature, as in when the runner reaches its limit of travel it is or any other English work on heat or experi- the case of a fireplace or stove. The relative again locked in the upper notch in the feather. mental physics without perceiving how much economy of the two systems may be easily It is released for closing in the same manner as it is we owe to the labours of French savans and ascertained by calculating the power of a fan chemists. In fact, we can scarcely be said to have any standard works of our own upon these subjects, which are full of interest and value for the engineer. One of our best treatises is a translation from Ganot, and the names of Regnault, Pouillet, Dumas, Péclet, and Jamin are familiar to all students of heat, electricity, and the experimental sciences. The first chapter of Mr. Box's work is devoted to the general principles of heat, and such of its effects as are the most prominent and readily perceptible. These include the properties of expansion and contraction possessed by all bodies without exception, the phenomena of liquefaction and vaporization, "A Practical Treatise on Heat, as applied to the Useful Arts; for the Use of Engineers, Architects, &c." By THOMAS BOX, Author of "Practical Hydraulics." London: wear at the points where the stretchers are con opened. This of course supersedes the wire spring driven by steam power, which would do the at each end of the stick, which weakened the stick same amount of work with the same expendi- and frequently got out of order. In order to proture of fuel. According to the author, the teet the covering material of the umbrella from proportion is as 1 : 9-3, or, practically, the nected with the ribs, the joints are covered with two methods are equal in point of cost. The leather. None of the joints are liable to rust, as in effect of the wind upon ventilation is also the ordinary construction, as they are formed of noticed, and its maximum force during a brass and white metal. A careful examination of violent hurricane was observed to be between this umbrella leads us to entertain a high opinion 70lb. and 80lb. to the square foot, but this is of its merits; it is certainly much stronger than quite an exceptional case. The late Dr. those made on the old method, it cannot be turned Nicholl ascertained it to be 601b. to the same inside out, nor give way at the joints, and if a rib unit of area, and about 461b. is that derived should get broken, it can be replaced without disfrom accurate observation at the Straits of turbing the other ribs. Altogether, the "PanMenai upon the Britannia Bridge. The text teles" is a great practical advance in umbrella of the volume is illustrated by several well-which combine to render it a perfect article. For construction, and embodies mechanical principles lithographed plates, the paragraphs are dis- strength, elegance, and lightness, it is unequalled, tinctly defined and referenced, and we con- and must in time supersede our present shaky gratulate both the author and the publishers umbrellas, especially when we add that the extra upon their present issue. cost is comparatively nil. HYDROSTATIC SLUICE GATE. HYDROSTATIC SLUICE GATE. THE PHOTOTYPE PROCESS. stations or places from which messages are sent open for the use of the public, or for the public and the railways conjointly; 738 stations used for the purposes of the railway only, the former class haying 21,751 miles of posts and of underground lines and 90,668 miles of wire; and the latter 285 miles of posts, &c., and 4,9694 miles of wire, the submarine cables representing a total length of 4,6954 miles, with 8,146 miles of wire. The land telegraphs have an average of 4.16 wires, and the submarine telegraphs an average of 1.73 wires per mile. THE EASTBOURNE GAS COMPANY. THE new works of this company were formally opened on Saturday, the 5th inst. These works, which were constructed from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. Alfred Williams, of 64, Bankside, London, the company's engineer, were commenced in May last, and are now completed and in full operation. The coals are brought on to the works by a railway siding, and unloaded from the railway trucks into smaller ones, which are then raised by a hydraulic lift, and conveyed on an elevated tramway into every part of the coal stores, which are situated on each side of the retort house. The retort house is built for eighty-four clay retorts, each 10ft. long. The works are also provided with an annular condenser; two engine s which work the two exhausters as well as the water, tar, and liquor pumps and the hydraulic lift; a scrubber 10ft. diameter by 20ft. high; two purifiers 12ft. square by 5ft. deep (the two purifiers hydrostatic sluice gate, for canals, rivers, have lately inspected the results of an from the old works will be used in addition to these); a brick gasholder tank containing a holder 100ft. diameter by 24ft. deep; a station meter; a governor; tar and water tanks, &c., and a manager's house and offices, the whole constituting a very well planned and executed gas works. TRY MARKET. interesting and important practical distanks, and other irrigation works, which was invented by Mr. W. Edwards, C.E., Mysore, P.W.D. Covery. This discovery is a process by which all kinds of original drawings can be reproduced on This apparatus consists of a gate made of wrought copper ready for surface printing. The drawings or cast iron, having a ram or plunger attached to can be enlarged, reduced, or produced of the same each end of the upper cross-piece, working in up- size as the original. The results to which we have right cylinders, the forcing of water into which by referred are some excellent impressions which will means of a small force pump raising the gate, which compare well with the original drawing. The shuts against a frame, composed of two uprights enlarged drawings, however, although correctly re- THE METROPOLITAN MEAT AND POULattached to the cylinders, and a sill upon which produced, are not, in one sense, very good illustrathey stand. It is kept in position, when up, by a tions of the system. They certainly show what can pair of vertical guides, mounted on the heads of be done by way of enlargement, but then the [N our present issue we give the concluding drawthe cylinders. Two graduated scales made in brass lines of the half tones become widely divided, and graving shows a complete sectional view of one end ings of the above market. Our double page enare fixed to the guides, divided into feet, and 100 give the picture a weak and poor appearance. On of this structure, from the level of the permanent way parts of a foot; a vernier attached to the gate points the other hand, reproductions on the same scale as of the Metropolitan Railway up. The section shows to one scale, showing the lift of the gate in feet and the original, and some reductions also, are exceed- clearly the method in which the superstructure decimals, the other scale is read by a vernier attached to a float, thus indicating the depth of the water-ingly beautiful in the specimens we have seen. is supported on girders and arches over its entire The process consists in a combination of photo-area, the space beneath being solely occupied by graphy and glyptography, by means of which sur- the railway. We also give a partial longitudinal face-printing blocks can be obtained from any section showing the shops-or more properly the print, drawing, sketch, or writing, without the stalls-abutting on the roadway. The columns heavy expenses of redrawing and engraving by and their mode of connection with the girders are hand. The credit of the invention is due to shown in the details to a larger scale. On page Garden, who, we believe, are forming a company of the roofs and shops on a larger scale. Messrs. Fruwith and Hawkins, of 65, Hatton 485 we give some details showing the construction to carry out the process on a large scale. head with the same accuracy. The quantity of that this apparatus is manufactured by Messrs. E. Mr. Edwards has worked out a set of hydraulic is the coefficient he has made use of. TELEGRAPHIC STATISTICS. WATER BALLAST ROLLER. N our first notice of the Smithfield Club Show DURING the last session of Parliament a paper was moved for respecting the Electric Tele- we referred to the water ballast roller of graph. These returns, which have just been Messrs. Amies and Barford, of Peterborough. We issued, give the names of all railway companies in now give, in the accompanying illustration, full the United Kingdom which construct or use electric details of this apparatus. The water ballast roller, telegraphs as part of their undertaking. They from its convenient form, is readily drawn by one show that there are in England and Wales 904 horse to the part of the road to be rolled, being telegraph stations or places from which messages then empty, but whon filled with water its weight are sent used for the public, or the public and the can be increased as required from three to ten purposes of the railway jointly, and that 717 stations tons. For the larger ones two or more horses are used for the purposes of the railway only. must be employed. Another advantage possessed The plant of these telegraphs consists of 3,153 miles by the above roller is, that when at the end of the of posts and of underground lines for the use of the work the horses alone turn, and the roller is ready public, or of the public and railways jointly, and to start on the return journey-a vast improve1843 miles of the same used for the purposes of ment on the old roller, which itself had to be the railway only. There are 7,355 miles of wire turned, which turn always resulted in the formafor the former, and 4,279 miles for the latter tion of a depression in the road. The roller we purposes. The Scotch railway companies have illustrate is composed of a water-tight wrought270 stations open for the use of the public and iron cylinder, made of in. Staffordshire plates, railways conjointly, which have a plant of 1,297 having a 5in. tube running through for admitting miles of posts and underground lines, and 2,896, a 3in. wrought-iron spindle. The bearings for the miles of wire. In Ireland there are 52 stations axle are formed by the massive cast-iron bosses or open for the use of the public and railways con- plates secured to the ends of the cylinder, and jointly, and 21 for the purposes of the railway through an additional in. strengthening plate, by only, the former having 421 miles of posts, &c., means of turned Low Moor iron studs. These and 7693 miles of wire, and the latter 1004 miles bosses prevent any wear and tear upon the actual of posts, &c., and 1864 miles of wire. The returns wrought-iron cylinder. The water is admitted by unscrewing a brass plug with a spanner, through an iron funnel having a bent pipe fitted with a screw, which takes the thread of the plug flange. The turn-table frame consists of a strong cast-iron ring with a 3in. flange, lin. in thickness, which encircles the entire cylinder, and is kept in its place by the use of turned cast-iron flanged rollers, and is assisted in turning by anti-friction rollers let into the wooden frame. IMPORTANT TO ENGINEERS AND USERS OF by telegraph companies in the United Kingdom * Published by Messrs. Spottiswoode and Co., 30, Parlia ment-street. are also included in this paper, and show a total of wheels, with wrought uprights, are affixed to the When the roller is required to return, the wrought-iron lever is pressed down by the driver, and the iron pins are thereby released from the side brackets. Immediately upon the horses commencing to turn, the man allows the lever to rise, The inventors have now for five or six years so that when the horses have described a semicircle past been paying great attention to the subject of the pins rise up the incline, and fall into cavities road making and maintenance, and we believe the in the opposite side brackets. The frame is of oak, roller as now perfected will meet a crying want. 6in. by 6in., strengthened at the corners by Among other towns and places these rollers have wrought-iron angular plates and bolts, and is sup- been supplied to, may be mentioned the following: ported upon large cast-iron end brackets. A-The Hackney and Paddington districts, the Holcounterbalance weight is attached to the back of the turntable frame, so as to relieve the horses from the weight of the shafts. Strong cast-iron born Valley Viaduct works, and Camden Town-all ton, Dublin, Rochdale, Banbury, Tynemouth, Newport (Wales), and to India, Spain, and other countries. At the Paris Exhibition, 1867, the only medal awarded by the jurors to competitors from any country was to Amies, Barford, and Co.; and for agricultural purposes this firm has received at the two last competitions of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, the first prizes for these implements; and, moreover, we believe they have never been beaten in any competition at home or abroad during the last six years. The turntable frame recently improved is indispensable to the working of these heavy rollers, and, indeed, in practice makes them as perfect as can be desired. WATER BALLAST ROAD ROLLER. Dablin, Rochdale, Banbury, Ins Wales), and to India, So At the Paris Exhibition, led by the jurors to compet ry was to Amies, Barford and ultural purposes this firm bas ast competitions of the Reg ty of England, the first pris s: and, moreover, we betere ther beaten in any competition at La g the last six years. The atly improved is indispensabie ese heavy rollers, and in es them as perfect as can be disc NE. OLLER |