The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-03 00:00:00

THE GREAT EXHIBITION.

We have much pleasure in directing the attention of
our readers to the following account of several ingeni-
ous productions about to be exhibited amidst the other
attractions of the crystal palace. They are the inven-
tion of Mr. William Dyne, an employi of the London
and South Coast Company, at their London station.
Mr. Dyne is, we understand, the first person in the
kingdom who applied gutta percha in the con-
struction of life-boats, rafts, &c., he having taken out a
patent for that purpose in 1847. A highly favourable
opinion of these boats was expressed by Captain Austin,
and but for an accidental delay some of them would have
been taken out by the gallant Captain, on his recent
Expedition in search of Sir John Franklin.
The following description will convey to the reader
some idea of the inventions, and of the extreme inge-
nuity their construction has called forth:-
1. THE ECLIPSE, OR STANDARD LIFE BOAT, posses-
sing the following recommendations, which no other
boat in its present construction can ever attain. It is
economically constructed, possessing in its formation
great strength and durability. It is very buoyant,
frees itself instantly of all water shipped, will keep its
upright position in the heaviest sea, is difficult to be
turned over, and if upset will right itself immediately;
impossible to be injured by hard collision, and is pro-
vided with a couch whereon to lay those suffering from
immersion. It is formed of diagonal battens laid
similar to that of lattice work, and its outer sheathing
is formed of gutta percha; its buoyancy is 350 cubic feet
of air, capable of sustaining upwards of 9i tons. It has
in its bottom 3,600 holes half an inch in diameter to
allow all water shipped to pass off; it has a convexed
bottom, 30 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 18 inches deep,
in which are placed three perforated fins for the pur-
pose of steadying and keeping the boat in an upright
position ; acting when the boat lurches from either
beam similar to a paddle-wheel ; a re-action taking
place through the perforated parts; which will be seen
to multiply its weight of water to four times its amount;
in this convexed part and between the fins is contained
two tons of weight of water, which must be displaced
therefrom before the boat can turn over, but such will
be almost impossible, it being more than half the weight
of the boat; bat as a provision against such a lament-
able disaster, she turns over on her, quarter sixteen cwt.
of water, which rights her again. It may be remarked
that the two tons and sixteen cwt. of water referred
to is not one ounce weight to the boat when in her up-
right position—thus, it will be seen that Nature is its
servant as also its own master. At the stem and stern,
and on each beam and quarter, is run a bow, to which is
connected galvanized springs which will not corrode,
and will be found of the greatest utility in the event of
collision, which act similar to that of railway buffers;
in fact, at the very glance of the model, will be seen
great strength combined with lightness, and that its
construction is so compact that it gains the admiration
of all that see it. This model is submitted for the ap-
proval of his Grace the Duke of Northumberland for
the prize of a hundred guineas, and bids fair to be the
successful one, having all the qualities his Grace desires.
2. A GUTTA PERCHA LLFE BOOM, for the rescue of
individuals from drowning, or to enable a stranded
vessel to communicate with the shore. It is intended to
be placed at the stern of the ship, so that on an alarm
being given (a man overboard) the person at the helm
can dislodge it instantly, and as it falls into the sea a
fuzee becomes ignited, which burns with a brilliant
light, guiding the sinking man to it; should it occur at
night, four uprights are placed upon it, containing
rockets, blue, and other li4sts, which ignite on being
drawn out, thus acting as a beacon to the crew.
3. AN EMIGRATION LIFE RAFT, intended for a first•
class vessel, of the following dimensions:-20 feet long
by 14 feet wide; it is firmly united by strong bolts, and
is very portable from the mode of its construction, which
allows it to be folded up in the compass of 20 feet long
by 2 feet 6 inches wide. On occasion of shipwreck it is
capable of supporting 100 persons, as well as provisions
for seven days, allowing to each individual two and a
half pounds of food and one pint of water per day, in
addition to which it may be made available for a portion
of the cargo, and can be put in requisition in a few mi-
nutes. It will be found very useful in many cases of en-
gineering, and may be used as pontoons, which they
greatly surpass in buoyancy and portability, being easily
carried by two or three persons, while the others require
a waggon and two horses to convey them from place to
place.

4. A LIFE LAUNCH on an entirely new principle: is
rendered buoyant by inflated cushions placed under the
gunnel, which protects it from injury when coming in
contact with rocks or the sides of a ship, in being
lowered for use. Let it be here remarked that the life
boats now in use are almost invariably crushed and
rendered useless in the event of a wreck, by concussion
against the side of a ship. A boat constructed on this
principle, from 25 to 30 feet in length, contains upwards
of a thousand gallons of air, and would support six
hundred persons, were it possible for so many to attach
themselves to it. The tedious and incessant labour in
baling, so necessary with all other life-boats is, by this
invention, entirely superseded, being provided with a
false bottom perf,mated with holes, through which the
water passes off, leaving a dry surface. The boat is
also furnished with a tank of fresh water, and the gun-
nels with lockers, containing water-proof bags of gutta
percha, for the reception of provisions; a water-proof
awning of gutta percha lies rolled up on the gunnel,
which can be raised so as to form a complete protection
from the inclemency of the weather, over which a lamp
or other signal of distress is placed. The cushions may
easily be removed when the vessel is in port, and may
be used as a common boat; it will serve as a paddle-box
boat on board of a steamer, the cushions acting as
fenders in the event of concussion.

5. THE GUTTA PERCHA EMIGRATION LIFE BOAT
constructed with ribs moving on pivots, in a line with