The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-01 00:00:00

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL .EAGINEERS.

At the the meeting on the 17th, the paper read was
" On the Conversion of Wood by Machinery, by Mr.
G. L. Molesevnrth, Assoc. Inst. C. E.
In briefly glancing at the history of wood conversion,
the author noticed the early application of machinery for
the purpose, and also the introduction of the circular
saw, the planing machine, and the band saw. The in-
ventions of Bentham and Brunel were mentioned, as
having contributed largel to the advance of this branch
of engineering.
A comparison was then drawn, chewing the more
rapid progress of wood conversion in America than in
England. This was ascribed to the greater cheapness of
material and the scarcity of skilled labour in the former
country, which gave a stimulus to invention ; whilst in
England the case was different, the material was
comparatively expensive, and skilled artisans were
abundant, Nor was the system of the subd,vision of
labour as yet fully carried cut, the conversion of wood
being Litherto in the bands of a ea.s who could not
employ much capital in machinery, or keep it con-
stantly at work to the greatest advantage, even when
they had it; and, at the same time time the prejudices
of foremen and the combinations of workmen had ope-
rated powerfully against the introduction of new ma-
chines. Many of the machines of English construction
bad been of too costly a character, and in designing
them sufficient attention had not been given to economy
of the converted material. The cheap and simple cha-
racter of the American machines was mentioned, and
some of their characteristic details were described.
An account of the different kinds of saws, as well as
the form of teeth, the modes of setting them, and the ve-
locities adopted in England and America was given, and
the silent friction feed, the American " Muley" saw, the
author's arrangement of a revolving wedge, the me-
thods of cross cutting, the pendulous saw, Macdowall's
circular Paw, the pendulum, the disbel saw,.the scroll
and the band saws were briefly described, and mention
was made of Mr. Exab's improvements in the band saw.

The author then proceeded to enumerate the varieties
of planing macliines, which he classified under five
heads, viz.:-
1. The reciprecating plane ;
2. Tile fixed cutter plane ;
3. The rotatory cutters, on Muir's principle ;
4. Ditto with vertical axis, on Bramah's plan ;
5. The socket rlane.
. _

In describing these machines, the action of the car-
penter's plane was compared with that of the machines,
and come of the methods were mentioned by which its
action had been attempted to be assimilated in the ma-
chines.

The planing machines were shortly dezcrilsed, as well
as the different forms and speeds adopted in England and
America.

I: was argued, that in order to produce good work
the conditions to be fulfi led were, a high velucity of
cutters, not too rapid travel of work, a solid bed to
cut against, the working parts well balanced,
the bearings steady, and the angles of the cut-
ters propedy determined. The author condemned the
usual empirical method of determining the angles
of the cutters, and insisted upon the desirahlity of
taking into consideration the nature of the material
as well as the character of the work, and the diameter of
the cutters, in fixing upon the proper angle. lie then
stated those angles which he considered best for different
kinds of woods and varieties of work.

Brief descriptions and diagrams illustrative of the
principles of the 1411oNing process*s and machines were
then given :

1. The American shaping mac'hine, with patttrn and
concentrical c Ylar guide, fir planing irregular work.
2. The diff:rant methods of...tenoning with chisek or
with an asemblage of circular saws, or with the ordi-
nary Lemming ctit,,ers.
3 Toe copying machine for producing fac-similes of a
cast-iron pattern of aly irregular &lap°, by, means of
rotatory cutters made to recede, or advance by the pat-
tern, which revolves simul'aneously with the work.
4. Hughes' spoke machine vNitn tubular cutter-,haft,
and moveable cutters, acted upon by a traversing pattern.
5. The railway key machine, invented by the author,
for cutting the taper simultaneously on two sides of the
key.
G. Steel's oar machine, as used at Cbathain dockyard,
for roughing out tlis oar with swivelling circular saws,
and finishing it, by a series of cutters acted upon by a
"feeler iron," so as to produce a varying form of blade
and " loom,"

7. The methods of dovetai!ing on Wimshort's plan, by
a series of rotating cutters, and on Burley's plan, by a
series of reciprocating chisels and circular saws.
8 The method adopted in America of forming the
dovetail on the mitre.

The d &rent boring tools were then notieel, and an
account given of the modes ofmortising, by giving motion
to the chisel ;and reversing it, as well as Oe forms of
morti,ing chisels, and the devices for clearing the mor-
tise of chips.

The subject of timber bending was briefly mentioned,
and a description given of Hookey's mode of bending
ships' timbers, Meadows patent for bending veneers into
and around the sharp angles of mouldings, and Blan-
cliarl's method of bending all kinds of timber, by ap-
plying end pressure to it, while it was wound round a
cam of the desired shape.
In conclusion the author considered, that wood con-
version was not fully developed in this country, and
hoped that this paper would direct the attention and
ingenuity of engineers to the subject.

At the meeting on Nov. 24 the proceedings were com-
menced by the reading of an Appendix to Mr. G. L.
Molesworth's paper "On the Conversion of Wood by
Machinery,"
The manufacture of casks by machinery was cited as
an example of branch in wbice many failures had oc-
curred, in consequence of tee maclends having been
frequently designed without a view to effecting economy
of material, so that tho waste of valuable weed was not
couuterhalauced by the saving of labour. The best
machines is use for performing the following prccesses
in the manufacture of casks were briefly described.
The process of cutting up the "blanks" into staves,
either by circular, er by reciprocating saw., and of con-
verting without waste irregular and twisted " blanks"
into staves, by the nee of weighted ro lers pressing the
work against an adjustable fence in the saw frame. The
cutting out "tonguera" and " doublets" by a traveling
template, which determined the position of the fence ;
and the plan adopted at her Majesty's Dockyard, at
Deptford, for irregular " blanks,' " tonguers," and
doubled ;" as well as the American mode of cutting
staves ler ry casks. The process of jeinting by moving
the stave through a curved path in the direction of its
circular saws. Robertson's mode of backing staves,
by passing them on a travelling platform under cutters ;
and Green's mode of passing them over a pair of cutters
arranged on each side of a guide collar, whilst the stave
was pressed dawn by a heavy fluted feed roller. The
processes of " trusting " on Rosenborg's principle, by
a series of radial forcing levers, actuated simultaneously
by screws, and on Robertson's principle by means of
cones into which the etays were forced by hydraulic
pressure. The plan of " crezing end chining " by turn-
ing the cask up on a vertical lathe, after trussing ; or
by passiug each stave separately under cutters. And
tke process of finishing the heads with an oval motion,
to allow for shrinkage of wool across the grain ; thus
completing the different processes in manufacturing.
Hamilton's machine for sawing curved stip timbers
was described as having an inner gate, and the blade so
hung as to allow of a transverse as well as a swivelling
motion, for curvilinear work ; the log being so arranged
as to be turned on its azie whilst travelling, and to be
cut to any desired bevel. Green's method of adapting an
indicator roller to this machine, for cutting variable
bevels from a small scale diagram, was also mentioned.
The largest circul,r saws were stated to be those used
for cutting veneers from the bog ; their size, veloCity,
and mode of action were given, as well as the attempt to
supersede them by a rev( lying knife edge, with the
causes of its failure. Tne Russian method of cutting
veneers was briefly touched upon, as well as the reasons
for its non-adoption in England, and the French Method
with kreciprocating knife edge, was also described.
A description of 'Thiel wond carving machinery
was given, with his method of producing a species of
floating movement in the table carrying the pattern and
the work, under a frame furnished with a series of drill
cutters and a tracing knob, so as to produce several ,
copies
gunder-cutsimultaneously
p a r t from obmy
sown
iev
eplal
itnt egr nt
ti;—h
epta tot
eir)nl a na
and
wsoithdeasneribed.
The account of Messrs.
work simultaneously,
edoucsloyn,
elwuadsal
Ransom and May's manufacture of compressed
keys and troneile, and also of the mode . sscd railway
Majesty's Dockyard Portsmouth of "opted
in
her
shaping
treuails cleft
from timber of irregular, or twisted
A description was given of Wilson's
Midland Counti es imber
Company's W orks at Banbury
for the conversion of
wood into mop and broom handles
of which very large "
quantities were manufactured. Cy-
lindrical gouge cutters were used, so that by turning
them gradually in their
cutting edge,, which would work for 16 hours without
sharpening, and a tool would last three mouths. The

surface produced was excellent, and the
machine -
wa•
now about to be used for making penaile.
The carving machinery invented by Mr. Jordan.
used for the decorations of the New Palaceat and
minster, was alluded to ; and a desorsption wasir West.
the ingenious machines, also invented by him, for-inivaki off
the frames of school elates, at Colonel Pennant's quay.
ries, near Bangor. The logs of American birch were
first cat up by frame saws :—the planks were then sea.
Boned for six months, and were afterwards cross out to
proper lengths, passed over a series of circular saws and
grooving cutters alternately fixed on the same shaft, the
montiees and tenons wets out in two ether machine*,
the end mortises, tenons, and shoulder; were then cut,
and the slates encircled by four of these pieces. The
frame thus formed was then laid against two steps, And
a pair of drills descended upon the opposite corners,
making two holes ; it was then reversed, and another
pair of holes were made in the other two corners, pegs
were inserted, and the work was completed. Up to
that point the result was excellent, but it had been found
impossible entirely to finish the work with the delicacy
with which the human hand could do it. In all such
machinery
the vital importance of high speed and perfect
balance were huiated upon, and many curious instances
of failure, resulting from neglect c f these points, were
given.

Messrs. Ransome and May's trenail and key machines
were farther described, and the advantages of the pen-
dulum saw for cross cutting were strongly insisted on.
Green's stave-cutting machinery was explained, and
the great quantity of work which could be executed by
it was shown.
After the meeting a model was exhibited of Gibsen's
self-acting signal and telegraph for Railways. Thisappa-
ratus was described as being intended to supply the
want of a system of railway signalling, which should re
efficient, and whilst answering every purpose for which
railway signals could be required, should be simple in
construction, and not liable to be misunderstood, or to
get out of repair ; being, at the same time, independent
of the attention or the neglect of servants.

The apparatus consisted of a continuous arrangement
of signalling set in motion by the engine, which, in past •
ing over a lever placed close witbinside the rail in any
desired situation, caused a signal-post (No. 1) to rotate
partially, and so to indicate to the following train the
close proximity of a preceding train. The signal-post
(No. 1) remained in this position until the engine arrived,
at the next signal-post (No. 2), the lever opposite' to
which, when depressed by the engine, caused it to
rotate similarly to tho signal-post (No, 1) previously
passed, which was at the sarnatune replaced in its original
position. The engine then reached signal-post No. 3, and
it and No. 2 would be simultaneously acted upon as were
No&. 1 and 2. Then No. 4 received the responsibility,
and released No. 3, and so on. It answered equally well
by night and day, and the present signal-posts could.be
adapted to it..

By the same motion of the horizontal levers' audible,
or visible telegraphic communications could be made
with any station, or stations, either in advance or.in the

rear of the moving train : thus indicating, by the con.
tinual ringing of a bell, if necessary, the approach, de-
parture, present position, or passage through a tunnel,
or over any dangerous part of the line. On foggy, or
stormy nights, or where there were sharp curves, &e.,
this would be found very va'tmble.

LIST OF PLANS OF PROPOSED RAILWA.YS,
BRANCHES, Lc.,

Deposited at the Board of Trade on the 30th Nuv., 1857.

Aberdeen, Peterhead, and Fraserbargh
Alyth
Andover Canal Railway
Athenry and 'roam
Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, and Port-Rash Jam:-
Wm—Junction with the Londonderry and Coleraine
Railway
Banbridge, List urn, and Belfast
B Ifast and County Down—Extensions
Blaokburn, Ctiorley, and Wigan
Birkenhead General Railway Station and Motel
E9,,nor
Border Counties—Extension
Brentford and Richmond
Burton-upon-Trent
Caledonian---Branch from the Clydesdale Junction Rail-
way to Dalmarnock Roa'l
Caledonian—Branch to Port-Carlisle Railway
Carlisle, Langholm, and Elawick
Carron

Corrio, Machynlletb, and River Davey
Crantrook
Darenth Valley
Devon Valley
Durham and Cleveland Union
Dublin and Meath
Dublin Iron Road Tramway
Ea pt Kent—Western Extension
East Suffolk, Yarmouth, and Haddiscoe, and Lowestoft
and Bncles—Alteration in Works •
East Suffolk—Mutford Junction
E len Valley
Ely Valley—Mwyudy Branch
'Exeter and Exmouth—Daviationi and Amendment
Fife and Kinross and Kinross-shire—Deviations, ho.

If.rinatmo and Bue
Grangemouth
Great Northern and Wostan of Ireland—Daviations
liainanlt Fore 4
Innerlei, hen and Peebles
Knighton
Laneaster and Carlisle—New Works
Leatherhead and a rking
Leitrim Railway and Lough Allen Pier
Limerick and Owl,* Connell—Extension to Klllaloe
Liskearl and Loon Canal Railway
Llanelly Harbour—lmprovements,Diversions of Streams,
and nail vvay
London, Brighton, and South Coast—Shoreham to
Lienfield, and to the Mid-Su,sex Rail.ay
Loudoc end North-WeAto-n—Additi.mal Works
Lantton and North-Westeru—Additional Works, No. 2
London anid North-Western—Exten.ion from Longsight
to Hyde and Stalybridge
London and South-Western—Extension and Deviations
London Tramway
Manchetter, Sheffield, and Linoolnehire—Garaton to
Liverpool
Manobester, LSbeffield, and Lincolnshire— Newton to

Compstall
Merthlr Junction
Mid-Kent—Croydon Extension
Mid-Kent—Bromley to St. Mary Cray
Middlesborough Improvement
Mieland Great Western Railway of Irelnnd—S'rearne•
town and Clara Deviation
Newport, Abergaveuny, and Hereford—Deviation
North British—Hawiel and Cail:sle Junction and

Branches
North British—New Branches
North Yorkshire and Cleveland—Deviation and Branches
Oxford, Worct-ster, and Wolverhampton—Deviation of
Stourbridge Branch
Portsmouth
Redditch
St. Helen's Canal and Railway—Garston to Liverpool
Severn Vailey—Coalport Junction with Shropshire
Union Railway
Shoreham, Horsham, and Dorking
Shoreham, Steynirg, and Henfield
Shrewsbury and Welchpool—Deviation and New Works
Southend and Bur sham
South-Eastern—Dartford and New-cross Junction,
Chislehnret, &c.
South Wales—Further powers for the completion of the
line to Pembroke Dock, &c.
South Wales—New Railway to Pembroke Doak, &c.
Sta;nes, Wokirgbam, and Woking—Line to Woking
St( ok port, Maley, and \ halt ybridge—Hayfield Railway
Stockton and Darlington—Durham Lines
Stockton and Darlington—North Riding Lines
Sunderland Deck Junction
Symington, Biggar, and Broughton
Vale of Devon
Victoria Station and Pimlico Railway
Victoria (London) Dock—Railway to the London, Til-
bury, and Southend Railway
Waveney Valley—Deviations and Branch to L iddon
Ware, liadharn, and Bintingford
West End of L indon and Crystal Pal.tcs—Balham to the
London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway at
Croydon
West Metropolit4n
Weymouth and Portland
Whitehaven Junction—Branches
Wicklow Mineral

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TA.TTERSALL'S-MONDAY.

As usual at this period of the year only a few sub-
scribers dropped into the recta, and the few bets laid
were scarcely worth quotation.

DEBBY.
25 to 1 agst Happy Laid (raker.)
28 to 1 agst Ancient Briton (taken)
33 to 1 agst Ethiopian (akeiL)
40 to 1 agst Esau (taken)

READING STEEPLECIIASES.—These Steeplecbmea will
take place on the 29Llt of December, and not on the
221, as previously aanonmced.

[Arovsnrisnizrr.]—The following extraordinary cures with.
out medicine- of Indigestion (Dyspepsia), Flatulency, Consti-
pation, Nervous, Bilious, and Liver Complaints, Cough,
Asthma, Consumption, and Debility, effected by Du Barry's
delicious health-restoring Revalenta Arabioa Food, are not the
least remarkable :—From the Dowager Countess of Castle-
stuart.— Cure 52,612. Rosstrevor, County of Down, Ireland,
9th December, 1851.—The Dowager Countess of Castlestuart
feels induced, in the interest of suffering humanity, to state
that Du Barry's excellent Revalenta. Ambica Food has cured
her, after all medicines bad failed, of indigestion, bile, great.hs
nervousness and irritability, of many years' standing.
Food deserves the confidence of all su(lerersbaend
erodeseul sidered a real blessing. Icquirios will be
cribable
an-
swered, Cure No. 49,832. "Fiftyy
cough, oonstipa-
liaye con-
agony from dyspepsia, nervousness,
asthma,at the stomach, and
tion, . flatulency, spasms,
Food.—Mania. JOLLY, Northam
the celebrated Professors of
Supported by testimonials -
Use:
Dr. Shorland; Dr. Harvey ;
Chemistry, Dr. Andrew
Dr. Gattiker ; Dr. Wurzer ; Dr. Ingram ;
vomiting, have been removed by
Lbiyeg,DnuearßaDrtil':
xeoxeceolllken..t
Dr. Campbell ; —1". Dories; the Dowager Countess of Cast e-
' Lord Stuart deThnnias King, and many other respectable
M3j"-Grealth has been restored by it, after all .)then
person;
g'whose hod failed. Suitably packed with full in-
, satt
eu aa r
ofat
) canisters, Ilb, 2s. 9d. ; 21b, 4s. 6d. ; 510,
• structions. I
lie •
' of Post-Office order.--Barry Du Barry, do Co.,
121 b, 225. n The 121 b canisters are sent canine free,
on receipt
• 77, Regent-street, London. IMPORTANT CAUTION against the
ltrfei dangers of spurious imitations :—The Vlee-Chancel-
ra , Sir William Page Wood, granted an Injunction on the
cure
I OM March, 1551, against Alfred Hooper Nevill, for inritatlng
, ,‘ Da Barry's Revalent Arabic