The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-07-25
Vol 6. No. 50. Whole No. slg.

dies being thus prepared, comprising probably pix
hundred thousand needles in all, they are placed
der the ubbers of the scorrug-machines two rolls
each machine. steam engine (most of the Red
ditch factories believe have water vvhecls) then
gives to the rubbers, by connected mechanism a re-
cprocatng backward and forward motion, ssing
heavily the rolls Of needles, and causing all the
needles Of each bundle TO roll one over another BY
this action an intense degree of frctios exerted a
mong the needles whereby each one is rubbed smooth
by those which surround it. For eigh, hours unn,er
rupedly this rubbing securing is carried on; aNer
which the needles are taken out, washed in suds
placed in new pieces of canvas, touched with new
portion of emery and oil, and subjected to another
eight-hours friction. Again and again is this repeat
ed, hsomuch that for the very finest needles the pro-
cess is performed five six times over, each time
during eight hours continuance This is OF tho
points in which the differcncei is shown between va
rious qualities of needless the length of the securing
being correspondent with the excellence of the pro-
duction. The pieces Of canvas become coated within
with a mixture of emery, oil, and steel; but the
Aquanty of steel rubbed ofin this process s so
much as might at fir st be supposed.
Again we accompany the needles to another part
of the factory, Icing at which is technically termed
the bright shop, lin which many processes carried
on in reference TO the finishing of tho needles. The
needles are examined after being secured. and are
placed in small tin tray, where, by shaking and Vi
brating in a curious manner they are all brought in
to parallel arrangement From thence they are re-
moved into iat-paper tayssin long rows heaps,
and passed to the eader, generally little girl,
whose Office is to turn the head way and all the
points the Other. This is one among the many simple
bpt curioD invo in
manufacture, which surprises US by the rapdity and
neatness Of execution. The girl sits with her face
towards the window, and has the needles ranged in
row or layer before her, the needles being parallel
with the window. She draws out laterally to the
right those which have their eyes on the right hand
into heap; and TO the left those which have their
eyes in that direction, in another.
About this time too the needles examined one
by one, to those which have been brok en- or
injured in the long process of securing; for 1t some-
times happens that as many eight ten thousand,
out of fifty thousand ARE spoiled daring this operation
,ost ladies conversant with the merits Of drilled
eyed needless warranted ''not to the thread.'
These are produced TX modern improvement where
by the eye, produced by the stamping and piercing
processes before-&escribed is drilled with very fine
instrument, by which its margin becomes as perfect
ly smooth aud brilliant any other part of the
de- To effect this the needle is first .blued that is
The head is heated to give it the proper temper
for working. Then the eye is counter sunk which
consists in bevilling off the eye by means of kind Of
triangular drieo that there may be sharp edge be-
tween the eye itself and the cylindrical shaft of the
needle Next comes the drilling. Seated at long
bench are number Of men and boys, with small
drills working horizontally with grsat rapidity. The
workman takes up few needles between the finger
and thumb of his efthend, spreads them lila:a
fan with the eyes uppesposti brings them at a !
time opposite the point of dtih gOsefpsshe ham
die or lever of the drill with issigh hand and drills
the eye, which is equivalent to- aalng it circular,
even, smooth, and polished lie sEifsthe thumb and
finger round, to bring all the needles in
sion under the action of the drill and he thus gets
through his work with much rapidty. The prepara-
ton Of the drills, which small wires of polished
steel three four inches long, is matter Of very
great nicely and it depends much ofthat beauty of
production which constitutes the pride of needle
manufacturer.
We next pass TO large room, where u multitude
ofttle wheels revolving with great rupidty some
intended for what is termed 'grndin ing the needless
and some for polishing The seated on low
stools, each in front of revolving Wheel which is at
height of perhaps two feet from the ground All
the wheels are connected by straps and bands with
steam engine in the lower part Of the factory.
slant hunning noise heard in the room, arising
from great rapldiy OF revolution among number of
wheels; and it is not difficult for the detect
difference Of tone pitch among associated sounds,
due TO differences in the rate OF movement. The
grinding wheels are very small, not above five six
inches in diameter; they made of gritstone, and
are attached to horizontal axes. The grinding here
alluded to is not such might be supposed, relating
the points Of needless but has reference simply
to the heads, which have not yet had rounded form
given to them. The workman takes up layer
Of needles between the fingers and thumbs of the two
hands, and applies the heads to the stones in such
to grind down any small asperites on the
surface. AS the small grinds revolving three
thousand times in minute, is plain that the steel
NAV snon t,e cnficenfIv worn AWAY Nv soht rom