Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1845-07-16
Knife and Fork AIanuiaciory.

knife and Fork AIanuiaciory.
Tho annexed description OF the manufacturing
establishment Of David \. Ropes. Esq, Of s5accal
appa, Maine, is from the correspondence Of the
Portland Bulletin, and contains matter Of nstruc-
ton
This dingy looking building the right, We
pass the bridge, is the .'knIftt and Fork Nlnutuc
torv,' conGuc ted BY Mr.. II. \. Ropes, goutIo-
man whose well known politcness assures us Of an
adnIiltancc. Wo will comi1ence at the basement
story aud notice tue various processes necessary
to tho completion Of knives aud forks. Here is a
team unloading steel, brought from Portland
You will precoIyo that the bars arc Of two Kinds
ono fiat, about inch and Il quarter wide, and
thee sixtccnths thick, for knives; tho other round
and about thrco-Iuarters of All inch III diameter,
for forks. They AFRO marked '.Sandcrson y Bro
ttCrs' finest stool and are imported from
England bv the proprctors. Here IS workman
cu,!f. with a powerful machine, similar Dars
into short pieces, each containing metal enough
for two knives, which Il boy is conveying to the
room containing the forging appa ratus. No"ll
follow him; do not look fri htcncd; the budding
Is not tumbng III upon you, however your ear
may bear testimony 10 such an occurrence. no
terrific noise is occasioncd by the heavy "trip
hamlner,' aud the numerous fires you SEQ barn
aroalI nro those short pieces of steel. Taken
from the furnace red hot few blows OF tho
hammer reduces thcm to tho proper form Tor the
press. \ die fitted into tho hammer mouids tho
round pieces incredibly short space OF time
Look, Won him take pIeco from the fire.
few seconds pass. and behold We 500 4 fork, nearly
perfect, shank stock. bat instead OF the ''tyuos
Il fat blade, therefore must be subject 10 the press
Tor the purpose of cutting the suporlIous stcoi
50 rs to form tho ..proHgs.' In thus room, Ike
wisc, tho processes of anncalfng and tomperIn9
arc cong on. but viii now visit tho press
room,--lIcrc is tho press; what immense power
IS displayed by THIS Instrument. It cuts Tho cold,
hard steel like choose,
From t.s room tho knives being brough. to tho
right shape BY the press, taken to another for
grinding and having seen them ground TO The re-
qiIisitc thickness. viii y ItnGs5 the stamping
operation, which IS performed by tao press, ltto
which Il die Is fixed with the necessary letters
euoravcll upon It. Now thov takeu t. the
room containing the wheels covered with emery,
to DO polished. low tho fire flies, the wheels III
motion resemble tho "Romrn wheel OF the
pyrotcghuist. They arc now ready for handling.
and. by tho way those who have tested them affirm
tina, thov will bear roughor handling that any
other knives. The handles arc made III another
room to. which viii repair. Here The worktncn
arc inc horns. wood and ivory INTO blocks of 4
suitable sizo for handles; others smoothing those
blocks on coarse emery wheels. after which they
arc bored preparatory being placed on the shank
or stock of the blade.
In another place shall find number OF tc-
males preparing holsters or collars. which You
will perceive are placed between the end OF tho
handle and tho blade. Tho bolster IS driven by
machinery on TO the stock after which the handle
is fitted on and firmly attached by means of &C.
lnon.ing and ryc.ing. The forks are prepared in
the same manner you have noticed. The handles
of both arc now polished by Of what IS
called rag wheel and after being examined and
cleaned, are packed by females, labelled and
ready for market. Some OF the best and certainly
the most beautiful knives and forks in the world
arc now made at this establishment. About
fifty workmcn arc employed, who finish on an
average five hundred pieces per day. But We
will now leave if you please. Hero is The team
we saw unloading steel. taking load of knives
and forks-they going to Philadelphia.