Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-11-06

RIFLE MAKING AT " lNDSOR. ia
correspondent of Rochester papcr gives
the following interesting description of
Robbins and Lawrende's rifle manutac-
torv at Windsor, VI.
They commenced their building about
three wears since. and expended IN build
inos. machinery. and materials, > $4,000.
before they made one rifle. About 4 900
Of their rifles have been doing our coun-
try service in Mexico. Their principal
building is 100 feet long and ~ wide, and
four stories in height. They have several
other buildings for forging their work. and
the various other operations connected
with their business. The first contract
with the United States Government was
for 10 900 rihcs. They, however, have
another. and much larger contract, made
last January, although the first is not yet
completed. They turn out 500 rifles per
month. all in complete order-They en-
ploy 100 artizans. besides 35 in the fur
mace business, making castings and car
riaces for the railroad The barrel is
made from American iron. drawn from
fiat bars into ''scalps." of the proper
length & thickness. These scalps are then
rolled and welded around a steel rod un
der hammer that makes 800 blows per
minute During this operation the rod
has to be frequently Withdrawn to prevent
its becoming welded with the iron anneal-
ing. The barrel thus formed. next goes
through the process OF ''nut boring turn
ing. trimming and Strengthening. all OF
which are curious enough, but the last
more particularly SO. as it is done. or
rather is ascertained to be correctly done
by the eye observing shadow. The next
step is passing through trial and lnspec
ton bv persons appointed by Government.
They are loaded with $50 grains of pow
der, two balls and two wads, and fired each
twice. lfthey stand this test. they pass OH
to the process of finishing inside. which
is done by ritling machines, at the rate OF
one barrel per hour to each machine
They afterwards pass through the process
of browning, which requires great care
and skill to make il succeed perfectly.
Again they are inspected, and very few
rejected on account of the smallest posi-
bic defects in the material. Stocks are
made from Black w alnut. which has been
seasoned three years before working. II
YOU have seen Mr.. Curtis last machine,
YOU will have tolerable idea of the first
process. These stocks pass through six
different machines: and a rifle before it is
complete in al its parts. passes through
more than one hundred different machines.
great share of which are the invention
or Improvement of Mr.. Lawrence. If he
wants a certain thing. he first invents a
machine TO do it. and then sets il TO work
as man would boy.
The most singular machine is the one
he calls The '.letting machine" it per-
forms several difficult and delicate opera
tons with facility and ease that is per-
fec,lv astonishing. 1t cuts out the places
to receive the barrel. ramrod. lock. patch
box. butt plate. guard strad. side plate.
band string. &c. so exact that they re-
i Guire no hand labor.
The mounting is of brass. finished neat
{ lv. complete bv machinery. The lock
work is forged n dies. 1t afterwards
passes through a great variety OF machines
and comes out in the most perfect shape.
! These machines illustrate most eiteciuaiiv
the surprising advantages OF ~ ankee
/ ingenuity" Each piece will TIT IN any
of the numerou rifles made here. There
is no such thing as trying the several parts
to make them match each other.-Part>
that are alike are thrown together and
taken at random when wanted to make
the gun. and so perfect are they that they
need no alteration whatever.
There are constantly employed three
I. States Inspectors in the establishment
Ihe rihes, when complete. do not vary two
ounces each from the other in weight.
= 1.-THE County Of Delaware EOhio, has decided
by popular vote Of 241 TO so7, to subscribe
100000 TO the Cleveland, Columbus anI Gin
cinnat Railroad.