The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-11-08
RIFLE MAKING AT WINDSOR, VT.

RIFLE MAKING AT WINDSOR, VT.
4 correspondent of Rochester paper gives
the following interesting description of Robins
& Lawrence's rife manuactory, at Windsor,
Vermont.
They commenced their building about three
years siuce. and expended in buildings, ma
chnery and materials, Sll300D before they
made one rife. About 1000 OF their rifles
haxs been doing our country service in Mexico.
Their principal building is 100 feet long and
Al wide. and lnur stories in height. They
have several other buildings for forging their
work and the various other operations connect
ed with their business. The first contract with
the United States Government was for 10000
rifles. 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 employ 100 arlizans, besides 30 in the
furnace business, making castings and carri
ages for the Rail Road. The barrel is made
from American iron. drawn from fiat bars into
"scaps" of the proper length and thickness
These scalps are then rolled and welded around
a steel rcd under hammer that makes 1900
blows per minute. During this Operation the
rod has 10 be frequently withdrawn to prevent
its becoming welded with the iron annealins.
The barrel thus formed, next goes through The
process of smut boring" turning, trimming and
Strengthening, all of which are curious enough
but The last more particularly so, rs 1t IL done,
or rather is ascertaincd 10 be correctly done by
the eve observing shadow. The next step is
passing through trial and inspection by per.
sons aDDointed by Government.
They are loaded with $50 grains of powder,
two balls and two wads, and fired each twice
If they stand this test, they pass on to the pro-
cess cf finishing inside, which is done by rlInS
machines at the rate of one barrel per hour to
each machine. They afterwards pass through
the process Of browning, which requires Sroat
care and skill to make it succeed perfectly
Again they are inspected, and very few rejected
on account of the smallest possible defects in
the material. Stocks are made from Black
Walnut, which has been seasoned three years
before working. If you have seen MIR. Cur.
lis's last machine, you will have to'erabie
idea of the first process. These stocks pass
lhro Oh six different machines; and rifle,
before il is complete in all parts, passes through
more than 100 different machines, great
share of which are the invention or improve.
ment of Mr.. Lawrence. II he wants Ger.
tain thing, he first invents machine to do 1t,
and thea sets il to work as q man would boy.
The most singular machine is the one he
calls the "lelting machine" II performs sew
cral difficult and delicate operations with a ia
cili,y and ease that is perfectly astonishing. 1t
cuts out the places 10 receive The barrel, ram
rod, lock, patch box but, plate, guard strap, silc
plate, bands, sings, &c, so exact that they
rcauirc no hand labor.
The mounting is Of brass, flushed nearly
complete by machinery. The lock work is
forged in dies. 1t afterwards passes through
great variety Of machines and comes out III the
most perfect shape. These machines Illustrate
most effectuaiy the surprising advantages OF
"Yankce ingenuity" Each piece will fiji in
any of the numerous rifles made here. There
it no such thing as trying the several parts to
make them match each other. Parts that are
alike are thrown together and taken at ran.
dom, when wanted TO make The gun, and so
perfect are they that they need no alteration
whatever.
There are constantly employed three United
States Inspectors in the ahi.hment. The
rifles when complete do not vary two ounces
each from the other in weight
CoUNTERFElTER ARRESTED.-A man VINO
gives his name as Collins Smith, ANA says hr
lives in tl"yi, County, Georgia. though ma
tive OF SparanburS District. ,. Z. was arrest
ed near this place on last nnrs'iaN chaFG"
win having pa,Scn M"""''''," ''""el'
passed through THIS V!llaS" ana rSch'n9'o s's.
en- d"'ars "' MS spurious com WI" o"" " . ""'
grocery Keepers n"' "''' h'' "eei S""e .o"
before 'hc 'ra'Hi was o'sco'c'e"' anu "e pursue"
ana aprfehrnded' P"r''"n Z" ms c""n'e'i
FITTING implements were i"unu IN MS P"'Ne' anu
Il small quantity o! the hase metal ne us'o' III
his saddle 'hags. tie Is now !" la''-s"e 'hI
ant OF that huI'd'ng, ana the hrst one II mas nin