Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-02-09
Making Shingles by Machinery.

On Yesterday at the Machine Shop of Mr..
Phillips, at the First Ward Boat Yard, we wit
messed the operation of making shingles by ma
chinery, on a machine recently invented by
very worthy young mechanic of Western Vir-
gnia. Having heard this machine frequently
and favorably spoken of we expected to
something in it worthy of notice, but had no
idea that we should find machine combining
SO many superior qualities and displaying &C.
MUS of so high an order.
Knowing that our readers will bear US wit
ness, that We have ever RETAINED from giving
undue credit, or indulging in "pnffS" of any
kind we feel sure of our motiyesno being mis-
construed, when we would render unto merit
its lust reward. emust view the Inventions
of the day asfwe would the literary productions
that NOW, more than ever, seem TO flow from a
superabundant source;-a great deal of both are
comparatively worthless, whilst occasionally a
spark is SEEM indicating genius and merit As
such we consider the invention of Mr.. Hall.
The lightness and simplicity Of the machine
is tho first point of attraction. 1t is built en-
tirely of iron, and contains circular saw of
three feet in diameter, set horizontally, and en-
closed in substantial iron rim, except on the
side from which tits fed. In front of this is
small.ir frame, set on slides, for receiving the
blocks of timber under which is a sliding frame,
composed of fur longitudinal bars, set two at
each side, and some two inches apart; these be-
ing ofdifferent heights, 0he difference between
the thickness of the butt and point of the shin
gle,) and ranged so that two bars come nearly
under each end Of, the shingIe block; by shifting
this frame as the timber is drawn back from the,
OI;r of fhn
hand, only, is necessary-theS block falls so as
to change the point and butt of the single al
ternately from end to end. The shingles are
cut through ftom the edge, the saw running
with the grain of the wood.
This simple machine, constructed in the form
of table, Ave. feet in length by three and half
wide, and two feet six inches high, is certainly
most remarkable one, and is, beyond doubt,
destined to work complete revolution in the
shinge business by avery material reduction
in their cost. We are are satisfied that no 9TH
er process heretofore in use, has, or ever can
produce either the quality or quantity that is
turned out by this machine Shingles are cut
to any required length; and of all widths up to
seventeeniinches As to the quantity the ma
chine will make in day, the public can judge
when we say that will cut over so abimgles per
mlaNtei perfectly UNIFORM IN thickness and Ia
per. and so free from saw marks as to show a
polish; bearing the appearance of having been
planned. a smooth surface and uniform thick.
ness and taper, with the grain of the wood pre-
served in straight line, are important cOnsid.
eratiOns in the selection of shingles.
The simplicity of this machine obSiates the
necessity for experience in running it, as any
one of common capacity can work it with per-
feet ease.
This important invention was brought out by
Mr.. Geo. Hall, of Morgantown, Va, and paten-
ted on the goth day of December last Dr. Isaac
Scott aud 3, P. Fitch, of Morgantown, are asso-
ciated with Nr. Hall. and arc now prepared to
sell shop, county. or State rights. for using the
machine Mr.. R. b Carr holds the right for
the Statsef Virginia. Either of these gentle,
men may be found at the MLure House, or at
the First Ward Boat Yard, where the machine
viii be kept running and subject to the insrec.
ton of the public.
PRor. GIBSON proposes to run Geographic
line along the shore ofths Gull Of Mexico,