The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-04-15
Perfection In Machinery.

The old maxim, ga workman is known by
the tools he uses, is almost universal truism.
The quality and finish of the products of a
given manufacturing establishment, are indi-
Gated by the manner in which the shops are
managed, and by the quality and perfection of
the tools and machinery employed. In order
to do good work in any department of manu-
featuring industry, 1t is necessary to employ
the use of good tools and to keep them in good
order, and the better the adaptation of the
means employed to tho results to be obtained,
the greater will be the product and consequent
profits. The adaptation of machinery to its
work, is the most beautiful and interesting, as
we'll as the most essential feature in the con-
struotion of any piece of mechanism.
Happily, in this extensive manufacturing
city, we are not without examples to illustrate
this theory, and show its practical truthfulness;
and it might, with much propriety, be said
that the proof of the correctness of the theory
practical lessons given. The penning of this
article was the result Of somewhat minute
examination of the factory Of MesSrs. W.
SUMNER & Co., 164 Richmond street. Before
giving q description Of the works, it will be
proper to state that this firm are Agents for the
sale of WHEELER & WILSON'S SEWING MA
CHIMES, the Office and sales-rooms being in the
Melodeon Building, corner of Fourth and
Walnut streets. The whole capacity of the
factory is devoted to the manufacture of stands
and cases for these machines, the average
value of which is about fifteen dollars, and the
number turned out about sixty per week. These
stands, with the foot power mechanism accom-
panying every machine sold, and the number
of stands made, is an index of the number Of
machines disposed of.
The number of these machines manufactured
by Messrs. WHEELER & WILSON, at Bridgeport
Conn, for the American and European mar.
kets, is one hundred per day, on the average
| one-tenth of which are sold by Messrs. SUMNEI
& Co., and the footing of sales by this firm
/ since the agency was established, three year.
since, is over three thousand machines. Th'
factory is new brick building, erected OK
preSsly for this purpose, and is one of tho bes
constructed factory buildings of its size in thu
city. 1t is thirty-four by sixty feet, and fvt
stories high. Commencing in the basement
| we find a boiler which furnishes steam for
twelve-horse power engine, for warming eacl
room in the building, and for heating
| japanning oven to about one hundred ant
twelve degrees. To produce this steam, abou
Eve bushels of bituminous coal are used daily
and the whole expense Of fuel and attendanc
to the engine and boiler does not excee'
seventy-hve cents per day. Attached to tn
boiler is one of Bees patent automatic boile
feeders, which regulates the proper supply O
water to the boiler, with mathematical preci
sion. This novel device is very ingenious an
valuable, but too complicated to describe With
the limits Of this article. The engine is pro
vided with one of Reynolds patent cut-o
governors, and it runs smoothly, steadily an
noiselessly. There are lines of shaftiDg i
three of the stories, yet they have been put u
in such a workmanike manner that tle powc
of one man will turn the whole, when tn
lhthes are not geared on.
In this establishment there are eleven irO
lathes, one iron plauer, one slabber, two VI
right drills, one of Daniels planning machines
two circular saws, one jigger saw, one molt
ing machine and one tennoning machine. I'll
stands and cases are mostly made of mahol
any and walnut, and the strength of the worl
, the beauty Of design and perfection of fnisl
are equal to the highest conceptions of a beaut
Admiring public. The mechanism for prope
ling the machine is constructed to be operate
, by the foot while seated at work, and the who
is very happily arranged and Ornamented
tho best style Of japanning art. About thiri
). hands are employed at the factory, but a nun