The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-21
Wrought Iron Cannon.
Heir MANUPAcrURR-A VISIT TO rae AMBs IRON

iron The winsted (conn.l Herald
We greatly enjoyed visit 70 the Ames Iron Works as
Falls Village few days since Mr. Ames sometime sir 90
devised wrought iron gun which he with much reason
thinks win prove ar superior 70 any yet in uss for
nearly two years he necessarily but Intellectually impor
tuned the War Department for order for trial
his guns Finally, appealing from the heads depart
an order for fifteen guns which he has now In tb. works
and some Of which viii be completed the present month
AL large masses OF wrought iron accumulation
OF smaller pieces OF bars worked together by pro-
cess Of welding bot how TO weld and handle such ass
as gun Of twelve tons weight requires and 20 weld
IL that the interior Of the shall be equally welded
ng perfect with the exterior has been the rock
upon tbch other inventors less ingenious persever
ing than Mr. Anes have foundered But be has hit upon
. plan which promises splendid success His method Ia
this
bar Of round iron eighteen feet long ten Inches in
to serve the handle Of the gun. Upon the larger
end Of this are welded BY large bars Of
iron Of about two feet in length, until . round
mass has been formed Of thirty inches In dsme.
tor perfectly solid This 10 TO the breech OF the
gun, and the end 10 upset by horizontal hammer
built M OF sections Of the fu circumference
the gun, Of about Eve inches In cughtbs entire gun
thirty transverse sections These sections are made up
follows cylindrical block Of the best reHued Iron u
turned ost seven inches long ten inches 10 diameter
lifted closely into an iron band or hoop made from
bars Of iron six oy seven inches and this 70 again fitted
banda closely welded and solid q the best me-
chauism can make them. When thus put together 10
Will De seen that the whole forms cyipdrtcs section
(or vheeD OF thirty inches In diametsr-ths greater
susth being near the centre.
One large furnace devoted the principal gun. while
another employed TO heat the seCtops The qua breech
I've should here remark that toe gun from
the nrst process upon the breech until " welding com
peteo) swung from its furnace BY an immense crane,
WIN some thirty men working upon the long handle
nave described under steam hammer the drop 70 which
weighs seven tors Immediately In front back Of this
hammer set the horizontal ''upsettina hammer and
section OF the gun brought az white welding heat 10
ts place against the breeoh The zontal hsmmcr i'm.
mcdiaey begins ns work and Ia far less time than We
part Of the solid gun The immense drop hammer old
Thor they cell ~ 10 put into al intervals and nv
two heats the nrst welding and the second for
and HnishnE- each section secure and complete In s
place, and the gun 10 increased 10 length Eve inches
We have already remarked that the section N little
longer the centre than NJ the outside BY this means
perfect ADHESION 1rst formed ~ the centre OF the Qun
and by continued bsmmerng the whole Ia brought level
gun tapers towards the muzxe where less strength
required the outer band hree iBch) OF the sections ia
omitted reduc Nc the sire by 30 much. steel plug
centre repeatedly driven into the gun a. each
the parts.
me grn N built one and hall inch larger than II N
Intended 20 be when turned on, and II In built mp with
such accuracy that IL thought this viii sord sufficient
margin upon which 10 cut away oil roughness and regu
ares and leave the gun ~ perfect polished needle
The guns 10 be ri1ed-the rlHngs making about hall
turn 10 the entire length OF the gun. The last process
the manufacture the placing OF the runno which
nrst carefully finished and ntted, then heated and
sbrunk upon the aune.
Mr. Ames Justly sanaune Ia his prophet regarding
bis guns, and he does not hesitate TO predict for them
nanse Of seven miles. From careful investigation into
comparative resstaDcs OF wrought aud cast iron. ME-
tmes expects In his with entire SAFETY twice
the heaviest charge used In the DAhlsrens, and viii
which The latter are smineotIy unsafe