The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-10

o. Speaking again Of the tools Of large orl
general, are they OF the most improVea opsien
and in perfect working oToerY n many OF
them are OF the most approved design' out they
are not in perfect working order.
Extracts from the testimony of Engineer
Henderon:-
1nE IMPoLIcY OF BUYING OLD TOOLS.
Engineer Henderson, in answer to the Ques-
ton, Have you ever had occasion to consider
the question of the rate OF depreciation OF ma
chlneTy from wear and tear in any wellsupplied
"All machinery must deteriorate by wear. but
it be put in order 80 as 10 uldl its functions
as well as new; but at the same time machinery
that has been in wear for several years is not TO
be considered, III my opinion, equal to new."
Q. Have you ever estima ell the annual per-
centage of deterioration? A. | never nave, but
think FIVE per cent would not only cover the
wear, but cost of repairs.
.. Is it not the universal custom of the navy
10 procure new, first class tools? A. II has
been my practice to purchase entirely new first.
class tools, without regard to cost, though 1
have made exceptions.
. =. Does not wise economy require the adop-
ton OF the course you have pursued! A. Yes,
80 What principle governed you in the cases
where you have maze exceptions? A, l pur-
chased tool originally made by Bement a
Dougherty that had been in use a short time.
l considered II as good as new, and also had
their opinion that 1t WIS. purchased a second
hand planer, Also from the Atlantic WORKS,
East Boston. 1t was peculiar planer, aud no
other new tool could then have been purchased
and made available without waiting too long I
alt o purchased two small planers from Donald
Mckay, of Boston. They were almost ne W, and
were in perfect and complete order. Also, a
boring bar-a special tool Tor special work.
Q Before purchasing these tools did you see
them IN motion A. No, sir; but I saw that
they we've in complete order before paid tor
them.
Q. How did you learn that they were in
complete order? A. BY personal examination
OF them III the shops, and also by the report of
the master machinst.
Q. Did you buy them below the market price
for new tools A. The planer from the Atlantic
Works and the boring bar we're special tools
for special marine work, and had no market
value, and were bought to meet emergencies;
the two purchased of Donald Mckay were pur.
chased at much less than new tools could have
been made for at that time.
Q. Do you remember the rate at which you
purchased the tool make by Bement & Dough-
erty? A. do not; but 1t stands no as good
as new, without dollar for repairs.
Q. Is 1t not sometimes more economical to
lay aside an old,style tool though in good
repair, and to replace it by a new one having
greater facilities for doing the work? A. /
think 1T is economy in all shops 10 use the
latest Improvements, especially in tools, though
there are many things styled the latest i'm
provements which do not add to the efficiency
OF the tool, l have set aside old style tools in
the Boston yard aud purchased new ones.
There were old,tashloned and worn-out tools in
that yard which were sold at auction aud re-
placed by new ones. The work could have been
done, probably, with the old TOOLS but to carry
out my ideas of trst.c lass shop, deemed it
best 10 sell them aud replace them by those Of
the latest pattern believing it to be for the best
interest Of the Government.
THE BORING BAR.
| Mr.. Henderson having said of the boring bar
| that, Tor the purpose of boring large cylinders.
1t Is OF good design, is large, substantial and
| You have recently ordered a boring machine,
but not of this pattern? He replied:-
O., IL nave. IL Is much more expensive, costing
SIS, 800 and weighing about 20 tons. 1t can be
used as very large turning lathe. 1t is being
built by the Lowell machine shop, OF Lo we'll i,
Massachusetts, and is probably the largest in
the country in weight and capacity.
Q. How small diameter Can you drill OF
bore with it? A. Three feet. As a turning
lathe the largest and heaviest work can be put
upon it.
Q. Would it be better economy to purchase
such a boring bar as you saw at Philadelphia,
at low rare, or such machine as you have
ordered for your yard? A. Were limited in
an appropriation, 1 should deem it my duty to
purchase such al machine as was purchased foI
Philadelphia, but having in view the building
up OF a large and complete engine-manufactur.
ing shop, deemed it best for the interests OF
the Government TO purchase more complete
| and more expensive tool.
@. Then you would buy boring rod of that
! kind as you have bought other special tools, il
you required it for an emergency or we're neces-
sarily Limited by the amount of funds at your
command? A. Yes, sir. l would buy special
tools for special purposes at as low rate as
possible.
Q. Would yo1 have been likely to buy that
kind OF tool under such circumstances as those
! at Philadelphia? A. No; | would not have
purchased the Philadelphia tool, bee ciuse was
not limited to cost, but had view solely to
eff cheney and the future need of the shop under
my charge.
Q. Would you have bought such tool? A. l
could have bought that very tool, but preferred
the other at the greater cost.
THE 66.INoH PLANER.
In relation to the 66 inch planer built by
Bement Dougherty in 1867, which all the
witnesses ag1ee is, Notwithstanding its age, one
OF the best, II not the best, of the old tools
l bought from John Roach, Mr.. Henderson was
| asked
Q. What would you allow for the deteriora.
ton OF that tool by use and age, and its want OF
modern proportions? A. II In perfect order
would not consider it as valuable as a new tool
by the same manufacturers by from 10 to 10 per
cent. l make the estimate low, because
assume that this tool is to be in perfect order.
Q. What would it require to put it in such
order as would Justify your estimate? a. II
needs new pinion and the loose motion taken
up IN the screws, and think fifteen or twenty
dollars would repair it. l considerIt one of the
best machines | saw there. ] DO not mean to
say that would not prefer new one, though
D. even when put in repair. | thirk it is economy
In the end, IN Government work, to pay the
best prices for the best tools.
THE DoUBLE-HEADED LATHE.
Q. Did you examine the double headed lathe
A. did.
Q. Did you examine 1t particularly enough tC
determine Whe her 1t was originally constructed
as ouble-beaded lathe? a. No, sir. Ny
impression is It was originally made for
that
2 Would YOU expect a perfect double.headet