The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-11-02

this paper The favorable returns which
have been realized for the past two years,
it is to be hoped will have the effect to
give new impetus to the trade, which has
for the past few years languished on ac-
count of the average small catch of the
whalers North, together with the fact
that other oils have in a measure taken
the place of whale oils for many purposes,
particularly for light. The almost univer-
sal use of petroleum for lighting purposes
has almost entirely driven whale oil from
the field of one of its most important uses,
and had the effect, among other causes, to
greatly reduce its value Hitherto, for
many purposes, it has filled place which
no other known oil could fill. For lubricat-
ing machinery, sperm oil has been consid-
cred until recently the best substance to
obviate friction and prevent the heating
and rapid destruction Of the machinery.
Now, however, it is asserted that the oil
from cotton seed has been found to be
equal to sperm in every respect for lubricat-
ing purposes, and that it can take the
place of all whale oils 1t can be pro-
duced in vast quantities in cotton produc-
ing countries. In the enthusiasm on the
subject, created by the new discovery, it
is thought that at low price, the oil pro-
duced from the seed on-a cotton planta-
ton will pay for the cultivation of the
plant. This is probably an exaggerated
view of the profits to be derived from the
production of cotton seed oil, but there is
no doubt its manufacture viii become an
important branch of industry in cotton
growing countries, and that it will have
an important effect upon the whaling in
terests. Cotton seed oil for lubricating
purposes, is also like to meet in the early
DAYS of its use with a serious check by the
important discovery which has recently
been made in England of material for
bearings which does not require any oil at
all. This material is called " Metaline ="
or Dry Bearings and is spoken of in
the Boston CommerciaL Bulletin as fol-
lows; by which it will be seen that its
adaptability has been proved by the sever
est tests:
This article requires no lubricator 1t Meth
err wears nor cuts but remains firm, while the
tendency to heat is slight. fall is true that is
claimed for this new material Metaline-one of
the grandest discoveries of the day has been made
and we call the attention of all who use, or are
interested in machinery. to this description Of
META11NE or DRY BEARINGS
Our attention has been called to an article in
the LONDON Engineer, of February %, headed
DRY Bearings" in which an account is given of
a visit to the rooms of the Foreign Mercantile
Company No High Holborn, where a ten horse
power engine and frame Of spindles was to be
seen running without oil or lubricant of any kind
The Engineer says: We had the pleasure of
seeing one of the bearings running at 10000 revo-
lutions per minute also a dozen cotton spndles |
running at 5000 revolutions and little steam en-
gne driving them. making 100 revolutions per |
mnu'e, with all the bearings screwed down hard
and not one drop Of oil or lubricant of any kind |
We saw and therefore we believe"
The Eaginee, goes on to say that Barger &
Burock have introduced into England new ma
terial for bearings and shaft steps. which judging
always from what we have seen, appears likely |
to prove the most important improvement that |
has been introduced into machinery for many |
years Metaline is a new substance, made of old /
and well known ones. and fashioned into bear.
ings and foot steps which require no lubricant;
at least so say the inventors and they prove what
they say by running an engine at 100 revolutions,
without oil, cotton spndles at 5000 and an expert
mental spindle at 10000 revolutions. In appear
anee Metalne somewhat resembles blacklead, but
it is not blacklead. does it necessarily contain
backlead. although plumbago may sometimes be
employed in its formation. For small bearings,
cotton spindle steps, &c, it is formed into little
tubes and cups. For large bearings it is made in
the form of little buttons. = H. diameter, and |
g in. thick forced into suitable cavities drilled
into the ordinary brass bearings. The theory in
volved is ;hls-bearings wear because the surfaces
brought into contact are never truly smooth:
they always resemble, more or less. two brushes
drawn over each other the prominences and cavi-
ties interlocking Oil or grease acts as lubricant,
because it keeps the surfaces apart and prevents
interocking Metaiine acts by filing up all the
cavities, however small, in the shaft OF bearing.
producing a perfectly true surface. with which
there can be no inierlocking, and consequently,
although friction remains there can be no cutting
while heating is reduced to minimum, and de-
prved of its evils.
At the machine shop of Todd & Rafferty,. at
Paterson, n. j.. is to be seen huge vertical
Slotting Machine which is fitted with Msta'ins
This Slotier has an Is in. stroke, with about $50
square inches of friction surface on the tool bar
Messrs. T. & R. say that the machine has been
in daily use for over FIVE months, and they did
not discover the slightest tendency 20 wear or
cut during that time while on the other hand,
previous to its being fitted with this substance,
they could not, with the most liberal supply Of
the best Intoxicating oils. prevent its cutting.
The surface resembles burnished STEEL Messrs.
Todd Rafferty, speak in The highest terms of
this wonderful discovery-ir fact say they cannot
say too much in its praise They are building
some very fine 25 horse power engines, to be filed
entirely with Metaline, one of which is nearly
completed, and will soon be running in New York