The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-06
CITY INTEL LHGEr rCE.

WONDERFUL INvENTIoN.-The improvements
and inventions of the nineteenth century com
pietely eclipse those of any other age. Among
those at present attracting the attention of the
scientific world is the recently discovered art of
nickel plating by the electro process For ages
nicke has remained imbeded in the earth
comparatively useless metal. On account of
its great resistance to heat, and hardness It wa,
impossible to melt 1t in the ordinary crucibles:
congealing as it does at the same degree of heat
at which steel will flow from the furnace. aud
chilling almost the instant it is run off, it was
an utter impossiblity to cast 1t into any shape,
and from its stubborn qualities has been aptly
termed the devils metal, by which name it
has been generally known among netallurgists
for years. The deposit of nickel by the battery
has been the subject of experiment for long
time and while an object could be coated with
nickel it was with such irregularity and un-
certainty as to be of no practical use,
invariably presenting the appearance of
tin platter struck by lightning, or Us if there
had really occurred the oft-quoted Tempest in
teapot" DIR. Isaac Adams, of Boston, Mass,
gentleman of culture and varied scientific at
tainments, after thorough research and fifteen
years devoted to experiment, has given to the
world this new and beautiful art which will
effect complete revolution in our system of
manufactures, being as strongly recommended
for economy as on account of its rare brillance
and beauty. We several days ago paid a visit
to the Star Nickel Plating Works, rear of Penn
Building, No. 42S Walnut street, and were
shown through the establishment by the super
III,
mltted TO see the articles subjected to the vari-
Gus processes cessary to prepare them for the
BATH from which they now emerge as beautiful
as the first rays of summers sun rising from out
the ocean. White as silver and of much the
same appearance nickel is the most durable of
all metals; of the hardness of untempered steel,
IL will resist a greater degree of heat is not
affected by moisture, atmospheric changes,
or the weaker acids. Nitric and nitro
muriatic acids, which will destroy all
other metals, are all which have any percep
tible effect upon it. The following extract from
Ordnance Memoranda No. TO-" being the re-
port of board of officers which was convened
for the purpose of testing nickel plating, with
view to its adoption for plating arms, bridle-
bits, etc, and the best proof of its merit for the
report was not made until after nickel-plated
arms had been exposed to the fury OF the ele-
ments, buried in wet sand for three months, and
left on the roof of the Springfield Armory for
the same period in each case accompanied with
the ordinary steel-surfaced arms, which were
entirely ruined; the nickel-plated arms after the
test as bright and intact as before. Extract
from report, Instrumentation No. 26:"-Re-
commendaton that number of nckel-pated
sabres pistols, and bridle-bits be prepared and
issued to troops in the field for trial, approved;
with a further recommendation that suitable
number of breech-oading rihed muslets be
plated with nickel, and issued also for trial in
the field"
Signed A. B. Dyer Brevet Maior-General,
Chief of Ordnance. Endorsed by the War De-
partment.
The recommendations of the Chief of Ord
nance are concurred in by the Secretary of War,
April 80, 1870 Signed Ed. Shriver Inspector
General
Arms from the Springfield National Armory
are now being plated at the Star Nickel Plating
Works in this city. The City Troop are also
having their swords, spurs, bits, etc. plated to
protect them from rust and the success of this
new mechanic art is no longer question of
controversy.