Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-12-22
Everywhere | 90. I see perfect system an

contractor work TO plans and guages, but
each must work go that his work Will fit all
other work, and the machine as a whole be
absolutely perfect. There are no false blows,
no needless filing, no waste of material or
muscle. The days DO not come and 90 more
regularly than each blow is struck here. As
we 90, we note the Automatic Machine that
makes the rotating hook-the most wonder
| ful machine ever saw and when told that
/ this part of the Wheeler Wilson was diff
ferent from any other machine, and that this
rotating motion, which is continuous in one
direction, with no stops or starts. as is the
case with all other machines which take the
/ lock stitch, was the great principle which
/ had made the Wheeler & Wilson the leading
machine for fifteen wears, fingered until ad-
monished by Mr. Perry that time was on
the move. and we pass in to the gang drills,
the Jig, and the score of other wonderful ma
chimes which are called into use in framing
some part of this wondarful machine. One
| punches the holes for the screws, another
makes the screws. another the bobbins, and
/ you see so much tina; you hardly remember
| anything. We here see hundred machines
/ being tested. They are placed on gig and
run by machinery. Every machine IL sub
]
/ exist no want of harmony between the varI-
| ous parts. This ought to be a good test, but
! il is not considered SO. On the contrary, the
testing process has only lust commenced when
1 the machines come off the table. Each part
now gets a close scrutiny, and if there is the
minutest deviation from true. 1t is cast aside
as old iron. Absolute perfection is a motto
/ here which is adhered 10 as rigidly as if the
human hand was not capable Of making mis-
takes. The deviation of hair 5 breadth in
some parts Of the machine might cause 4 tan
gle in the whole After several tests, each
one growing more rigid, a machine which
/ passes them all is sent to the final testing
| room, where men are constantly busy. As
the machines are handed in they are tested
with fine needles and coarse ones, long stitch
es and fine ones, fine cloth and heavy sam
pies, and there is no way in which it Is not
tested
I fingered long in the needle department,
/ because il was there that the most skilliul
w1rkmen. and the most delicate machines
are employed. One will hardly find a sewing
machine needle as small as a hair. but the
finest seem hardly larger, and twas a que
~ 10 me how the ewes were made until !
saw the little drills at w0rk-litte bits Of
steel threads that one had to look a twice to
see. in connection with the needle depart
meat, | find the only 'lasses' yet seen about
the establishment. They are mainly en-
I ployed in asserting and wrapping the needles
having little to DO with their manufacture.
You have seen a company of soldiers
march? Well, the monotonous 'lelt'-'leit
of the Captain. Is like the monotony prevail
ing here Right hand-left hand-this way
/ that way-noycr missing q movement. and
the longer ! stand and look, the fimer is my
] belief that this man OF that woman is am au-
tomaton, whose eyes. fingers and head are
moved about by some hidden machinery
within lt is wonderful that men can be s.
trained. but ID il were not 50. the Wheeler 6
Wilson would run fast and slow, ilrE:ng and
Jogging. because not perfect machine =
pcriencc las shown each contractor that al-y
work not perfect in every detail, viii be re-
sctcl. and the expense thrown back on bis
private purse. just that care which q lew-
+ oicr exercises in the manufacture Of q watch
. is exercised here.
Time has been running away ike race
horse. and It is noon. just like a regiment
of soldiers, obeying the order to carry arms,
the signal Of noon time Is obeyed by every
operator about the building, and the change
from labor O. rofreshment is 80 sudden and
marked as 70 startle one. As the men - ont
and the wheels become still. one has better
chance to note the depth. width and height
o. the buildings (which conain,ior one small
item, eighty thousand dollars worth Of iron
girders, which support the roof
4 trip back 70 he hotel. a good square
/ Yankee meal of cornei beef and potatoes
and return to the bee hive for a look
through the shops devoted % the mauuilc-
ture of the cabinets, and the tables Of the
machines. just one nalf Of the mammoth
building is devoted % this work. Before We
Cd In, the Superintendent tells me that these
shops use up nearly POO 900 feet OF the
choicest zine lumber every month. and
that THE hii- paid each month for mahog-
any. rosewood and walnut would start III 1T
any man IN business. / did not ascertain
what it costs 20 run the whole establishment
tor single month. Lat should suppose that
the pr1duc, of a paying silver mine would be
required. The c0st ofgr0und, buildings ma
. chInerv and tools must have used up over
hllla million dollars before q sewing machine
vas turned out Here in these rooms are
planning machines. smoothing machines, hJr-
ing machines turning machines and machines
without number, ali running az once, and
five 0rsiS hundred workmcn lodging around
and among them. Almost every blow j.
struck by machinery, only needing human
hand % temper its force.
OE from The main shops is huge room
where the cabinets and cases are tnished and
stored. They look like mirrors as l pass by,
relcc;.ng creit on every hand that bad 10
90 with them. Here | learn something
which may De news TO even those who have a
Wheeler G Wilson occupying corner Of the
sitting room The nblesare not composed
of one solid piece of board. as one would in
agiue, bat OF fur or five thin boards soliily
glued together. This electually checks any
disposition to warp or spTiug.
But, as the afternoon wears away we ma ke
shorter stop. at each department. There is
one room where llnger. although the super
intendent casts anxious glances at his watch.
lt is among The artists, the men who give the
Iast touches 90 the beautiful machines. Those
who have a Wheeler * Wilson with dec0ra-
tons of gold and pearl canno. realize the la
boz AMI skill required 20 form and complete
the beautiful patterns. The artist who gives
life % the bit OF canvass. and who has hi:
reputation at stake, has not a task more deli
cate than have these patient and well-paid
toilers.
Now, We take a run for and merely glance
Mt the foundry, the several different boiler'
required 10 furnish the steam, at the piles OF
lumber and iron, and the dozen store houses
cont lining other materials There are mer
and boys coming and going. machines are be
ing packed boxes being shipped, orders com
ing in by telegraph and mai, and the idea
that one single human mind directs and con-
trolls everything, almost staggers belief.
sit down for a while in the office and the
gentlemanly assistant superintendent, Mr..
Hurd. gives some general facts. Eighteen
years ago, the annual sale of sewing ma
chimes of all makes, was hardly more than
LOCO. Last year the sales were over half q
million and the sale of the Wheeler AZ VII.
son went far TO make up this grand figure
How many stitches can rapid seamstres
take in minute2 About thirty. Here VI
see how machinery triumphs over muscle
The W. * W. machine makes 800 stitches
per minute worked by foot power, and eacl
Is far stronger and more perfect than any hu
man hand can make. When run by steam
as is the case in many of our large manuac
! turing estab shmends. the machine make
1000 per minute. 1t is calculated that
competent man or woman can with this ina
I chine do the work of eight persons, and dc
it well. There is not now a civilized cOun
= try in the world where the Wheeler IL vii
son machines are not in use. They havt
/ made their way to China, Egypt, Japan, ,Iur
: key, South America, Mexico, Asia, Africa
Newfoundland, Australis. Italy, Spain, Cub
and to every people who have use for nee
die and thread. There are agencies in ever.
foreign city OF importance, and missionarie
= act as agents in the far off countries.
e But this article would never end if dit
| note hop 1t of at some point. merely We
through the mammoth factory to satisfy per
Q sonal curiosity, and should not have at
farpr,ta1 laffor tut T,- 81 of th