The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-01-09


whole After several tests, each one
growing more rigid, a machine which
passes them all is sent to the final test.
ing room, whore men are constantly busy
AS the machines are handed in they are
tested with fine needles and coarse ones,
long stitches and fine ones, fine cloth and
heavy samples, and there is no way in
which it is not tested.
| fingered long in the needle depart
ment, because it was there that the most
skillful workmen and the most delicate
machines are employed. One will hard
ly find a sewing machine needle as small
as hair, but the finest seem hardly larg-
or, and it was query to me how the
eyes were made until | saw the little
drills at work-little bits of steel threads
that one had to look at twice to see. In
connection with the needle department, |
find the only 'lasses' yet seen about the
establishment They are mainly employ
ed in asserting and wrapping the nee
dies having little to do with their manu-
facture.
You have seen a company OF soldiers
march I? Well the monotonous left
left of the Captain, is like the monoto-
ny prevailing here. Right hand-lcrt
hand-this way-that way--never miss
ing a movement, and the longer stand
and look, the lirmer is my belief that this
man or that woman is an automaton
whose eyes, fingers and head are moved
about by some hidden machinery within.
1t is wonderful that men can be so train
ed, but if it were not so, the Wheeler &
Wilson would run fast and slow, jarri G
and jogging, because not perfect mo-
chine. Experience has shown each con-
tractor that any work not perfect in ev-
cry detail, will be rejected, and the ex-
pense thrown back on his private purse
Just that care which jeweler exercises
in the manufacture of a watch is exercis
ed here.
Time has been running away like q
race horse, and it is noon. Just like o
regiment OF soldiers, obeying the order II
carry arms, the signal Of noon time i,
obeyed by every operator about the
building, and the change from labor tc
reireshmcnt is so sudden and marked as
to startle one. AS the men 90 out anC
the wheels become still, one has a better
chance to note the depth, width ant
height of the buildings, which contain
for ono small item, eighty thousand dol
lars worth of iron girdcrs, which suppor
the rool.
A trip back to the hotel, good square
Yankee meal Of corned beefand potatoes
and | return to the beehive for loos
through the shops devoted to the manu-
facture Of the cabinets, and the tables O
the machines. Just one half of tn,
mammoth building is devoted to thi
work. Before we 60 in, the Superln
tcndent tells me that these shops use W
nearly 100000 feet of the choicest pin
lumber every month, and that tho bill
paid each month for mahogany, rosewood
and walnut would start most any man il
business | did not ascertain what j
costs to run the whole establishment To-
single month, but should suppose tha
the product of paying silver min
would be required. The cost of ground
buildings, machinery and tools must hav
used up over half million dollars be
fore n sewing machine was turned out
Here in these rooms are planning ma
chimes, smoothing machines, boring ma
chimes, turning machines, and machine
without number, all running at once, an'
five or six hundred workmen lodging a
round and among them. Almost ever,
blow is struck by machinery, only need
ing human hand to temper its force.
Of from the main shops is hug
room where the cabinets and cases ar
finished and stored They look lk
mirrors as pass by, rejecting credit t
every hand that nad to do with them
Here learn something which may b,
news to even those who have Wheele
& Wilson occupying corner of the sit
ting room. The tables are not compose
OF one solid piece of board, as one woul
imagine, but of four or five thin board
solidly glued together. This etfectuall
checks any disposition to warp or spring
But, as the afternoon wears away, W
make shorter stops at each department
There is one aoom where | linger, a
though the superintendent casts anxiou
glances at his watch. 1t is among tb
artists, the men who give the last touch
es to the beautiful machines. Those VIII
have a Wheeler & Wilson with decora
tions of gold and pearl cannot realize tn
labor and skill required to form and con
plete the beautiful patterns. The arti'
who gives life to the bit Of canvass, an
who has his reputation at stake, has nc
a task more delicate than have these p;
tient and well-paid toilers.
Now, we take a run for, and merel
glance at the foundry, tho several difie
ent boilers required to furnish the stean
at the piles of lumber and iron, and tn
dozen store houses containing other mi
terials There are men and boys comm
and going, machines are being packe,
boxes being shipped, orders coming in b
telegraph and mail, and the idea th'
one single human mind directs and col
trolls everything, almost staggers belle
sit down for a while in the Office, ,an
the gentlemanly assistant superinten'
ent, Mr.. Hurd, gives some general fact
Eighteen years ago, the annual sale
sewing machines of all makes, was har,
ly more than 1000. Last year the sal,
were over half million and the sale
the Wheeler 4 Wilson went far to max
up this grand figure. How many stitcl
es can a rapid seamstress take in mil
ute About thirty. Here we see no
machinery triumphs over muscle. TT
Wheeler & Wilson machine makes !
500 stitches per minute worked by fo'
power, and each is far stronger and mo
perfect than any human hand can max
, When run by steam, as is the case
many of our large manufacturing esta
lishments, tho machine makes 5000 p
minute. 1t il calculated that n compe