New-York tribune., 1876-09-02
MACHINERY NOTES.

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MACHINERY NOTES. .o
THINGS STRANGE AND NEW IN TUE GREAT HALL OF
.. .,.5 +.t.f b. MACHINES 'f
ryRom THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE ]
PHILADELPHIA, Aug pa working model
of compressed locomotive made by the students OF
the Poytschnc College OF Philadelphia, Is very cred
table specimen of mechanical work. and Is at the same
time suggestion that this kind OF motor may be found
exceedingly valuable The power contained In the reser
yoir OF the machine. which, by the way resembles the
boiler OF an ordinary locomotive must OF course be sup
piled by stationary steam engine bat the merit OF the
invention that the power can be expended where the
smoke and gas generated by fire would DO Objectionable
or positively dangerous In coal or other mines for ex-
AMPLE and In tunnels where compressed air used Tor
driving the drills, the employment OF such locomotive
would be found very economical and advantageous IL
IA possible too that noseless motor, without nre,
smoke or steam may eventually be found the best for
street railways Indeed there some enthusiastic peo
pe who think that power In the shape Of compressed air
viii one day bo supplied stores factories and private
houses cities through iron pipes aid underground just
es water and gas are now. . .-.-.fI
great variety OF handsome work done on tho Wilson
machine is exhibited pretty glass pavilion in the
center of the raised platform occupied by the rows OF
these machines elegant nlad cases The articles are
selected with view Of showing the capacity Of the pa
chine to do equally good sewing upon fabrics OF all
sorts from delicate silk and Swiss muslin to heavy pad
ded overcoats and leather Among the ornamental WORK
dspiayed there are some beautiful specimens OF en-
brodery chenille. white broadcloth bedquilt. with
center piece Of Of flowers corner pieces OF bas
kets Of fruit and ferns and border OF grasses ferns
and wild flowers Is remarkable for the fine shading In
the pictureke embroidery and the minuteness OF the
stitches which be discovered except on the clos
est inspection Some Of the OF the machines cost
81 OOO and good examples Of the art OF inayng In
ivory motberofpear and colored woods art which
haa been brought
TO such degree OF perfection In this country The Will
son machine Is made at Grand Orossng Ill., about seven
miles from Chicago where the principal offices OF the
company are located.
The processes by which things Of familiar use are made
appear most to interest visitors TO Machinery Hail.
Among operations Of this kind that always attracts
crowd is that OF making envelopes automatically The
machinery exceedingly ingenious, receiving the paper
from an endless roll reel cutting IL. folding tho en-
velopes pastng and fastening ;bem cumming the seal
ing naps drying the mucIage by passing them around
II wheels exposed 10 the atmosphere, and finally delv-
erug them neatly done up In packages Running ut an
average speed the machine makes las envelopes min
ute One girl can tend maohines There 10 pat
ents ON the machine which has been constantly i'm
proved since 1859 Other envelope machines exhib
tied that are also Of ingenuity They do not be-
gin with the paper however but fed with the
nst envelope forms. cut out by dies In separate ap
paratus.
kindred industry to envelope-making. as far the
machinery is concerned is the manufacture OF paper
coars-an enormous business the United States
ducing 200 900 900 collars year. From roll OF thick
caendered paper faced with CLOTH the machine cut the
collars In pair Of cutting dies after stamping the
stitch pattern and number upon them. Few any col
lars made entirely Of paper now manufactured the
cotton faced kind having driven them from the market
II Is estimated that the saving in washing from the
OF these collars amounts TO six millions OF dollars year.
The Lockwood Company Of PHILADELPHIA which exhibits
these machines shows In glass case collection OF all
the styles OF collars for % years since the inven
ton made curious relic Of patriotic fervor Is the
Fort Sumter collar with the stars and Stripes printed
In coors on each side 1t had sale In 1851
A curious phenomenon may be In connection with
the exhibition Of the Westinghouse arbrake. jet Of
air thrown from a tube connected with the reservoir
through opening larger than that In an ordinary
supports rubber ball In the air and keeps 1t
in suspension when tho Jet projected at an angle OF
45 degrees The most interesting feature Of the phe
nomenon is the change In the form OF the hollow ball
when IL rapidly An exact sphere at nrst as the
motion increases is gradually fattened at the extrem
ties OF the Of rotation until takes the precise form
OF the earth. .- ...r ...
The Wilcox Gibbs Sewing Machine Company makes
very practical exhibit showing their machines just as
they offer them sae and In fancifuy carved and
inlaid cases. got up expressly for the occason They
also show the adaptabiity OF the machines for manuac
turing purposes Two large tables with shafng under
meath power support four machines each the
being exactly such used In the making
of umbrella In large factory in Philadelphia As
specimens the fine embroidery work that the machine
does many handsome eoaks and chidren's dresses
dspl aged In glass case, and also elegant wneco-
ored silk dress embroidered with white silk cord The
Wilcox 4 Gibbs is said TO do faster sewing than any
other machine made. The nghtness, simplicity. and
cheapness Of this machine make II general hvorite.
One OF the improvements in rallroading for which
tha En0 credit Ia the
on the Pennsylvania and NowYork Central roads, by
which switchtender posted In tower, works by sys
tenn Of levers any number OF switches and at the
time sets signals that show TO approaching engineers
the condition o the track large aud admirably made
working model Of this invention s exhibited by Briefly
Sons Reynolds Of London. similar apparatus, with
an additional appliance by which gates on a road cross
ing the line opened and closed B shown by saxby
Farmer Of London. -...... q. -.t.......
Among the smaller machines that show great ingenuity
Of construction and wonderful adaptability,
more remarkable than the little ackmakng machines
that turn out 400 perfect tacks minute and be ad
iusted to make $500 different kinds and sizes Back OF
the machines, arranged against screen great
number OF glass Jars containing different varieties Of
tacks In looking at them IL tempted to moraze
the complex requirements Of modern life that finds uses
for 40 many notifications Of simple little article. .
portable boat for sportsmen's appears TO be O
valuable invention II is made OF oiled canvas stretched
over frame that can be compressed like the gates on
the Jersey City ferryboats the little haacks In
common When packed for transportation the boat
occupies space foot wide two feet hgh and three
and half long, and when extended for II Is large
enough for three persons.
Philadelphia inventor does a good business making
little meallons Of walnut with pictures OF the Exhbi
ton buildings brought out upon side in high relief
The block put into steel die and stamped in power
full machine the compression reducing the thickness OF
the wood nearly onehaf without increasing its length
width. Thus solidned the material shows well the