Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-09-13

THE EXCELLENCE OF THE ANrEmcAS MEcHANG-
CAL COLLECTION AT THE EXHmToN-AN
CAN INyENTIoNs--THE TYPEWRITER THE
ELECTRIC rEN--A MACHINE THAT WILL MAKE
PAIR OF SHOES FROM THE HIDE ~ FIFTEEN
Af1NUTEs-REcENr IMPROVEMENTS 1N MILL
TARY FIREARMS, ETC, ETC.
Especial Correspondence Of TIE PuUSiI.l
PANS, Avg. %, 1878.
Though the American section at Paris is
not large compared with the space occupied
by other manufacturing nations, there are
present so many of the contriyanocs which il
lustrate the subtitle mechanical genius, so well
recognized already that Yankee is almost
synonym for inventor, that the little rallied
of space Of the American collection is to am
ateurs in mechanism, a most fascinating stroll.
Few of these contributions occupy more than
few square feet, but many Of them are al
ready widely known. The writing machine,
by which the operator, touching series of
keys, like those Of an accordion, prints his
thoughts, or anything that he may desire to
copy, more rapidly than they can be written
legibly with pen, is here also the sewing
machines, whose name is legion and which
here are illustrated by new variations for spe-
cial work, ii little device attached to one
making it an embroidering machine. The
telephone and phonograph are here, and be-
sides them an electric pen by the same in
ventor-a pen which, earring tiny electro
meter at the top, drives needle through the
paper 10, 500 times per minute, forming a
stencil sheet through which, with an ink roll
er copies may be produced more rapidly and
economically than with lithogaphic press,
and of an excellence that must be seen to be
appreciated.
One of the finest types Of American inven-
ton is the flexible shaft for transferring power
around corners, and to of-the-way places.
One sees the operator holding what. at first
sight seems to be n small hose. but furnish
ed with an auger at its extremity, with which
he thrusts and bores in every drection-over
his head, under his feet, to the right to the
left. 1t upsets all ones ideas of regularity in
machinery. Pharaoh could not have been
more surprised at seeing Moses rod turned
into a serpent than some of the spectators
were to see this rope-like device eating into
the planks set on all sides for it to work on.
1t is as good as a piece of legerdemain. 1t is
really flexible shaft"-a cable Of steel
wires wound coat over coat, each successive
coating in the reverse direction Of the one
preceding, until the strength required is at
tained and in which Longitudinal hexibility is
combined with circumferentjal rigidity
Close by stands wire cork-screw ma
chine which catches a straight piece OF steel
wire and throws it out a cork screw of such
temper that it may be driven through an inch
deal plank and not yield hairs breadth
The deftest waiter will take as long to pull
cork as this machine to make half-dozen
cork-screws of an exceptionally good quality.
Here is II screw-cutting machine. One tool
cuts the rod down to the dimensions of the
screw, another cuts it OF, having the head the
full size of the rod, another takes it from the
last and passes it on to have the thread cut,
a cutter passes 10y and leaves the head slot
ted, another with four iron fingers takes it
aud transfers it to fifth cutter, where the
head is finished. when still another tool comes
TO push it into the pan placed to receive it.
No Intervention is needed until another rod is
wanted. A shoe-making apparatus, in auoth-
er enclosure takes the leather in the hide and
turns out, with slight manual application,
pair of shoes, sewed, pegged or screwed in
about fifteen minutes novel planning ma
chine shows n revolving cutter fixed in a disk
which is, by means Of an elbow arrangement
of bands and pulleys, moved in any direction
over the board to be planed, giving very
marketable finish to the surface. In general,
however, the woodworking apparatus is not
so interesting, aud by far less extensive than
at Philadelphia.
1t is n little remarkable, since necessity is
the mother of invention, that we, who are not
a warlike people, should excel these old belli-
cose nations in the construction OF fire arms
The Remington company exhibit two new
forms of military guns that are obviously an
improvement on all simple breach leaders
The breach block in one is the same as in the
Martini Henry ride, but the opening is effect
ed by the hammer, and can be worked by the
| thumb of the right hand. The motions are
| fewer and the action simpler than in the Hen
| ry rifle. But n more interesting arm is II
| breach-loader on the piston system, with an
| auxiliary magazine so arranged that a reserve
of seven cartridges may be held and the gun
used as a simple breach-loader until critical
moment, when, by pushing aside the key of
| the magazine, the reserve is brought into
| play, and the seven shots may be fired with
| aim in ten seconds. CAS-.