Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-01-03
Blowers vs.. Bellows.

blower or a bellows furnishes the best
power for forcing air into the blacksmith S
fire is not yet settled, and probably never
will be to tho satisfaction of everybody.
Some blacksmiths advocate the blower in
strong terms, while others arc equally as
earnest in supporting the bellows. Each
differs honestly and each fully believes he
is right and his opponent grievously wrong.
We witnessed, not long since, at the
American institute fair, q contest-oI
what was termed a cOntest-between the
Centennial fan blower, manufactured by
Messrs. Bender & Holman, of Lancaster,
Pa, and the Hurricane bellows, made by
the inventor, Mr.. John Bayliss, of 159
East FOrty-fourth street, New York.
Messrs. Bender & Holman were represeted
by Mr.. j. G. Hoffman, OF 1913 Greenwich
avenue, New York, while Mr.. Bayliss per.
sonally superintended his bellows.
Two pieces of iron were provided, as
nearly alike as it was possible to get them,
each being 81 inches square by inches
in length, These blocks of iron we're firm,
ly welded to strong rods some feet long.
When the judges announced themselves
ready, the fires fboth parties had been
some time in a glowing condition. The
blocks of iron were plunged into them Sim
uitaneously. Mr.. Jonathan Beam. an ex-
perienced shipsmith, of City Island, N. Y,
had charge of the blower block and Mr..
Bayliss himself supervised the bellows
block. 1t was exactly 19!I minutes past 8
when the irons entered the fire and while
they were heating, the writer noticed that
the man at the crank of the blower turned
it GO times minute which gave the fan q
spend of 1900 revolutions minute
Mr.. Bayliss run his bellows at the rate
of about twenty-five up and down move
ments of the lever a minute. At q min
utes to 10, or 49, minutess.after the irons
entered the fire, the blower party announc-
ed that their block had reached the proper
heat, which was understood to be a weld
ing heat. Both irons were withdrawn at
the same moment. The blower iron had
reached. in places. white heat. 1t was
hotter on each end than in the middle, and
the corners seemed to be hotter than any
other portion. The Bellows iron had
reached 4 bright red heat. I was agreed
by the judges and many blacksmiths who
witnessed the trial that neither piece of iron
had reached a welding heat.
While there was perceptible difference
in the degree of heat attained by each block
of iron, this difference appeared to be of
trifling character. If the reputation of
either method of propelling air was depen-
dent Oh this test, if would rest on a very
slender foundation. We have no opinion
to express either way, but certainly the
test above described could not be regarded
by either party with any great degree of
satisfaction, because it was wholly mad
equate. If it had been carried farther, and
two pieces of iron actually welded, it would
have come much nearer being real test.
AS it is, it is not likely that this trial
will change the views of an ultra blower
man or an ultra bellows man, and the war
between the two methods of propelling air
is likely to wax hotter. We have no pref
udice in favor of either. We simply re-
port the facts and desire to be perfectly
impartial.
We should be glad, however, to have
our readers give for publication their ex-
periences with the different kinds of blow
ers, and with both the common and patent
bellows. If one method is better than the
other, it is of Importance for blacksmiths
to know it and to learn which gives the
best results. The question, it seems to us,
is not which can heat piece or iron to a
certain point quickest, but which gives the
best results under all circumstances. Give
us your experience, reader, and in doing
so state the particular kind of blower or
bellows used, with manufacturers name
and address, if possible.