Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1882-06-29
A Curious Machine.

manufactures in the United States,
and of these three are in Brooklyn,
the fourth being in New Haven,
Conn. In the largest of the Brook.
lyn establishments can be seen one
of the lpost ingenious and como1i-
Gated machines In existence, which
performs about ten different opera.
tions, turning out complete fish
hooks from plain cast-steel wire IN
larger quantities daily than twenty
skillful workmen could make by
hand. There are only two machines
of the kind, IN the world, and both
are owned by the house in ques-
ton, for which the machine was
devised by the inventor, DIR. Cros,
by, now deceased. The firm paid
very large sum for the invention
and for the patent rights, which it
now holds exclusively.
Until recently this machine was
operated, privately, and no one was
allowed, to see it work. The ma
chine consists of two distinct divis-
ions, each operated independently
of the other by separate gear, yet
which must work together in per-
feet harmony. The wire is uncoil-
ed frcm a large wheel, and at tie
same time Strengthened by series
of revolving rollers, after passing
through which it is seized for
second by clutch which holds it
in position to be cut off by another
knife working at right angles to
the others. rhis plows up with a
clean cut small spur OF metal
near the end, which is to form the
beard or barb Of the hook. AS
yet the point remains perfectly
blunt and square, but passing on,
it il roughly pointed by !. sort of
punch into the form of a wedge
At this stage it reaches the other
machine, which is at right angles
with the first md is dropped into
a groove upon an endless chain,
which passes in front of the revo(v-
ing files by which the hook is to be
finished. At the same time the
upper end Of the wire is seized by
an invisible finger and bent into a
ring with the rapidity of Thought,
1t is then brought il contact with
the six files, enc after another
These files are in the form Of wheels
each operated by separate sell
from the shaft, and each is Of a dit
ferent degree of fineness, graduated
from the rough burr which take.
eff tie wedge, TO the little polishing
wheel coming last and leaving the
point of the hook almost perfectly
round When the hook, finished
but still straight, leaves the last file
a finger pokes it down upon ;
ratchet, which fits exactly into 1l.'
barb of the hook and forces it t.
; bend round a projection on a fly
: wheel, which gives the hook it
proper shape and throws it into
receptacle below.
BY this machine about fifty-fiv
} hooks a minute are turned ont, al
, ready to be tempered and blued 0
l japanned, or about $4,000 in a da
| of ten hours. Ii it were allowed t
run continually, more hooks woul
be turned out than would suppl
, the whole market for a year to com
and more than could he conEeni
t emily finished and packed. Th
production could be increased t
over sixty minute, but SO high
running rate damages the files an
the tinisii Of the hooks is not q
:, good. The waste in defective hook
!. !. is only about five per cent. Ever
: hook, before being tempered, is e,
! amined singly, and if Imperfect
Il rejected. Only the large hook
and those for which, there is mos
demand, are made by the rnachin,
e which can be adjusted SO as
d make three different sizes. Thel
: is most demand for large trav
hooks for cod fishing, which al
e sold to fishermen by the barrel, {
a a good. sized trawl contains thous
: ands of hooks.