Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1885-03-14

ing point in the first furnace, they are
drawn out and passed through ponderous
rollers which reduced it from abou, eight
OF ten inches in thickness to heavy plate,
but Of uniform width Of about fifteen inches
From here ii goes to cutter where 1t is cut
into lengths Of about two feet, and submitted
to another furnace heating so as to Perfect the
Welding in its passage through the next set Of
rollers which reduce 1t {, sheet iron Of such
thickness as may be desired, depending upon
the sire OF nails TO be made. These sheets
are then cut into lengths and widths ready for
the nail machines, up stairs the refuse OF
clippings going back to the scrap pile.
The motive power for these ponderous cut.
tiers or shears tof which there are threel and
sets Of rollers is supplied from corliss en-.
CINE Of 600 horse power and the works are
So arranged tina, any one department, OF part
thereof, can be run independently. 50 that in
the event Of break down, or a need to work
one part more than another, It can easily be
arranged. The coal used is % tons per day
and this calls Tor daily consumption Of 30
tons Of old iron. The work is carried on with
the utmost care, everything being weighed at
each stage in the process, and the shrinkage
duly recorded
On going to the upper floor, whereon are
situated the nail machines, it was perfect din
and clatter OF noise that required one to shout
to his utmost in order to be heard. The sight
Of scyenty.two machines ranged along in rows,
all at their regulated speed, each making a
nail at every cut OF bite of the plate Of iron
led to them. II was a sight that was worth
travelling far to sec, and gave me an especial
interest from the difference in nail making by
hand I witnessed some thirty years ago.
| The machines are made for each sire nail re.
quired. The smaller sizes have an attachment
to feed the plate and reverses II with each cut
while the larger sizes, say from about 30 d. up
are fed by hand and requires a steady ant
rapid turning of the wrist. An attendant Stand
at each machine to feed or supply fresh plate
to the automatic feeders, and others keep thcs,
attendants supplied with plates of the RICH
size illt lilltkitsh Nluln VI llt rldltN
according to the weigh, OF sire Of nail to b.
cut, the width Of the plate being the length o
the nail The plates for the larger nails ar
heated in furnaces on the same floor, and ar
below, where they are gathered, but beior
being put into kegs for market they go throug
heated revolving cylinder TO "blue" them
They are then put up in kegs, of uniiou
weight OF one hundred pounds, and stored i
the warehouse ready for shipment. The ma
chimes on this floor | have Just described max
all the sizes of cut nails known to the trade
In a room on the first floor has recently bee
added a number of wire nail machines whic
make the round French nail, from tn
smallest size for cigarbox making up to tw
inches. The demand for these is constant
ahead Of the supply.
The capacity of these works is $40 kegs
nails per day, but for some time past tn
average output is COS kegs each day Of tie
hours work. The company have their ow
machine and blacksmith shop on the premise
as also their own keg factory. The worl
commenced in April, 1882, and have copit'
Of $soo,ooo They employ as5 hands, an
have the satisfaction of controlling the ma
-. trade Of the Pacific Coast for its nails ship no
to all countries and ports Of the Pacific.
The hum Of machinery, the blast of the fu
. naces. and the reports from the rolling whit
. hot sheets keep up noise that is heard sever
!, blocks distant and within its walls it is eas
, imagined than described Nevertheless Il
, visit was one thoroughly enjoyed and appr'
ciatcd, brief though it was, yet through Il
, courtesy, Of Mr.. Houston in his description
the different work and machinery in the sever
departments | felt that had been doub
f, favored with a rare educational treat and
# the briefest possible time, as eight o'cloC
called my chaperone to another and dista
!; engagement and myself to the city.
Honolulu, March IL, 1855 T. G. T.
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