Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-05-13
900 sovereigns and half-sovereigns can
he weighed here in a simple daY The

900 sovereigns and half-sovereigns can
be weighed here in a single day. The
weighing machine in question is the in
vention of Mr.. Cotton, former Cover
nor of the Bank, and among scientific
men is regarded as one of the most
striking achievements of practical me-
chanics.
In the bullion department we find
another weighing machine of a differ
ent character, but in it's way equally
remark able. 1t is the first of its kind,
having been designed specially for
the bank by Mr.. James Murdoch Ma
pier, by whom it has been patented
1t is used for the purpose of weigh
ing bullion, which is purchased in
this department Gold is brought in
in bars of about eight inches long,
three wide, and one inch thick. A bar
of gold of these dimensions will weigh
about 200 ounces, and is worth, if
pure, about $500. Each bar when
brought in is accompanied by memo
randum of it's weight. The question
of quality is determined by the pro-.
cess of assaying; the weight is checked
by means of the weighing machine we
OF an extremely massive pair of scales,
working on a beam of immense strength
and soldity, and is based, SO as to be
absolutely rigid, on solid bed of con-
crete. The whole stands about six feet
high by three wide, and is inclosed in
an air-tight plate glass case, sash
in which is raised when it is desired to
use the machine. The two sides of the
scale are each kept permanently load
ed, the one with a single weight of $50
ounces, the other with a number of
weights of various sizes to the same
amount. When it is desired to test the
weight Of bar of gald, weights to the
amount stated in the corresponding
memorandum, less half an ounce, are
removed from the latter scale, and the
bar of gold substituted in their place.
Up to this point the beam of the scale
is kept perfectly horizontal, being
maintained in that position by a me-
chanical brake; but now stud is
pressed, and by means of delicate ma
chinery, actuated by water-power, the
beam is released. If the weight of the
bar has been, correctly stated in the
memorandum, the scale which holds it
should be exactly half an ounce in eX-
cess. This or any less excess of weight
over the $50 ounces in the opposite
scale is instantly registered by the
machine, a pointer travelling round
dial until it indicates the
proper amount. The func-
ton of the machine, however is limited
to weighing half an ounce only. If the
discrepancy between the two scales as
loaded is greater than this, or it, on the
other hand, the bar of gold is more
than half an ounce less than the amount
stated in the memorandum, an electric
bell rings by way of warning, the point
er travels right round the dial, and re-
turns to zero. SO delicate is the adj
iuStment that the weight of half pen
ny postage stamp--somewhat less than
half grain-will set the hand in mo-
ton and be recorded on the dial.
The stock Of gold in the bullion vault
varies from one to three million pounds
sterling The bars are laid side by side
on small flat trucks OF barrows carry
ing 100 bars each. In glass case in
this vault is seen a portion of the war
indemnity paid by King Coffee of
Ashantee, consisting of gold ornaments,
little short of standard fineness.-
hoo.ai al