Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-02-14
THE NEW NAIL MACHINE.

A Difference of Opinion as to Its Merits
The Various Arguments.
The merits and dement's of the new nail
machine, that recently caused such a stir
in that department Of industry. are being
discussed at Length nowa-days by the
manufacturers OF the city. There seems to
be quite a difference of opinion concerning
the ability OF the machine to do good work,
and the ACCESSIBILITY Of attempting to oper.
ate it. The fact that the time given our
manufacturers 10 decide whether they will
attempt the running Of il, is drawing to q
close, lends additional interest TO the ques-
ton.
A REGIsrEE reporter yesterday talked
with some gentlemen interested in the nail
business end was given AL opportunity to
hear
soME or THE ARGUMENTS
produced by those for and those against
the idea OF attempting 10 operate the ma
chine in Wheeling. Ore who was not
tavorsbly impressed said: What is de-
sired nov is to do away with skilled labor
in a measure, thus setting aside TO q GER
tain degree the danger OF strikes, and q
machine that will produce nails cheaper
than the present one. 1t appears from q
thorough investigation that IN order 10
operate this new machine other kinds Of
work will Ia cessarilS have to be done that
will require qlite rs much talent as any ia
the present process Of making nails.
Neither is
TnE AMOUNT OF SKILLED LABOR
reduced, go this one great iced would. not
be supplied by the new machine. One of
the most Difficult, things connected with
operating this machine is the preparing of
the nail plate. If it ID not cut the exact
length required it will not do to feed into
the new machine One OF the men who
examined the machine noticed that the
edges of come Of TIE plate which had been
prepared 10 b. led into the machine had
been filed, and this led to the discovery
Of the great difficulty experienced in pre-
pairing the plate. In order to overcome
this trouble additional machinery would
have to be invented and the expense in
CURED Woulu uOuDtless Dc
GREATER THAN THE PROFIT.
Then, again, suppose you were making
these nails; you would have to introduce
them and work up a market for them.
This would be nc easy task. Men who
buy nails think the old ones are good
enough and are not a. all clamorons for q
change. The new nail would necessarily
have to be produced a great deal cheaper
than the old before they could possibly at.
tract the eye Of The consumer. So much
cheaper indeed that | think it entirely i'm.
practicable to run The machine as il now
is. 1t was first patented twenty ak years
ago, and a company in Boston tried 10 run
1t but broke up. 1t completely ruined that
company and | think that shouid be q
warning to all others. However. the ma.
chine hos been re.psten.ed since that time,
and it must be admitted that II has been
greatly improved. The inventor, Mr.. s. |
W. Wickersham, has spent almost
ALL HIS LIFE
trying to make il a SUCCESS and it il to be
hoped he will succeed yet, if he has not al.
ready"
In conversation with O gentleman who
was enthusiastic over the anticipated sue.
cess Of the machine, he said There will
be some trouble 10 introducing this ma
chine, although mostinspectors pronounce
it a success. The manufacturers have too
much money in the old ones TO throw them
away. The cost OF the old machines that
Gny OF our companies own, added 10 the
money it would take 10 obtain the sole use
Of the new. and you will have an enormous
sum The hesitation on the part OF our
manufacturers to operate this machine is
not because it is not q good thing, but it is
because the necessary outlay at first is 90
great. 1t is more than likely that some
company or companies will buy the patent
for ONE years and not operate it at ell
until they get their money out OF their old
machines and then setit in operation. Il ia
possible that one Of the new machines will
be brought to Wheeling IN a short time,
and thus afford our manufacturers q chance
to gee it work, and gain q more perfects and
satisfactory idea Of it's merit"
1t is generally conceded that the new nail
Injuries wood less than the old Many Of
the gentlemen interested have made an
investigation Of the matter, which resulted
in this conclusion,
One point Of objection made by many
has not as get been mentioned. 1t is
claimed tbat the knives that cut the nails
are very difficult to keep in order. 1t re-
quires, ss alleged by some, q good ma
cbinist to 20 arrange them as TO do 6nt
class work.