The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-01-05
AN INDISPENSABLE TOOL,
How the Ausur Was Discovered and How
IL Is Manufactured

1t Is Manufactured.
The principle of the augur now in
use all over the world. is said to have
been discovered by accident In 1850.
Benjamin Pugh. an Englishman, while
watching some boys working endeavor-
ing to bore n hole in the ground with a
piece of iron barrel hoop. noticed that
after the hole had been sunken some
distance INTO the earth, and the pliable
metal of their improvised tool had be-
come heated. it twisted and carried the
dirt up to the surface nicely, and he
could not see why the same principle
should not apply to wood. The inven-
ton of the augur was the result
The screw-augur was an American in
vention, and was invented about one
hundred years ago by Thomas Garrett,
who lived in the vicinity of Oxford.
Chester County, Pa, where most of
the black augurs are still made. Most
of the bright tools are made in the East,
but one of the principal manufactures
is in Philadelphia. The Ohl-fashi
pod augur is still used in England and
Germany. The single screw augur is
also an American invention, AMI was
discovered by accident by Philadel-
phian. 1t is the only augur that can
be used to any satisfaction in very hard
woods where the double screw augurs
become clogged.
In the olden time. and until less than
fifty Years ago, the feature of the
manufacture was the excellence he
could produce in Equality. and as nearly
every thing was made by hand. it did
not receive the beautiful polish that. at
the present day. adorns the cheaper
and inferior implements. In preference
to polished surface. the inventor and
manufacturer of double twist augurs
made the twist black and unpublished.
1t thus showed the handwork that had
been put upon it, and it is still we'll
known fact that handmade tools are
far superior in quality and workman
ship to all others. As manufacturing
industries increased. augurs began to
be made with high polish and beauty,
but the consumer soon found they
were of inferior quality, and would in
quire for the black twist augur, know
ing it to be the old-fashioned, genuine
kind.
Although every one is perfectly
familiar with this commonplace tool,
but comparatively few know the pro-
cess of its manufacture. In making
augurs the iron which forms the main
or spiral part is welded into the steel
of which the tip is made before forg-
ing The bar then is put under ham,
mers and forged into shape. 1t is then
put into what is called "wringing
machine" and twisted up in 4 rough
shape into the spiral form. after which
it is passed through "crimpers'' givin :
uniformity of twist The augurs are
next PIT through ''straighteners" and
ravolyed, MI ing them per-
fecily Straight when they are
ready for putting on the head, which
is the most delicate operation in their
manufacture. and requires the work of
skilled artisan. They are tn, n sub
jected to grinding out" process,
which consists of putting them through
two rubber wheels to rough polish the
twist. The filter up then takes hold
of them and ''lightcns' or fits the head;
then the tilers file down and sharpen
the heads, after which they pass through
the hands of the polishers. where they
are polished and hardened ready for
market. -!St0UsS anil HGriUdre.