The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-25

ness OF about sixteen years. The man
ufacturing department occupies seven
rooms, all with the exception of the
supply rOOm) receiving light from at
least two sides. This latter feature is
derived from the angular way in which
this department is built. Convenience
is considered preferable to beauty
The main room is probably thirty by
seventy feet. Adjoining this on the
north side are the printery and smithy,
on the southwest the supply room, on
the east the wood room. Beyond the
wood room are the polishing and plat
ing rooms. In the main room are col
lected most Of the machines, among
them four lathes for metal work. Every
thing must be go exact in the manufac-
ture and fitting of trusses that some of
these lathes are graduated to a th0us-
andth Of an inch, as is also a large
punch upon which a considerable pOr-
ton of the work is done. By this punch
the leather tips are cut out in the nu-
merOus sizes, the letterings are i'm
pressed upon the metal and various
other things accomplished aside from
punching holes. Other machines are a
milling machine, grin ding machines and
a screw machine, the latter being self
reversing On this screw machine TO-
600 screws of one kind were recently
made in 123 hours The power for run
ming the machines is derived from a
| nine horse power gas engine.
Two girls are constantly employed
covering water pads of various
sizes, consisting of hollow rubber filed
with water. The water pad is a very
desirable soft pad for trussas on ac-
count of its sOftness and facility for ad-
juSting itself. These pads receive two
coverings of cloth, the outside being
silk. One girl is employed sewing the
leather tips and rounding the edges
both being done by machinery
There are many things done in the
ma king of truSseS which would be in
teresting to relate but we mention but
q % One 0Vfnnina1 thing done in the
WOOD room is the making of wood
pads. A machine there, in two strokes,
turns out a wooden egg or pad, hol-
lowed on one side. In the polishing
room the brass springs. fixtures, etc,
are polished ready for nickeling. The
dynamo in the plating room is about 80
amperes-immense volume, but very lit
tie pressure. In the Snithy the COM
pany forge their fine tools. The smithy
has proved a necessity,as so many tools
peculiar to their business must be man
ufactured.
One of the most interesting features
connected with this manufacturing
plant is the printery- Here one can
find more type probably than in any
one of three-fourths of the job offices
in town. Two persons are employed in
the printing, a man and a girl. It con-
tains two Gordon job presses Zone 14X2O
the other SKID, a thirty-inch Peerless
paper cutter and q wire sutcher. This
printery is quite q , convenience and
makes a large saving in the company 5
expenses.
They have designed and made an eX-
ceptionally accurate manikin or model
of the inguinai region for the use Of
medical men and experts. The depart
ment devoted to its manufacture is To-
Gated IN the second story. On the sec
ond floor are also found rooms devoted
to draughting, phOtographing, storage,
etc.
The Smith company are to be com
plimented on the good common sense
used in building their new quarters
Their experience in other quarters was
taken advantage Of, evidently. They