Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-07-09
weight when received at the post was
S4,556 pounds.

weight when received at the post was
S4,556 pounds.
In assembling the rife, among other
things, a series of hoops is slrunk on
the tube called "a" "B' and &c,
which are placed in position one at
time The &C. hoops are shrunk on
the tube first; the "B'' hoops are placed
next, and the a. hoops last.
Soon after the arrival of the tube it
was placed in the boring lathe, and
four weeks were occupied in enlarging
the bore to the proper size. The tube
was then conveyed by the electric crane
to the shrinking pit, 800 feet from the
lathe, where it was placed in an up
-, right position and two &c" hoops were
were shrunk on the breech. The part
: ly finished piece of ordnance was then
returned to the lathe, where 1t was
turned on the outside to receive the
jacket. This main part of the gun is
its heaviest and strongest part, and
WClSuo JU,UOo CAtChuS
more than half the length of the tube,
or about so feet. When the jacket is
placed in position, which will be as
soon as the furnace, special chains and
apparatus for conveying the tube is
ready, General Burlington, chief of ord
| nance, and several other army officers
NJ
be present. The shrinking of the jack
ct on the tube is one of the most par
ticular and difficult operations in the
assembling of a heavy piece of ord
nance. The forging is placed in the
+, heating furnace forty-eight hours be-
| fore it is assembled on the tube. 1t is
| steam combined and heated to purple
color, or 600 degrees Fahrenheit. 1t is
hoisted from the furnace and adjusted
! carefully over the perpendicular tube,
and then slowly lowered by the cleo
trio crane overhead until it reaches
| the seat or the proper distance it has
this adjustment will be understood
more readily when-it is explained that
the space between the inner, side of the
| jacket and the outside of the tube Is
only one one-hundredth of an inch.
| The least bur or foreign substance be-
tween the two surfaces would impede
the progress of the jacket, as would any
warping in the metal If nothing oc-
ours to mar the successful placing of
the jacket ON the tube the time oceu-
pied in hosting it from the furnace
until it has assumed its proper posi-
ton will occupy from twelve to fifteen
minutes. A spiral ring, perforated
with small holes, is then encircled on
the outside of the jacket, water is turn
ed on through the circle and the shrink
ing process begins.
The weight of the gun at this time
will be; Tube, 84.556 pounds; two &C"
hoops, No. 1, 1888: No. 2, 1920
pounds. Total, 124.349 pounds.
When the jacket is cooled thoroughly
the partly finished rifle will again be
placed in lathe and the outside of the
tube turned to receive the ''B" hoops.
{ There are three of these pieces of forg-
ings, Weighing: No /, 1904 pounds;
Nos 2 and 8. 22,772 pounds each. or a
total Of $500 pounds. The sams
process of shrinking these hoops in po-
| sition as was observed in the &C. hoop
will be followed and the gun return
| ed again to the lathe TO be turned for
the reception Of the final set Of "A"
hoops. The weight OF the latter is: No.
/, 1883 pounds; No. 2, 1871; No. g..
2o.1e3; total. $3.50 pounds. The
shrinking Of the last three named hoops
finishes the assembling process and
the gun will then be placed in the
rifiing machine to be riied. This u.s.
ually takes week. and the gun will
then he ns1f in ff3a ffarcsfinc .rd cfo%