The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-12-02
How Chains are Made.
From the Iron and Steel Bulletin.


Among the curiosities which were pre-
served in the old State Library at Albany,
n. Y none attracted more attention than
the few links of the monster chain which
did service in the days of the Revolution
to prevent the progress of the British ships
up the Hudson river The great chain,
with links more than two feet in length,
was stretched across the river near West
Point, and remnants of the unique block
aiding material are preserved in various
parts of the country, several links being in
the possession of Abram S. Hewitt.
Bombs, mines, Notifications and torpe-
does have taken the place of the chain as
barrier against ships, but monster chains
are still manufactured in large quantities,
and Jones & Laushlins, Limited, of Pitts
burg, are now making chain the links of
which are formed out of rolled steel three
inches il diameter. Welding by electricity,
winding the metal rod from which the links
are made around mandril, cutting the
pieces by machinery and joining them by
blows from powerful steam hammers, bind
ing the links and testing the completed
chains with hydraulic pressure, are all
modern processes in the chain making in
dustry, but the great chains used in the
ship building trade are made much as they
were many years ago. But, accord
ing to the statement of manufacturer,
the American now has the satisfaction OF
American shops Formerly, and until
about ten years ago, about 80 per cent. of
the chains used in the United States came
from England, and now fully 95 per cent.
of the quantity consumed is made IN this
country. Some concerns still carry Eng
fish chains in stock, in order to be able to
supply English ships, whose commanders
usually refuse to buy any other than chains
which have British stamp.
The commercial article, as made in this
country, ranges from three -sixteenths Of an
inch to one and three-quarter inches, and
no chains are put on the market unless
they have been tested Thus a three
sixteenth inch chain of FIVE pounds average
weight per foot is guaranteed to hold 200
pounds, and the better grades as high as
900 pounds. 4 one-inch chain, which
weighs about ten pounds to the foot, will
hold "A, 900 pounds. and chain with links
of one and three-guarter inches, weighing
thirty one pounds to the foot, is supposed
to resist II, 500 pounds, and the best
quality of the same size chain is marked
proof go, $40 pounds
An English writer says that, notwith
standing the frequent nention Of chains IN
the Bible the article is comparatively new.
He says
Some authorities give the Britons credit
for originating the cable chain, because
Julius Caesar is recorded as having been
unable to cut the cables of the Gauls' YES
sells, as they were made of iron. This
NAV have been chain in the present ac-
ceptation of the term, but it Is doubtful,
because the first patent for chain making
was obtained in England in 1884 By black
smith named Philip White. The.patent
was for fourteen years, and in consideration
Of it White had to pay IS in lawful money
yearly at the Exchequer, Westminster,
at the Feast of the Blessed Nirgyn and
Saint Michel the Archangell by even and
equal process His patent is described as
follows a way for the wearing of ships
with iron chaynes by finding cut the true
heating (pre) pareing and tempering Of
Iyron for that (pur) pose and that he hath
move attayned to the true vse Of the said
chaynes and that the same WILDE for the
great sayeing Of eordage and safety Of ship
pers and viii rebound to the good Of our
Comon Wealth