The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-17

powets q mind and hand: bic interest never hsga,
for the responsibility for imperfect work b put
at once upon him In this way he feels that he ID
an important part Of the whole The manufse-
| ture Of machinery BY this method places II on .
higher plano Il requires great rednemsnts In
measurements close observation, and careful
study. II is. in fact a training school for thin
king and skillful mechanics and IL u, undoubted-
ly. chief cause Of the marked fertility In Am
eroan inventions The close union which IL has
brought between the designer and the workman
has proved OF the greatest benefit TO both.
To the writer, the most striking feature in many
OF tho European machinery exhibits at tho World Q
Fair at Chicago in 1893 was their academic design.
Evidently they had been made with but super
fetal knowledge Of shop practice and OF what Is
needed for a machine 10 stand up u it's work all
the year round. With Americans IL Ia no uncom-
mon usage 10 invite criticism Of the design and
suggestions for Improvements from he men.
Written forms furnished for these, which are
gone over with great care by the management
Some works go so far as 10 offer prizes for val
liable hints and ideas from the workmen.
From Whitney's factory his methods spread
with great rapidly over all New England, and
were applied to the manufacture OF countless aru-
ces in metal. The art was quickly developed by a
multitude of bright workers. and il was applied
" heavier machines in time, 80 that, at present,
IL is the system Of all the best American work
shops The extent TO which special fixtures are
practicable depends upon the quantity of the pro-
duct which may be sold.
Guns sewing mac hines typcwritcTs and the
like will pay for large in estment in special tools
In fact they cannot today be made in any other
manner The system is highly developed also in
the manufacture Of locomotives, pumps and other
heavy machines OF which the output is large
4 lao. cd Htahl IN hRa w
pieces, il is used In the manufacture, in quantity
OF the small details. Lathe builders, for example
make the details in large lots by special tools and
fixtures. keeping them In stock until needed for
their orders
This method Of working has given Americans
a prominent place in the invention and use OF auto
matte achinrs From the OF fixtures and
special tools to the fully developed automatic ma
chine for reaching the same end IL Ia simply q
matter OF few steps; one leads up directly TO tho
other. Hence, the infinite number Of ingenious
automatic machines for every purpose. Naturally
also, the system has led Americans To concentrate
their energies upon special types OF individual
machines The large first COS, of fixtures and spe-
cal tools prohibits any one from covering too
wide field and American shops have therefore,
found II more profitable to turn out a large pro-
duct Of highly perfected specially
A notable effect Of the method is the successful
standardisng of details which enter into all suuc
lures Of mechanical engineering. These stand
ards have become SO common that they &c
cepted MS matters Of course. Systematic mechani
cal training has led Americans TO appreciate the
value and importance OF reducing all details in
general Use TO standards, and this has progressed
so far that to-day tho manufacturer OF machinery
can buy all these things at less cost than he could
make them. with any desired amount Of accuracy
and finish
American methods Of accurate measurement
have greatly advanced the manufacture of small
tools,-equaTcs accurate within q fraction OF a
thousandth Of an inch micrometers in many forms
which are so generally used by American work.
men scales In great variety and OF extreme per-
lection, all at prices which put Thorn within the
reach Of any one.
Thus we see that progress In mechanical engi-
neerng in the United States Is not simply happy
accident but a logical result and growth which
began nearly q century ago by placing the study
and manufacture OF machinery higher plane
than II had ever previously occupied The system
then commenced has produced generations Of
skful mechanics of high Intelligence and excep-
tonal skill, and has developed never before
their powers Of observation and invention. II has
brought about happy union between workman
and designer each respecting the other. The mer-
and excellence OF tho American machine is due
to highly specialized tools and fixtures which have
cost not only great deal Of money, but what is
moro important the exercise OF great skill and in
ventve ability, and the good features of the Amcr-
can product cannot DO copied otherwise than by
like methods. HENRY b. BUIssE.