|
The excellent method of stretching handsaws, veneer-webs, and large thin sheets of steel, as practiced at Messrs. Spear and Jackson's Etna Works, Sheffield, and other places in the same town, is superior to that of the French, excepting the use of coke instead of charcoal in the stretching fire, which is not so free from sulphur, and is consequently detrimental to the nature of the steel, as it rapidly combines with it; yet, on the other hand, the great force used by the screw in stretching sheets when hot, extending them until they are as tight as a piano string, and, as it seems to me, giving them a positive elongated fibrous character, and a flatness incomparable, which they retain until worn to the back, is an immense advance on the old system of tempering in an open furnace, in economizing labor, and in improving the uniform temper of the blades, so that many dozens come from the stretcher in such a state that, under the old regime, with all imaginable labor, they could not be made equal to them. This is not always the case, but, with few exceptions, it might be the rule with such excellent appliances. The French - and I speak of the French as being our most formidable rivals for finish, surpassing us in matter of taste - are very defective in the paring department of saws; the process is slow, and resembles more the chopping off the steel than paring it like paper, true as a line, and void of crinks; the contrary is the case with the guillotine shears. But their method of toothing is as laudable as their paring is primitive. They leave the toothing of their saws until they are almost finished - often after glazing - to save filing and files, which are dear tools to them - when they have duplicate beds with a punch working down them. The saw plates are put between them, and the teeth cut in that manner. The beds being so arranged prevent the teeth both from shearing and fashing, and unless they are very nard or burnt they will not break in this process. They are toothed with such fine points that they will cut as they come from the fly. They have but in once instance, as far as I could learn, successfully applied steam to toothing saws, and that for narrow band-saws, for which France nearly monopolises her own and the English markets. Large and small circular saws are machine-ground, as with us. They elaborate with great care two-feet circular of the 20th gauge, and finer, for sugar-cutting, to supply the cafes with dominoes of sugar, three to a cup of coffee, according to governmental regulations, in length, breadth, and thickness. Minute circulars for cutting small tooth combs are made out of stretched and glazed steel, the fash from the sharpening of the teeth is sufficient to clear the ivory dust, and acts in the place of set. They are at home in the manufacture of these knick-knacks. Some houses have lately employed English saw makers, at nearly double wages to their native workmen, in order to get a thorough knowledge of the English method of making the largest kind of circulars. The first-class firms pay every attention to each department, especially to having them flat and of a good uniform temper. In order to secure truthfulness, long saws, which have been previously stretched, as well as circulars, are placed on a flat board, or piece of planed metal, and rubbed with a stone, so that any irregularities of surface are soon seen, and returned to the anvil for correction. Circulars are 5ft and 6in, are "goffed" by a steam press, screwed on to them during tempering. Messrs. Pougeot, Jackson, et Cie., depot in Paris, have their works in the country, where wages are lower and living in cheaper. They exhibit a large quantity of saws and tools, more eminent for mass than quality, who, nevertheless, have a medal, possibly on account of the price of production. Messrs. Coulaux et Cie., Bas Rhin, show saws and tools, but chiefly webs. A Silver medal is given to Messrs. Martin, Miller and Son, Vienna, for saws and tools. M. Brizard, a Belgian, honestly advertise4s his tools to be made from English cast steel. M. Fagersta, Sweden, has saws with the imprint in English, and as much like English goods as peas are like one another. Messrs. Chouanard, Paris, exhibit general tools, who can hardly claim to be makers. Westphalian saws are exhibited as forged from puddled rod; one end is the finished article, the other a rod of steel, leaving no doubt of the process. Very unfinished. Messrs. G. Goldenburg et Cie., Tornhoff, near Saverne, exhibit freely in saws and tools. Saws unset. The tools all steel. There is a French machine for sharpening saws by steam that does its work very regularly. It has a hand saw under operation. The file passes straight through, when an index opens the vice and slides the saw a tooth in advance, and then the vice closes on it again, and so on repeatedly. If the file progresses instead of the saw, the process would be less complex and more successful; as it is, it might be used for filing up saws with broken teeth in them. I believe in it practicability; not so in numerous machines for "setting" the same, that are mainly a series of screws, wrenches, and levers, when a simple setting-hammer and anvil, technically called a "stake", are all the tools needed for that manipulation. They are safe, simple and portable. Messrs. T. Turton and Sons, Sheaf Works, Sheffield, have a good show of saws, tools and files, &c. A gold medal has very justly been awarded. The arrangement of this case is chaste, attractive, and simple. This old established house maintains its reputation against all comers, and has for vis-a-vis in the world's show Messrs. Bury and Co. They have cast steel, in bars and plates for various purposes, cast steel forgings, files, edge-tools, hammers and more. The files are the largest shown; the tools are very varied in their shapes massive and we all made.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
