NEW INVENTIONS
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[Howe's Sewing Machine.]
We have heretofore noticed the extraordinary invention by Mr. Elias Howe, Jr., of Cambridge, Mass.--a machine that sews beautiful and strong seams in cloth as rapid as nine tailors. We are not yet prepared to furnish a full description of this machine, but the following claims, in the words of the patentee, may give some idea of the various parts in combination. This machine was patented September 10th.
"I claim the lifting of the thread that passes through the needle eye by the lifting rod, for the purpose of forming a loop of loose thread that is to be subsequently drawn in by the passage of the shuttle; said lifting rod being furnished with a lifting pin, and governed in its motions by the guide pieces and other devices.
"I claim the holding of the thread that is given out by the shuttle, so as to prevent its unwinding from the shuttle bobbin, after the shuttle has passed through the loop, said thread being held by means of the lever, or clipping piece.
"I claim the manner of arranging and combining the small lever, with the sliding box in combination with the spring piece, for the purpose of tightening the stitch as the needle is retracted.
"I claim the holding of the cloth to be sewn, by the use of a baster plate, furnished with points for that purpose, and with holes enabling it to operate as a rack, thereby carrying the cloth forward, and dispensing altogether with the necessity of basting the parts together."
[Steering Apparatus.]
Mr. R. C. Holmes, says the United States Gazette, has invented a new application of the tiller rope to the wheel for steering vessels, and has prepared a model of the whole application, tiller-frame, wheel, and rope, so that the properties of the invention can be easily discovered. The advantages are that there is no slack made; and, consequently, there is no chafing, and a single hand at the wheel will do the ordinary work of two men.
[Electro-Magnetic Boat.]
It is stated in some of our exchanges, that Dr. Page, of Washington, has perfected a boat to be propelled by the electro-magnetic power. We know of no man better qualified to produce and introduce successfully such an invention, and we feel assured that whatever enterprise Dr. Page undertakes in that line, will be very apt to go ahead. We hope soon to obtain further intelligence on the subject.
It is reported that the British government has granted $100,000 per annum to the royal company of Atlantic steamers, for the establishment of a post route to the Pacific, across the Isthmus of Panama.
[Improvement in Boats.]
There is a model of a steamboat to be seen on the Chesapeake, invented and constructed by Cyrus Williams, Esq., which is exciting considerable interest among steamboat men. It is in the usual form of a boat, but more flat-bottomed, and much longer in proportion to its width, than the boats now in use, giving it a greater surface to the water, and of course a lighter draught. The improvement is in applying the bridge principle of bearers in supporting length of boats. It looks perfectly feasible. Mr. Williams thinks it will be a great saving of expense, as it takes much less timber, and all of it can be sawed in a mill, being straight stuff. He offers to build a boat on this model, furnishing one third of the stock, and if it does not make 25 miles to the hour, he will forfeit his share.
[Casting Iron Cannon by a galvanic Process.]
A hoaxical looking article, under the above caption, is going the rounds, and represents that successful experiments on this subject have been recently made at Berlin. As no description or illustration of the process or principle is given, we leave the subject for those who are ever ready to swallow whatever appears in a newspaper, without regard to probability.
[New Shingle Machine.]
Among the patents particularly noticed in the Commissioner's report, is one for a shingle machine, which cuts the shingles in a peculiar form. The shingles cut by this machine does not taper from one extremity to the other, but the taper is confined to about half the length of it at one end, the faces of the remaining half being parallel to each other. This shape of the shingle avoids the bending which is incidental to those of the ordinary form, when nailed upon the roof--an object well worthy of attainment.
[Improvement in Blacksmiths Forges.]
This invention was entered at the Patent Office on the 15th instant, by James K. Hobbs. The improvement consists in the placing of grate-bars at the bottom of the fire chamber, below which is an open air chamber into which the cinders and ashes fall through the grate, instead of accumulating and clogging the fire chamber. The cinders may be drawn out of the air chamber by an opening at the side of the forge. The blast is admitted above the grate, and the mouth of the air chamber being ordinarily closed, the blast is not affected by the grate. We think it must prove a useful invention.
[Improved Fire Engine.]
This improvement consists in part, in the arrangement of two sets of levers and hand poles on each side, in such a manner that "when force is applied to the hand-poles of the outside levers, in a reverse direction to that which is applied to the hand poles of the inside levers, both powers will agree in forcing the pistons of the pumps in one and the same direction, while the reverse motion of the levers will prevent the engine from rocking". Entered at the Patent Office, on the 10th instant, by Barton & Button.
[A simple Cheese-Press.]
An ingenious mechanic, not long since, hearing some persons conversing on the ordinary cost of cheese-presses, which is generally from three to six dollars, boldly averred that he could build a cheese-press in one hour, which would answer a good purpose as such, and which might be afforded for fifty cents. Being bantered on the subject, he went to work, and by means of a good lathe and boring machine, he actually produced his cheese-press within the hour; though not very smoothly finished. We give a sketch of it at the head of this article,--too plain to require explanation. Subsequently, several others were made on the same plan.
[Cast Iron Roofing.]
A specimen of cast-iron plates for roofing of buildings, says the Philadelphia Ledger, has been exhibited at the Exchange, in Philadelphia, by the inventor and patentee, Mr. Wm. Beach. The plates are about a foot square, and are made to fit one into another so as to render the roof perfectly water-tight, with the application of white lead to the joints. In every respect this material for roofing is preferable to any other description now in use. As to its durability, there can be no doubt that it would remain perfectly whole for ages, if covered occasionally with a coat of paint, and even without that preservative, rust would not affect it materially for a period of fifty years at least. As compared with copper, the cost would be nearly one half, as it is expected the iron can be furnished at 16 cents per square foot, while copper would at the most moderate estimate cost 28 cents. As regards the weight of an iron roof, which at first sight would appear an objection, it is far less than one formed of slate, and does not much exceed one of copper. The iron plates weigh three and a half pounds per square foot. A slate roof would cost about eight cents per square foot, but for durability, and the ease with which it can be put on and made water tight, the iron roofing would appear to be far preferable. The plates exhibited were cast at Troy, New York, and are of the very best quality. The patent for the eastern States is now owned by Mr. Hiram Hemmistone, of Troy, in which neighborhood the adaptation of such a durable material for roofing is rapidly attracting public attention there. Starbuck's machine shop and foundry at Troy has been covered on this plan, and it has also been adopted for the roofing of an arsenal at West Point.
[The New and Wonderful Pavement.]
We presented in a late number, a brief extract from an article on this subject from the "Eureka," and should have thought no more of it, had we not observed the following notice editorial in the N, Y. Farmer and Mechanic. We copy the article entire, that our readers may judge for themselves whether the style and statements savor most of reality or humbug.
"New Pavements.--A new system of making streets has been made known to us;--but as it will be the subject of Patents, here and in Europe, we can only give some of its most prominent features. A material or composition, of a very cheap character, has been invented, as hard, strong and compact as flint. It is formed into any desirable shape in the course of manufacture. From this, streets of any grade may be formed, and in such a way as to entirely secure a permanent and level surface to its proper arch; it can be taken up in five minutes, so as to get at the water pipes, and on being replaced will, from necessity, resume its first position. In durability, it will last ten times as long as granite, and twenty times as long as the common paving, without liability to require repair. It is so laid that frost and storms cannot affect it. But we shall have occasion to refer to it again".--Persons wishing information may inquire of Kingsley & Pirsson, No. 5 Wall street.
[To render Shingles Durable.]
One of our exchanges mentions an experiment which was made twenty-seven years ago, of dipping shingles into hot linseed oil prior to nailing them on the roof: and although they have not been painted, they are said to continue perfectly sound as when first put on. They were of the common pine, and as much exposed as roofs in general. This instance may be sufficient to establish the fact that shingles thus prepared, will last longer without painting than they could possibly be preserved by painting in the usual way. As a security against fire, however, we should recommend that they be first dipped in a hot solution of common salt; and afterward, when dry, be dipped in the hot oil. The expense will be trifling, and there can be no doubt of their durability, and there will be no danger of their taking fire from sparks or cinders.
[Best Plan of a Barn.]
Perhaps no building on the farm in the Northern States is of more importance than the barn. Those who have had the charge of cattle during our long winters, can at once see that much time and hard labor could be saved by a judicious arrangement of stalls, and bay or bay lots, granaries, &c, so that every creature could be fed by taking as few steps as possible. One very important thing to be considered, is the best mode of preserving as well as collecting manure, so that it shall retain all its valuable properties in the spring, and be easily got out. We like the plan of having a barn on the side of a hill, and so arranged that you may drive your cart load in pretty near the ridge pole, and thus pitch most of your hay down instead of up. Having your stalls under the hay, you can continue to pitch the hay down, and if you have a cellar beneath, you can throw the manure down also, and thus make the attraction of gravitation perform much of the labor of transportation from the mow to the manure cart.
The Westfield, Mass., News-Letter states that there are between 25 and 30 manufacturers of whips in that town, who employ not less than 1000 braiders, beside their shop hands.
[Robert Fulton.]
Robert Fulton, a celebrated engineer, whose name is connected with steamboat navigation, was born in the town of Little Britain, in the state of Pennsylvania, in 1765. His genius disclosed itself at an early period. He was attracted to the shops of mechanics; and at the age of seven he painted landscapes and portraits in Philadelphia. Thus he was enabled in part to purchase a small farm for his widowed mother. At the age of twenty-one, he by the advice of his friends repaired to London, to place himself under guidance of Mr. West, the painter, and by him was kindly received, and admitted as an inmate of his house for several years. Prosecuting his business as painter, he spent two years in Devonshire, where he became acquainted with the duke of Bridgewater and with lord Stanhope, well known for his attachment to the mechanic arts. In 1793, he engaged in the project of improving inland navigation, and in 1796, obtained patents for a double inclined plane, and for machines for spinning flax and making ropes. The subject of canals now chiefly occupied his attention, and at this period, in 1796, his work on canals was published. In his profession of civil engineer he was greatly benefitted by his skill in drawing and painting. He went to Paris in 1797, and being received into the family of Joel Barlow, he there spent seven years, studying chemistry, physics and mathematics, and acquiring a knowledge of the French, Italian, and German languages. In Dec. 1797, he made his first experiment on sub-marine explosion in the Seine, but without success. His plan for a sub-marine boat was afterwards perfected.--In 1801, while he was residing with his friend, Mr. Barlow, he met in Paris Chancellor Livingston, the American minister, who explained to him the importance in America of navigating boats by steam. Mr. Fulton had already conceived the project as early as 1793, as appears by his letter to lord Stanhope. He now engaged anew in the affair, and at the common expense of himself and Mr. Livingston built a boat on the Seine, in 1803, and successfully navigated the river. The principles of the steam engine he did not invent; he claimed only the application of that machine to water wheel, for propelling vessels. In 1806 he returned to America; he and Mr. Livingston built, in 1807, the first boat, the Clermont, 130 feet in length, which navigated the Hudson at the rate of five miles an hour. Nothing could exceed the surprise and admiration of all who witnessed the experiment. The minds of the most incredulous were, changed in a few minutes. Before the boat had made the progress of a quarter of a mile, the greatest unbeliever must have been converted. The man who, while he looked on the expensive machine, thanked his stars that he had more wisdom than to waste his money on such idle schemes, changed the expression of his features as the boat moved from the wharf and gained her speed, and his complacent expression gradually softened into one of wonder. The jeers of the ignorant, who had neither sense nor feeling to suppress their contemptuous ridicule and rude jokes, were silenced for a moment by a vulgar astonishment, which deprived them of the power of utterance, till the triumph of genius extorted from the incredulous multitude which crowded the shores, shouts and acclamations of congratulation and applause. In February, 1809, he took out his first patent. In 1811 and 1812, he built two steam ferry boats for crossing the Hudson; he contrived also a very ingenious floating dock for the reception of those boats. In 1813, he obtained a patent for a sub-marine battery. Conceiving the plan of a steam man-of-war, the government, in March 1814, appropriated $320,000 for constructing it, and appointed him the engineer. In about four months, she was launched with the name of Fulton the First; but before this frigate was finished, Fulton had paid the debt of nature.
The population of Great Britain for the last ten years shows an average annual increase of 230,000. The population of London has increased 27 per cent. within fifteen years.
Within the last 16 years, 612 steamboats have been built in Pittsburg--besides 31 the present year.
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