MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 89 



cylinder. As the log rotates under these knives, they are caught in 

 the same, and revolve similar to one roller rolling under another, and 

 are forced into the log by the action of a rack. The knives are thus 

 constantly in the log, and feed upon the same at the rate of the thick- 

 ness of a lath at one revolution of the log, or say one-third of an inch, so 

 the surface that passes under them comes over cut into the thickness of 

 the lath ; it will also be observed that these cuts are just the width 

 of the lath apart, and this surface is presented to the clipping knife, 

 which has a reciprocating motion, and cuts the laths from the log as it 

 revolves against its edge. This knife also advances to the log at the 

 same rate that the rotating knives move downward ; this is done by 

 means of the screws at the sides, cut upon the shafts which move the 

 iron frame forward toward the log, and upon which another iron frame 

 is placed for securing the clipping knife, the edge of which advances 

 on a center with the log. This iron frame rests upon rollers, so that 

 the friction is but little, while the knife is playing back and forth. It 

 will be observed, that the laths are cut off from the log, similar to 

 cutting of veneering. By the inclination of the apron under the log 

 upon which the laths fall, they are conveyed to the end of the 

 machine. The reciprocating motion of the clipping knife prevents 

 any chicking or shivering of the lath, which makes them equal to 

 sawed lath. 



NEW BRICK MACHINE. 



THIS machine, the invention of Messrs. Mower and Woodworth, 

 of Boston, operates as follows : The clay used, enters the machine 

 dry, and by means of a combination of rollers and sieves is reduced 

 to a uniform degree of fineness. The pulverized clay then passes 

 into the press of the machine, where there are moulds for six bricks, 

 into which it falls, and immediately receives two severe blows from 

 above, succeeded by powerful pressure from below. These blows and 

 pressure give it the shape and character of bricks directly. The 

 clay, in the shape of bricks, is now delivered from the machine upon 

 a little frame so rapidly, that it requires the constant labor of two men 

 to put the bricks into wheelbarrows. They are thus forthwith con- 

 veyed directly to the kiln, without the necessity of any intermediate 

 process whatever. The moulds being exactly shaped, and made of 

 metal, and the clay being, by the immense, force brought to bear upon 

 it, perfectly fitted to the moulds, these unburnt bricks have a marble- 

 like smoothness of surface, and an exquisite accuracy of shape, alto- 

 gether surpassing those made in the ordinary way. The number of 

 bricks which this invention is capable of making in a given time can 

 easily be estimated. At each revolution of the machine, six new 

 bricks are delivered ; and the number of revolutions is seven or eight 

 in a minute. The number made in an hour thus certainly exceeds 



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twenty-five hundred. When it is recollected that this number can be 

 continued day after day, without regard to the accidental changes of 

 weather, the great capacities of the machine for accomplishing a large 



