72 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



needle. The shuttle is below the cloth, and the end of the thread 

 extends up through the cloth and through the eye of the needle, which 

 is only a quarter of an inch from the point. Now, to form the stitch, 

 which is just like the lock or link of a chain, the thread in the needle, 

 after having passed through the cloth, opens, and the shuttle passes 

 through this loop ; therefore, when the needle is drawn back, and the 

 shuttle also to the end of its raceway, the two threads are drawn 

 tight, forming a link drawn on the cloth, and thus link after link of 

 these threads form the seam. The cloth then moves on the required 

 distance for another stitch. When a curve or angle is to be made, the 

 cloth is turned by the hand of the operator precisely as a board is 

 turned before a saw which is to cut any required figure. The machine 

 is moved by the foot of the girl tending it, like a spinning-wheel ; or 

 a large number together may be moved by steam, leaving the girls 

 nothing to do but thread the needle, put on the cloth and manage the 

 direction of the seams. 



RIVETING-MACHINE. 



AMONG the most important recent inventions at the Great Exhibition, 

 were two riveting-machines, constructed on different principles ; the 

 first by Mr. Fairbairn, the second by Mr. Garforth. The machine of 

 Mr. Fairbairn does its work noiselessly, with an increased gain of 

 work at the rate of twelve to one. The riveting dies are of various 

 descriptions, adapted to every species of flat or circular work ; even 

 corners are riveted with the same care as other parts, so that vessels 

 of any shape may be constructed without recourse to the old process 

 of hammering. Mr. Garforth's machine is, however, superior to this. 

 The principle of the two inventions is as follows : In Fairbairn's 

 machine the riveting is produced by levers acting like a knee-joint ; 

 when the joint becomes straight it gives a deadly squeeze to the rivet, 

 and brings the plates together ; here the dies have to be set to suit 

 the thickness of the two plates which are being riveted. In Garforth ? s 

 direct-action machine, this adjustment is rendered unnecessary ; it 

 simply consists of a cylinder with its piston and piston-rod ; when the 

 steam is admitted at the back of the piston, the piston-rod being 

 forced forward the end of it comes into contact with the red-hot rivet, 

 which has been inserted through a hole previously made in the plates ; 

 the rivet is kept in its place at the back ; and the die fixed to the end 

 of the piston-rod never stops till the plates are effectually riveted 

 together. By common riveting three men and one boy can only rivet 

 twenty three-quarter inch rivets per hour ; with Garforth's machine, 

 one man and three boys can rivet with perfect ease at the rate of six 

 per minute, or 300 per hour. 



NEW SOUNDING-MACHINE. 



A NEW sounding-machine has recently been invented, by Mr. Faye, 

 of France, which is represented to be of great value and importance. 

 The apparatus consists of a cylinder of sheet-iron, or copper, with a 



