MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 113 



the sides of the machine. The guide-plates are of the same length as the stuff 

 to be turned. The pattern produced in the wood is governed wholly by the for- 

 mation of the guide-plates ; the latter are so fixed as to be conveniently removed 

 and others substituted. This is the only change required in the machine, to 

 adapt it to the production of different patterns of turning. In its working, all 

 that the attendant does is simply to swing the sticks and turn on the power. 

 We have seen some elegant specimens of fancy turning by this machine. A 

 lad, we are told, can easily attend to two of the lathes, and in one day do the 

 labor of fifteen men working with fifteen hand-lathes. Scientific American. 



Improvement in Savring Hoops. Considerable difficulty has been hitherto 

 experienced in pole-hoop sawing machinery to retain an even thickness in the 

 hoops cut off, as they are, from long, tapering, crooked poles. An improve- 

 ment by Messrs. Strange and Smith, of Taunton, Mass., accomplishes this 

 operation with an uncommon degree of perfection and rapidity. Two upright 

 saws are arranged, side by side, and against them the hoop-pole is fed, by 

 means of rollers. One of the saws, and one set of the rollers, are placed in a 

 yielding frame, which readily expands or contracts, according to the irreg- 

 ularities of the pole. Two hoops, both of an even thickness, are cut by one 

 passage of the stuff through the machine. 



Portable Boring Engine. The apparatus, which forms the subject of this 

 invention, by Thos. Goodseem, of Providence, R. I., consists of a portable 

 steam-engine, carrying one or more auger-stocks, either attached or geared 

 with its main shaft. The cylinder of the engine receives steam from a boiler 

 through a flexible pipe, which allows it to be carried about in the hands, and 

 operated in different places at pleasure. The engine is also provided with 

 a curious arrangement of sliding-pipes, whereby nearly the whole weight of 

 the concern is supported by the pressure of the steam. In boring, therefore, 

 the operator only requires to guide the augur by handles attached to the 

 frame of the engine. If desirable, steam may be introduced, to cause the 

 necessary pressure upon the tool. This is a singular improvement, applica- 

 ble, we are told, with much useful effect in ship-building, and wherever large 

 amounts of boring are to be done. Experience proves that steam may be 

 conveyed with perfect facility in flexible pipes, for short distances around a 

 stationary boiler. Scientific American. 



Improved Auger. An improved auger, invented by J. ~W. Hoagland of 

 Jersey City, K J., consists in having the cutting portion of the auger made 

 separate from the screw, and combining the two parts by means of a dowel 

 and a screw in dovetail form. The object of this improvement is to allow of 

 the screw part of an auger, which endures for a very long time, to be used 

 for any number of the cutting parts, so that the latter can be renewed when 

 required, if broken or worn out. For ship-carpenters the invention is of great 

 advantage. A series of stocks may be made and marked with the letters of 

 the alphabet. To each there may be several sizes of bits marked and adapted 

 to fit accurately, and thus the carpenter, if supplied with a proper number of 

 auger stocks and bits, will be able without loss of time to bore for any size 

 of treenail. He will thus lose no time, as he now frequently does, in search- 

 ing for a new auger, or getting a broken one mended, if he should break his 



