MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 49 



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STONE-CUTTING MACHINE. 



A HIGHLY useful and important machine for the cutting and dress- 

 ing of stone has been invented and patented by Mr. Charles Wilson, 

 a mechanic of Springfield, Mass. It is remarkable for the simplicity, 

 as well as the rapidity, of its operation, while the surface it produces 

 on the stone is far more true and smooth than that where the chisel 

 is used, so much so, that it would not pay to employ machinery 

 in making the final finish, it being so easily rubbed down by hand. 

 The wear of the cutters is much less in cost than that of chisels, 

 and the stone is left perfectly sound, not being the least " stunned," 

 as the phrase goes. The following is a brief description of the ma- 

 chine : 



"From eight to twelve circular plates of steel, seven inches in di- 

 ameter, and as thick as a common circular saw of that size, are placed 

 alternately with iron washers one fourth of an inch thick and half an 

 inch less in diameter than the plates. These washers and plates, be- 

 ing firmly fastened together, form a compact cylinder or broad wheel, 

 termed the 'cutter,' presenting to any surface over which it is rolled 

 numerous steel edges, one fourth of an inch apart and one fourth of 

 an inch deep. Two of these cylinders, being each supplied with an 

 axis, are set to revolve in an ' iron head,' which is made to pass 

 briskly back and forth across the stone as the latter is slowly moved 

 along by a process like that used in saw-mills. The cylinders, taking 

 only such motion as is given them by being rolled over the stone, 

 the same motion as that of a carriage-wheel on a road, crumble the 

 surface of the stone on their way to a powder, with a power which no 

 granite can withstand, taking away a very little each time, but com- 

 ing very often, and effectually doing the work. The cylinders are set 

 in the head at an inclination of about 25 degrees from a horizontal line, 

 about the same angle as that of the chisel when struck by the mallet, 

 and so as to cut away the stone by a bevelled edge." 



In a recent exhibition of the working of this machine, a block of 

 red sandstone, from the valley of the Connecticut, was placed on the 

 " bed," and submitted to the action of the chisels. In eight minutes 

 its surface, 4 feet long by 1 broad, equal to 6 superficial feet, was 

 dressed smoother and more even than the common chisel could have 

 done the work, and this with a moderate speed of the machinery. An 

 engine of two or three horse power is sufficient to drive one machine. 



NEW BRICK-MAKING MACHINE. 



THIS machine, the invention of an Englishman, consists of an iron 

 cylinder, which receives the clay at the top, and passes it through a 

 number of knives, which are fixed to a centre-shaft, which act as tem- 

 per^rs of the clay, and press it into a curiously-shaped screw. This in 

 turn gives pressure to a chain of moulds, which passes up an inclined 

 plane and delivers the finished bricks on a table. The entire motive- 

 power is communicated by the upright shaft in the cylinder. By the 

 application of an engine of three horse-power, the machine will make 



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