74 STRIKING UP PLATES. 



exhibited a machine, upon the principle of the 

 guillotine, or pile-driver, the pedestal or base of 

 which is two feet high, of cast-iron, weighing 

 3f cwt. It has two upright pillars of wrought 

 iron, four feet high ; at the top of these there is 

 a cross plate, upon which is mounted a pulley; 

 from the bottom of the base to the top of the 

 pulley is about seven feet high. Between the two 

 uprights there is a hammer of 31^ lbs. weight, 

 which slides up or down at pleasure : with it a 

 very solid blow can be given. But for this 

 machine to be serviceable for stamping gold 

 plates, the bottom of the lead, or counter-model, 

 must be fiat, and the upper surface of the zinc 

 model must be perfectly even with the face of the 

 hammer. To provide for this, there is a cast-iron 

 ring, which has four screws, one to fix the ring to 

 the bottom of the hammer ; the other three point 

 inward to the centre : they can be arranged so as 

 to secure the model in any position required. By 

 fixing the model so that the top of it is perfectly 

 flat upon the face of the hammer, the ladle with 

 the lead in a fluid state is placed upon the top 

 of the pedestal directly under the model; the 

 hammer with model attached is let down till 

 the model is sunk in the lead to the depth re- 

 quired; then there is a slide upon one of the 

 uprights, with a set screw, with which the hammer 

 is supported till the lead sets. The ring is un- 

 fastened and removed when the face of the hammer 



