120 A NEW DBOPPEB FOB COBBIMONY FENCING. [Dec, 



Being so entirely different from methods hitherto adopted — in every- 

 one of which the use of small pins or wedges, to secure the wires at 

 every connection with the dropper, is necessary — this system not 

 only economises the process of manufacture, but secures a direct 

 saving of labour during the process of erection. The ' Lockfast ' 

 dropper consists of only two parts, all others have at least 

 three. The gripping force being an application of the eccentric, 

 one of the most powerful forces in mechanics, it can be fixed very 

 readily. On reference to tlie following sectional diagrams, the process 

 will be easily understood. All that requires to be done is to place 

 a clip (B) on each wire, pass the dropper (A) down through them 

 sideways (as in fig. 1), then simply turn it round all at once, by 

 means of plyers for the purpose, till it locks itself fast in position, as 

 shown in fig. 2. All the wires are thus securely and simultaneously 

 locked fast at one operation. Fig. 4. shows a dropper fixed 

 complete. 



Fig. 1— Shows dropper 

 unfixed. 



2 — Shows dropper 

 fixed. 



Fig. 3 — Bide view. 



This operation of fixing is extremely simple and speedy, but 

 where the workman has to deal with a dropper requiring wedges it 

 becomes complicated and tedious, as he has then to hammer home as 

 many pegs into each dropper as there are wires in the fence. An un- 

 skilled workman can fix as many as 800 ' Lockfast ' droppers in a day, 

 while a skilled mechanic could not perhaps put up more than 

 120 droppers of the ordinary type. The success of the * Lockfast ' 

 dropper in this respect has exceeded the expectations of all who 

 have tried it. It is evidently the outcome of a long experience and 

 patient study, for, simple as it appears, it is a very ingenious 

 contrivance. 



Fig. 5. is an illustration of an intermediate winding pillar, and a 



