228 ON THE WING. 



" A proper attention to the fineness of the spiral will 

 always enable an amateur to detect any attempt at 

 imposition 



" The spirals being formed, the welders commence 

 their day's work. The batch consists of a fore- 

 man, one on whose skill all depends, and two subor- 

 dinates, whose duty it is to blow the bellows, strike, 

 &c. 



" They proceed in the first place to weld probably a 

 dozen long common barrels for the American trade ; 

 which are generally composed of the inferior iron men- 

 tioned before, rolled into two lengths of different thick- 

 nesses. These skelps are heated, and beaten on a 

 groove until they form a tube half closed. They are 

 then heated again, and closed with one edge over- 

 lapping the other; as a brazier would overlap the 

 edge of a tin pipe for boys to blow peas with. 



" They then commence the welding of twist barrels. 

 Spirals that are intended for the breech end are 

 heated to a welding heat for about three inches, 

 removed from the fire, and jumped close by striking 

 the end against the anvil. Again they are heated, 

 and again jumped, to insure the perfect welding. 

 They are then beaten lightly in a groove, to make 

 them round. The neatest part of the process consists 

 in the joining of the points of the two rods, so as to 

 make the barrel appear as if it had been twisted out 

 of one rod. The ends of the two rods are a little 

 detached, brought from the fire, and applied to each 

 other ; a gentle tap is then given, and the union is 

 perfect in an instant. The rapidity and dexterity with 



