Scientific Industries. 475 



(c) the Royal Carriage Department. There is, further (d), the 

 Building Works Department, not directly concerned in the manu- 

 facture of ordnance. These departments of the Arsenal, together 

 with the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield and the Royal 

 Gunpowder Factory at Waltham Abbey, constitute the Royal 

 Ordnance Factories. Other branches of the Army Service located 

 at the Arsenal, and closely connected with the manufacturing 

 departments, are the Army Ordnance Department, in charge of all 

 the stores, the Inspection Department, and the Chemical Depart- 

 ment. 



The total area of the Arsenal amounts to about 1,285 acres, of 

 which 407 acres are within the boundary walls. Nearly 100 acres 

 are covered by the various factories, stores, and other buildings. 



(a) The Royal Laboratory. In this extensive factory ammuni- 

 tion of every description used in warfare is designed and manu- 

 factured ; shells from 1 inch to 17.25 inches in diameter, with their 

 time or percussion fuses which determine the time or place of 

 explosion of the shells when fired ; cartridges of all kinds, from 

 303 for rifles up to the large self-contained quick-firing kind ; also 

 ammunition used for independent loading, rockets, and many other 

 varieties. The machinery used is very specialised, and many of 

 the processes of manufacture involve intricate operations. Many 

 automatic machines of the latest design have been added in recent 

 years which produce so accurately parts of the shells and fuses, many 

 hundreds at a time, that they are all interchangeable. 



(b) The Royal Gun Factory. Rifled steel ordnance of all classes 

 (except small arm rifles and machine guns) are manufactured in 

 this department, both for the Navy and the Army. The guns 

 produced vary in calibre or internal bore from 3 inches up to the 

 latest type of 12 inch rifled guns having a length of about 45 feet, 

 and varying in weight from 3 cwts. to 60 tons without accessories. 

 Guns of even greater calibre than 12 inches have been produced, 

 but they have been superseded by the smaller calibre guns having 

 greater length, very much higher muzzle velocity, and greater 

 penetrating power. The machines used in the manufacturing 

 operations required on these large guns are of an exceptionally heavy 

 description, and independent electric driving has been largely 

 adopted in recent years, owing to its greater adaptability. 



The Torpedo Factory is concerned with the development and 

 manufacture of torpedoes for the ships of the Navy. These tor- 

 pedoes are propelled by compressed air, a charge of gun-cotton is 

 carried in the fore part and the steering mechanism, including the 

 gyroscope, is situated in the rear portion. 



