IS 18.1 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAi.. 



373 



JOINTING CLAMP. 



Jointing and Compressing Screw Cramp. — Patented by Mr. James 

 KiiiBERLEy, of Inge-street, Birmingham. 



The accompanyinaf enfrravinfj fully explains the nature of an 

 ingenious clamp, to be applied for jointing of floors, &c. Its con- 

 struction is extremely simple, and its power great, and it can be 

 easily fixed and removed. It is applicable in all cases where two 

 bodies require a fixity and perfect union, and in the laying of 

 floors it compresses the boards very gradually and truly together. 

 It does not require the workman to rise oif his knees when using 

 it (as in all former ones) to efl^ect a leverage, one progressive and 

 uninterrupted motion only being wanted; moreover, it can be left, 

 with its full pressure upon its work when necessary, unattended, 

 and with perfect safety. Amongst builders, shipwrights, coach- 

 mnkers, and others, a cramp to improve upon the ponderous and 

 tedious action of the present kinds in use, has been an object long 

 looked for, and the one described appears to be an invention which 

 will prove a great auxiliary to the working department of every 

 one engaged in the above pursuits, — as multiplying power, re- 

 ducing labour, and increasing disjiatch. It is contrived in but 

 few parts, and breakage or derangement appears impossible. The 

 cost of the instrument is two guineas. 



NEW LEVER VICE. 



The accompanying cut and description will explain the principle 

 of a new lever vice, patented by Messrs. J. Peck and L. Pardee, 

 of the United States. The following qualities, it is claimed, give 

 it a decided superiority over all over vices : — 



Greater strength than any other vice of equal weight possesses. 

 Greater power, and so applied as to save, in work requiring fre- 

 quent changes, at least one hour in ten, as it is worked entirely by 

 the foot, without the necessity of laying down a file, or other tool, 

 or without any use of the hand, whatever. It can be changed to 

 receive work from one-sixteenth of an inch, to eight or ten inches 

 in width, as'easily and as quickly as any other vice can be moved 

 one-fouith of an inch. And heavy work, requiring both hands to 



lift, can be easily placed in the vice, without calling the assistance 

 of a second man ; it will soon pay for itself in saving of time. It 

 is much easier for the labourer, the strain upon the breast in turn- 

 ing up a screw is entirely avoided, and the vice can be closely ap- 

 proached without being obliged to bend the body over the end of 

 the screw, as in other vices. When the vice is forced up, it be- 

 comes more firmly attached to the bench than any other vice can 

 be, rendering the whole much more solid, which in chipping, and 

 other heavy work, is very desirable. 



H, sliding jaw. b, jointed, or swinging jaw. c, rail on which the 

 sliding jaw moves. (/, click which catches in ratchet on rail c, and 

 holds the sliding jaw firmly where placed. p, jointed lever (elliow 

 joint), which turns on pins e e, and is attached to ])rong of rail c, 

 and the lower end of the swinging jaw. y, foot-lever with joint 

 attached to leg of bench, and connected by rod / with jointed 

 lever, h. click wliich catches in ratchet at the foot of tlie forward 

 bench leg, and holds the jaws firmly as forced up by the combined 

 levers ; it is easily tripped with tlie foot. / is a spiral spring 

 which lifts the foot-le\er, and throws open the jaw. 



THE GREAT AMALGAMATION. 



The great amalgamation of the three companies, the London 

 and North-AVestern Railway, the Great AVestern Railway, and the 

 South-AVestern Railway, is attracting the attention not only of 

 railway men, but of the public at large. Considered as an amal- 

 gamation of fifty millions of capital, it is certainly the largest 

 financial operation of the kind yet efi'ected. The capital of the 

 Bank of England is not a third part of that of the Great Amalga- 

 mation ; the union of the two East India Companies, which re- 

 sulted in that which now exists, was not equal in importance ; the 

 South Sea Company did not jiropose to touch so large an amount 

 of capital. Abroad no example is to be found of a private enter- 

 prise so great. Yet, considered in its individual features, the 

 measure does not bear that unprecedented chiiracter. The an- 

 nexation of the Great Western to the London and North- 

 AVestern, is not greater than the annexation of the Grand Junction 

 to the London and Birmingham ; and the annexation of the South- 

 western is of still less importance. It is therefore tlie aggregate 

 to be constituted which gives character to the measure. 



To hold forth any certain views with regard to the course likely 

 to be followed by the managers of this system of policy is in so 

 far futile, as it is by no means sure that they have a design of 

 ultimately carrying it out in good faith. AA'hen we consider what 

 temporary objects the proposition of such a plan is calculated to 

 serve, regardless of its execution, it is prudent to hesitate before 

 we assume too hastily how it will be carried out. If we recollect 

 that there is no compulsion on one of the chief members of the 

 league (namely, the Great Western,) to amalgamate; if we recol- 

 lect that a purposed contest has been long carried on, and has ended 

 in the achievement of the objects by the party last-named ; when we 

 consider the ambition of their views, and the indisposition of the 

 London and North- Western shareholders towards them, we must 

 feel how uncertain is it, so far as the parties themselves are con- 

 cerned, whether they will persevere, — and still more uncertain, 

 whether they will be allowed by the legislature, in opposition to 

 the public voice and interests, to carry out the measure in the 

 form in which the several boards may settle it with each other. 



It happens (not unexpectedly to those who know anything of 

 the parties) that the avowed object of this league is to raise fares, 

 and constitute a monopoly; and no time could be more unluckily 

 chosen for the promotion of such designs. Three years ago, the 

 high-ftre party were beaten by the conclusive evidence of facts, 

 and forced to give way to a policy which gained .neither their con- 

 viction nor their sympathies. And as they have ever since been on 

 the look-out for the opportunity of reverting to their old course, 

 the moment a decline took place in railway dividends, it was 

 instantly asserted that it was owing to the lower fares and in- 

 creased accommodation : and the directors, seconded by the sym- 

 pathies of shareholders of their own school, have lost no time in 

 doing away with the day-tickets, raising the fares, and diminishing 

 the number of trains, — and this is but the beginning. 



It has not been asked, what were the reasons which led to the 

 adoption of the low-fare system, — it is quite forgotten that it was 

 the experience of its success which was the cause ot its adoption; and 

 some inquiry it would be thought might be made, before its abandon- 

 ment was determined on. At any rate, while the country was in its 



