124 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[April,. 



iron. If the circuit is closed and broken rapidly, a succession of marks or 

 dots will be printed on the ribband ; but if closed for a longer time, and then 

 brckjn, the marks are longer; so that long spaces, and short spaces, dots, 

 long and short lines, are formed at pleasure. An arrangement of these 

 marks constitutes the Telegraphic Alphabet. 



Monday, IMarch 9. John Adie, Esq., F.R.S.E., V.P., in the Chair. 

 The following communications were made : — 



1. "Description of a Machine for draxi-ing the perfect E<jg Oral, and a 

 Method of producing Curi'ilineal Figures. Invented by D. R. Hay, Esq., 

 Edinburgh. — .V model of the machine was exhibited to the meeting ; it will 

 draw correctly the egg form, or oval, as it differs from the ellipse ; and also 

 a mode of producing, upon the principle of harmonic ratio, and by a very 

 simple process, a series of curvilineal figures, by which beauty and origin, 

 ality may be imparted to the ornamental works of the architect, and to those 

 of the silversmith, potter, &c., from the ino.st expensive to the liumblest 

 product of their respective arts, sudi as vases, tureens, teapots, cnps, &C. ; 

 and proved, by specimens executed on a large scale, in presence of the 

 meeting, that, if the most approved works of this kind that have been 

 handed down from the Greeks and Etruscans, were not produced by the 

 same means, bis method could produce, with ease and certainty, equal beauty 

 and elegance of design, in endless variety. 



2. A specimen of ornamental Oak Carring, executed by Mr. Jonx Steel, 

 sen., Edinburgh, was exhibited. It was a very beautiful specimen of Scot- 

 tish art, exhibiting a number of figures of dead game, &c., from the stag 

 and the heron to the grouse. It was much undercut, some of the figures 

 nearly relieved, and met with general admiration. 



3. Some Specimens of the Native useful Arts of New Zealand, and a Spe- 

 cimen of the Flu.r Plant of that country, were exhibited by Mr. W. Wells. 

 — The specimens consisted in various articles of dress, of native manufac- 

 ture, woven from the native fl.ix, and ornamented in a curious manner with 

 portions of the plant. They form very thick and comfortable outer gar- 

 ments. Some specimens of dyed stuff .vere also shown ; and a specimen of 

 the Hax plant, together with the flax produced from it, which, when formed 

 into cordage, was said to bear a considerable strain, provided the strain be 

 equal, but is very apt to snap if a sudden strain be applied; or if a knot be 

 formed on the cord it is apt to break at the knot. It was stated that these bad 

 qualities might result from the imperfect manner in which the flax is pre- 

 pared, and that they may possibly be removed by skilful preparation of the 



SOCIETY OF ARTS, LONDON. 



\reb. 25.— VV. H. Bodkin, Esq., M. P., V. P. in the Chair. 



The following papers was read " oji a new fonn of Locomotive Steam 

 Knirine," by Mr. T. R. Cramplon. The object being to prevent rocking 

 and vibratory motion, and to obtain Ihe advantage of large driving wheels 

 •without increasing the height of the centre of gravity. The principal 

 features of the invention are first, the driving wheels are placed at the 

 fire-box end of the boiler, so that the wheels way he made of any height 

 without raising the centre of gravity of the engine, thus a lower centre of 

 gravity is obtained, and also greater stability than is the case in any of the 

 usual forms. 



• It is also conceived that by placing Ihe driving wheels beyond the ex- 

 trenjity of the boiler greater steadiness would be given from the absenceof 

 overhanging weight. With these essential changes the remainder of the 

 ■working parts of the ordinary engine may be maintained without any 

 other alteration in their position. 



On tlie ronmition of Jnaustulionsin S/eam lioilrrs, and on the )neans 

 vf preventing it, by Dr. I{ittei!I)Rani)t. The first part of the paper 

 shows that incrustation is the cause of the majority of Steam Boiler 

 explosions. Secondly, that it is incompatible with the economical nse of 

 fuel. Thirdly, that it rapidly destroys the boilers, and that the extra 

 lieat necessary to raise water to a given point greatly increasing oxidation 

 or scaling, and fourthly, that it is a source of serious expenditure, by 

 rendering labour necessary to remove it, and by the destruction of the 

 boiler, to whi( li this mechanical removal gives rise. In luder to obviate 

 these dilliculties, Dr. Hittcrbrandt proposes to use the sails nf ammonia, it 

 being kuown that if to a soluble salt of lime be added a solution of 

 carbonate of ammonia, precipitation t.kcs place, and the acid which held 

 in solution Ihe lime, unites with Ihe ammonia while the carbonic acid of 

 the carbonate of ammonia combines and falls down with Ihe lime, but upon 

 the water being heated, the precipilatid carbonate of lime combines with 

 the salt of ammonia, is re-dissolvcd and the carbonate of ammonia is formed, 

 and escapes with Ihe vapour of the boiling water. On feeling convinced 

 that this peculiar re action look place, viz : that carbonate of lime precipi- 

 tated from a salt of lime by carbonate of ammonia would be again dissolved 

 by the application of boat, it only remained to be proved how far this 

 principle was applicable to decompose the carbonate of lime already 

 existing in talcareijus water, and the lesulis exceeded the most sanguine 

 expectiitions ; however, hi;;hly charged with lime Ihc water may be, the 

 process answers, and the solution is in all cases perfect. 



The ratiuuale of the chemical reaction was explained bv the following 

 diagram : " ° 



uriale off ^'^■ 



mmonia.i .7 

 Cati 



Carbonate C 



of lime. \ -J 



(insoluble. ( 



^H.A.-fS 



f Muriate of Lime 

 i (soluble.) 



C.4.+Am 



Carbonate of 

 -Ammonia 

 (volatile.) 



March 11. — T. ^^'inkworth, Esq., in the Chair. 



The first communication was by Mr. M'aterhouse, " On his Machine for 

 the Manufacture of Mechlin Lace." It appears from the description of the 

 machine and the specimens of the lace exhibited, to be one of great capa- 

 bilities; the number of warp-threads in the width alone is 4,700, and a 

 corresponding number of bobbins or weft-tlireads, which represent the same 

 number of bobbins, and are all kept in motion at the same time. In mak- 

 ing pillow lace, it requires as many hands as there are bobbins, for on the 

 cushion one baud must wait for the other, in order to obtain the requisite 

 crossings of the threads. Some idea may, therefore, be formed of the in- 

 tricacy of tiie machinery, and of the ingenuity displayed in its arrange- 

 ment, as by it every motion given to the threads by the hand is exactly 

 given by the machimry, but with greater rapidity and precision. The 

 process of Ihe manufacture was described at length, and illustrated by 

 diagrams and parts of the machinery itself; there were also specimens ex- 

 hibited, — one of which was twenty-six yards long and four yards wide, and 

 had four patterns woven upon it. The number of motions or throws that 

 would be required to produce a similar piece of lace by hand would amount 

 to not less than 2,1 11.016,000. The lace is said to be in no respect inferior 

 to the foreign lace. 



The next communication was, by Dr. Paltrineri, " On a New Steam 

 JCng^inc, Magnetic Engine, and other machines in which the moving power 

 is applied simultaneously, by Action and Reaction, to the work to be per- 

 formed, being illustrations of a system for obtaining all motive powers and 

 maximum of ellect." Dr. Paltrineri conceives that the maximum of effect 

 is to be obtained by applying simultaneously the action and reaction of 

 every motive power with equal velocities lo the production of the useful 

 effect. He exhibited a double turbine, in which the water, steam, or other 

 moving fluid, is applied by means of two concentric wheels, through which 

 the fluid passes successively, and by this means he showed that a residual 

 effect, which is lost on the ordinary single wheel, would be converted to 

 use by Ihe double. He showed Ihe same results in Ihe case of his new 

 magnetic engine, and he illustrated the fact by a machine in vThich the 

 constant force of a spring is applied to raise a weight, fi/st by having one 

 bend released and Ihe other fixed, and next by releasing both bends simul- 

 taneously, and in which latter case Ihe maximum of effect is utilized. The 

 machines were simple in their construction. 



ON THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS. 



Abstract of a paper read at the Royal Institution. By Mr. Pellatt 



Though we have accounts of foreign glass having been used in this 

 country during the 7th century, yet the manufacture of glass io England 

 is comparatively of recent date ; the first manufactory having been esta- 

 blished at Savoy House, in the Strand, in 1557, probably by French Pro- 

 testant refugees, most of the technical terms in glass-making being from 

 the French. In IC70, the second Duke of Buckingham advanced the ma- 

 nufacture by the introduction of Venilian workmen ; and three years after- 

 wards the first plate of glass was produced at the works of that nobleman 

 at Lambeth. In 1773 a royal charter was granted to the governor and 

 company of British Plate (i lass Makers ; their works are at Ravenshead, 

 Lancashire, and are the most capacious in Europe. Since this period Ihe 

 manufacture of glass, notwithstanding the restrictions lo which ii has been 

 subjected, but which are now removed, has continued to advance. 



Crucibles and lumaccs. — Before considering Ihe manufacture of glass, 

 it is necessary lo say a few words respecting the mode of preparing the 

 crucibles and furnaces for melting the materials. Every glass-maker is 

 his own poller and furnace-builder. The preparation of the crucibles in- 

 volves the greatest care, because upon the quality of them depends all the 

 after processes and results. 'Ihe material used is fire-clay. The clay best 

 suited is that which contains the most silica. The crucibles or pots are 

 made by forming the clay into small rolls, which are spread, layer over 

 layer, with considerable pressure : the whole is thus built up little by little, 

 allowing the clay to harden so that Ihejshape is preserved. During the build- 

 ing and afterwards, the pots are in a room in which the temperature is regu- 

 lated at about 60% and all drafts excluded ; five or six months are required 

 in this temperature to dry thcin. The reason of so much care is to exclude 

 as much air from the clay as possible ; which, if it cxisteil in quantity, 

 would, upon Ihe pot being brought into contact with the high temperature 

 of the glass furnace, become so expanded as to burst ; and also to insure a 

 capacity in the pot lo withstand the sudden contraction and expansion to 

 which it is exposed. Pots are of two diflerent constructions — closed and 



