secretary's report. 47 



MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



We were agreeably disappointed at the opening of tlie Fair on Tues- 

 day inorning, at the display of machinery and other articles on the 

 lower floor of the building, as upon the previous afternoon the appear- 

 ance was that the room would have a decidedly empty look ; but at 

 last the exhibitors came in nobly, and the building had as busy a look 

 as usual, though we think that Fitchburg, as an eminently mechanical 

 city should have had a better machinery display. Commencing at the 

 further end of the building, under the shed, we found one of C. M. 

 Flint's excellent Circular Saw Mills. This mill is self-setting and 

 shifting. The log being put on and fastened down and the saw started, 

 the operator has no further care till the log is sawed into boards or 

 planks, as the case may be, the mill reversing its motion at each end 

 and feeding itself for a new cut, automatically, going a slow forward 

 motion while sawing, and a very quick back motion of carriage, thus 

 saving much time. Next to the saw-mill was one of "Tefts Patent 

 Saw Sharpeners and Gummers," manufactured by Clark & Chatman 

 Machine Co., at Turner's Falls, Mass.; a solid Emery Wheel, revolv- 

 ing very rapidly, taking the metal out of large circular saws with sur- 

 prising rapidity, and throwing out a stream of sparks sufficient in num- 

 ber, apparently, to satisfy all the crowd of ladies attending the Fair. 

 There were the Boilers, supplied by D. M. Dillon & Co., which fur- 

 nished the steam to run the engines and pump ; these were fed with 

 water by a " Knowles" Steam Pump, put in place by Mr. H. J. Kim- 

 ball, which also forced water to the various fish tanks inside the build- 

 ing, etc, working finely both days. Mr. Kimball also furnished all 

 the Piping used, and lighted the building very beautifully, Tuesday 

 evening, with a Self Generating Gas Apparatus. Just within the 

 main building were two of the Haskins Vertical Engines, which fur- 

 nished the motive power for the various machines in operation. These 

 are very beautiful engines, with balanced valves, of the best work- 

 manship, and, we understand, very cheap in proportion to the power 

 obtained. The intention was to run one of the engines with the vapor 

 of the bi-sulphide of carbon, boiled by the exhaust from the other, on 

 the ^' Ellis" system, but the manufacturer failed to get the bi-sulphide 

 here in season, so both were running with steam. Next to the engine 

 were the various machines of the Kollstone Machine Co., who took the 

 First Premium for Machines. They exhibited one of their Double 

 Circular Saws, so arranged that either a fine cross-cut saw, or a rip 

 saw, can be used, a Band Saw, a Jig Saw, one large Plane about the 

 usual style, and a small " Buzz" Planer for small surfacing work, and 

 finally, a " Stretcher" for turning chair rounds, &c., altogether making 

 a very nice display, with the shavings flyiug, sawing out small chairs, 

 etc., etc. The New England Machine Co. had an Engine Lathe for 

 iron work, and a very small Wood Planer for exhibition, the latter 

 smoothing off small pieces of board from two to five inches in width. 

 This Company intended putting in one of their Portable Engines, but 

 could not obtain their boiler in season. Mr, A. D. Waymoth put in 



