62 YEAR-BOOK OF FACTS. 



fact, when we think of the universal service which this machine is 

 rendering us, we feel that some special expression of our indebtedness 

 to him would be a reasonable and grateful service. The benefit 

 which he has conferred upon us is so great, as to justly entitle him 

 to stand side by side with the few men who have gained name aud 

 fame as great inventive engineers, and to whom we have testified 

 our gratitude — usually, unhappily, when it was too late for them to 

 enjoy it.* 



TO INCREASE THE WEIGHT OF IROX. 



An increase of near 30 per cent, in weight may be given to Iron 

 by heating it red-hot, and passing a continued stream of steam over 

 it when in that state. This increase of weight arises from its de- 

 composing the water, and imbibing its oxygen. "Whenever iron 

 becomes oxidized by exposure to the air, it may be known that this 

 is occasioned by the absorption of oxygen, from the increase of 

 weight which the metal acquires during the operation ; and to con- 

 firm the faGt, the oxide may be again reduced, and the original 

 quantity of metal left unaltered. If nickel, in a certain proportion, 

 is combined with iron, it gives a degree of whiteness to iron, and 

 diminishes its disposition to rust, and adds to its ductility. — 

 Mechanics' Magazine. 



NEW PROCESS FOR MAKING MALLEABLE IKON. 



A beautiful and very simple process for Decarbonizing Iron has 

 been put in successful operation by the inventor, Professor H. K. 

 Eaton, at Elizabethport, New Jersey. It consists in packing the 

 cast metal in the white oxide of zinc, instead of oxide of iron, and 

 heating the whole to redness, whereby the carbon of the iron is ex- 

 tracted, and metallic zinc distils and is condensed in a water-bath. 

 By the method heretofore in use in this country, for making mal- 

 leable iron, the heat is usually kept up for eight or nine days in 

 succession, and it frequently happens that great trouble and expense 

 follow the process of decarbonization in removing the small particles 

 of metal that are reconverted from the oxide of iron, in which the 

 castings are packed, and which adhere to the surface. In Professor 

 is method, all this trouble and expense arc obviated. The 

 oxide of zinc not only effects the decarbonization in about forty 

 hours, but, on account of the comparatively low tempera-tore at 

 which the oxide is converted, and its different constituency, nothing 

 adheres bo the surface of the castings, which conic from the fire 

 almost ready for finishing. The castings hat have as 3 et been treated 

 by this process are the smaller iron parts of harness hardware — such 



• To the genius of James "Watt maybe traced (lie first ides of using ahammer 

 in connexion with the power of steam, although 1! was left for one of mir own 

 time practically tO carry out tl"' project. I D \\ atl '| |«al cut of April 88, 1784, 



he 1 11 opOSM In apply " I lie power of si cam nr lire en cine In I he mm ing of heavy 



hummers, or stampers, lor forging or stamping iron, oopper, and other metals, 



without the intervention of rotative not urns or win. U, l>\ livinc the hammer 



to the piston or nintrrn md. nr Trrtriring beam nf thn rmginrt — OturiottUm 



of Science, Second Scries, p. 810. 





