214 [Assemble 



Mr. Smith informed us that their machinery was manufactured at 

 the West Point foundry, and such is its perfect finish, including the 

 rolling mill, that when the whole is in full operation you can scarce 

 hear its movements in the second story above. 



The machinery for making the lead pipe is an improvement upon 

 the patent of Thomas Burr (who received a patent in England in 

 ]820 for the first machinery for making lead pipe by hydrostatic 

 pressure) and is so admirably adapted to its purpose, that no scien- 

 tific engineer can see the same in operation without instantly com- 

 prehending the beautiful and simple arrangement of its several parts. 



When operated under the care of their practical and scientific 

 superintendent, (Mr. Smith) he requires only common laborers for 

 his assistants, and with three men he can with ease make upwards 

 of ten tons of lead pipe in 12 hours. The length of this quantity of 

 pipe would depend upon its weight per foot. If estimated to aver- 

 age If lbs. per foot, it would extend upwards of two miles. This 

 simple machine alone, if operated to the extent of its capacity,, 

 would make more lead pipe than is required for the supply of the 

 United States. 



This beautiful machine, including the furnace for melting the lead, 

 and all other articles connected with the same is contained and ope- 

 rated in a less space than ten feet square; so compact and simple is 

 the press only, that it stands within the superfice of about four feet 

 square, and, including the force-pumps to supply the hydrostatic 

 pressure, may be said to consist of but about ten parts, each of which 

 admits of being made in such a manner as not to be out of order once 

 a month, and when repairs are required, the same can be done by 

 any common machinist. 



The upward motion of the piston in the hydrostatic cylinder does 

 not generally exceed five inches per minute, while its return, or the 

 downward motion is about 12 inches per minute. The furnace used 

 for mflting the lead is about three feet deep; the melted lead is 

 drawn from the same a little above the bottom, thereby insuring at 

 all times nothing but pure metal to enter the cylinder from which 

 the lead pipe is pressed. The area of this cylinder which receives 

 the melted lead is about 1.400 cubic inches, and contains about 3^ 

 cwt. to each charge. The time required for the cooling of the lead 

 within the cylinder to the proper temperature for insuring a perfect 

 pipe is about four minutes, and the time for each charge of 3^ cwt.^ 



