486 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Several members replied to the statements of Mr. Fisher, the prevailing 

 opinion being that petroleum could not, unless very much cheaper, be 

 brought into competition with anthracite coal, 



Arnold's Twist Drills. 



Mr. Watson brought to the notice of the association some very beautiful 

 samples of twist drills used by machinists in boring holes in metals, and hi 

 alluding to them said: 



The perfection to which we have attained in metal- working is one of the. 

 miracles of modern times. In all of our large machine shops iron is planed 

 and turned in large masses with a speed and accuracy unknown in former 

 times. I have here one of the modern tools used for working metal, which 

 is as may be seen, not only externally beautiful, but constructed on sound 

 principles. I have here also a common flat drill, such as is ordinarily used, 

 and I deem it unnecessary to more than to show you the two, side by side. 

 The advantages resi;lting from the use of such drills as this twisted one, 

 are that the work can be done in less than half the time. To say nothing 

 of the first cost of the two tools — which is largely in favor of the twisted 

 (ji-ill — it commends itself to mechanics by reason of its perfect accuracy in 

 all that affects size, uniformity of quality and temper. These are standard 

 tools and as such have a great value even beyond their intrinsic worth, 

 -When. I say standard 1 wish to convey the impression that they are all 

 alike. A hole drilled by a thirteen-thirty-second drill to-day will be the 

 same as one drilled last year by any other drill of that size from the same 

 factory, so that work which is laid off and executed by them can be recon- 

 structed in case of breakage with the certainty that the bolts or other fix- 

 tures belonging to the job will fit. Beyond this mechanical advantage 

 there is the very great additional moral one of having in daily use tools 

 that are calculated to excite emulation and stimulate mechanics to do good 

 work instead of poor. 



These drills are of all sizes, from three-eights, varying by thirtj^ seconds 

 of an inch up to one inch and a quarter, with turned taper shanks and 

 sockets to match with straight shanks, made of Stubb's wire, from three- 

 eighths down to a sixty-fourth of an inch, or from No. I wire to No. 60 

 wire. 



I can easily conceive what an immense advantage these drills will be to 

 all metal workers. I have always thought that twist drills should be sold 

 in the stores as cheaply as augers for carpenters; and when I speak of the 

 price it is almost incredible to see how they can be sold for it. Why, sirs, 

 this splendid inch and a quarter drill, turned from end to end with a taper 

 shank, accurately ground and tempered, sold ready to drill a hole with on 

 the spot, costs but five dollars. No man could go to work and make one 

 like it for three times the money. The four sockets cost but ten dollars. I 

 know something of metal working, and these tools could not be afforded at 

 anything like the sum, unless the company worked upon a regular system 

 and had ingenious machines constructed for this very purpose. 



It was not my intention, when I came here, to occupy too much time in 

 the discussion of this tool, but I have felt it important to metal workers 

 that the fact of such drills as these being offered at such moderate prices 



