NOTES ON CHAIN CABLES. . 157 



Point. Seventeen forges were engaged in the work, ten for forging proper and 

 seven for welding. 



In spite of the excellence of this early product, there was little chain made in 

 this country until about the middle of the 19th century. A ship's cable chain-works 

 was established in Boston about 1835, and the Carr Chain Works was incorpor- 

 ated at Troy, N. Y., in 1865. About the same time, the works of A. Hewitt & Co. 

 was established in Trenton, N. J., and the Hayden Chain Works at Columbus, Ohio. 

 These early plants were vital factors in displacing the English chain then being 

 supplied in this country. 



Since that time, the industry has grown rapidly and has centered largely in 

 the Pennsylvania district, where fuel and material are available. 



FORM OF LINKS. 



Many attempts have been made to develop special forms of links calculated to 

 overcome the objection to the standard form now in use or to simplify or cheapen 

 the process of manufacture. In spite of these attempts, the original form of 

 link has held its own, and at present no serious attempt is being made to change it. 

 The sketches herewith indicate the trend in this direction. 



Figure i, Plate 89, links made from two strips of half round, bent to shape, 

 welded together on the flat side, with scarfs on opposite sides. 



Figure 2, Plate 89, links made by winding flat strips of iron in form of ring, 

 welding and working to proper cross-section between dies or rolls. 



Figure 3, Plate 89, links made from bars rolled with enlarged section at points 

 where re-enforcement is desired, e. g., at the end of the link. 



Figure 4, Plate 89, links made from bars rolled with projections designed to 

 take place of stud. 



Figure 5, Plate 89, links made from bars of special rolled section with center 

 cut out as at E. Ends AA and BB bent around and welded together. 



Figure 6, Plate 89, links made from bars of star section, from which joined 

 links are cut by properly designed shears. Various types of weldless links made 

 from wire bent or wound into special forms, one link intertwining with another. 



All of these special forms have failed to displace the standard type, either be- 

 cause of impracticability or expense of the process, or failure to obtain benefits 

 commensurate with the increased cost. 



CHAIN LINKS MADE BY WINDING FLAT STRIPS. 



The process indicated in Fig. 2 deserves special mention for the reason that it 

 has been accepted to some extent in Germany, and a machine has been set up in 

 this country. 



The flat strips are taken from the furnace and pointed through the last link 

 formed, and then wound in circular form as shown. This ring is then heated to 

 a welding heat and passed between rollers on the forming machine which roll it into 



