232 REPORT—1874, 
elastic material placed in the fluid by the spirally inclined faces rising upon one 
another; the wheel at the same time is prevented from moving laterally along 
the shaft by a fixed collar. On the outer side of the wheel this motion of the ram 
allows the shaft to continue its rotation, while the wheel is held by a sudden 
shock or stoppage ; so that the machinery in such emergencies is gradually pulled 
up without being smashed to pieces. In crushing-mills, through too heavy a feed, 
ies rolls only require to be allowed to slacken in speed to admit of the cane yielding 
under the pressure. When the obstacle to rapid rotation has passed the rolls, the 
pressure stored up in the cylinder reacts on the ram, and by the spirally inclined 
end acting on the counter-form boss of the wheel, quickly brings the rolls to the 
speed of the driving-shaft, and thus utilizes the force of the strain. 
On Recent Improvements in Breech-loading Firearms. 
By AxpRew WYLeEY. 
In continuation of a paper read at Brighton in 1872, giving an outline of the 
history of breech-loading firearms, some account was given of improvements since 
that date, including four different systems by the author, examples of which were 
exhibited and described. The very serious defects of the “ Martini-Henry ” rifle, 
as adopted by the British Government, were pointed out and illustrated by a 
* sectional ” model of that arm. 
On the Breech-loading Firearms exhibited at Vienna in 1873. 
By AxnpRew WYLEY. 
A short account was given of these, attention being specially directed to the 
very excellent collection of modern breech-loaders contributed by the associated 
gunmakers of Liége, in which were represented some fifty systems, many of them 
an unknown in this country. It was remarked that, although at present we 
ave no such collection, the want is likely to be shortly supplied in the Museum 
of Arms about to be established in Birmingham by the “ Wardens of the Proof 
House,” who have secured, as a foundation for the same, an admirable collection 
made in Italy by Cavaliere Callandra, illustrating the manufacture of firearms 
from the earliest period up to the introduction of the percussion lock, and contain- 
ing many examples of the highest artistic excellence*. 
Some account was also given of the great factory of the Austrian Government 
at Steyer and Letten, on the Ems, which can turn out 150,000 “ Wernal”’ rifles 
and 100 “mitrailleuses ” yearly, of Herr Dreyse’s establishment at Sommerda, in 
Saxony (Prussian), famous for the production of the Prussian “ Ziindnadel,” and 
of a curious cooperative factory at Ferlaeh, in Carinthia, where low-priced sporting 
guns and pistols are made on a large scale for the markets of Eastern Europe. 
* The Museum was opened on the 24th September, 1874. 
