Machinery at the Exhibition. 425 



boring large cylinders, both then and now, prevented their 

 being exhibited. 



The planing-machine, though in some respects improved, 

 has undergone no very serious modification since 1851. The 

 ponderous nature of the larger machines, must always present 

 great obstacles to their being transported from place to place, 

 and must render the proprietors unwilling to move them 

 without very urgent necessity. The difficulty experienced in 

 such circumstances has however been greatly lessened, by the 

 use of the steam-crane; masses of eighteen or twenty tons 

 weight, and even more, are now handled without any difficulty : 

 and hence the larger machines are better represented on the 

 present than on any former occasion. Shaping, drilling, and 

 other machines of an equally important character, are found in 

 great numbers in the present exhibition, as was true also of 

 the last. 



There are certain contrivances of great importance to 

 the machine-maker, which have advanced more perceptibly. 

 Thus the steam-hammer, which, in 1851, was comparatively a 

 clumsy and complicated machine, has become compact and 

 simple, while its efficiency has been greatly augmented. In 

 its most imperfect form, it was still a welcome substitute for the 

 old forge-hammer. The latter weighed at most a few hundred 

 weight, the steam-hammer often weighs fifteen or twenty, and 

 sometimes fifty tons, and yet can be controlled with the utmost 

 exactness. It has greatly the advantage of the radial hammer, 

 on account of its whole weight being effective, and its face 

 being in all circumstances parallel to the face of the anvil. It 

 enables us to manufacture immense masses of iron and steel 

 with great ease ; and to weld them, if necessary, with but little 

 danger of leaving flaws : its capabilities are well illustrated by 

 the very large crank shafts, both in the rough and finished 

 states, which are seen in the eastern and western annexes. In 

 1851 it was not exhibited in action; at present many speci- 

 mens of it are in operation daily. 



The steam-crane, to which we have already alluded, is 

 another contrivance that greatly facilitates the construction of 

 machinery. It was barely invented at the time of the last 

 Exhibition, and the steam was supplied to it by a separate 

 stationary boiler; at present the boiler is attached to it and 

 without its bulk being inconveniently increased. Steam-cranes 

 did good service during the erection of the exhibition build- 

 ings ; two of them raised all the ironwork to its position, and 

 a few more brought the heavy goods and machinery to their 

 allotted places. One of those used on such occasions is 

 exhibited. 



While we direct attention to the present favourable state 



