Award of Medals, &c., at Kilhum. 
725 
be 3 inches apart, and the discs to be revolving in the same direction, then if 
a bar sliglitly larger than 3 inches is placed between them the bar will revolve 
on its own axis, and will be reduced in diameter to exactly 3 inches. The bar 
is horizontal, and when it is at the same level as the centres of the discs, it will 
simply revolve between them, and will have no other motion ; if, however, it 
be lifted above the centres, say about a quarter of an inch, it will, besides 
revolving, travel lengthways between the discs ; should it be a quarter of an 
inch or so below the level of the centres, it will also travel lengthways, but in 
the reverse direction. In this way, then, works the machine at Kirkstall 
Forge. The bar is brought from the rolls slightly larger than is the intended 
shaft. After cooling in the right temperature, it is placed on the table of the 
machine, which is on the floor level, and one end is inserted Isetween the discs. 
It immediately commences to revolve, and travel longitudinally, so that after a 
Uttle time the whole length of the bar has been operated upon or planished. 
When it leaves the discs the bar is a shaft, being now, for all practical pur- 
\K>ses, quite round and straight, not of course so true as the highest class of 
shafting, which has been carefully finished in a lathe, but still entirely up to 
the average of turned shafting, and much better than many specimens. The 
surfaces of the discs which perform the planishing are jjerfectly smooth, and 
during the operation a copious supply of water falls upon them and upon the 
shaft ; hence the latter leaves the machine perfectly free from scale, and with 
a smooth skin, having a dark blue polish. The Kirkstall Forge Company at 
present are prepared to roll their shafts of all sizes, from 7 inches diameter 
down to i inch, but they intend shortly to produce them by their patent pro- 
cess so small as ^ inch in diameter. They prefer in all cases to supply their 
patent shafting cut by themselves to dead lengths, and with faced ends, in 
order that they may be erected without ftirther manipulation, their customers 
being thus saved a considerable amount of trouble and expense. These 
planished bars are of course applicable for many purposes besides shafting; 
thus with engineers they are used for every imaginable purpose where a true 
and round plain bar is suitable. For instance, an agricultural implement 
maker will order some thousands of planished pins about 8 inches long and li 
inch diameter, and other machinists are siniilarly sujiplied. It remains to be 
mentioned that, according to tests made by Mr. Kirkaldy \vith his machine, 
these shafts (in torsion) are one-fifth stronger than rolled shafts of the same 
diameter, and consequently show a greater gain even than this over turned 
shafts of the same diameter. This, however, is what might be expected from 
the nature of the planishing operation. 
" TTie patentees claim, as the most important effect of their patent machine 
on the bar, the entire removal of all kinks, doglegs, and bends, and the conse- 
quent iJroduction of a perfectly straight and true shaft. For all ordinary speeds 
this shafting can be run safely without the trouble and expense of turning any 
necLs, which, by removing the skin, and reducing the diameter, lessen the 
strength and wearing power. For ordinary purposes, the American clamp 
couplings, which are loose collars, answer perfectly, and secm-e the full strength 
of the shaftings, the necessity for bosses and key-slots being entirely done 
away ^vith. The patentees claim that they produce their shafting, 
1. SufiBciently uniform in size — 
2. Mechanically round. 
3. Perfectly straight and true. 
4. Xo turning being required. 
5. No waste, no trouble, no labour to user. 
6. With 20 per cent, extra tension over ordinary rolled iron in the rough. 
7. With increased rapidity. 
8. With a smooth skin."" 
Judging from the specimens exhibited at Kilbum, which ranged from 
