THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
101 
These are some of the results which are calculated to delight the heart of 
a powder-maker, and prove that a patient continuance in well doing is sure 
to be rewarded. It may be taken for granted that not only is the mechanical 
system of mixing in use at Waltham Abbey a perfect success, but that the 
method of testing the powder is not only consistent with itself, but calculated 
to produce one of the prime requisites of good powder—viz., uniformity of 
results. 
A system of mixing powder similar to that just described, is in use at 
Wetteren, though at first it -was not quite so perfect as the plan at Waltham 
Abbey. At Wetteren, the powder when finished is stored in large bins, and 
when a batch of powder has to be made up for shipment a small portion is 
taken from each bin for every barrel. Were the bins uniform, this system 
would be perfect. Of late, attention has been given to insure uniformity of 
the powder in the bins, somewhat after the plan at Waltham Abbey. The 
following proofs are given of Wetteren powder :— 
Lot. 
1 
Density. 
; 
Moisture. 
Experiment. 
M.Y. 
Pressures. 
Date. 
No. 
A. 
B. 
C. 
45 . 
1-773 
1-17 
7. 12. 72 
151 
1427 
17-5 
15-8 
15-1 
46 . 
1-766 
1-17 
// 
152 
1435 
16-7 
17-6 
16-1 
47 . 
1-766 
1-17 
it 
153 
1452 
17-2 
17-0 
16-4 
48 . 
1-771 
1-17 
„ 
154 
1440 
16-5 
16-2 
16-1 
49 . 
1-771 
1-21 
a 
155 
1416 
15*6 
15-6 
15-2 
50 . 
1775 
1-13 
a 
156 
1406 
14-9 
14-3 
14-5 
51 . 
1-771 
1-17 
n 
157 
1438 
16-2 
17-5 
15-3 
52 . 
1-773 
T-20 
a 
158 
1432 
15-8 
15-5 
15-5 
That to produce uniform powder is by no means an easy matter, the proof 
of the following lots of pebble supplied by Messrs. John Hall and Son will 
show:— 
Lot. 
Experiment. 
M.Y. 
Pressures. 
Date. 
No. 
A. 
B. 
C. 
C 785 
1414 
15"2 
15-1 
13-8 
1388 ... 
7. 3. 72 
] 787 
1442 
16-5 
17-2 
16-3 
(.790 
1481 
25-9 
21-6 
20-5 
(802 
1496 
16-5 
16-5 
15-8 
1399 ... 
13. 3. 72 
] 803 
1432 
12-3 
13-2 
13-1 
(.808 
1386 
11-2 
10-4 
11-2 
These samples are not given to show any inferiority of manufacture by 
Messrs. Hall and Son, but simply to illustrate the variations powder is 
capable of exhibiting, even when the manufacturers may be satisfied as to its 
uniformity. Messrs. Hall and Son were unfortunate in their first attempts 
to manufacture pebble, but they afterwards succeeded to a degree that has 
not left them inferior to any of the other manufacturers.* The powder sup¬ 
plied by them, as a rule, exhibits low pressures in comparison with the velocities. 
Their powder is cut on the principle in use at Waltham Abbey, but the 
machinery is different. They pass the cakes through the same sort of cutting 
* The following proofs of Messrs. Hall and Son’s more recent manufacture will show the im* 
