136 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
ness of metal and then weighed. The head is placed upon the body at this 
stage of manufacture* and two rows of rivet-holes are drilled through into 
the body of the shell—-one row close to the rim of the shell body* the other 
further from the rim. The first* being nearly slotted through the metal* offer 
little resistance to the action of the powder in a longitudinal direction* but 
serve to resist the tendency of the head to separate* owing to the rotation 
of the shell. (These are sometimes called “twisting-holes*” and the pins which 
fit into them “twisting-pins.”) The second row resist the tendency of the 
head to separate* both longitudinally and laterally. The body is now 
complete. 
The head is formed of either the best charcoal iron* or of a very mild 
steel which is produced by the Bessemer process. It is punched into discs* 
and is then stamped in dies* to bring it to the required ogival form. (It is 
stamped into the first die cold* and brought to its final dimensions by 
heating to a red heat and stamping into three dies; each die becoming more 
contracted, so as to bring the metal gradually to shape without unduly 
straining it.) The head is punched out and afterwards recessed to receive 
the collar of the socket for the fuze. It is turned on the interior of rim to fit on 
the body* and a very little turned off the exterior to give a clean surface for the 
solder. It is then placed on the body and the rivet-holes drilled; the shell 
and drills being so adjusted as to allow of two holes being drilled at a time. 
The head is afterwards removed. A wood lining of either ash or beech fits 
into and supports the head. It consists of a piece of wood of ogival form* 
to fit into the head. 
The remaining parts which constitute the interior of the shell are—the tin 
cup* the diaphragm* the tube* the tin socket* the gun-metal bush* the mixed 
metal balls* the felt or kamptulicon disc* and brown paper lining. A brief 
description is subjoined :— 
Tin Cup .—Of tinned iron* formed so as to fit the powder-chamber* 
covered on top except a small hole in the centre* where a short tube is 
soldered on to fit the hole in diaphragm.* 
Diaphragm .—A wrought-iron disc* having a hole bored through its centre 
and tapped for the reception of the tube.f 
Gun-metal Tube .—It is enlarged at the head where it is soldered to the 
tin socket* tapped on the exterior at bottom to enable it to be screwed into 
the diaphragm* and on the interior at top for the gun-metal primer. J 
Tin Socket .—Made of iron tinned* conical in form. The smallest end fits 
round the gun-metal tube* to which it is soldered. 
Gun-metal Bush .—It is cast roughly to shape* and then turned in a lathe 
* The cup has a flat top for the 7 and 9-prs.* and coned for all other calibres* to facilitate 
unloading. 
f The bottom is flat for the 7 and 9-prs.* and coned for all other calibres, to facilitate unloading, 
j A wrought-iron tube, lacquered internally, tapped on exterior at bottom, and slightly recessed 
on the interior at top to receive the lower part of the gun-metal socket, is used for all calibres 
above the 25-pr. (the tube for the 40-pr, fits into the lower part of the metal socket). 
