22 American Mechanics. VOL. I. perty of matter by which it would always || timony that it cannot be exceeded. In recontinue in the same state of rest, or of motion, in which it is put, unless changed by some external force. Illus. 1. It is evident that matter, as a stone, can never put itself in motion, unless it be in some way acted upon. 2. Bodies in motion, as a bowl on the ground, or a cannon-ball passing through the air, fall from motion to a state of rest, either by the friction of the earth, by the gravity or weight of the body, or by the resistance of the air. sources, we are without doubt unrivalled, ties, our rapid advancement affords abundant and that we have profited by our opportuniproof. Not only have the productions of our countrymen and specimens of their skill been conveyed to various places upon the globe, but our mechanics themselves have been well received and honored with the foremost places in other countries. In England, at the present time, American contractors are amassing fortunes from the public works, and there are artists in Ireland who left us Exp. 1. A marble shot from the fingers when in moderate circumstances, and they would run but a small distance on a carpet; can already, in point of wealth as well as its motion would be continued much longer worth, compete with some of the proudest on a flat pavement; and longer still upon lords of the kingdom. An ingenious mefine smooth ice. Here the friction is greatest chanic of Philadelphia-a machinist, who on the carpet and least on the ice. If the despaired of distinction in his native land, friction were quite removed, and the resist- left his free government and its citizen Presiance of the air also, the marble once put indent, and sought a home in the dominion of motion would continue in that state for ever. King William the Fourth; the title of Ameri2. If a ball were fired from a cannon with || can citizen, which seems to be a safe passport a certain velocity, and there was no resist ance from the air, it would circulate round the earth perpetually, and never come to a state of rest. 3. If a person were standing in a boat at rest, and the boat be suddenly pushed from the shore, he will be in danger of falling backwards. And if the boat in swift motion be stopt before he is aware, he will fall forward, because his tendency will then be to|| continue in the Same state of motion. [To be continued.] for the humblest individual throughout the civilized world, gained him a hearty welcome and warm friendship upon that princely shore; he entered a manufacturing establishment as a journeyman;-like Franklin, he rose to eminence, and is now too closely wedded by wealth and distinguished alliance to the land of his adoption ever to think of a permanent home upon the plains of his beloved America. Another an artist of Baltimore, whose sign hung upon a house in Fayette street to but little purpose, resolved upon the tour of Europe; and having reached Ireland, he thought of practising a little upon the profession in which he was an admirable proficient, but which had well nigh starved him from his native city; he commenced, and the titled almost did him deference; he is now putting away his gold, and dashing on to wealth. American Mechanics. That the American nation in this comparatively early period of its existence, should be honored in other lands with distinction and superiority in the mechanic arts, may be considered as no insignificant precedence; and if in the incipiency of our republic, we can lay claims to pre-eminence in this useful In France, a worshipper at the shrine of and highly honorable department of science, St. Crispin-alias a shoemaker from Amerimay we not look forward to future excel-ca-was more wealthy than Charles X. lence, unequalled in any period of the world's history? The mechanic arts deservedly hold an exalted position in the histories of nations; they are prominent evidences of the progress of civilization and improvement-and the architectural embellishments, ..ow exhibited in American cities, are probably in elegance of design, strength and durability, inferior to no performance of the kind upon the face of the earth, either of ancient or modern construction. In the manufacturing line we may defy the world in comparison as regards quality, and as to quantity-the four winds of Heaven, which have wafted American freightage to every clime, will bear tes An American tailor, we have been told, loaned thousands to the Queen of Spain to enable her to conquer Don Carlos. In Rome, our mechanics are living handsomely; in other parts of Italy they reap the rewards of their honest labors. Thus the land that in former years gave us models for art has received from us men, in these modern times, to supply the places of their best and most perfect artisans. What a change is here! Perhaps, beside the Coliseum, one of the proudest specimens of human skill, the mechanic of America, a land of recent discovery and settlement, has astonished the populace with his master efforts. Constantinople, that conservatory of re No. 2. Topham, the Strong Man. 23 served rights and privileges, has opened her, the information that many cabinet makers gates for the reception of American me- from Baltimore have boxed dollars of the chanics, and the turbaned terror of the East different stamps enough to make them indehas disclosed his gratification at their settle- pendent all their lives. ment among his subjects. American merchants have rendered him essential service in the way of money, and American mechanics are rebuilding his ruined edifices. A call has lately been made from the land of Egypt, and advertisements are still exhibited in our northern cities, offering strong inducements for the mechanics of our country to settle in that ancient revelling place of Kings; it may be that some have already settled there, and like Joseph are laying up -not exactly against famine, but for future prosperity. Coming a little nearer home, the Southern part of our Continent is almost stocked with our North American mechanics; they are the rnost useful citizens in that part of the country. A friend from Valparaiso has given us American mechanics are in every Christian country; and in no place do we hear that they are not respected. Kings think well of them and honor them with their friendship, and subjects regard them as the most distin guised among the citizens. Yankee enter prise cannot be arrested; it acknowledges no limits, and seems to be advancing in every corner of the world. Our spirited country. men are driving their traffic with Christian and Savage, and compassing the world with the productions of genius and the handiworks of art; that they may be successful and prosperous, and maintain the honor of our flag wherever they may be, we doubt not is the prayer of every American heart. [Baltimore Monument. The most extraordinary instance of human first magnitude by striking it against his strength recorded in modern times, is that bare arm, lifting two hogsheads of water, of Thomas Topham, a man who kept a pub- heaving his horse over the turnpike-gate, lic house at Islington. Mr. Hutton in his carrying the beam of a house as a soldier History of Derby, gives this account of carries his firelock, &c. When this second him-He performed surprising feats of Sampson appeared at Derby as a performer strength as breaking a broom-stick of the in public, at a shilling each, upon application 24 Discoveries and Inventions. to Alderman Cooper for leave to exhibit, the magistrate was surprised at the feats he proposed, and as his appearance was like that of other men, he requested him to strip, that he might examine whether he was made like them; but he was found to be extremely muscular. What were hollows under the arms and hams of others, were filled up with ligaments in him. He appeared nearly five feet ten, turned of thirty, well made, but nothing singular; he walked with a small limp. He had formerly laid a wager, the usual decider of disputes, that three horses could not draw him from a post which he should clasp with his feet; but the driver giving them a sudden lash, turned them aside, and the unexpected jerk had broken his thigh. VOL. I. Discoveries and Inventions. IMPROVED LOOM. A Saxon weaver hasi nvented a new loom, which promises to overcome all the obsta cles and obviate all the difficulties with which the art of weaving has hitherto had to contend. It is a power loom, and adapted to the weaving of fabrics of wool, cotton, from a riband to a broadcloth, and requires linen and silk, of all widths and fineness be turned by the finger and thumb of the so little power that a six quarter loom may weaver. It is of cheap construction-not costing more than half of the common power loom, less likely to get out of order, and been examined by many eminent power consequently requiring less repairs.-It has loom manufacturers, machinists and weavers, who all express their astonishment at the simplicity and regularity of its movements. It has been patented in England, Scotland, and Ireland-covering fifteen points of invention, none of which are improvements on the old power looms, but all which originated with the inventor. The patent also includes a sizing machine, which sizes and dries each thread in the warp separately, a preparation which, as every weaver knows, is essential to the production of a superior article. If the inventor has succeeded in constructing loom machinery in such a manner as to carry the art of weaving to perfection, or a near approximation to it, he has not only laid the foundation of a fortune for himself, but conferred an incalculable benefit upon the manufacturing community. The United States, as well as Europe, will afford him an extensive field of operations, and his invention could not be more opportune The performances of this wonderful man, in whom were united the strength of twelve, were, rolling up a pewter dish of seven pounds as a man rolls up a sheet of paper; holding a pewter quart at arm's lengh, and squeezing the sides together like an eggshell; lifting two hundred weight with his little finger, and moving it gently over his head. The bodies he touched seemed to have lost their powers of gravitation. He also broke a rope fastened to the floor, that would sustain twenty hundred weight. He lifted an oak table six feet long with his teeth, though half a hundred weight was hung to the extremity; a piece of leather was fixed to one end for his teeth to hold, two of the feet stood upon his knees, and he raised the end with the weight higher than that in his mouth. Though of a pacific temper, and with the appearance of a gentleman, yet he was liable to the insults of the rude. The ostler at the Virgin's Inn, where he resided, having given him disgust, he took one of the kitchen spits from the mantle-piece, and bent it round his neck like a handkerchief; but as he did not choose to tuck the ends in the ostler's bosom, the cumbrous ornament excited the laugh of the company, till he condescended to untie his iron cravat. Had he not abounded with good nature, the men might have been in The Charleston Patriot thus notices a fear for the safety of their persons, and the newly invented printing machine-the ne women for that of their pewter-shelves, as plus ultra, as it should seem, in that departhe could instantly roll up both. One blow ment of mechanical science:-A printing from his fist would forever have silenced press lately invented by Rowland Hill, an those heroes of the Bear-garden, Johnson English Machinist, throws off 8000 sheets and Mendoza. At the time of his death, per hour, without the use of steam. The which happened 10th of Angust, 1749, he number thrown off by the most powerful kept a public house in Hog-lane, Shoreditch. presses now in use is 4000 per hour. A Having, two days before, a quarrel with his scroll of paper of the width of a newspaper, wife, he stabbed her in the breast, and im- and from three miles and a half to four miles mediately gave himself several wounds, long, can, on one of Mr. Hill's presses, be which proved fatal to him, but his wife re-printed on both sides in one hour. The covered. Anecdote Library. principle of this invention, and which dis being simultaneous with the introduction of the culture and manufacture of silk. We hope he will visit this country with his loom, and avail himself of the liberal provisions of our patent laws. NEW PRINTING MACHINE. No. 2. Discoveries and Inventions 25 tinguishes it from those presses now in use, || to get a good one and have it well fitted. is that the motion is rotary instead of being reciprocating, which communicates to the machine its rapidity of motion. NEW PLANING MACHINE. The New York Planing Machine, invented by Dr. Hull, of Brooklyn, strikes us as one of the most important improvements of modern times.. It is now in operation in this city, and we took occasion a few days since to see its operation and to examine the principles upon which it acts. We have not the least doubt that it has reached a desideratum that will be of immense importance to the country, and we should think, supercede entirely the business of planing planks and boards by hand. A machine of ten horse power, will do the work of one hundred and fifty men, and what is perhaps more important still, do it abundantly better than can possibly be done with the hand plane. The rapidity with which rough boards are turned out, and the beautiful surface presented, is really quite astonishing. To plane boards. by power, and make the rotary motion act with the grain, is a desideratum now for the first time accomplished; and it has in this instance, been accomplished with perfect success. Mr. John Sandford, of Maine, has invented a mode of obviating this difficulty in a great measure. He has a shaft cast of iron after a suitably sized pattern-the- beams are made smaller in the pattern than the main body, so as to need little or no turning to make them right-a cheek or projection rises up about midway of the shaft, forming a shoulder against which the stone presses when upon the shaft. When the stone is placed upon its proper position, lead is run in the space between the stone and shaft which fills it completely up. The lead is held in its place by notches or indentations in the shaft. A hole or mortice is left in one end, into which is placed a wooden or iron crank. It is a very simple and convenient article. Fig. 13. It has two vertical wheels, with planes, or more properly speaking, planing irons set at a proper angle on the surface of each TAILORS' STANDING MACHINE. wheel; one wheel acting as the common The above is a representation of a very jack plane, to reduce the board, and the simple machine, now in use in London, by other giving a much more smooth, even, and which tailors are enabled to work at their perfect surface, than can by hand be accom-business without sitting. plished with the finest smoothing plane. A B is a bench, about thirty-six inches This latter effect is produced from the pecu-high; F is a block of wood, four inches deep liar construction of the machine, which in from D to C, two feet in breadth from E to its final operation takes off a very fine sha-G, and ten inches over from D to H, and ving, the plane irons at that time acting as may be placed on any part of the edge of the completely with the grain of the board, as bench. E G are two cushions, fifteen inches though it were worked by hand-while it in circumference, stuffed with hair, or any must be obvious that no hand work can give thing which can be conveniently had, and a surface so perfectly regular. Of course nailed firmly on the block of wood. G is there is a wheel which grooves boards in- the cushion on which the workman holds tended for flooring, so that as fast as they his work to sew it, the same as he would pass through the machine, they are ready do on his knee when sitting; the other immediately to lay down in floors. The cushion is principally to rest the sleevewhole cost of a machine will not exceed six board on when pressing, though it can be hundred dollars. used the same as the other to sew on. This machine is, in fact, an artificial lap; and can be moved to any part of the bench as conve Persons desirous of looking at the machine or purchasing patent rights, may obtain every information by applying to Doc-nience may require. tor Hull, at the office of Mr. Moulton Hull, No. 14 Wall street, New York. SANDFORD'S GRINDSTONE SHAFT. Every one who has a grindstone needs a shaft to it, and it is no small job sometimes When pressing his work, a small stool, or any thing which will raise the workman three or four inches, will be found to be of great service, as he will have a much greater command of his work. Any number of men may work in this way, by having several of these machines on a bench, and having a 26 Cement-Electro Magnetic Engine. number of benches in rows. The workman || formed of disconnected segments. may occasionally sit if he choose, though after two or three days standing, he will find that he will no more require to sit than a carpenter or blacksmith. West Chester, Pa. Feb. 7, 1837. To the Editor of the Mechanics' Register. SIR,-I observe in No. 1 of your Register, directions for forming a cement, composed of sand, ashes, clay and oil, and was much pleased to see it, and hope others who may have important knowledge for the public will make your paper the medium, not only to communicate it, but also to preserve the same. I was in conversation lately with a gentleman, on the subject of cements, and was informed by him that he had found from experience, that wood ashes mixed with salt water made a very hard, strong cement. The water should contain as much salt as it will hold in solution, and be mixed with the ashes so as to form a mass of the consistence of common lime and sand mortar. I know VOL. I. These segments are permanently charged magnets, the repelling poles of which are placed contiguous to each other. Within the circle stands the motive wheel, having projecting galvanic magnets which revolve as near the circle as they can be brought without actual contact. The galvanic magnets are charged by a battery, and when so charged, magnetic attraction and repulsion are both brought into requisition in giving motion to the wheelthe poles of the galvanic magnets being charged more than a thousand times per minute. Having in its construction but one wheel, revolving with no friction except from its own shaft, and from the wires connecting it with the galvanic battery, the latter of which can scarcely be said to impede the motion in any degree, the durability of this engine must be almost without limit. There is no danger to be apprehended from fire or explosions; and we understand it is the opinion of scientific gentlemen who have examined it, that the expense of running this machine will not amount to one-fourth as much as that of a steam engine of the same power. nothing of the above from experience myself. If you think it worthy of place in your pa- From the time when the Greek philosoper you will please publish it when conve-pher supposed the magnet had a soul, its nient. Yours, Respectfully, P. We join in the request of the writer of the above, that those persons who have an opportunity of making a trial would do so, || and communicate the result to the public through the columns of the Register. From the Saratoga Sentinel. Highly Important Invention. ELECTRO MAGNETIC ENGINE. In company with Dr. Steel and several other gentlemen, we called upon Messrs. DAVENPORT & Cook, of this village, on Saturday, with a view of examining the Electro Magnetic Engine, invented by the senior partner. The ingenuity, yet simplicity of its construction, the rapidity of its motion, together with the grandeur of the thought that we are witnessing the operation of machinery propelled by that subtle and all-pervading principle, ELECTRICITY combined to render it the most interesting exhibition we have ever witnessed. Although we shall say something on the subject, it is perhaps impossible to describe this machine by words alone, so as to give more than a faint idea of it to the reader. It consists of a stationary magnetic circle, mysterious power has been regarded with increasing interest and attention to the present day. In addition to its utility in the compass, thousands have labored in vain attempts to obtain through its agency a rotary motion. So intense has been the application of some to this subject, that in the attempt they have even lost that elevating attribute of the soul, reason. It was reserved for Mr. Davenport to succeed where so many had failed. He commenced his labors more than three years ago, and prosecuted them under the most discouraging and unfavorable circumstances, sustained by a constitutional perseverance and a clear conviction of ultimate success. He obtained his rotary motion in July,1834; since which time he has devoted his whole attention to improvements in his machine. During this period, it has passed through five different modifications, and is now brought to such a state of simplicity and perfection (having apparently the fewest possible number of parts) that the proprietors consider no farther important alterations desirable, except in the due proportions of the different magnets, in which they are daily improving. . We were shown a model in which the motive wheel was five and a half inches in diameter, which elevated a weight of twelve pounds. And to illustrate the facilities for increasing the power of this engine, another model was exhibited to us with a motive |