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Mechanics magazine
- Bandzählung
- N.S. 5=74.1861
- Erscheinungsdatum
- 1861
- Sprache
- Englisch
- Signatur
- A146
- Vorlage
- Universitätsbibliothek Chemnitz
- Digitalisat
- Universitätsbibliothek Chemnitz
- Digitalisat
- SLUB Dresden
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- Public Domain Mark 1.0
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- urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-db-id507363582-186100013
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- http://digital.slub-dresden.de/id507363582-18610001
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- oai:de:slub-dresden:db:id-507363582-18610001
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- Projekt: Bestände der Universitätsbibliothek Chemnitz
- LDP: Bestände der Universitätsbibliothek Chemnitz
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Zeitschrift
Mechanics magazine
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Band
Band N.S. 5=74.1861
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- Titelblatt Titelblatt -
- Register Index I
- Ausgabe January 4, 1861 1
- Ausgabe January 11, 1861 19
- Ausgabe January 18, 1861 33
- Ausgabe January 25, 1861 49
- Ausgabe February 1, 1861 69
- Ausgabe February 8, 1861 85
- Ausgabe [February 15, 1861] -
- Ausgabe February 22, 1861 121
- Ausgabe March 1, 1861 137
- Ausgabe March 8, 1861 153
- Ausgabe March 15, 1861 173
- Ausgabe March 22, 1861 189
- Ausgabe March 29, 1861 211
- Ausgabe April 5, 1861 227
- Ausgabe April 12, 1861 243
- Ausgabe April 19, 1861 259
- Ausgabe April 26, 1861 281
- Ausgabe May 3, 1861 297
- Ausgabe May 10, 1861 313
- Ausgabe May 17, 1861 329
- Ausgabe May 24, 1861 345
- Ausgabe May 31, 1861 361
- Ausgabe June 7, 1861 377
- Ausgabe June 14, 1861 393
- Ausgabe June 21, 1861 409
- Ausgabe June 28, 1861 425
- Ausgabe No. 106 I
- Ausgabe No. 107 I
- Ausgabe No. 108 I
- Ausgabe No. 109 I
- Ausgabe No. 110 I
- Ausgabe No. 111 I
- Ausgabe No. 112 I
- Ausgabe No. 113 I
- Ausgabe No. 114 I
- Ausgabe No. 115 I
- Ausgabe No. 116 I
- Ausgabe No. 117 I
- Ausgabe No. 118 I
- Ausgabe No. 119 I
- Ausgabe No. 120 I
- Ausgabe No. 121 I
- Ausgabe No. 122 I
- Ausgabe No. 123 I
- Ausgabe No. 124 I
- Ausgabe No. 125 I
- Ausgabe No. 126 I
- Ausgabe No. 127 I
- Ausgabe No. 128 I
- Ausgabe No. 129 I
- Ausgabe No. 130 I
- Ausgabe No. 131 I
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Band N.S. 5=74.1861
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THE MECHANICS’ MAGAZINE. «.— LONDON: FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1861. THE ARMSTRONG GUN. A series of articles has lately appeared in this magazine, having for their object a zealous and impartial inquiry into the facts of the great national experiment—the Armstrong gun. We have deliberately examined and accurately noted the course of this experiment from its earliest proposition to its latest development; and the details supplied by us will, we think, show that in the construction of this gun mechanical con ditions have been disregarded, and in the con struction of the shell the laws of chemistry have been overlooked, or not understood. Hence our verdict that, “ let the Government say or do “ what they will, the gun cannot remain in the “ service.” The matter is, however, so serious, and con sidering the army of workmen at present en gaged (some ten thousand men) upon what can only be regarded as a remarkably interesting experiment, we conclude the time is arrived when the Government should, for its own justi fication, sanction the appointment of a Commis sion of competent engineer, artillery, and naval officers to investigate the whole question. Doubtless the House of Commons contains members who, from a sense of duty to their country, will not fail to urge this matter; and we would suggest that, if granted, such a Commission should consist of such men as Sir John Durgoyne, General Sandham, Sir Frederick Smith, Sir Thomas Hastings, Colonel Lefroy, Colonel Boxer, Captain Jermingham, and Colonel St. George: others might be named; good men and true are not wanting. In an inquiry like this, the highest scientific evidence must be collected, because our national honour hangs upon the question. And we beg to suggest that the examination should em brace the evidence of such men as Colonel Desborough, C.B. (whose 24-pounder howitzers saved the Armstrong guns from the Tartars), Colonel Barry, Captain Milward, and, though last, not least, General Crolton and Major Hay. These are the men who, if permitted, by the War Department, can speak of their China campaign. There must, however, be no Government influence used. In addition to these, we would call the evidence of the officers in charge of the twelve batteries of Armstrong guns supplied to the Woolwich divisions. Let them report in what state their guns are, in what condition the screws and vent-pieces are, and, in fact, the general efficiency of the guns for service. Let this be done, and we shall no doubt acquire useful and important information. The Government need not fear the appoint ment of this Commission. In sanctioning the huge expenditure on the Armstrong experi ment they only acted on the best information then at their disposal. But so many fresh facts have been developed during these great and costly trials that a continued outlay of money on the same scale could not be justified, unless the highest scientific opinion in the kingdom is taken before such a Commission on the facts so developed. Wo have one word for Sir William Arm strong. The papers publish his disavowal of our statements at a City dinner. We are con tent to accept his statement for what it is worth, because we are well aware of the efforts he is himself making in the attempt to meet our ob jections to his gun and projectiles. Let him rest quiet for a few weeks, and out of his own mouth we shall be justified and he will be condemned. It is scarcely necessary to say, that in pursuing this investigation the Me chanics’ Magazine is actuated by no per sonal motive towards Sir William Armstrong, or any one else. We only desire to state the truth. No one can deny that our suggestion for a Commission is a pre-eminently reasonable one; and the character of the men we suggest as witnesses is the best guarantee that we want nothing but what is just towards Sir William Armstrong, the efficiency of the British service, and the pockets of the British tax-payer. OCEAN TELEGRAPHY AND GUTTA PKRCHA. Several recent failures to lay down success fully submarine cables have attracted general attention. It is important to inquire into the cause of these failures, and to ascertain whether they are preventible or otherwise. Many writers have laid the blame on the insulating material of gutta percha, and various new sub stances have been recommended for adoption in future cables. Not a few persons have given currency to the report that gutta percha has been found to be decayed by the action of the water. It is well to test the accuracy of such state ments. From the reports of the submarine companies, and the testimony of the eminent telegraphic engineer, Mr. Latimer Clarke, it appears that at the present time some thousands of miles of submerged wires insulated with gutta percha are now actually in successful operation; and so far from the gutta percha being injuriously affected by the action of the sea-water, experience has proved, even after having been submerged for several years, that there is not the slightest deterioration, but the reverse. Mr. Latimer Clarke’s testimony is :—- “ I have never yet seen a case of decay of gutta “ percha in submarine cables.” Mr. Andrews, the late engineer of the Sub marine Telegraph Company, had occasion, a short time ago, to repair some damage to the Dover and Calais cable, arising from the anchorage of a ship. He took this opportunity to test, with his most delicate instruments, the condition of the gutta percha, and he reported— “ I found the insulation most perfect.” As this cable was originally laid down in 1851, this testimony of ten years’ trial is at the present time of great importance; and before electri cians adopt any new insulating substance, it will bo well that they should thoroughly satisfy themselves, by the severest test that experience and time will afford, of its bona fide superiority to gutta percha. The fact is well known that gutta percha is injuriously affected when exposed to the action of the atmosphere; but it is not, perhaps, gene rally known that gutta percha improves by being sunk in the sea. A striking illustration of this fact is published in the recent report of the Atlantic Telegraph Company. A portion of the cable of that company, lately recovered from the coast of Newfoundland, has been sub jected to electrical tests, and found to be in a decidedly better condition than when manufac tured about two-and-a-half years ago. This statement is also confirmed by the engineers of the Government cable intended for the Fal mouth and Gibraltar line, who state that the cable, after six months’ immersion, was decidedly better than when newly made. The wire for this Government contract developed another remarkable property. When tested by Mr. Reid’s patent process—although the coils were placed in tanks, under a pressure of GOO pounds to the square inch—it was found that the elec trical resistance of the gutta percha was actually increased some 15 per cent. 1 Since the Dover and Calais cable was laid, very great improvements have been made in the purification and manufacture of gutta percha for the insulation of telegraph wire. This plastic material is now spread over the strand of copper wire in several layers or coverings, without any seam or joint. The improvements, even since 1857, in the manu facture of wires, insulated with gutta percha, show a perfection of insulation formerly alto gether unattainable. The recent extraordinary disclosure in one of our law courts proves that a most careful oversight is necessary until the insulated core is finally submerged. If due care be taken of the core during the process of manufacturing the outer protection of the cable, and ships are provided with proper mechanical ap pliances for judiciously paying it out, there is perhaps no reason why submarine cables should not bo everywhere successful. The success which has attended the laying-down of the deep-sea cable, from Barcelona to Minorca, for the Spanish Government, and the Algerian one for the French Government, will doubtless do much to revive public confidence in the ulti mate and universal success of ocean tele graphy. AN EXHIBITION OF THE SOCIETY OF ARTS. It is universally acknowledged that the Society of Arts has conferred invaluable and lasting benefits upon the manufacturing industry of Great Britain. To this society the world is chiefly indebted for the Great Exhibition of 1851, and lately it has given birth to the Exhi bition of 1862. Its name is known, and its in fluence is felt, in every corner of the British Empire, and amongst all civilized nations. Its deeds, therefore, should be worthy' of its high reputation, and bear some proportion to the greatness of the objects which it proposes to attain. Is its present annual exhibition of patented inventions of this character ? If an educated foreigner, a French or American manufacturer, were led into the society’s exhi bition-room, and asked his opinion regarding the Society of Arts and the progress of British industry during the past yeir, what would he say ? First he might insinuate that the atmo sphere of London is gloomy enough at all sea sons, without employing artificial means for in creasing the darkness, and would probably re quest Mr. Hughes to light his musical chande lier to examine the size of the exhibition-room, and the inventions placed before him. He might fairly object to pass any criticisms at all upon things seen imperfectly through a dim religious light. Either the twilight which per vades the building, or the novelties which are supposed to be visible through it, are out of place, and the supposed visitor would naturally either exclaim, “ What an excellent place for an “ exhibition of antiquities !” or he would say, “ Is it reasonable to suppose that any wise man “ would attempt to show a new invention in the “ midst of such obscurity ?” But this is the way in which such exhibitions are male in Eng land ; the light may be good enough for the things shown, and, for the present, let us be content with it. Turning next to the size of the room, and the number and variety of articles in it, the visitor will ask, “ Is this intended to be a true “ and perfect picture of human progress in “ industry and art during the past year ? “ or is it a caricature ?” What do the
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