LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3991, 10 May 1878, Page 3

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

THE CANTKBBUBT SHEET IBOK AND TIN WORKS.

The substitution, whererer possible of home manufactured articles for those imported, is going rapidly forward in Canterbury. Among others who are contributing to this desirable result may be mentioned Mr J. Piper, whose works are situated in Peterborough street east. The building is divided into two atories, with a side wing attached, and the articles manufactured are tin and iron goods of all kinds, spouting, &c Amongst other things may be noticed as especially good, with the additional advantage of being far below imported goods in price, such articles as baths, watering pots, covered pails, &c. The workshop on the ground floor is 60ft. x 20ft. This is called the press room, and in it are a large number machines of various kinds. The first to come under notice is a screw press, worked by. hand, with a counterbalance ball fitted with dies for cutting lids and bottoms for coffee and pepper tins, from 2ozs. to 71bs., both round and oblong. The blank pieces of tin are placed beneath the press and out by the die to the requisite size. This press is also fitted with dies for cutting the reflectors for lanterns and also those used in the City Council lamps. The number of completed lids, &c, capable of being turned out by this machine is 1000 per hour. Near this is a new press manufactured by Scott Bros., Christchurch, which will cut up to llin. diameter. The whole of the dies which it is intended to use in this press are not yet made, and at present it is used for making the tops and bottoms of the various sizes of meat tans used in Mr Mem's factory. In order to produce the domed tops necessary for the tins, a special die is inserted in the fress, and the tin placed beneath the screw, n the centre of the doming die is a small point, which perforates the tin, and thus forms the rent necessary for the escape of the gas from the meat when put in first. For the bottoms of the tins a different die is used. Formerly labels were used for the preserved meats exported by Mr Mem, but from information received he was led to believe that on reaching home these labels were transferred to inferior kinds of meat, which were thus sold under his name. By the contrivance invented by Mr Piper, however, all this is avoided. The die forming the bottom of the tin has the name of the factory in relief, so thit when the blank comes under the press the brand v indelibly put on at the same time. Beyond this again is a guillotine treadle machine, which cute tin up to any guage. In a conspicuous position, with the word "caution in large letters above it, is a most remarkable warning to those using the machine tobe careful. This is a portion of a finger which through inattention or some other cause was cut off by the machine. Certainly no stronger caution could be given. Near the two large doors at the entranoe of the workroom is the spouting machine. It is used for cutting the galvanised iron into the requisite sizes for spouting. Just above the machine was a large beam on which is fitted a very useful contrivance in the shape of one of Messrs Heard and Wright's patent lifts, which, though exceedingly small, will carry a ton. This runs by travelling gear right to the door, and the iron required is thus taken without any useless expenditure of labour from the dray delivering it to the machine which is to convert the sheets into the first stage of the manufactured article. This machine cuts from lin. to 18in., and at the rate of fifteen sheets per minute. It is s°lffeeding, and only requires one boy to turn the handle.,. The next step in the manufacture is to bend up the strips of iron into the form necessary for spouting. In close proximity to the machine just described is that by which the bending is accomplished. The strips of iron are placed between moulds of various sizes, and are thus bent up to the required angle. The modus operandi is very simple ; the strip of iron is placed beneath a lever, which forces it into the mould, and it then passes out at the other side, where it is placed in racks. By means of this machine 3000 feet per diem of completed spouting can be turned out. In this room is also a lathe for facing dies, &c. The room at the fur end is nsed at present for a store room, but it is intended ultimately to Use it as a painter's and japanner's room, a large quantity of japanned work being turned out on the premises. Across, the yard is the wing before spoken of, having one room on the ground floor. In this is a brazier's hearth and a stamping press used for making camp kettle andelop pad lids, working up to 12tn. in diameter. There are a large quantity of biscuit tins and preserved meat tins, all the finishing being done in this room. A large oven, intended lor japanning, has been constructed, and will soon be completed. . The upstairs room, which is 60 x 20, is reached by a staircase from the outside. This is what may be called the tinsmith's room, and is fitted with a number of machines, including guillotines (hand and treadle) and rolling . machines from | |in. to 12in. in diameter. The smaller ones are nsed for making candle mould tubes, so as to ensure their being cylindrical. The tin blanks, out to*izo,are placed in between three rollers, two of wnich are slightly below the other. The action of the lower rollers laps the tin round the small roller, and forms a cylinder, which is regulated by a very ingenious lever-contrivance, introduced by Mr Piper. Next to this is a folding machine, which turns up the edges of the tin for joining and seaming to any width which may be required. It is set by a gauge, and by a single motion will turn the tins up to the required width, leaving a lap so that they may be joined together in the next operation, which is performed by the grooving machine. This holds the two folded edges together, and thus forms a side of a tin. There is a larger machine, used for closing the bottoms of watering cans, &.0., and also a circular cutting machine used to cut diameters from 2 te 18 inches, and two angle bending machines. There is a very ingenious machine used for making the beading forming the rims of baths, making a rim from half-inch to liin. beading. Th's room is fitted for sixteen benches, and will afford accommodation for twenty-four hands ; at present there are some fourteen employed. The room is well lighted and ventilated, and generally there is an air of neatness and order about the whole factory. The manufactured goods pass from the factory to Mr Piper's retail shop in Cashel street, except of course those articles, such as Mr Mem's tins, for whioh a special order is given.