Page 2 Advertisements Column 5

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2578, 12 July 1882, Page 2

NOT QUITE SO DECISIVE AS IT WAS bur A LITTLE MORE OVERWHELMING. WE CHALLENGE the representative of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, or any of the jurors on Sewing Machines at the Exhibition who voted for the report coming from that body to controvert the following statement of facts. Messrs Meddinga, Cnnnlngton, Dale, and Kirk, we call upon yon to defend your report, H. O. FISKB & CO. Christchurch International Exhibition, June 15th, 1882. REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS,

To H, C. Fiske & Co. DEAR SIB, —In accordance with your request, we have examined the New Davis and the New Singer Sewing Machines, for the purpose of comparing them. In ouv comparison we have taken into consideration— 1. ‘i he mechanical principle Involved 2, The quality of the material u:ed 3. The degree of workmanship exhibited 4. The facility for doing a good and varied o' ass of work. After taking both machines asunder, carefully examining every piece, and fully testing their capabilities, we have no hesitation in saying that wo consider the Davis far the j superior machine of the two. Our reasons are as follows :

In both machines the same method is adopted for actuating the needle bar, viz,, a crank with roller working in a cam. This cam in the Davis Machine is cut out of a solid piece of steel and hardened, while in the Singer it Is not only very much lighter, but is made of common oast iron. The feed apparatus of the two machines are very dissimilar. That of the Singer Is the nsual slip feed. The Davis has the vertical feed peculiar to Itself. In this arrangement the presser foot holds the material firmly down till the needle has reached its lowest point. The pressure Is then relieved and transmitted to the feed bar. Feed bar, needle, and material are then, by a very simple contrivance, moved forward simultaneously the required length of stitch.

Motion la given to the shuttle In the Davis machine as follows An eccentric at the wheel end of the main spindle gives motion to a vertical lever. This In turn transmits it through a ball joint of ingenious construe tion to the only moving part nnder the machine, a pivotted lever having at its end an adjustable shuttle carrier. In the Singer Machine a pair of mitre wheels drive a vertical spindle, having at its lower end a crank. A connecting rod from this crank move) a sliding shuttle carrier. It will be seen that in the Davis there are between the main spindle and the shuttle four points of friction, the pivot carrying the vertical lever, the eccentric, the ball joint, and the pivot of horizontal lever. The two principal movements, the eccentric and the ball joint, are adjustable, and the parts most liable to wear are made of hardened steel. To compass the same work the Singer employs as points of friction the teeth of the mitre wheels, the two journals of vertical spindle, the two ends of the connecting rod, and the sliding shuttle carrier. None of these places are adjustable. The small wheels are common cast iron, having a certain amount of backlash, and consequent tendency to rattle and and break. The connecting rod is a thin bar of iron, with a hole in each end. The end wbioh runs on the crank pin Is one of the principal joints In the machine, having a considerable amount of work to do with small bearing surface, making it very liable to wear, while, as before remarked, there are no means of compensating for any wear. It will be noticed that the shuttle of the Singer Machine la carried in a slide, to which a lateral strain is given by the driving rod, causing a certain amount of friction, while in the Davis it is carried by the lever qnlte free from Motion. With the exception of the small roller working the needle bar, there is not a single piece in the Singer Machine, not even excepting the shuttle, that cannot be cat with an ordinary pocket knife, and there arc no means of adjusting any wearing part. In the Davis not only are most of the pieces made of steel, and tempered, but at every essential point means are provided for taking up any wear. On this point we may say that where we had any doubt about the quality of the material employed the the pleoe was broken and the fractare carefully examined. Having examined the mechanloal arrangements of the two machines, we tested their adaptability for work, end we noticed the very peculiar feed of the Davis. In this respect wo have been forced to the conclusion that for all purposes, sewin from the thinnest muslin to even tbrou h a metal spoon, the Davis has no paralle or grasp, or for avoiding that puckering often the effect of the pressure on a fore motion feed. We must in common honesty express our astonishment at the range and variety of work accomplished by the Davis, which we are satisfied cannot be done by the Singer.

In summarising our report: we repeat that we have no hesitation in saying that we regard the Davis as very superior to the Singer In workmanship, material, and the mechanical principles involved, and also in performing a greater range of work. We found the Davis to work with equal ease from the lightest to the heaviest fabric. JOHN LBS SCOTT (Scott Bros.), Mechanical Engineer. T. GLUYAS PABCOB, Manager of the Kaiapoi Clothing Factory. GBO. P. ANTHONY, Mechanical Expert, from Nettlefold’s, Birmingham. 8300 W. H 4. K) OB E RTS, PRACTICAL TAILOR, MANCHESTER STREET SOUTH, Wishes to call special attention to his POUR GUINEA SUITS, Also to his GUINEA TROUSERS. Which for Style, Fit and Quality is unsurpassed 5-29 in Christchurch. 1002

BOOTS. BOOTS. BOOTS. LARGE SHIPMENTS of the above are arriving by frequent Orient and P. and O. steamers via Melbourne. The stock is well assorted, and will be found very complete, and should command the attention of all classes of customers. There is not any similar stock to select from in Christchurch. The quality of the goods and the lowness of the prices must commend themselves to all who pay the establishment a visit. All the goods are shipped direct from the manufacturers, and consequently can be, and are, sold very cheap, W. H A B R 1 IMPEBIAL BOOT DEPOT. OPPOSITE «PRESS ” OFFICE. 908 FOR THE HOLIDAYS, m JL RT. THE CHEAPEST PHOP IN TOWN FOR All kinds of Pipes, meerohanm and wood, Cigar and Cigarette Holders, Knives, Purses, Matchboxes, Razors, Combs, Brushes, Hair Oil, Lime Cream, 4; ~ &o N.B.—A lot of CRICKETING MATERIAL from last season very cheap. And last, but not least, a HAIR CUTTING SALOON, Where yon can get fixed up for the small sum of SIXPENCE. H. OAKEY, 9495 High street.