LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 4371, 15 February 1875, Page 2

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

STEAM JOINERY WORKS. There are few industries now being developed in the province which have a greater claim to consideration than the working of wood for general purposes by machinery. Not only does it possess the merit of decreasing the importations and reducing the cost of building to an extent which greatly improves the chance of all classes securing dwellings of their own, but It also materially increases the consumption of timber grown in the colony. In t.mes past the great bulk of prepared timber for inside work was imported, cot because foreign productions were best, but because having been worked by machinery they could be landed here, cheaper than the colonial timber could bo prepared by hand. To Mr F. Jenkins the credit of adopting measures for putting a stop to (his belongs, and although it has not been fully accomplished, yet there can be no doubt that the lime is fast approaching when locally worked timber for building purposes will drive all of foreign manufacture out of the market. Mr Jenkins, who commenced operations thirteen or fourteen years ago, confined his attention for some time to steam sawing, but he gradually obtained timber working machinery of a general character, and has now a very complete establishment, added to which, five others of a similar kind have sprung up in the city—four of them during the past three or four years. When Mr Jenkins took up general joinery by steam, scarcely anything bat English or Yankee timber for floors, match lining, mouldings and skirtings would be looked at because of their cheapness, but as machinery increased here and in other parts of the colony, white pine became the favourite timber for these purposes, thus, in addition to steam-joinery works increasing (he local demand for labour, H they brought native timber into more general usetbanitotherwiseoouldhavebeen. In process v of time Melbourne entered the lists against England and America in exporting prepared timber to this province, and later on again came Auckland, followed closely by Dunedin. Of course the colonial exporters proved formidable opponente to the English and American, who gradually lost ground, and some four or five years ago the bulk of the prepared imported to this province came from Dunedin. That city is, however, being rapidly shut out in its turn by local production, and there is now very little of the better class of prepared timber imported from anywhere. The importations consist almost entirely of cheap sashes and doors, a class of work which, has not yet received much attention at the hands of the Christchurch firms, who find plenty to do in turning out good work, and who doubtless have a disinclination to enter upon the “ cheap and nasty " style so long os they can avoid it. From the interest which must bo felt in what has now become one of the leading industries of the province, detailed information with respect to the various works will no doubt be acceptable, and some trouble has therefore been taken to supply it. In making reference to them, each will be taken in the order in which it was visited, and with no desire to give. undue prominence to one over another.

W. Montgombby and Co.’s Wobks. Those works were established at the commencement of last year, but have only been in full worktorafawmonths. Prior to commencing this branch of industry, Messrs Montgomery and Go. wore for many years engaged in the timber trade on a largo scale, their establishment being in Cashel street. The principal office is still located there, but the timber yards and mill are in Colombo street, at the point of intersection with Tuam street. Ihe firm hare purchased two of the corner

sections, and one is devoted to the purpose of a timber yard, while the mill, with extensive timber racks under cover, and a small office, stand on the other. The main butldihg is erected of timber and corrugated iron in the form of a T, with 18ft walls. That part of the building represented by the body of the letter is 120 ft by 24ft, and is fitted with 'three tiers of timber racks. The left hand portion of the cross piece is 90ft by 45ft, and with the exception of a covered cartway, is also fitted with timber racks. The right-hand portion of the cross piece is 75ft by 93ft on the ground floor, with a room 90ft by 46ft above. The ground floor is the mill room, and contains all the machinery in use on the premises. On the eastern extremity of the. section there is a shed 18ft by 48ft for general storage purposes, and near the Colombo street entrance gate there are small officesi Both the sections are a quarter of an aqru in extent, and have gateways opening on to Colombo and Tuam streets. There is an immense quantity of timber, of all sizes, stored on the premises, and amongst it, a number of Kauri logs, 4ft square, and some others, 63ft in length. In. the mill yard there is a crane capable of lifting seven tons, and' other appliances for facilitating the moving about of timber. Additions to the present buildings are- in contemplation, and the ground already begins to appear too small for the works Messrs Montgomery employ about thirty-five men in all, and sixteen of these work in the mill.

In making a tour of the mill, the engineroom necessarily claims first attention. It is situated in the south west corner of the mill, with the boiler in a brick compartment closely adjoining. The engine is 24-horse power nominal, by Young and Co., of London and Glasgow. It is on the horizontal principle with, double cylinders, and really looks a very fine piece of machinery. The boiler is 30horae power, and Was constructed by Mr John Anderson, on the Cornish principle. It is 25ft Jong, with a diameter of 6ft and a 3ft flue. The fire is almost entirely maintained by the chips, shaving, and sawdust, from the mill, which by the application of the pneumatic principle are convoyed from all the machines to a brick receiving magazine close to the boiler without being touched by hand. This possesses a three-fold pecuniary,-advantage. First, the purchases of ooal are very trifling ; second, the labour of conveying fuel to the spot is avoided; and third, the mill is kept clear of rubbish without any expense in, carting away. Besides these good points, it also has the merit of keeping the mill cleaner and more tidy, materially decreasing the quantity of floating dust, and of reducing the risk of fire. To explain the modus operand i it may be said that under each machine there is a hopper or shoot, which conveys the chips, sawdust, &q., into an underground tube, and near the boiler-house there is a fan or blofcer which draws them through the receiving tube andthen ejects through another tube into the magazine. The material can be drawn from almost any distance, and in this mill is is brought from one machine over 100 ft distant from the boiler-house. The shafting which conveys the motive power from the engine to 1 the machinery is all underground, thus giving more space in the mill and decreasing the chances of accident. There are two circular saw-benohos in the mill, the largest of which is capable of catting boards up to 18 inches wide, and it can do about 3000 feet per day. It is on the selffeeding principle. The timber to be cut is placed on a frame with rollers, and a book being attached to the extreme end of the log it is pulled into the saw as fast as the latter cuts its way through. Besides these, there are two other sawing machines, one being what is known as the patent vertical timber frame, <thd the other as the patent band saw machine. The former consists of a massive upright frame, inside which a number of saws are fixed in a smaller frame which bv a crank motion is moved up and down, much in the same manner that pit sawyers work their saws. Eight and left of the main frame there is a bed on which iron carriages, bearing the log to be cut up, travel. As the machine works, the log is drawn gradually forward, thus after being once started upon a piece of timber no manual labour is required in putting the timber through. It will take in logs of any size up to 30ft in length and 3ft square, and the moveable frame will hold as many as twenty-six saw blades at once. Thus a log can be cut into twenty-seven boards in passing through the machine once. The time occupied in cutting up a log 30ft long and 3ft square in this manner would be about three-quarters of an hour, in gauging the capabilities of . the machine it should bo remembered that the saws and logs take a long time in fixing. The saws have a stroke of 20 inches, and will cut timber into boards any width up to 3ft. The machine was made by Messrs Robinson and Son, Rochdale. The band saw is avery ingenious contrivance for cutting scrolls and bevels of any description, and is the latest improvement on what is known as the “ jigger” saw. Both have a vertical motion, but the latter used to work up and down, while the former has a continuous downward motion. This is secured by endless saw blades Working around two pulleys—one above and one below the table on which the wood to be operated upon rests. The saw blades range from iin to Ijin in width, and are very thin, so as to enable them to work round the necessary curves or sweeps. By changing the saw the same machine can thus be used for the finest ornamental work or to cut any kind of wood up to 12in in thickness. The endless saw principle was first patented in 1808, but it was not until >855 that a. description of saw was obtained capable of bearing the constant bending round the pulleys. It is generally allowed that one of these band saws will do fully three times as much work as one of the old “jigger” saws. In working, the wood operated upon is moved about as may bo required for cutting any particular sweep, and the table on which the wood rests is arranged to cant to any required angle for bevel sawing. This machine was made by A. Ransome and Co., Loudon. The next one to be noticed is a machine by the Atlas Company for planing, tonguing, grooving, and moulding. This will operate on boards any size up to I2in by lin. During one passage through the machine a board is planed on all four sides, tongued, grooved, and beaded, in addition to which the boards are all made precisely the same thickness, a matter of no slight importance in lining and flooring. The work is all done with revolving knives. In passing through, a board is first planed above and below, then, a little further on, the edges are trimmed, then tongued and grooved, and finally the board is reduced in thickness to the prescribed size. About 3000 feet, of timber can be put through this machine in one day. The moulding is a separate operation, and comprises all kinds for architraves and skirting. It should also be said that the machine prepares rusticated boarding. There is another machine of the same kind on a larger and improved principle, which operates .on boards up to 12 inches wide by 4 inches thick. It works much quicker, turning out from 12 to 35feet per minute, according to the character of the wood, and it also does its work in a more finished manner. At the time’ of inspection, a quantity of timber for railway waggon sides—very thick and wide—was being put through with the most satisfactory result. This machine was only made in its improved form in 1873, and is from the works of A. Ransomo and Co., Chelsea. It is so placed that boards from the circular saws can be laid between the feed rollers without any carrying by hand. From this, attention is next directed to a patent com pleto joiner, and improvement on the general Joiner, and manufactured by A. Ransome and Co, Chelsea. It is a fao simile of the one which took first prize at the Vienna exhibition; indeed, Messrs Montgomery and Co were to have had the latter, but could not Wait for it, and only” obtained the machine now in their mill, by undertaking to pay the freight of the one at the exhibition from Vienna to England, for the person who had ordered the former. The term ‘ complete joiner,” is by no mean inappropriate, to the machine, for it will do almost anything except glue the parts together. Among > its accomplishments are: sawing up to 9 inches deep, cross cutting, planing, moulding, circular mouldings, grooving, turning, mortising, and boring. As will be readily understood, a machine capable of doing all these varieties of work, is of too complicated a character to explain in detail, therefore a simple state-

ment of what it ban do must suffice. A man can be sawing, grooving, or tenoning, at one side of the machine, while a lad is mortising or boring. at ; the other, and when so worked it will do as much as fifteen joiners. It will operate on timber up to 12 inches wide, and is a very rapid worker. Passing from the mill into the tool room a very complete set of apparatus for sharpening saws and machine tools will be found. Therefore two stones mounted in the ordinary way; a large one for general [grinding, and a Water of Ayr alone, 18 inches in diameter, for setting plane irons after they have been ground. Near at hand is a moulding-iron grinder, which consists of a spindle fitted with seven small grindstones of varying thicknesses, which revolve in an iron trough. The stones are turned up so as to fit the rounds and hollows of moulding-irons of different patterns, and each stone is supplied with water by a metal tap placed above it. The most notable feature in the room is, however, a patent saw sharpening machine. Briefly described, it consists of an apparatus for holding circular or other saws, with a revolving emery disc immediately above, the diso being lowered at will by hand, and so fixed that when the pressure of the hand is removed, it rises back again to its normal position. The operation of sharpening is very simple but complete, entirely removing any necessity for filing or gullettmg, The saw being fixed the diso is pressed down, and as the disc revolves with immense rapidity, a momentary application of it to the saw is sufficient to grind one side of a tooth. The saw is then moved by a small hand-wheel, andanother tooth is operated upon. Both the diso and the apparatus holding the saw are provided with angle dials, and can thus be arranged, before commencing to work, to any required bevel. The saving in labour is very great, the machine, with one man, doing quite as much da six of the most expert workmen in sharpening by hand. Besides this also, it has been found that the action of the emery disc, which, by the way, is in itself a patent and of French origin, hardens the teeth and causes a saw to wear longer without sharpening, The whole of the machinery in this dooartment was obtained from A. Ransome and Co.'s works, Chelsea. Adjoining the tool room is a small chamber in which there is a forge for brazing the saws for the hand-saw machine.

Mb F. Jenkins’ Wobes.

The works established by Mr F. Jenkins are situate on a triangular block of land two acres in extent, with frontages on to the Ferry road, Barbadoes street, and St Asaph street. The building first erected is lOOffi" x 42fb, extending east and west, and fronting on the Ferry road. It is two stories high, and built of timber. It dates back to about 1362, the time when Mr Jenkins first commenced the business of steam sawing. After the lapse of a couple of years, it became too small for the business, and a one floor brick building I2oft x 45ft was erected at the east end, stretching out at a right angle, towards the Ferry road. Besides these buildings there are extensive offices on the ground, as also Mr Jenkins’ residence. A large space is used for storing timber, and another section of land on the north side of St Asaph street is devoted to the same purpose. There is a large quantity of timber on hand, notable among it being a considerable number of Oregon logs 80ft long and 18in square. The buildings now in use, though extensive, are quite inadequate to the demands made upon them, and Mr Jenkins contemplates making additions in rear of tho old mill which will be about double its size. In addition to preparing timber for general building purposes, an extensive trade is done on the premises in the manufacture of sashes and doors of the better quality, and Mr Jenkins carries on a large shipping business. In the mill and joinery department about forty men are employed, while the shipping business takes about thirty more.

The engine house ie situated at the north end of the brick building, and is divided into two chambers, each of which is occupied by an engine and boiler, the whole being cut off on both sides from the timber works by iron doors. The engines are 15-horse power, each with horizontal action and Cornish boilers, the makers being Young and Co., of London. The engines, which are first-class specimens of their kind, can be worked separately, but the business keeps them both working up to an average Jointly of from 3) to 33 horse-power. The shafting from the engines to the machines is nearly all overhead. In the brick building the first piece of machinery come to is a circular saw capable of cut ting logs lOin thick, and close to it a machine by Worssmanand Son, Chelsea, for planing, tonguing, grooving, beading and moulding. Its moke of working is the same as already explained, and it will operate upon boards of any size up to 9in wide and Sin thick. Next there is a planing and ‘ thicknessing” machine,by an American maker, which takes in planks up to 2ft wide 6in thick. The object of this machine is to plane the timber and in so doing bring all the planks to one thickness. It is on the self-feeding principle. Adjoining it is a vertical deal frame sawing machine, by Worssman and Co., Chelsea. This is constructed on the same principle as already explained, except that the frame holding the saws is divided into two parts, each part holding any number up to six saws on each side and catting 18 inches in depth. -When working, one piece of timber is put into each half of the frame, and can bo out into as many as seven boards, thus producing at one operation fourteen boards from the two pieces of timber put in. In the same part of the mill there is one of the grinding machines with seven stones on one shaft for grinding tools of r various shapes. Close at band there are also grindstones of the ordinary kind for general purposes, and a machine for gulletting saws, that is punching out pieces front between the teeth of saws when they have been worn down too far and filing, which would be too expensive. As connected with hand sharpening, this machine saves a deal of labour, but it has been altogether superseded by the sharpening machine with revolving emery discs. Proceeding next to the ground floor of the old building the first machine observed is a breaking-down eaw bench, or, in other words, a circular saw about Bft in diameter, which will cut up l )gs 18in to 20in thick. There is also an iron saw bench for catting timber 8 or 9 inches thick, and fixed to the axle are adaptations for grooving and boring. The next come to is a large planing, tonguing, grooving and moulding machine capable of working timber of various sizes up to 9 inches wide by 3 inches thick. In an adjoining room is an American mortising machine,which consists of a chisel worked up and down by a crank motion, the timber being held on a table under it until the mortise holes are chipped out. Another room immediately adjoining is occupied by a lathe for turning such iron as may be required on the premises; and a small brassfounder’s furnace. Ascending to the floor above, several other machines are found at work. This portion of the establishment is used for making sashes and doors, and is occupied by a large number of men, for whose use the machines arc intended. The first one is a small planing machine, the next a tenoning and boring machine, the third a shaping machine for small mouldings, and the last a Jigger saw for orn -mental scroll work. The latter will cut wood any thickness up-to 6in into any shape or pattern. There is also a lathe for wood turning in the same room. Attached to the works are several storerooms and stables, but the latter are shortly to be moved on to the section on the north side of St. Asaph street to make room for the contemplated additions to the old mill. Mb Jambs Booth’s , Wobks. These works are situate on half an acre of land, having frontages to Lichfield and Tuam streets. They were established about twelve years ago, and on the average give employment to ten hands. About half the ground is occupied by buildings. The main building fronts on Lichfield street and contains not only the machinery, but offices and timber racks. The engine is 15-horse power, by Anderson of Nottingham, and is on the horizontal principle with two boilers, one 12ft and the order 16ft in length. There are two circular saw benches, one of which can cut 14in„ and the other 6in. deep The'e is a vertical deal frame sawing machine similar in constructionito the one at Mr Jenkins’ mill. It will ,hoM flw •«« on eaoh side at once, and can out logs 18m. deep by 6in. wide. Adjoining this is a planing tonguing, grooving, beading, and bevelling* machine, also by Anderson, of Nottingham. It was imported about three years ago, and will operate on boards jef

various sizes up to 12in wide bySinthiok. Besides these there is also a moulding machine for skirting boards and architraves, by Anderson, which was imported about two years ago, and will take in boards up to 8} inches thick by 12 inches, wide; a jigger saw for scroll work by Robinson and bods, Rochdale; and three turning lathes for woodwork. Ms Jakes Goss’ Wobes. Mr Goss, who had previously been engaged in the timber trade, first commenced working by steam about four years ago. His premises occupy two blocks of land—one with frontages on the Whateley road, Durham street, and Peterborough street, and the other with frontages on Peterborough and Durham streets. Tbero is about an acre in all, and it is evident that ere long an addition will have to be made to its size. The section fronting on the Whateley read, is occupied by the office; a shed for storage purposes; and quantities of stacked timber and coals. The other section is occupied by the mill and timber racks, the mill being 110 ft by. Soft, one half having two floors, and the other half being now under alteration, with the view of adding another floor to it. Fourteen hands are employed in the mill proper, but Mr Goss being a large contractor for buildings, he gives employment to about ninety hands in all, some twenty of the carpenters being kept at work on the premises, in addition to the mill hands.

The machinery is all situate on the ground floor of the building. The engine is 14 horse power, with a single cylinder, and was made by Foxoroft of Melbourne. The boiler, wbioh is IBft 10ia long, and 4ft 9in diameter, was made by Mr Anderson of the Canterbury Foundry, and is on the Cornish principle. Near the engine-room there is a 400 gallon tank, supplied by an artesian well, and the water from it is pumped up to a another 400 gallon tank on the upper floor, so that a good supply can be laid on to any part of the premises. There is a selffeeding circular saw bench, capable of cutting logs twenty-two inches thick ; a jigger saw for scroll work ; and a small cir -ular saw for firewood purposes. A boring apparatus for wall plates is attached to the axle of the largest circular saw, but this will in time be replaced with a mortising machine. At present, Mr Goss has only one planing and moulding machine, which was made by. Ball and Co., Massachusetts, and is similar to those previously described. It will take in any sized boards up to 2ft wide and 3in thick. In a small room near the engine house there is a revolving diso saw sharpener by Tysaok and Son, of Sheffield. Mr Goss contemplates making considerable additions to his machinery, and his men are now engaged in fitting up a, large lathe for turning circular mouldings- for window or door beads, any size up to 7ft 6in in diameter. The men employed in the mill have been doubled ■during the past nine months. Messes Langdown and Co.’s Wobes. The last works to be noticed are the latest addition to those in the city. They are on a piece of land lying between High and St. Asaph streets, and were established by Messrs Langdown & Co.' about eight months since. The mill offices and store yard occupy half an acre of ground, witn frontages on to both the streets referred to. Constant employment is given on the premises to eight men and boys. The mill is 81ft by 44ft, and has two floors. The engine is 12 horse power, and was made by Davy, Paxman and Co. It has a patent vertical boiler, constructed on the Field principle, with tapering and curved tubes, which have the effect of generating ateira quicker than the ordinary kind. There are two circular saw benches, one of which will cut timber 14 inches thick ; a jigger saw, for fretwork, capable of cutting through boards 10 inches thick ; a devil, or “ thicknessing ” machine, used for reducing palings and laths all to one thickness, and able to. turn oat about 3000 per day; a planing, tangoing, grooving, and moulding machine by Heads of London, capable of taking in boards up to 10in wide by 4in thick; a tenoning machine, by Ball and Co.,* Mass., for sash and door work; a vertical boring machine, for iron or wood, equal to boring holes 5 inches in diameter; several lathes ;* and a homo made saw sharpening machine, with revolving emery disc. It should also be said’ that Messrs Langdown and Co. contemplate making further additions to their machinery at an early date. Messes Txsoh, Nees, and Co.’s Wobes. These works being at present closed in consequence of a dissolution of partnership, no description of them can be given.