Page 1 Advertisements Column 7

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4508, 5 October 1882, Page 1

Buaineßß Notioei. NOT QUITE. SO DECISIVE A 8 IT WAS, BUT A LITTLE MOEE OVERWHELMING. WE CHALLENGE the representative of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, or any of the jurors on Sewing Machines at the Exhibitioi who voted for the report coming from that body to controvert the following statement of facts. Messrs Meddings, Cunnington, Dole, and Kirk, we call upon you to defend your report. C. PISKE & CO. Christchurch International Exhibition. June 15th, 1882. KEPOBT OF COMMITTEE OP EXPERTS. To H. C. Fibkb & Co. DEAR SIR,— In accordance with your request, we have examined the New Davis and the New Singer Sewing Machines, for the purpose of comparing them. In our comparison we have taken into consideration— 1. The mechanical principle involved. 2. Ihe quality of the material usud. 8. The degree of workmanship exhibited. i. The facility for doing a good and varied class of work. After taking both machines asunder, carefully examining every piece, and fully testing their capabilities, we have no hesitation in saying that we consider the Davis far the 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 cnui 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 cast iron. The feed apparatus of the two machines are very dissimilar. That of the Singer is the usual Blip feel. The Davis bos the vertical feed peculiar to itself. In this arrangement the presser foot holds tho 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 ore then, by a very simple contrivance, moved forward simultaneously the required length of stitch. Motion is'given to the shuttle in Daviß' machine as follows. An eccentric at the wheel end of tha main spindle gives motion to a vertical lever. This in turn transmits it through a ball joint of ingenious construction to the only moving part under 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 moves 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 twj principal movements, the eccentric and ball joint, are adjustable, and the parts most liable to wear are mode 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 break. The connecting rod is a thin bar of iron, with a hole in each end. The end which 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, aa before remarked, there are no means of compensating for any wear. It will be noticed that the shuttle of the Singer Machine is 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 quite free from friction. 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 cut with an ordinary pocket knife, and there ore no means of adjusting any wearing port. In the Davis, not only are most of tho 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 pieoe was broken and tho fracture carefully examined. Having examined tho mechanical arrangements of the two machines, we teßted their adaptability for work, and we noticed the very peculiar feed of tho Davis. In this respect we have been forced to the conclusion that for all purposes, sewing from the thinnest muslin to even through a metal spoon, the Davis has no parallel for grasp, or for avoiding that puckering often the effect of the preesure on a fore motion feed. We must in common honesty express our astonishment at the range and variety of work accomplished by the Daviß, which wo 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 invalved, 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 LEE SCOTT (Scott Bros.) Mechanical Engineer. T. GLUYAS PASCOE, Manager of tho Kaiapoi Clothing Factory. GEO. P. ANTHQNY, Mechanical Expert, from NettlefoM'a Birmingham. 5717 W« Montgomery & Go, (LIMITED), HHBBB ays GBNBBAL MBBOHANTB, OOIOMBO BTMBT, and Bailway Siding, Ohristcburoh Btation, With Branoh at Bakaia, HAVE ON BALE— btensive Stocks of— Bed and White Fine Kauri, any size up to Bftin Totara Iron Bark, Blue Gum, V J).L. Sydney and Johore Cedar Union Sash and Door Oo.'s Flooring and Lining Baltio Flooring and Lining English Ash, Amerioan Clear Fine, Hiokory Baltio Deals Hurdles and Field Gates always on hand or made at shortest notice Falings, 6ft and 6ft, and Shingles dement, best brands Galvanised Iron Oils and Faints, Haw and Beiled Oil, Cobra and Castor Oil, Liquid Ftvinti in tins COALS ANDFIBBWOOD Delivered in the City and Suburbs At Lowest Current Bates. Orders received for the Springnsld and Home Bush Coal. The Company have also departments for the Bale of First-class WINES AND SFIBITS, in quarter-casks, coses, asd two and ovt gallon ian, and GBOOEBIEB, In original packages. BWI NOTICE. IF you want to be supplied with Fruit of the very best quality the whole year round, GO TO NANOABROWS OENTBAL FBUIT MABT. J. NANOABBOW, Colombo street, Onristohureh, Fruit Importer and Grower of Grapes, Melons and Cucumbers. 4079 OBIOKBT. LAWN TENNIS, FISHING TACKLE, 4c. LOOK OUT FOB EXHIBITION BABGAINB. TTAYINQ purchased the exhibits of LiLLIWHITB AND BCBSBT, In addition to my nsual season's import, Consisting of BIGHTBBN OASES CUCKKITOO, LAWK TWWIB AKD FIBHIHQ Tackm, I can offer special inducement* to Clubs, Schools, Ac. W 88108, 7176 Opposite Bank of New Zealand. CHEAP Cabinet Wsrks, Victoria street, nwOarlton._ TTCTBNITUBB made to order aod repaired. EVEBY description of Work on moderate term*. FH. Von Sehoeneberg, Viotoria street, • near Oaritsn, opposite Bishop's Court