Page 1 Advertisements Column 3

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4611, 6 February 1883, Page 1

Bniinais) Wotioti. NOT QUITE SO BECISIVE ABIT WAS, BUT A LITTLE MOBE OVEBWHELMTNG. 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 j controvert the following statement of facts. Messrs Meddings, Cnnnington, Dale, and Kirk, we call upon yon to defend your report. C. FISKE & CO. Christchuroh International Exhibition. June 15th, 1882. BEPOBT OP COMXITTEE OF EXPEBTS. i To H. C. Fiskb & Co. TfcEAB SIB,— In accordance with your request, 1 1 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 meohanical principle Involved. 2. The quality of the material usod. 8. The degree of workmanship exhibited. 4. The facility for doing a good and varied class of work. After taking both machines asunder, oawnuly examining every piece, and fully testing their capabilities, we have no hesitation in Sayis; that we consider the Davis far the superior maohine 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 out out of a solid piece of steel and hardened, while in the Singer it is not enly very much lighter, but 1b madejof common o\st iron. The feed apparatus of the two maohin~6s are very dissimilar. That of the Singer is the usu tl slip feed. The Davis has the vertical feel peculiar to itself. In this arrangement tha presser foot holds the material firmly down till the needle has reached its lowest point. Tha 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 is given to the shuttle in Davis' maohine as follows. An eccentrio at the wheel end of the main spindle gives motion to a vertical lever. This in torn transmits it through a ball joint of ingenious construction to the only moving part under the maohine, a pivotted lever having at ite 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 tw 3 principal movements, the eccentrio and 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 ef backlash, and consequent tendency to rattle and break. The connectUig rod ib a thin bar of iron, with a hole in eack end. The end which rats on the crank pin is ose of the principal jointe in the machine, liaving 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 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 cot with an ordinary pocket toiife, and there are no -means of adjusting any wearing part. In the Davis, not only are most of thepieces made ef 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 piece was broken and the fracture carefully sxanttnolf Having examined the meohanical arrangements of the two machines, we tested their adaptability for work, and we noticed the very peculiar foed of the Davis. Txk 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 ptK&ering 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 nave no ■hesitation in saying that we regard the Davis «s very -superior to the Singer <in workmanship, material, and the mechanical principles invalv«d,and also in performing a greater range of work. We found the Davis to work with equal > ease fronrthe lightest to the heaviest fabric. i JOHN LEE SCOTT (Scott Bros.) > Meohanical Engineer. tT.GLUYAS PASCOE, Manager of the Xaiapoi Clothing Factory. GEO.'P. ANTHONY, Meohanical Expert, from Nettlefold'e Birmingham. 5717 THB^BBAT BASTBRft FUJtUSISUINQ HART. Jbi» 45 B O M L B V, FURNITUBB BBOKBB, VALUATOB, &a, Corner <of Armagh and Manchester streets. NEW AND SECOND-HAND FURNITURE, And goods of every description on sale. Bales attended on commission. STuBOTruBB, &0., Bought, Sqoqd, ob Bxciawsbd. NOW OPB N . N.B.— No connection with any ethjr shop in the trade. '8665 A.PEIOOI3! -A.PBICGIB '! FOR JAM. PEACHES, PLUMS, .'All other Fruits in season. H. STEWART, COLOMBO BTRETCT. 186 -t\ (j ABII 1«, DBAPBB, Ykiiobta Stbbbt. i 1600va«®re88 Material, 6*d ... F.&thW SOOjds Bateenß^6W F. Gabitesi 3000 yds Black Lusfcve, 6Jd ... F. <Gabitea j Ladies' Cowets, 25. 6 d F. Gabites. Coloured^ Oatmeal Cloth, 6}d ... F. Oubites ; Cbey Calicq, If d yard ... ... F. Gabitee Cheapest Drapery in Ohrietob'ch F. Oabites Boy/ Straw Hats r ai£ F. Gabites /"HOMPION I_| OUSEL GREAT SALE SUMMER ! DRAPEJBY,! COKSfBNOINa \ THURSDAY, JAN. 11, 1883, Bee Catalogues of Sale. "OBLL & 8885 OoxoMse jtcbbit. JXI bs Atkinson, VICTORIA BTRBKT, Has on Hand a Complete Stook of j M4DAMK WBi;GBL'S PAPER PATTERNS mh^^^t M ■* fwsssos, AxaQulef, J^v^Sß r^ CQ ' *° different 1 ™ 0 * NXXMapwHed by and illustrtfor making up. js&|||if i Sold at prices ranging «S&|l|§L " from6d to 2s. Newest J^si^sli*.' styles monthly in "*-wr — ■ s ™ l Weigel's Journal of Fashions, prioe 7d ; by post, Bd. Catalogue of Fashions, 8d j by post, 4d. Patterns, &0., sent to any part of the country on receipt of prioe and additional stamp for postage. Sole Agent in Christehuroh — MBS ATKINSON, Victoria Stbbit.B2o