Moulding-machines
These machines, in infinite variety, are now recognized everywhere as competent to produce castings of limited variety, in a far superior manner than is possible by the old methods. Besides the numerous excellent gear-moulding machines of Scott, Whittaker, Buckley & Taylor, and Simpson,--which, with a small portion of the pattern corresponding to the gear to be moulded, are all able to produce gears from 9 inches diameter up, either spur, bevel, mitre, mortise, or worm, plain or shrouded,--we have numbers of machines for the production of general work of all descriptions. Some of these machines are still worked with hand-levers, but these are being rapidly superseded by steam, hydraulic, and pneumatic contrivances, which, with their several automatic arrangements, demonstrate the capacity of their builders to overcome difficulties which until very lately seemed beyond the bounds of possibility.
The "Tabor" moulding-machine may be used with either steam, water, or compressed air; but steam is preferable in most cases, because it can be easily obtained without the use of special auxiliary machinery of any kind. The rammer system of this machine gives greater pressure at parts which would otherwise be too soft.
The "Yielding Platen" moulding-machine is provided on the top with a rubber bag containing water or compressed air, and the bottom of the machine is caused to rise by compressed air, thus forcing the flask with its sand against the rubber bag, which, they claim, presses the sand in a manner impossible by any other known method.
The "Teetor" moulding-machine provides means for holding the flask securely and turning it over; also for jarring the pattern and holding the same perfectly level, to allow a clean separation of the mould therefrom.