Great Britain - Expo Paris 1855

Returning to continue the examination of the machines, we come to the English division. The first objects to be found here are weaving and embroidery looms of all kinds, mainly those of James Houldsworlh (Manchester), John Crossley (Newton-Moor), James Hart (Coventry), William Wood (Pontefract), etc. On the same side, the visitor will see the small carding machines used in cotton mills, exhibited by Mr. Foxwell Grabtree, followed by the cotton spinning machines of Mr. Dobson and Barlow, Platt Brothers, John Elce. The cotton is shown going through all the stages until it becomes yarn. On the right are several models of the British manufacturers' canopies, which are worthy of special attention because of their elegant construction and workmanship. Leaving the spinning machines, the visitor will observe a small machine for engraving the cylinders used for printing cloth, exhibited by Mr. Cripps, and the machine for intaglio printing. Nearby is a brick-making machine by Mr. J. Porter; a noiseless fanning machine by Mr. Loyd. Machine tools for turning, planing, drilling, planing and wheel cutting, exhibited by Messrs. Witworlh and Co. of Manchester, will attract the visitor's attention. Passing three British locomotives on the right hand side, he comes to the machine tools of the Leeds factories, a planing lathe by Messrs. Shepherd, Hill, Spink, and a large planing machine by Messrs. Smith Beacock and Lannett, the latter being remarkable for the small amount of power required to operate it. Finally, still on the west side and crossing the first passage on the left, we see machines from Canada, for planing and sawing wood, which deserve the visitor's attention, the line for sawing tenons and mortises, etc., is very curious, because of the resources it offers. Nearby are several very interesting pieces of British craftsmanship. On the other side, along the water, is a machine for cutting and dividing iron or wooden gears, by Messrs. J. Buckton and Co. of Leeds; a machine for making grooves of enormous force and size, by Messrs. Harvey of Glasgow; a model of the steam engines of the ship Simta, by Messrs. Tod and M'Gregor.

On the right hand side, on the counters, are models and spare parts of various machines. After Mr. Withworlh's engines, the visitor finds in the middle a small steam engine exhibited by Messrs. Seaward and Capel of London; close by on the left hand, Appold's famous centrifugal pump exhibited by Messrs. Easton and Amos. By the small hand pump of the same system, seen in Hyde-Park in 1851, one man threw 650 litres of water a minute. A similar large steam pump would be capable of throwing about 135,000 litres a minute.

Messrs. Dunn Hattersley and Co., of Manchester, exhibit a hydraulic machine for testing cables of 100 to 300,000 kilograms. This machine aroused great interest, and was of special interest to LL. Messrs. the Emperor, the Queen of England and the King of Portugal. This machine, which breaks a strong wooden beam as we break a match, is of a very simple construction which guarantees against any accident. The hydraulic cylinder, pumps and valves are located at one end of the column or trunk, and a rotating nut at the other end receives the chain and holds the tension during the test. The indicator lever and weights are attached in the simplest way and indicate on a scale exactly how much force is being used.

To the right of the spinning machines are the sewing machines of Mr. W.-F. Thomas, of London; a machine for making seltzer and the like, by Mr. Z. Tylor Jr. in London. Gooby and Chatwin, of Birmingham, exhibit some fine samples of threads, screws, dice, etc., for turners. Still on the right, and near the window overlooking the river, is a fine model of a locomotive, by Mr. Kennan of Dublin, and below on the counter is a pipe-cleaning apparatus, by Mr. J. H. Smith, of London; further on, in an alcove, is a steam engine of a new system by Mr. Siemens, built by B. Hick and Son. Still to the left is the great steam engine by Mr. W. Fairbairn, of Manchester: the ingenious linen cleaning machines by Messrs. Coombe and Co. of Belfast, and the looms for weaving fine and coarse fabrics by Mr. Parker and Sons, of Dundee.

On the right, against the wall, a power saw for cutting the jambs and mouldings of doors, windows and sashes, invented by Mr. J. Birch, of London; and a fire pump, by Mr. J. Tylor, of London. There are a few machines from Canada, among which is a mechanical table for the use of carpenters, and a moulding machine. There is also an apparatus for drilling holes in the ground, intended to receive barriers or poles for telegraph wires. Immediately afterwards, an agricultural steam engine for making furrows, which it accomplishes by means of an assembly of knives attached to a
cylinder.

©Promenades dans l'exposition de 1855