Mr Pegden's Furniture Factoiy.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 136, 7 December 1895, Page 2

Mr Pegden's Furniture Factoiy.

Since the fire which destroyed bis fac- ; r ■ tory Mr W. E. Pegden, of Palmerston N. > ' has been working hard to erect a build' ing which will be in every way suitable i to his rapidly expanding bosmessAHe ' has now completed the work,, and the building standing on the same site as the one destroyed by fire, is a tribute to his skill and energy. The buil&aijgis 89 x 70 feet on tiie lower floor with a side room for the turnery.: The turnery department is fitted with an imported i machine which can be regulated to four speeds, and reversed to turn cncles of , architraves up to six feet. 'A The. lower \ floor or mill is fitted up with all' the 1 latest and most improved machinery. The band saw is one of the finest in the colony, the saw being set against friction wheels which make it run without jarr- . ing. Tho machine took the first prise at the recent Dnnedin exhibition. The planing machine is capable of taking in an eighteen inches board, and it also moulds architraves and skirtings on three sides at one operation. AMr Pegden has ordered another machine from Home which will mould any class of moulding on four sides in one operation. This machine is chiefly "for fine vfoik, including picture frame mouldings. There is also a tenoning- machine for cutting tenons m doors and sashes, and for bevelling panels. On the same floor is a shaft containing six grindstones, driven by steam, with a fast and loose pulley, circular saw tor, cheeking. tached to this is a boring machine, which is adjusted to any height; a fade and edging machine for straightening twisted timber; a powerful morticing machine regulated by means offonr pinion wheels; and a shaping machine for working mouldings on any sweep. Each machine stands on a concrete block, and is driven from a shafting under the floor. There is no jarring, everything working quite smoothly. The engine is in an enclosed room, separated from the mill by an iron partition. Two large fly wheels oonnect with two separate shafts which drive the the machinery, and and the driving belt from either can be detached. Upstairs is a room 80 x 25 feet, which is used for cabinet making purposes. It is said to be the largest room for the purpose in the North Island. It is fitted with all the necessary machinery for oarrying on the work of cabinet making, includiog oiroular saw and boring machine. The room is well lighted and whitewashed inside to ensure more light and perfect cleanliness. There are a number of men folly employed, inolnding an expert in chair making. At a distance irom the factory are the large drying sheds where seasoned timber is always kept in stock ; the upholstering shop, : where a number of hands are employed in making up fornitnrs ; and a large jiolisbing shop 'where the furniture is 'finished ready for removal, either to a distance or into the large showroom facing the Square. Mr Pegden always keeps a large supply of seasoned timber in stock, particularly picked rimn, from which furniture is made, and totara, from which tbe sashes and doors are made. Past (experience ha 9 been brought to bear, witb the result that the factory is flow as complete as it can be made with machinery op to date.