Casual Jottings.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2157, 2 December 1875, Page 2

Casual Jottings.

PRICE BROS.' FOUNDRY.

After an absence of several years your contributor arrived at the Thames yesterday, bent partly on pleasure and partly on business. In the course of his peregrinations he noticed great progress had been made in nearly every industry. Possessed of a turn for mechanics his curiosity was aroused at noticing a foundry establishment of the magnitude of Price Bros.', to which, thanks to the " open sesame" and courtesy possessed by a friend, he was enabled to pay a visit of inspection. The first object arrested his attention was a compojrtid engine in course of construction to the order of Messrs Holmes Bros. This engine, which is 30-horsepower,-intended ! for the Challenger, was designed by Mr Errington. Ifc embraces all the latest improvements, and in point of workmanship and finish reflects the highest credit on the contractors. The working parts are thoroughly case-hardened, and the diameter of the cylinders are as follows: — High pressure, 13-i- inches; low pressure 23 inches ; length of stroke, 15 inches. A novelty is introduced by the condenser being affixed to the sole plate, which forms at the back of the engine what is usually termed the columns, with 450 tubes five feet long, mounted in brass tube plates and. ferules in the usual way. There are some forty-five men employed oh the works, with steam power of 15 horse, capable of driving two engines; this motive power driving some thirty belts. In the fitting/shop every description of turning, planing, shaping, boring, drilling, &c, is carried on. The heat proceeding from five fires next-directed attention to the " smithy," where the forgings are made. Here is erected a steam hammer of suitable calibre; also a punching and shearing machine. The ." Foundry " ■ department has twenty

men, who are fully employed in casting. The furnaces were at work smelting for the casting pf a stamper, boxes, &c. For the handling of metal, cranes are employed. There is also a pit fourteen feet deep for those of a heavier character. All the patterns used by Messrs Price, Bros, are manufactured on the premises, for which several ingenious saws have been designed by them. The magnitude of these works, which are capable of turning out any desdescription of castings hitherto yet required, will vie with those of Auckland, and only requires to be better known to command a large proportion of the trade of New Zealand.—Contributed.