in order to have the wedges c, c, passed through, they having inclined surfaces at their inner ends, resting on the upper part of the die d,. (the construction of which is clearly shown in the drawing), by which means the die d, is securely held in its place; in addition to which, the die can be most accurately adjusted by driving the wedges with care, first one and then the other; e, is a smooth steel or other suitable rod affixed to the piston f, the rod e, serving as the internal core for forming the inner surface of the pipe, or tube, as the metal is forced out through the die d. The piston ƒ, is fitted to slide f, freely, yet closely in the cylinder a, a, and is affixed to the upper end of the plunger or piston of an hydraulic press; g, is a hole drilled or formed in the side of the cylinder a, in which lead is kept; and h, is another hole drilled or formed in the cylinder a, a, in which tin, or a compound of tin are placed; and the cylinder a, a, is kept heated by a flue or jacket passing round it, to such a degree as will keep the tin well melted; but should the lead in the other hole melt, the workman must damp off or lower the heat.

The drawing represents the machinery arranged for making lead pipes or tubes of an inch diameter, which, in the act of making, are coated internally and externally with tin, or a compound thereof. The workman first pours melted lead into the cylinder a, a, through the die d, or through a hole made in the upper end of the cylinder, which hole is afterwards stopped by a plug or screw, the piston being at the lower end of that cylinder to admit thereof; and the same is permitted to set before the pump of the hydraulic press is put to work. A quantity of tin is placed on the die d, and, as the cylinder a, and the die d, are kept to a sufficient degree of temperature at all times, the tin will remain in a fluid

state. On the pump of the hydraulic press being worked, the piston of the press will slowly rise in the cylinder a, a, pressing out the lead therefrom in the form of a tube or pipe, which coming in contact with the fluid tin, will be coated on the inside and outside, the workman supplying a quantity of tin on the inside of the tube or pipe as soon as it rises a few inches above the die d.

It will be evident, from the above description, that in case lead pipes uncombined with tin are desired, the tin or coating compound of tin is to be omitted; and in case it is desired to make sheets, by laying open the pipe or tube produced as above, an apparatus, fig. 2, is to be used, it being intended to open the pipe to such an extent as will allow of the same being readily rolled up as if it were a flat sheet; g, is a cone securely fixed over the die d, so as to allow of the core coming up to it at the completion of its movement in the rising of the piston in the cylinder a, u.

On the cone g, or at other convenient position, is affixed a cutting edge against which the pipe or tube coming as it is forced upwards in the act of forming, it is cut, and by the cone is laid open to such an extent as to be sufficient for the purpose of being rolled up as if it were a flat sheet.

The other figure of the drawing shows another die, which may be used for producing other articles to be coated with tin in the act of making.

"Having thus described the nature of our invention, we would have it understood that we lay no claim to those parts which were formerly used and described in the said Thomas Burr's said specification to his former patent; but what we do claim is, first, the application of the elongation b, of the cylinder a, a, for receiving the wedges c, c, for forming sheets, and pipes or tubes, and

VOL. XI.

с

other articles of lead and other metal as above described; secondly, we claim the mode of coating the inner and outer surfaces of lead pipes or tubes, and other articles, with tin or compounds thereof, when in the act of making such tubes or pipes, and other articles, by the description of machinery herein described; but we do not claim coating of lead pipes or other articles with tin by a subsequent process, that having been before accomplished by other means; and, thirdly, we claim the application to such description of machinery, suitable surfaces and cutting instruments for laying the pipes or tubes longitudinally, and for making sheet lead therefrom in the act of making tubes or pipes; but we do not claim generally the using of a cutting edge to such machinery, we having before used a cutting edge in combination with such machinery for marking the tubes longitudinally, in order to their being subse quently cut open for open pipes.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, May, 1837.]

TO WILLIAM HANCOCK, of Windsor-place, City-road, in the county of Middlesex, gentleman, for his invention of certain improvements in bookbinding.-[Sealed 7th December, 1836.]

THESE improvements in bookbinding consist in attaching the leaves of books at their backs by means of caoutchouc or Indian rubber in a fluid state, or in a thin sheet.

The leaves of the books to be bound, after being folded, and beaten or pressed, and placed in their proper positions, instead of being notched and sown at the back, as usual, are to be fixed in the ordinary cutting

press, and the backs or folds of the leaves cut away by means of the ordinary cutting knife. These cut edges are then rendered slightly rough by scraping, or by any rough tool, as a fine grooved plane; and when that has been done, two coats of a thick solution of caoutchouc is put upon the back of the leaves, which cements their edges securely together.

Upon this may be placed a thin sheet of caoutchouc, or a strip of silk, linen, cotton, or other suitable material, coated with a solution of caoutchouc, and pressed close by the hand; and when dry, the edges of the leaves will be found to adhere much more securely than when sown in the old way, and will open with a degree of elasticity never before effected by any other means.

Instead of cutting away the whole of the backs of the leaves of the book, broad grooves only may be cut slight depths in the back in several places, and strips of thin caoutchouc, or silk, linen, cotton, or other suitable material, coated with caoutchouc, may be placed in those grooves, and made fast by the thick solution, moistened by spirits of turpentine, which will hold the leaves securely.

A coating of caoutchouc, either in solution or in a sheet, may be added to the back of a book after it has been sown, instead of paste or glue, which will very much improve its security, and afford elasticity in opening.

When the leaves have been thus secured at their back parts, the books may be bound in boards in the ordinary way, and be otherwise covered and decorated in the usual manner.

The Patentee says, in conclusion, that he does not claim exclusively the use of Indian rubber for binding books, but he claims its application in the way above described for securing the leaves.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, June, 1837.]

To ALEXANDER RITCHIE, of Leeds, in the county of York, merchant, for a certain improvement in dressing and finishing woollen cloths and other woven fabrics, being a communication from a foreigner residing abroad. -[Sealed 13th June, 1836.]

1

THESE improvements, in dressing and finishing woollen cloths and other woven fabrics, consist in the employment of a hollow perforated steam cylinder or cylinders, or other vessel or vessels of approximate figures, by means of which a multitude of small jets of steam may be introduced into tightly rolled or closely compacted thicknesses of woollen cloths, for the purpose of producing upon such cloths effects equivalent to the operation technically called " roll boiling." As there are obviously many modes or constructions of machinery by which these hollow perforated vessels may be made to emit jets of steam into closely compacted or tightly rolled thicknesses of cloth, I shall consider it sufficient to show one practical method of applying them to that purpose, in connexion with a gig-mill or brushing machine.

In Plate II., fig. 5, is a front elevation of a gig-mill, with two hollow perforated steam cylinders connected therewith, and the other necessary appendages by which they are adapted to perform the steaming operation. Fig. 6, is an end elevation of the same. Cast iron end standards a, a, a, a, braced together by longitudinal bars or rods, support, the machinery. The gig barrel b, b, covered in the ordinary way, with teasels, or cards, or brushes, is mounted upon an axle, and made to revolve by a band (from the steam-engine or other first mover) passed round the pulley c..

The hollow steam cylinders d, d, placed one above the gig barrel, the other below it, turn with their hollow