The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

100 MESSRS. SCHNEIDER AND CO.’S WORKS. tion of large stationary and marine engines comprises ten buildings, two of which are two storeys high. These ten buildings cover an area of 9500 square metres (11,500 square yards), and are divided into turning shops, drilling, boring, and général machinery shops, one being specially equipped for erecting. They are ail provided with over- head travellers, of powers varying according to the different loads to be lifted ; most of the travellers work by power either by means of endless cables, square shafts, or electric motors. Sévirai views of these shops are given in Figs. 258 and 259, Plate LL, Fig. 260, Plate LU., and in Fig. 261. The large erecting shop has been made of suitable height, and is provided with four 30-ton overhead travellers; engines 12 metres (39 ft. to 40 ft.) high can be erected underneath. In these shops (see Fig. 260, Plate LU.) are all the tools for machining exceptionally large work. Among others are a surface lathe that can turn pieces weighing 60 tons, and 10 metres (32 ft. 10 in.) in diameter; lathes and boring machines which can take shafts 25 metres (82 ft.) long; a boring machine to finish boring cylinders 3 metres in diameter and 5 metres high (9ft. 10 in. by 16 ft. 5 in.) ; a machine for cutting double-helical teeth on wheels 3 metres (9 ft. 10 in.) in diameter; a planing machine that can work pieces 3.500 metres wide and 10 metres long (11 ft. 6 in. by 32 ft. 10 in.), &c. Fig. 262 is a view of the interior of the boring shop. These machine tools are the largest ; there are, however, 40 others. which, thougli not quite so large, approach very closely in size and power. Tool-Making Shop.—The manufacture of the various tools which are employée! in the machine shops is cen- tralisée! in one special building, fitted up with the neces- sary appliances for this work. After investigations and tests of the various qualities of tool-steel, Messrs. Schneider and Co. have classified them with reference to the requirements of their works. They know, therefore, exaetly the right quality to use for each dass of work, and the amount of care required in the forging and tempering of each kind of tool. The work having been specialised in this department, the workmen have aequired great expéri- ence in producing steel tools. There are in this shop above 30 lathes, planing and milling machines ; special machines for cutting shaping tools, screw taps, &c. ; sharpening machines, and many others. It keeps supplied in tools more than 700 machines, and produces all the hånd tools for the Atters, boilermakers, and smiths. Only the various kinds of files are purchased from outside, as their manufacture is a speciality. In this shop are manufacture«! all the delicate instruments which serve for verifying the accuracy of engine parts and ordnance work. Pattern Shop.—The few data we have given of the foundries, their importance and the variety of the work they turn out, will give an idea of the quantity of patterns that have to be made claily. Besides those for the iron and brass foundries, forming part of the construction works, all the patterns for the steel foundry are made in this shop. Though those patterns only are stored which may be wanted more than once, the pattern dépôt covers a very large area. It measures 250 metres (820 ft.) by 16 metres (52 ft. 6 in.), and is two storeys high. The contents are methodically classified, and any pieces that may be required are easily found.