The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

XX.—THE ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT. MESSES. SCHN EIDER and CO. manufacture in this department dynamos, electric motors, transformers, and all kinds of direct and alternating-current machines and plant, together with auxiliary apparatus. The electric construction department consists of two main shops, situated at the south end of the Creusot Works (see general plan, Fig. 23, Plate IV.; they are shown to a larger scale by Fig. 331. The first shop was built about ten years ago, but owing to the large demand for electrical machinery, a rapid increase in the size of the department, and its equipment, became necessary. It now covers an area of 13,000 square metres (140,000 square feet). Pre- viously to the installation of a special department, the electrical apparatus required were manufacturée! in a comparatively small way in the engineering shops of the Creusot Works. The following references are explanatory of Fig. 331 : A. Laboratory. B. Electrical offices. C. Cabinetmakers’ shop. D. Dynamo store. E. Stores for materials. F. Plate stores (5-ton travelling crâne). G. Packing and forwarding room. H. Painting shop. I. Heavy dynamo-erecting shop. K. Machine shop (lathes and milling machines). L. Machine shop (planing and boring machines, &c.). M. Winding machines (20-ton and 25-ton travelling crânes, and small dynamo- erecting shop). N. Fitting shop. O. Electrolytic plant. P. Offices. Q. Drying stoves. R. Current-generating station. S, T. (Part of gun department.) The main building consists of a central bay, 16 metres (52 ft. 6 in.) wide, with two lower lateral bays, 10 metres (32 ft. 10 in.) wide each. The flooring is of concrète. Heavy cast-iron columns carry the rooting, the transmission brackets, and the tracks on which run 15 and 30-ton overhead travelling crânes. This shop serves for the fitting of all mechanical parts of small and inedium-sized electric machines, and for the érection of large dynamos. The lateral bays above mentioned are oceupied by machine tools of all descriptions and power. The very large pieces are, for the present, machinée! in the adjoining shops, which form part of the ordnance department. One of the bays is specially set apart for stamping, cutting out, and putting together, dynamo sheets ; it contains stamping machines, lathes, and hydraulic presses, the 1 argest of which are adapted for finishing drum armatures up to 3 metres (9 ft. 10 in.) in diameter. The érection of small and inedium-sized dynamos, as well as the fitting of accessory gear and winding, are carried on in another building, which is of more recent construction. This building consists of two bays withiron trusses of 10 metres (32 ft. 10 in.) spån, which rest on tlie walls, and on a series of columns similar to those above mentioned. It is 3,000 square metres (32,300 square feet) in area, without counting the annexes. Two large glazed sliding doors serve for giving access to railway trucks for the delivery of material. This building is divided into two distinct parts, one for the erecting of dynamos and fitting of accessory gear; the other for winding, stove drying, and making commutators ; the flooring is paved with wood Blocks. In the division reserved for fitting and erecting accessory gear, band vices are placed on abencli which runs along the wall. The main transmission shaft is worked by electric motors, and motion is trans- mitted to the varions machine tools and lathes by means of wood pulleye. Winding armatures, magnets, &c., is carried on in a separate building, in order to prevent metallic dust from penetrating into tlie coils. Each workman has his own complété set of tools, and every facility is given him, so that he may carry out rapidly the work he is entrusted with. In order to reduce the cost of labour to a minimum, each class of work is specialised and executed in series as far as is practicable. This manner of proceeding renders the workmen skilful in their respective branches, and does away almost entirely with errors which are difficult to ascertain and to correct af ter an intricate job is completed. The manufacture of insulating coil casings, a very important item, as well as the préparation of cardboard and mica, and, as a rule, all work more minute than difficult, is carried out by a special personnel, who work together in a separate room. Coils, according to their size, are made either by hånd or mechanically on winding machines. In each case a revolution counterj mounted on tli© axis of the coil oi on the winding machine shaft, enables the winder, without any special attention, to know exaetly tlie nuraber of turns wound. The winding machines are driven oft the main transmission by intermediate shafting, or by small electric motors worked from tlie central station. Winding armatures of all kinds is done by hånd ; when this has> been completed, the connections, welding, and insulation. undergo careful testing previous to delivery to the dynamo- erecting shop j the drums, coils, &c.5 aro afterwards diied in stoves which are arrangée! in such a manner that they can be rapidly served by the overliead travelling crânes. The whole of the shop is heateel by steam at low pressure. Movable and fixed blowpipes are placed along the walls for welding the coils, or for lieating certain pieces. These blowpipes are branched on two mains, one for gas, the other