Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/383

BRI t'oning another, of a later date, which appears to us exceedingly ingenious. 4. Mr. Isaac Sanbford, of Hartford, in Connecticut, North America, on the 20th of January, 1800, received the King's patent for a method communicated to him by Dr. A. Kinsley, of the same place, for manufacturing bricks, tiles, and pottery-ware in general, and for discharging the moulds used therein. The principle of this in- vention is amply detailed in the specification, a copy of which is inserted in the 13th volume of the " Repertory of Arts," &:c. p. 148, and following, illustrated by a plate. From die subjoined extract, how- ever, the reader may form a toler- able idea of the nature and Utility of this invention, which chiefly con- sists in a newly-contrived appara- tus, for expediting the tedious pro- cess of making bricks, and other earthen-ware. — The moulds used in this machine may be various, either with false or fixed bottoms, sides, or ends ; or open at top, bot- tom, sides, or ends : but such as are used by the original inventor, Dr. Apollo s Kinsley, are the most convenient, and contain from one to six bricks in each mould, ac- cording to their size. Each frame, or mould, has a fixed bottom ; and, when more than one brick is mould- ed in die same frame, or mould, the division between them is made in three parts. The middle piece is made a little tapering, and serves as a wedge to confine the other two parts in their places, while the mould is filling j and, when dis- charged, the wedge or middle part is lifted out, which liberates the other two : by that means the moulds are discharged with ease. IMculds for large single bricks and B R I [35i ornaments, have one side, bottom, or end, taken off by means of stea- dy pins, joints, or cramps, which will confine them while filling, and may be opened in any way that will allow them to discharge. The moulds mav be made of metal, or of wood and lined widi metal. The foot of the spindle may stand in, and be supported by a bar, made fast to the platform, at the bottom of the tub ; or it may be supported by a collar, inclosing the spindle above die semi-circular sections, and made fast to the tub ; by that means die whole space under die forcers will be open, and free to form bricks and ornaments of any size or shape. The friction-rollers are placed in a frame, which may be raised or lowered by screws, ac- cording to the thickness of the bricks or ornaments ; and, by means of' die screws, the moulds may be liberated from any foul matter, diat mav obstruct their passage dirough the machine. Clay for bricks, or- naments, potters' -ware, and tiles, of all descriptions, may be temper- ed and moulded of any size, or shape, in the above-described ap- paratus. The clay being put into the tub, is, by the action of die sec- tl n ■;, perfectly tempered and mould- ed at the same time, See. To conclude, we shall only add, that the reasons why the modern bricks arc so very inferior to those made by die ancients ; which, in their monuments, after having withstood the ravages of time for many centuries, are still in perfect preservation, appear to be princi- pally the following : In the pre- sent expensive state of society, the price of manual labour, though tar from being adequate to the pressure of the times, is so c derable, di.:t the naanjtilaQureK is under