COPPER,Statistics of.—Copper ores may be imported into Great Britain for smelting, from any country, and under any flag. On arrival of the cargo at Swansea or elsewhere, a bond is given at the Custom-house, which binds the party to return the quantity of copper which the lot of ores shall be ascertained to contain, into bond within a limited period, or pay thereon the duty as foreign copper, which is 27l.per ton. The cargo of ore is then weighed out by the custom-house officer, and samples are taken which are sent to two assay-masters in Cornwall, the highest produce of the two being entered as that of the cargo. This fixes the quantity of copper that must be exported under the bond.The copper produced from foreign ores must then find a market, as cake or pig copper, in France, Holland, Germany, Italy, the United States of America, &c. At Calcutta, it is subject to a duty of 6 per cent.; and at Bombay, to a duty of 10 per cent.ad valorem.The export of British unwrought copper to the continent of Europe, and to the United States of America, was formerly inconsiderable. These countries drew the bulk of their supplies either from the north of Europe, or direct from South America in pig copper. In point of fact, the copper derived from the import of foreign ores for smelting, has produced for itself a new market, as the following table, taken from the official returns will show.Export of unwrought copper from Great Britain to all parts, except Asia:—Years ending Jan. 5th.1830881tons.—1831857——18321326——18332471——18342523——18353267——18364083——18372546—In the last year, that ended with 5th January, 1838, the export of unwrought copper was about 5000 tons.Let any candid and practical man consider attentively this table, and compare it with the import of foreign ores for the same period, and with the gradual advance in the value of copper; and then let him, if he can, avoid the conclusion that the admission of foreign ores for smelting was a great boon conferred upon the British copper mines, for it made this country what it now is, the regulator and distributor of the copper produce of the world—the country to which all others consuming and not producing copper, must look for a regular, certain, and economical supply. We want the admission merely under proper and safe regulations, of foreign copper for refining, to draw to this countrythe whole supply of copper for the world, by which prices would be regulated and maintained, and our copper-mining interests put beyond the reach of successful rivalry.This country did not furnish any supply of unwrought copper to the continent of Europe, or to the United States of America, which was worthy of notice, before the year 1830; in fact, previous to that time, we imported considerable quantities of foreign copper for re-exportation to India. It is easy to explain how the produce of foreign ores, being prohibited from export in any other shape, has, in fact, opened for itself a newdebouché, and this is illustrated by the table, showing the growth of the export of unwrought copper from 1830. To prove that this is not merely a simultaneous advance in the export of all sorts of copper, a corrected table is subjoined from the official returns, comprising the whole export, and divided so as to illustrate the operation of the copper produce of foreign ores upon our foreign copper trade.Copper exported:—Years endingWrought.Unwrought.Total.To all parts.To India.To all parts.To all parts.Tons.Tons.Tons.Tons.5th January,1825----9601826----1⁄21827----1301828----13291829----107918305327180126828,00918316172231731509,32218325171242337148,885183358552312456910,42418345417176940199,436183547872104528310,072183659481993593511,883183761051588390910,014[17][17]Supplement to the Mining Journal, Feb. 28. 1838.Production of Copper in Great Britain:—Years.Ores.Metal.Tons.Tons.1771-178128,18533801781-179132,85441231791-180148,03440831801-181167,53360601811-181678,2377181181683,0587045181775,0166608181880,5256714181992,2347214182092,6727364182198,80381631822106,72393311826128,459—1827—12,3811828153,60012,1691829—11,9941830—13,0971831—14,4801832—14,463[18][18]Taylor’s Records of Mining, Part I., p. 171.Quantity of Copper produced in the several districts of Great Britain and Ireland:—With Ores from—1828.1829.1830.1831.1832.Tons.Tons.Tons.Tons.Tons.Cornwall1966976310,89012,21812,099Devonshire434318368312249Other parts of England7136103142Island of Anglesea738901815809852Other parts of Wales259172237123237Ireland706790768972974Isle of Man—491512Total copper from theores of the United Kingdom12,16911,99413,09714,48014,465Copper smelted fromForeign ores—3012410056General total12,16912,02413,22114,58014,521Statistics of Copper for Cornwall in 1837.—The total quantity of ore sold was 142,089 tons (of 21 cwts.), yielding an average produce of eight per cent.; the quantity of fine copper being 11,209 tons 1 cwt.; and the average price of the ore 5l.15s.6d.; the total amount of the sales for the twelve months being 822,516l.The standard upon the 5th of January was 127l.16s.; this was the highest for the year. Upon the 22d of June it was at the lowest, being only 93l.18s.It went up again to 120l.10s.upon the 5th of October; but declined with some slight fluctuation to 107l.18s.upon the 28th of December. The largest quantity sold at any one ticketing, was 4670 tons, upon the 4th of May: and the smallest 1088, upon the 17th of August. The highest produce was nine and five-eighths per cent. upon the 13th of July; and the lowest, seven, upon the 26th of January. The greatest weekly total was 25,887l., upon the 2nd of November, and the least 5694l.upon the 17th of August. The average sum per week was 15,817l.[19][19]Mining Review, Feb. 28, 1838.Table of the produce of Copper Ores and fine Metal in Cornwall, from 1800 to 1830.Years.Ores.Metal.Value of Ore.Metal.AverageStandard.Tons of21 CwtsTons.Cwt.Per Cent.of Ore.Priceper Ton.£s.d.£s.d.180055,98151870550,9250091⁄413336180156,61152680476,3130091⁄411780180253,937522815445,0940095⁄8110180180464,637537418507,84011083⁄813650180679,269686310730,8456085⁄813850180867,867679513495,3031001010070181066,048568219570,0358081⁄213250181271,54767207549,6656093⁄811100181474,322636913627,50110081⁄2130120181677,33466974447,95917085⁄898130181886,17468497686,0054077⁄8134150182091,47375080602,44112081⁄81131501822104,52391408663,08513083⁄410400182499,700782315587,1780077⁄8110001826117,308902612788,97115075⁄8123301828130,36699211756,17416075⁄8112701829124,502965610717,3340073⁄41091401830143,29611,22419887,9000073⁄4114401834150,61712,27114893,40215081⁄81061101835Produce of Copper Mines in Cornwall, (on the authority of John Taylor, Esq. F.R.S.)Years.Ore.Metal.Value.Produce.Standard.Tons.Tons.£.s.d.Per Cwt.1831144,40212,044806,09015681⁄41001832137,35711,948825,6126085⁄81001833138,30011,191858,70810081⁄81111834143,29611,226887,9020073⁄41141835150,61712,270893,40214081⁄81061836140,98111,647957,7528681⁄41151837140,75310,832908,61315075⁄8120An account of the quantities of Foreign wrought and unwrought Copper, and Copper Ore imported and exported, and of British wrought and unwrought Copper exported from the United Kingdom; together with the quantities and value of Copper Ore smelted in Cornwall and Swansea, and the quantity of Copper produced in those places; and in the county of Devon; together with the market prices of sheet and cake Copper, in the year ending 5th January, 1835.Quan-tity.Value.Foreign Copper imported:—£s.d.Unwrought in bricks or pigs, rose and cast copperCwts.5,389Part wrought, viz., bars, rods, or ingots, hammered or raised1,968Wrought plates and coin2Wr—htold for re-manufacture493Copper ore Foreign278,900Manufactures of copper, entered by weight650Manufactur—f copper,entered at value—5,35300Foreign Copper exported, viz.:—Unwrought, in bricks and pigs, rose and cast copperCwts.6,898Part wrought, viz., bars, rods, or ingots, hammered or raised2,013Old, fit only for re-manufacture265Smelted in the United Kingdom from foreign ore55,456Manufactures of copper, entered by weight650Manufactur—f copper,entered at value—11200BRITISH COPPER.Exported, unwrought, in bricks and pigsCwts.63,252E—rtedwrought sheets, nails, &c.103,433Exported,—ughtwire56Exported,—ughtof other sorts15,197E—rtedTotal of British copper exported182,225Ores sold in Cornwall:—Quantity of oreTons150,617Value of ditto—893,40300Quantity of metalTons12,270Standard—106110Produce per cent.81⁄2Ores sold, &c. in Swansea:—Quantity of oreTons28,746Value of ditto—223,95800Quantity of metalTons2,832Standard—101180Produce per cent.97⁄8Copper sold in Devonshire{oremetal}Tons{5,114455Total quantity of copper raised in the United Kingdom, exclusive of Anglesea and Staffordshire, and deducting 1083 tons of metal, value 88,207l., the produce of 4985 tons of foreign ore sold at Swansea, included above.14,474
COPPER,Statistics of.—Copper ores may be imported into Great Britain for smelting, from any country, and under any flag. On arrival of the cargo at Swansea or elsewhere, a bond is given at the Custom-house, which binds the party to return the quantity of copper which the lot of ores shall be ascertained to contain, into bond within a limited period, or pay thereon the duty as foreign copper, which is 27l.per ton. The cargo of ore is then weighed out by the custom-house officer, and samples are taken which are sent to two assay-masters in Cornwall, the highest produce of the two being entered as that of the cargo. This fixes the quantity of copper that must be exported under the bond.
The copper produced from foreign ores must then find a market, as cake or pig copper, in France, Holland, Germany, Italy, the United States of America, &c. At Calcutta, it is subject to a duty of 6 per cent.; and at Bombay, to a duty of 10 per cent.ad valorem.
The export of British unwrought copper to the continent of Europe, and to the United States of America, was formerly inconsiderable. These countries drew the bulk of their supplies either from the north of Europe, or direct from South America in pig copper. In point of fact, the copper derived from the import of foreign ores for smelting, has produced for itself a new market, as the following table, taken from the official returns will show.
Export of unwrought copper from Great Britain to all parts, except Asia:—
In the last year, that ended with 5th January, 1838, the export of unwrought copper was about 5000 tons.
Let any candid and practical man consider attentively this table, and compare it with the import of foreign ores for the same period, and with the gradual advance in the value of copper; and then let him, if he can, avoid the conclusion that the admission of foreign ores for smelting was a great boon conferred upon the British copper mines, for it made this country what it now is, the regulator and distributor of the copper produce of the world—the country to which all others consuming and not producing copper, must look for a regular, certain, and economical supply. We want the admission merely under proper and safe regulations, of foreign copper for refining, to draw to this countrythe whole supply of copper for the world, by which prices would be regulated and maintained, and our copper-mining interests put beyond the reach of successful rivalry.
This country did not furnish any supply of unwrought copper to the continent of Europe, or to the United States of America, which was worthy of notice, before the year 1830; in fact, previous to that time, we imported considerable quantities of foreign copper for re-exportation to India. It is easy to explain how the produce of foreign ores, being prohibited from export in any other shape, has, in fact, opened for itself a newdebouché, and this is illustrated by the table, showing the growth of the export of unwrought copper from 1830. To prove that this is not merely a simultaneous advance in the export of all sorts of copper, a corrected table is subjoined from the official returns, comprising the whole export, and divided so as to illustrate the operation of the copper produce of foreign ores upon our foreign copper trade.
Copper exported:—
[17]Supplement to the Mining Journal, Feb. 28. 1838.
[17]Supplement to the Mining Journal, Feb. 28. 1838.
Production of Copper in Great Britain:—
[18]Taylor’s Records of Mining, Part I., p. 171.
[18]Taylor’s Records of Mining, Part I., p. 171.
Quantity of Copper produced in the several districts of Great Britain and Ireland:—
Statistics of Copper for Cornwall in 1837.—The total quantity of ore sold was 142,089 tons (of 21 cwts.), yielding an average produce of eight per cent.; the quantity of fine copper being 11,209 tons 1 cwt.; and the average price of the ore 5l.15s.6d.; the total amount of the sales for the twelve months being 822,516l.The standard upon the 5th of January was 127l.16s.; this was the highest for the year. Upon the 22d of June it was at the lowest, being only 93l.18s.It went up again to 120l.10s.upon the 5th of October; but declined with some slight fluctuation to 107l.18s.upon the 28th of December. The largest quantity sold at any one ticketing, was 4670 tons, upon the 4th of May: and the smallest 1088, upon the 17th of August. The highest produce was nine and five-eighths per cent. upon the 13th of July; and the lowest, seven, upon the 26th of January. The greatest weekly total was 25,887l., upon the 2nd of November, and the least 5694l.upon the 17th of August. The average sum per week was 15,817l.[19]
[19]Mining Review, Feb. 28, 1838.
[19]Mining Review, Feb. 28, 1838.
Table of the produce of Copper Ores and fine Metal in Cornwall, from 1800 to 1830.
Produce of Copper Mines in Cornwall, (on the authority of John Taylor, Esq. F.R.S.)
An account of the quantities of Foreign wrought and unwrought Copper, and Copper Ore imported and exported, and of British wrought and unwrought Copper exported from the United Kingdom; together with the quantities and value of Copper Ore smelted in Cornwall and Swansea, and the quantity of Copper produced in those places; and in the county of Devon; together with the market prices of sheet and cake Copper, in the year ending 5th January, 1835.
COPPERAS. (Couperose verte, Fr.;Eisenvitriol, Germ.)Sulphate of iron.
COPPERAS. (Couperose verte, Fr.;Eisenvitriol, Germ.)Sulphate of iron.
CORAL, (Corail, Fr.;Koralle, Germ.) is a calcareous substance, formed by a species of sea polypus, which constructs in concert immense ramified habitations, consisting of an assemblage of small cells, each the abode of an animal. The coral is therefore a real polypary, which resembles a tree stripped of its leaves. It has no roots, but a foot not unlike a hemispherical skull-cap, which applies closely to every point of the surface upon which it stands, and is therefore difficult to detach. It merely serves as a basis or support to the coral, but contributes in no manner to its growth, like the root of an ordinary tree; for detached pieces have been often found at the bottom of the sea in a state of increase and reproduction. From the above base a stem usually single proceeds, which seldom surpasses an inch in diameter, and from it a small number of branches ramify in very irregular directions, which are studded over with cells, each containing an insect. The polypi, when they extend their arms, feelers, ortentacula, resemble flowers, whence, as well as from the form of the coral, they were classed among vegetable productions. They are now styled zoophytes by the writers upon Natural History.The finest coral is found in the Mediterranean. It is fished for upon the coasts of Provence, and constitutes a considerable branch of trade at Marseilles. The coral is attached to the submarine rocks, as a tree is by its roots, but the branches, instead of growing upwards, shoot downwards towards the bottom of the sea; a conformation favourable to breaking them off and bringing them up. For this kind of fishing, eight men, who are excellent divers, equip a felucca or small boat, called commonly a coralline. They carry with them a large wooden cross, with strong, equal, and long arms, each bearing a stout bag-net. They attach a strong rope to the middle of the cross, and let it down horizontally into the sea, having loaded its centre with a weight sufficient to sink it. The diver follows the cross, pushes one arm of it after another into the hollows of the rocks, so as to entangle the coral in the nets. Then his comrades in the boat pull up the cross and its accompaniments.Coral fishing is nearly as dangerous as pearl fishing, on account of the number of sharks which frequent the seas where it is carried on. One would think the diving-bell in its now very practicable state might be employed with great advantage for both purposes.Coral is mostly of a fine red colour, but occasionally it is flesh-coloured, yellow, or white. The red is preferred for making necklaces, crosses, and other female ornaments. It is worked up like precious stones. SeeLapidary.
CORAL, (Corail, Fr.;Koralle, Germ.) is a calcareous substance, formed by a species of sea polypus, which constructs in concert immense ramified habitations, consisting of an assemblage of small cells, each the abode of an animal. The coral is therefore a real polypary, which resembles a tree stripped of its leaves. It has no roots, but a foot not unlike a hemispherical skull-cap, which applies closely to every point of the surface upon which it stands, and is therefore difficult to detach. It merely serves as a basis or support to the coral, but contributes in no manner to its growth, like the root of an ordinary tree; for detached pieces have been often found at the bottom of the sea in a state of increase and reproduction. From the above base a stem usually single proceeds, which seldom surpasses an inch in diameter, and from it a small number of branches ramify in very irregular directions, which are studded over with cells, each containing an insect. The polypi, when they extend their arms, feelers, ortentacula, resemble flowers, whence, as well as from the form of the coral, they were classed among vegetable productions. They are now styled zoophytes by the writers upon Natural History.
The finest coral is found in the Mediterranean. It is fished for upon the coasts of Provence, and constitutes a considerable branch of trade at Marseilles. The coral is attached to the submarine rocks, as a tree is by its roots, but the branches, instead of growing upwards, shoot downwards towards the bottom of the sea; a conformation favourable to breaking them off and bringing them up. For this kind of fishing, eight men, who are excellent divers, equip a felucca or small boat, called commonly a coralline. They carry with them a large wooden cross, with strong, equal, and long arms, each bearing a stout bag-net. They attach a strong rope to the middle of the cross, and let it down horizontally into the sea, having loaded its centre with a weight sufficient to sink it. The diver follows the cross, pushes one arm of it after another into the hollows of the rocks, so as to entangle the coral in the nets. Then his comrades in the boat pull up the cross and its accompaniments.
Coral fishing is nearly as dangerous as pearl fishing, on account of the number of sharks which frequent the seas where it is carried on. One would think the diving-bell in its now very practicable state might be employed with great advantage for both purposes.
Coral is mostly of a fine red colour, but occasionally it is flesh-coloured, yellow, or white. The red is preferred for making necklaces, crosses, and other female ornaments. It is worked up like precious stones. SeeLapidary.
CORK, (Liége, Fr.;Kork, Germ.) is the bark of thequercus liber, Linn., a species of oak-tree, which grows abundantly in the southern provinces of France, Italy, and Spain. The bark is taken off by making coronal incisions above and below the portions to be removed; vertical incisions are then made from one of these circles to another, whereby the bark may be easily detached. It is steeped in water to soften it, in order to be flattened by pressure under heavy stones, and next dried at a fire which blackens its surface. The cakes are bound up in bales and sent into the market.There are two sorts of cork, the white and the black; the former grows in France and the latter in Spain. The cakes of the white are usually more beautiful, more smooth, lighter, freer from knots and cracks, of a finer grain, of a yellowish gray colour on both sides, and cut more smoothly than the black. When this cork is burned in close vessels it forms the pigment calledSpanish black.This substance is employed to fabricate not only bottle corks, but small architectural and geognostic models, which are very convenient from their lightness and solidity.The cork-cutters divide the boards of cork first into narrow fillets, which they afterwards subdivide into short parallelopipeds, and then round these into the proper conical or cylindrical shape. The bench before which they work is a square table, where 4 workmen are seated, one at every side, the table being furnished with a ledge to prevent the corks from falling over. The cork-cutter’s knife is a broad blade, very thin, and fine edged. It is whetted from time to time upon a fine-grained dry whetstone. The workman ought not to draw his knife edge over the cork, for he would thus make misses, and might cut himself, but rather the cork over the knife edge. He should seize the knife with his left hand, rest the back of it upon the edge of the table; into one of the notches made to prevent it from slipping, and merely turns its edge sometimes upright and sometimes to one side. Then holding the squared piece of cork by its two ends, between his finger and his thumb, he presents it in the direction of its length to the edge; the cork is now smoothly cut into a rounded form by being dexterously turned in the hand. He next cuts off the two ends, when the cork is finished and thrown into the proper basket alongside, to be afterwards sorted by women or boys.Of late years a much thicker kind of cork boards have been imported from Catalonia, from which longer and better corks may be made. In the art of cork-cutting the French surpass the English, as any one may convince himself by comparing the corks of their champagne bottles with those made in this country.Cork, on account of its buoyancy in water, is extensively employed for making floatsto fishermen’s nets, and in the construction of life-boats. Its impermeability to water has led to its employment for inner soles to shoes.When cork is rasped into powder, and subjected to chemical solvents, such as alcohol, &c., it leaves 70 per cent. of an insoluble substance, calledsuberine. When it is treated with nitric acid, it yields the following remarkable products:—White fibrous matter 0·18, resin 14·72, oxalic acid 16·00, suberic acid (peculiar acid of cork) 14·4 in 100 parts.Machine cork-cutting.—A patent was obtained some years ago by Sarah Thomson for this purpose. The cutting of the cork into slips is effected by fixing it upon the sliding bed of an engine, and bringing it, by a progressive motion, under the action of a circular knife, by which it is cut into slips of equal widths. The nature or construction of a machine to be used for this purpose may be easily conceived, as it possesses no new mechanical feature, except in its application to cutting cork. The motion communicated to the knife by hand, steam, horse, or other power, moves at the same time the bed also, which carries the cork to be cut.The second part of the invention, viz. that for separating the cork into square pieces, after it has been cut in slips as above, is effected by a moving bed as before, upon which the slips are to be placed and submitted to the action of a cutting lever, which may be regulated to chop the cork into pieces of any given length.The third part of the invention, viz., that for rounding or finishing the corks, consists of an engine to which is attached a circular knife that turns vertically, and a carriage or frame upon its side that revolves upon an axle horizontally.This carriage or frame contains several pairs of clamps, intended respectively to hold a piece of the square cut cork by pressing it at the ends, and carrying it lengthways perpendicularly; which clamps are contrived to have a spindle motion, by means of a pinion at the lower end of their axles, working into a spur-wheel.The machinery, thus arranged, is put in motion by means of bands and drum-wheels, or any other contrivance which may be found most eligible; and at the same time that the circular knife revolves vertically, the frame containing the clamps with the pieces of cork, turns horizontally, bringing the corks, one by one, up to the edge of the knife, when, to render each piece of cork cylindrical, the clamps, as above described, revolve upon their axes, independently of their carriage, by which means the whole circumference of the cork is brought under the action of the knife, the superfluous parts are uniformly pared off, and the cork finished smooth and cylindrical.
CORK, (Liége, Fr.;Kork, Germ.) is the bark of thequercus liber, Linn., a species of oak-tree, which grows abundantly in the southern provinces of France, Italy, and Spain. The bark is taken off by making coronal incisions above and below the portions to be removed; vertical incisions are then made from one of these circles to another, whereby the bark may be easily detached. It is steeped in water to soften it, in order to be flattened by pressure under heavy stones, and next dried at a fire which blackens its surface. The cakes are bound up in bales and sent into the market.
There are two sorts of cork, the white and the black; the former grows in France and the latter in Spain. The cakes of the white are usually more beautiful, more smooth, lighter, freer from knots and cracks, of a finer grain, of a yellowish gray colour on both sides, and cut more smoothly than the black. When this cork is burned in close vessels it forms the pigment calledSpanish black.
This substance is employed to fabricate not only bottle corks, but small architectural and geognostic models, which are very convenient from their lightness and solidity.
The cork-cutters divide the boards of cork first into narrow fillets, which they afterwards subdivide into short parallelopipeds, and then round these into the proper conical or cylindrical shape. The bench before which they work is a square table, where 4 workmen are seated, one at every side, the table being furnished with a ledge to prevent the corks from falling over. The cork-cutter’s knife is a broad blade, very thin, and fine edged. It is whetted from time to time upon a fine-grained dry whetstone. The workman ought not to draw his knife edge over the cork, for he would thus make misses, and might cut himself, but rather the cork over the knife edge. He should seize the knife with his left hand, rest the back of it upon the edge of the table; into one of the notches made to prevent it from slipping, and merely turns its edge sometimes upright and sometimes to one side. Then holding the squared piece of cork by its two ends, between his finger and his thumb, he presents it in the direction of its length to the edge; the cork is now smoothly cut into a rounded form by being dexterously turned in the hand. He next cuts off the two ends, when the cork is finished and thrown into the proper basket alongside, to be afterwards sorted by women or boys.
Of late years a much thicker kind of cork boards have been imported from Catalonia, from which longer and better corks may be made. In the art of cork-cutting the French surpass the English, as any one may convince himself by comparing the corks of their champagne bottles with those made in this country.
Cork, on account of its buoyancy in water, is extensively employed for making floatsto fishermen’s nets, and in the construction of life-boats. Its impermeability to water has led to its employment for inner soles to shoes.
When cork is rasped into powder, and subjected to chemical solvents, such as alcohol, &c., it leaves 70 per cent. of an insoluble substance, calledsuberine. When it is treated with nitric acid, it yields the following remarkable products:—White fibrous matter 0·18, resin 14·72, oxalic acid 16·00, suberic acid (peculiar acid of cork) 14·4 in 100 parts.
Machine cork-cutting.—A patent was obtained some years ago by Sarah Thomson for this purpose. The cutting of the cork into slips is effected by fixing it upon the sliding bed of an engine, and bringing it, by a progressive motion, under the action of a circular knife, by which it is cut into slips of equal widths. The nature or construction of a machine to be used for this purpose may be easily conceived, as it possesses no new mechanical feature, except in its application to cutting cork. The motion communicated to the knife by hand, steam, horse, or other power, moves at the same time the bed also, which carries the cork to be cut.
The second part of the invention, viz. that for separating the cork into square pieces, after it has been cut in slips as above, is effected by a moving bed as before, upon which the slips are to be placed and submitted to the action of a cutting lever, which may be regulated to chop the cork into pieces of any given length.
The third part of the invention, viz., that for rounding or finishing the corks, consists of an engine to which is attached a circular knife that turns vertically, and a carriage or frame upon its side that revolves upon an axle horizontally.
This carriage or frame contains several pairs of clamps, intended respectively to hold a piece of the square cut cork by pressing it at the ends, and carrying it lengthways perpendicularly; which clamps are contrived to have a spindle motion, by means of a pinion at the lower end of their axles, working into a spur-wheel.
The machinery, thus arranged, is put in motion by means of bands and drum-wheels, or any other contrivance which may be found most eligible; and at the same time that the circular knife revolves vertically, the frame containing the clamps with the pieces of cork, turns horizontally, bringing the corks, one by one, up to the edge of the knife, when, to render each piece of cork cylindrical, the clamps, as above described, revolve upon their axes, independently of their carriage, by which means the whole circumference of the cork is brought under the action of the knife, the superfluous parts are uniformly pared off, and the cork finished smooth and cylindrical.