Modern shipbuilding and the men engaged in itPollock, David
History
Modern shipbuilding and the men engaged in it
Pollock, David
Shipbuilding -- Great Britain
An engineering and machine shop, well equipped with lathes, drills,
and other appliances, limited to the operations connected with the
production of water-tight doors, steering gears, and the like,
is next passed. In close proximity is the riggers loft, where a
large staff of workmen, with the aid of mechanical contrivances,
manipulate the rigging for the vessels nearing completion in the
dock. The firm’s well-appointed saw mills are provided with a full
complement of sawing machinery, much of it of a special and very
cleverly contrived character. One machine, for instance, is capable
of cross-cutting and ripping a log into the required sizes right
away, without the usual intermediate manipulation. The arrangements
for conveying the timber into position, and for removing it
when cut, are very complete, and eminently calculated to ensure
rapidity of production. In convenient proximity to the saw mills
are the “saw-doctor’s” quarters. The old-fashioned practice of
sharpening the teeth of the saws by hand-filing is discarded here
in favour of a more rapid and effective method of obtaining the
requisite amount of sharpness and “set.” Emery-wheels are employed
and accomplish the process with a great saving of time and labour.
Amongst the other departments with regard to which no details need
be given, yet all of which are admirably appointed, are the brass
foundry and finishing shops, where the brass castings and fittings
are prepared. The joiners’, carpenters’, and cabinetmakers’ shops
are an important and extensive branch of the Clydebank premises.
The building in which they are located measures 220 feet in
length, by 156 feet in width. Here the ordinary ship-joinery work
is undertaken, and the tasteful and magnificent furnishings, used
in the luxurious equipment of the vessels built in the yard, are
produced in great numbers. The joiners’ and cabinetmakers’ shops
are provided with a vast number of ingenious sawing, wood-working,
as well as the more ordinary joinery appliances, manufactured
for the greater part by Messrs J. M‘Dowall & Sons, Johnstone,
near Glasgow, and Fay & Son, the well-known American house. It
is noteworthy that the belting for driving the multiplicity
of machines located in this department is all conducted below
the floor: in this way a welcome freedom from obstruction, and
comparative immunity from danger, is effected.
A word may be added with regard to the engines and boilers used by
the firm for driving their machinery. During the day the most of
the machinery is driven from these main engines, the chief of which
is a 200 horse-power motor, by Messrs Tangye, of Birmingham; and
at night the principal machine tools and several of the workshops
derive their requisite motive power from the small self-contained
engines, which are attached, or are in close proximity, to them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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