Formerly, the turning of the frames to the required curvature against the pins on the bending blocks was carried out by hand. To suit the heavier scantlings of the larger ships of the present day, a portable hydraulic machine is now utilised. It is fixed at its base by pins, which fit into the ordinary holes in the blocks, and hydraulic pressure is supplied through a flexible pipe to work the ram-head against the angles, forcing them to take the desired form. The machine is a great labour economiser, as it ensures work on the heaviest of bulb angles being carried out in the minimum of time, and therefore at top heat. The bars are usually cut to length by a guillotine, but it was considered that this tended to twist the metal, and perhaps unduly fatigue it; and as a consequence the firm have fitted John's shearing and notching machine, as constructed by Messrs. Henry Pels and Co., of Berlin. This new machine is illustrated on Plate XLI., adjoining page 95. The tool is shown in the act of cutting through a channel section. The cutting tool is seen immediately in front of the operator, and is actuated by gearing accommodated within the standards of the machine. When the cutting tool is brought down on the angle or beam to be sheared, and the shaft at the rear started, the rotation of an eccentric actuated by the shaft causes the point of the tool to slide idly a short distance to-and-fro on the bar. The hand lever on the right hand side of the machine is depressed, forcing the tool downwards, and the continued rotation of the eccentric causes the tool to pierce through the bar with a downward and inward motion. Where there is a deep web with flanges, the beam is reversed on the anvil, to enable the other flange to be cut. The cutting of any bar in this machine is a matter of only a few seconds. [Illustration: Plate XLII. IN ONE OF THE PLATERS' SHEDS.] Of the platers' shed, where the plates, angles, bulbs, bars, etc., are machined, two views are given on Plates XLII. and XLIII., facing pages 96 and 98 respectively. It may be said generally that the machines are designed to deal with plates up to 50 ft. in length, and with angles up to 60 ft. in length, and of corresponding sections. It follows that the straightening and bending rolls, edge-planers, and punching and shearing machines, are of great power. It is scarcely necessary to make detailed references to all of the tools for these and other purposes.