As to the boiler works, the fact that in 1905 the production was practically one boiler per week is, of itself, testimony to the nature of the plant adopted. The main boiler shop, together with its yard, has an area of 7000 square yards, and a height of 45 ft. to the crane rail, and is served by five overhead electric cranes, ranging in lifting power up to 100 tons, with numerous jib and other cranes associated with the various machine tools. [Illustration: Plate LIV. IN THE BOILER SHOP.] The machine tools fitted in the boiler works are all of a very powerful character; but only a few of these need here be referred to. There is a 13-ft. gap hydraulic plate-bending machine, which is entirely automatic in its action, and can be set to any radius to bend plates up to 2 in. thick when cold. The flanging for the front and back plates of boilers is done in an hydraulic machine, exerting a pressure of over 160 tons. This machine has four rams, two of which act downwards, one upwards, and the other horizontally. It is served by a special hydraulic jib-crane, capable of lifting the heaviest plates. There are also plate-edge planers and triple boring mills of corresponding power, while the vertical rolls take in plates up to 10-ft. wide. For the riveting of the boilers there is a 13-ft. gap hydraulic riveting machine, capable of exerting a load on each rivet of 200 tons. The weight of this riveting machine alone is about 60 tons, and it is served by an independent hydraulic jib-crane. All the valves in connection with the crane and riveter are led to a common platform, so that one man is able to manipulate the whole of the work. There is also a large installation of special plant for the manufacture of water-tube boilers, but it is scarcely necessary to describe this in detail. A large part of the boiler work, especially for warships, is galvanised, and a special department has been organised for this purpose. The tubes, in the first place, are thoroughly cleaned, then placed in a zinc bath, and coated by electrolysis to the desired extent; the object being to expose defects, as well as to protect the tubes from corrosion during manufacture. The amount of work done is, perhaps, the best indication of the equipment of this department, as well as of the water-tube department; and this will be realised when it is stated that over 24,000 tubes are required for the boilers of one cruiser, and that six months suffices for their construction.