17060- 22 AMERICAN MECHANICS' MAGAZINE: CONTAINING USEFUL ORIGINAL MATTER, ON SUBJECTS CONNECTED WITH MANUFACTURES, THE ARTS AS WELL AS SELECTIONS FROM THE MOST Approved Domestic and Foreign Journals, CONDUCTED BY ASSOCIATED MECHANICS. VOL. I. NEW-YORK. PUBLISHED BY JAMES V. SEAMAN, NO. 252 BROADWAY, 1825 William Van Norden, Printer. Southern District of New-York, ss. (L. S.) BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the thirtieth day of July, in the fortyminth year of the Independence of the United States of America, James V. Seaman, of the said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit: "American Mechanics' Magazine: containing useful original matter, on subjects connected with Manufactures, the Arts and Sciences, as well as selections from the most ap; roved Domestic and Foreign Journals;-Conducted by Associated Mechanics." IN CONFORMITY to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned;" nd also, to the act, entitled." An act supplementary to an an act, entitled, an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." JAMES DILL, Clerk of the Southern District of New-York. T1 F79. 1825-26 PREFACE. IN offering this work for public patronage, some explanation of our motives is perhaps necessary; the acknowledged importance of professional skill to the practical mechanic, and the deep interest which exists in various sections of our country relative to the extension and prosperity of our manufactures, renders correct information concerning them exceedingly desirable; and we commence this publication in the expectation and sincere hope that we shall be instrumental in disseminating it. At the same time we intend, in making our selections from original and other matter, to consult the taste of the curious and miscellaneous reader. We would not, however, be understood as prodigal in promises, but we shall exert our best judgment in conformity to this arrangement, and leave a discerning public to judge of the merits of the work. At the commencement of the publication, it was professedly intended to be a copy of the London Mechanics' Magazine; but a little experience convinced us that the plan was objectionable, for this simple reason, that the London Magazine contained much local matter, that would. afford little if any instruction or entertainment to the generality of our readers; we therefore varied it so as to embrace the publication of original matter, as well as selections from other journals of a somewhat similar character, and we feel highly gratified that this change in our plan is approved of by the generality of our patrons. PREFACE. As is the case with most new periodical works, ours was commenced and for some time continued under discouraging circumstances, but our prospects have become flattering, and we feel convinced that they will warrant the continuance of the American Mechanics' Magazine, and the public may rest assured of our efforts to render it useful, interesting and amusing in every department connected with mechanics; provided our patrons perform the highest of all moral duties; namely of doing unto us as they would have us do unto them. MECHANICS' MAGAZINE, Museum, Register, Journal and Gazette. No. 1. Am. ED.] "The most valuable gift which the Hand of Science has ever Dr. Birkbeck. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1825. [Price $4 PER ANN. "They helped every one his neighbour, and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the soldering; and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved."-Isaiah xli 6,7. SIR,-You were pleased to insert, by the same power, namely, a pensome time ago, a description of my dulum or lever. When the wood to new cross-cutting saw. I now lay be- be sawed is fixed on the pit, all that fore you another contrivance of mine, is required is to keep the lever moving of a pit-saw, for cutting wood into between two springs; and one man planks and deals, which is wrought may do this with case, with three or |