thick edge, with a centre sunk in or thinned off for clearance. We have never seen a saw of this construction in use for planing, so cannot speak as to its operation. Discs, with cutters projecting slightly beyond the surface of the disc, near the periphery, are now used for rough planing with more or less success, and we shall take an opportunity of noticing this method elsewhere. Some improvements in the feeding and general arrangement of details of roller-feed planing machines were patented by Nelson Barlow in 1855.

About the year 1856 Mr. Henry Wilson, then manager for Messrs. Powis, James, and Co., London, brought out a simple planing and moulding machine. For the feeding arrangement, in the place of all smooth rollers, he made the upper ones fluted, to increase the bite on the wood. The pressure on the wood was effected by means of a single weighted lever, with beams to distribute the pressure equally on the rollers.

Messrs. Robinson and Sons, of Rochdale, also about this time brought out a new moulding and planing machine, the chief novelty of which was that the spur wheels which drove the feed motion were actuated by a worm motion with four speeds. One of these machines, in which, however, were embodied other improvements, was exhibited in our International Exhibition in 1862. Messrs. Forrest and Barr, of Glasgow, also exhibited a planing and moulding machine. The feed consisted of a series of smooth friction rollers, geared together by long-toothed wheels. The upper friction rollers were adjusted by means of screws, and the pressure was applied to them by means of spiral springs.

Our illustration (fig. 9) represents a side elevation of a wood-planing machine from the designs of Messrs.

John McDowall and Son, of Johnstone. The timber is fed by means of four pairs of turned rollers, and the top ones are arranged to rise and fall to suit varying thicknesses of wood. Plane irons, fixed in a movable plane-box or drawer, operate on the under side of the timber, which, when rough or dirty, is first prepared by a set of revolving irons placed in front of them. A pair of revolving plane-irons operate on the upper surface of the wood, whilst two sets of plane irons, fixed on vertical spindles, act, at the same time, on the edges; thus the whole four sides of a board are planed at once.

The blocks carrying the side spindle cutters are inade removable, to facilitate the sharpening or setting of the cutters. For driving the machine two countershafts are used. One of them is placed at the delivery end of the machine, and is fitted with fast and loose pulleys, which are driven from the main mill shaft, and pulleys are also fitted on this countershaft, to drive the top and side cutters and feed motion. Another countershaft, with pulley to drive the bottom cutters, is usually placed underneath the machine. The bottom-feed rollers are fitted with bushes, beneath which a liner' can be placed to raise them, should they, through wear, sink below the surface of the table. The whole machine is strongly made, and is arranged to work timber at speeds varying up to 60 ft. per minute, according to the variety or condition of wood being operated on.

CHAPTER XI.

PLANING AND MOULDING MACHINES-continued.

IN the year 1864 Mr. Henry Wilson, of London, patented some very valuable improvements in connection with moulding and planing machines, the most important of which was a variable feed arrangement, which consisted of a disc wheel, from which, by toothed gear, the grooved rollers for advancing the wood to the cutters are driven; motion was imparted to this disc wheel by means of a clothed friction pulley, fitted on a shaft with a feather, along which the pulley was free to move, so as to act on the disc wheel at any desired distance from the centre. By regulating the position of the friction pulley, so will the feed be altered; the nearer the pulley is brought to the centre of the disc, the greater will be the speed of the feed. Included in this specification was an improved method of mounting the vertical or side-cutter spindles; these were fitted in movable frames, with curved slots, which are capable of being set by means of screws or otherwise, so as to allow one or both of the spindles to work at any required angle. This plan is found of great value when elaborate under-cut mouldings, hand railings, &c., have to be turned out.

In the International Exhibition held in Paris in 1867 an advanced type of planing machine was exhi