Making Work Easy

VISITORS to the Singer works at Birmingham will find that several new and interesting machines are now installed there. Amongst them is the Maxi-Cut lathe, an entirely British production which is nothing if not up-to-date. Its special feature is an ability to do a lot of work in a little time and this is due largely to the fact that it is equipped with what amounts to a servo motor. Instead of having to use brute-strength, the operator simply moves a little lever and oil pressure does the rest, smoothly and gently.

Another example of this constant endeavour to cut out hard labour is that compressed air is available at countless points all over the Singer factory, and is used for many purposes such as cleaning parts by blowing dirt from them, working rivetting machines and pneumatic drills, spraying cellulose, blowing up tyres and so on. A 50 h.p. electric motor is always at work pumping air into a tank at a pressure of 90 pounds per square inch, and this is transmitted through numerous pipes just as water or gas is led to the various parts of a house.