The looms employed for weaving wire-cloth are not essentially different to the looms employed for weaving other filaments, and several patents have been taken out for modifications of the power-loom, to adapt it to weaving wire • which are described in the Repertory and Journal of Patent Inventions. The application of wire-gauze to the manufacture of baskets, dish-covers, and a great variety of useful articles. took place about ten years ago, under a patent granted to Mr. Gusset, of the Haymarket, London, who brought the invention from abroad. The annexed cut is explanatory of the process of conversion. The operation is exceedingly simple, being performed entirely by forcing the wire-gauze between moulds of the required shape_, by the power of a screw press, which causes the figure or pattern thus given to it, to he permanently retained after the article has been withdrawn from the mould. We extract the following from the specification before us : " It consists of a pattern or block a,of metal, wood, or other suitable material, which is formed or: the exterior surface to the desired shape and size of the article intended to be produced. The block a has a screw b, projecting up from the top or crown thereof; e represents a pattern or mould made in like manner, of any suitable material ; the interior surface of this mould is formed to the desired shape of the article intended to be produced, and has an aperture made in dm crown thereof, so as to be capable of passing over the screw b, and thus pasta the mould c to come down over the block a, as shown in the figure.
The manner of using the machine is as follow, the metallic wire-gauze er other material, (which is intended to be shaped,) has a hole made through it, and is passed over the icrew b, so as to rest upon the crown of the block a, as seen at dd. In this situation, the upper mould b is placed upon the said metal or gauze-wire, with the screw passing through its aperture, as aforesaid ; and the nut or handle c is put on its place, and is turned down upon the screw b, by which means it presses down the upper mould c upon the metallic wire-ganze, or other material, and thereby forces it into the cavity or space between the block a and mould c, so as to give it the desired shape of the article required. The apparatus is then inverted, and placed upon a bench, or other convenient support, with the screw b projecting downwards; and a ring or hoop of tinned wire, or other suitable material, is inserted within the lower edge of the article, and is soldered, or otherwise securely fixed, to the wire-gauze or other material, of which the article is formed. The nut e may then be screwed to the back of
the screw b, and the mould and block may be separated. so as to take out the article, which will be found to retain the pattern or shape given to it by the said mould or machinery. After this, the portions of the metallic wire-gauze, or other material, which may happen to project beyond the edges of the afore said hoop or ring, are to be cut off all round evenly, and a small ornamental band of metal, or other material, may be soldered or otherwise fixed upon the exterior edge of the article, so as partly to conceal the interior hoop or ring, and render the whole neat; and theh, to finish and complete it, a small nut or button may be fixed through the aperture in the crown, for the convenience of carrying the articles by. Artie/es of this description will be found very serviceable for covering up delicate commodities, or articles of food, to preserve them from the effects of flies, and for a great variety of useful purposes. ' The specification then proceeds to describe another slight variation from the above method, for " producing articles of such a description as will not admit of a hole or aperture being made in them." For this purpose, the actuating screw is made to pass through a fixed nut in an iron frame, the end of the screw enter lug the fiat or lower side of the block, which is forced into the cavity of the mould, with the wire-gauze between them. The patentee concludes by claim ing as his invention, "the forming or producing of articles of various shapes, patterns, and sizes, out of metallic wire-gauze, or other materials, as aforesaid, by the operation of pressing or forcing the said metallic wire-gauze, or other materials, into moulds or shapes of the desired form of the article intended to be produced ; the articles so formed or produced from the metallic wire-gauze, or other material, being caused to retain or preserve the shape or pattern which may have been given to them, by means of one or more hoops or rings, which are secured by solder or otherwise to the edges of the said articles, during the time they remain within the mould."