THE WIRE 173
The wire will be found packed with straw or fine wood shavings, and jammed
endways by means of two pieces of wood nailed to the ends of the rollers or
Doles on which it is wound. It is lifted out of the box and kid on a long table,
3n which there are no other objects, such as spanners, nails, etc. The two
Dieces of board are then knocked off—a smart blow with the palm of the hand
mH suffice—and the rollers firmly held until both ends are clear. The covering
wrappers, on which will be found the 'certificate' (number, date, etc.), are
ripped off with the fingers, never with a knife or other hard tool. There will
be three poles or rollers, two of which are in the centre of the web; the other
is inside, and protects the loose end, and all three are firmly bound in position
it the ends. The binding is cut while the third pole is held in position by one
man at each end, and no attempt must be made to move the position of the
pole until both ends are loose. It should then be laid gently on the table, thus
unwinding the first turn, and withdrawn. When doing this, the machineman
should superintend and make sure that it is slowly and evenly drawn out,
and that nobody knocks the end in the process. Though the lid of the box
may be unscrewed, it is safest to leave the wire in the box until the machine
is quite ready for its reception.
The most difficult part of the work is then proceeded with. Two men
with strong hands and wrists lift the wire, by means of the ends of the two
remaining poles, slowly upwards from the table, and the loose end swings free
and must not be touched. It is advisable to steady the wire and assist in
supporting its weight by placing two men opposite the loose end, with the
palms of their hands under the roll. All obstacles should be removed from
the floor, in case a man should trip. The wire is held in line with the bottom
couch roll, which is supported by a jack or block near the centre and stands
pointing clear of the frame or brackets of the machine. The roll of wire is
then unwound far enough to allow the loose end to form a loop big enough
to receive the couch roU. This loop must be opened out by a machineman
standing inside the frame, but there should be another man at the opposite
side of the wire acting in concert and keeping the wire tight from side to side;
otherwise, if it is attempted to open out the loop at one side only, the wire
will be buckled and the mark will be permanent. In this position the wire is
advanced as far as the supporting block, when an extension is put through the
loop and takes hold of the couch-roll spindle. The weight of the roll is then
taken with this extension shaft, the block removed, and the wire slowly and
carefully carried over the roll. It will be found that if the latter is jacketed
the edge of the wire will not slip over it freely, but will be held by the
hair of the cover. This must be watched for and guarded against Quace
safely on the bottom couch roll, there is not much danger of damaging