Improvement in Mills for Sawing

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!


On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.


An improvement in mills for sawing logs or lumber of any kind, has been invented by Henry S. Perrin, of Oxfordville, N. H., the arrangement of Mr. S. is substantially the following:—A semicircular or curved saw is hung in a rocking saw gate, rocking or turning on centres on the outside, a little below the centre of the saw sash. The pitman may be forked and take hold of arms projecting backwards from the sash, and hinged upon it, a little below the centres upon which it turns, or it may be attached in any other suitable manner, extending from it horizontally or in any other direction as may be desired. The pitman is hung in a bearing near its centre, and the lower portion slotted for the reception of a sliding box, within which the wrist of the driving crank turns. The log slides through the saw frame in the usual manner, It will be perceived that a great amount of friction is avoided by the above arrangement. The saw may be kept steady by a set of rollers, between which it turns in its cutting stroke, which will also prevent the saw from " running " or turning from its true course.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 8 Issue 38This article was published with the title “Improvement in Mills for Sawing” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 8 No. 38 (), p. 298
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican06041853-298i

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American

Subscribe