1862 London Exhibition: Catalogue: Class V.: William Baines and Co
1234. BAINES, WILLIAM, and CO., London Works, Smethwick, Birmingham; 35 Parliament Street, Westminster, S.W.; 76 Rue de la Victoire, Paris.
BAINES'S FURTHER IMPROVED SELF-CLEANING SWITCHES, offering the following advantages, viz.: The additional depth of the tongues enables the bottom flanches uncut to pass under the main rails, giving greater width of base and stability of switch. The sliding surfaces of the chairs, being placed obliquely to the seat of the main rails, and surrounded with inclined planes, enable the switch by its own action, to clear away any dirt or stones that may have lodged between the tongue and the main rail, thereby avoiding a prolific cause of accidents. This switch is perfected by an improved lever box, so arranged that nothing can impede the action of the weight. These switches gained the prize medals at the Exhibition of 1851.
BAINES AND WOODHOUSE'S PATENT CROSSING. The heart or V piece is forged solid, with its upper and lower face exactly alike, and is steeled for a length of twenty inches from the point it takes the vertical bearing from the sides, by means of projections resting on corresponding seats in the chairs. By this arrangement the crossing can be turned over, when the upper surface is worn, and the same amount of wear can be had from the lower face.
The broad end is provided with side channels for the reception of the fish plates, to connect it with the main rails. The wing and check rails are all exact counterparts of each other. By transposing, and turning over the wing and check rails, the wearing surfaces can be renewed eight times. Thus effecting a very great economy.
By applying suitable fish plates, these crossings can be applied to any description of rail.
BAINES'S PATENT UNION-PLATE GIRDERS are specially adapted for ship building, architectural, or engineering purposes, their peculiar construction causing an absence of any strain upon the bolts or rivets.
BAINES'S PATENT TURNTABLE is constructed of his patent union plates, so arranged that when fixed, a lateral and vertical union is effected, making the skeleton frame of the revolving top as rigid as a single girder, and possessing great strength combined with lightness. These tables are well adapted for shipment abroad, as they can be packed in a small compass, and are of less weight than the ordinary table. Engine tables of any dimension can be constructed on this plan. These inventions are patented in England, America, and on the Continent.