1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 216
Walter quickly disassembled a complete Dresser firing pin gun into a heap of tiny parts.

"The design of this gun is really exquisite, Mr. Dreiser is really a great gun designer!"

After figuring out the firing mechanism of the firing pin gun, Walter couldn't help admiring.

"Can this kind of gun be imitated with the technical level of the American military industry?"

This is what Liang Yao is most concerned about.

"The main technical difficulty of the firing pin gun lies in the structure of its bolt mechanism. This structure is very cleverly designed, and it can be imitated as long as it is thoroughly understood."

After carefully studying the trigger of the Dreiser firing pin gun, Walter held the spring in the trigger and said.

"Now I have roughly understood this technology. The United States can not only make it, but it may be better. Prussia may be due to limited materials, or it may be due to metallurgical problems. The spring driving the firing pin is very fragile. The United States has Better spring steel makes stronger, more durable springs."

"That is to say, it has the ability to imitate?" Liang Yao's eyes lit up.

"Yes, the structure of this gun is relatively complicated, and the cost may be relatively high." Walter reminded Liang Yao, "High-cost guns are not popular in the American army. The colonels of the army and navy prefer to equip their soldiers with 11 dollars or even Cheaper used M1842."

The main customer of long guns is the army, the civilian market is not big, and the military has long been used to purchasing low-cost, simple and reliable Springfields.

Walter judged that the manufacturing cost of the Dresser firing pin gun would not be low, and cost has always been an important consideration when bidding for weapons for the American military.

Liang Yao is not worried about this problem. The American army is not his target customer, at least it will not be his target customer for 10 years.

Instead, he hopes that the American army will still be equipped with M10 in 1842 years, preferably without rifling.

"Can you replace the casing of this bullet with a metal casing and put the primer at the end of the bullet."

Liang Yao took out a cardboard bullet used in a Dreiser firing needle gun. The primer of this bullet is at the end of the bullet, and the firing pin penetrates the paper shell and hits the primer at the bottom of the lead bullet to ignite.

Paper shell bullets are prone to air leakage. If bullets with copper shells can be used, the problem of air leakage in rear-loading guns can also be solved.

Inventors at the beginning of the 19th century thought of using a metal base to solve the problem of breech air leakage. Copper with excellent ductility will expand slightly when fired and heated, which can have a good air-holding effect and is a good choice for the base.

The side needle ammunition with copper base has been available as early as 1835. By the middle of the 19th century, this ammunition has been widely used in the civilian field.

The Colt revolver that Liang Yao used for self-defense used metal bullets with side needles.

If you want to directly use the ready-made side needle ammunition, you need to make a major change to the structure of Dresser's bolt mechanism, changing the horizontal firing to vertical firing, and the most reliable and mature vertical firing method is the firing method of the flintlock.
Edge needle ammunition is something that will soon be eliminated and has no future. Liang Yao does not intend to use this kind of outdated ammunition.

"This is beyond the scope of machinery. I know a thing or two about machinery, but I don't know much about chemistry." Walter said after pondering for a while.

"I know a young man. Although he is very young, he is already a well-known chemical expert and engineer. He also has several related patented technologies. His family specializes in the development of explosives. His knowledge in this area must Richer than me."

"What's the name of this young man you're talking about?" Liang Yao asked with great interest.

"Alfred Bernhard Nobel, he was an intern in my friend Alison's workshop. I had a few exchanges with him. He is a very promising young man," Walter said.

"His personality is very similar to mine. He is a man of few words who focuses on invention and research. I am very speculative with him."

"I'll go see this young man when I'm done with the sewing machine," Liang Yao said.

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Walter promised Liang Yao to manufacture a prototype of the pedal sewing machine within a week.

In fact, the time given by Walter is still too conservative. He only took five days to create a prototype of the pedal sewing machine.

After the pedal sewing machine was completed, Liang Yao couldn't wait to try the world's first pedal sewing machine.

Thanks to Liang Yao's guidance and Walter's superb manufacturing technology, the pedal-operated sewing machine, which was originally launched in 1859, was born ahead of schedule in 1851.

"One sewing machine of this kind can do the work of ten skilled tailors?"

Elizabeth looked at the strange sewing machine in front of her curiously, and said eagerly.

"I want to give it a try, can you show me how to use this machine?"

"my pleasure."

Liang Yao threaded the needles of the sewing machine, and then came a piece of fabric, and asked Elizabeth to sit in front of the sewing machine.

Elizabeth bought and used a hand-operated sewing machine made by Singer Brothers, and subconsciously reached out to turn the round wheel on the sewing machine: "Why is this round wheel so small, and there is no handle."

"Because this sewing machine is not cranked by hand, it has to be stepped on." Liang Yao pointed to the pedal under the sewing machine and said.

Elizabeth is very smart, put her foot on the pedal, and after trying to step on it a few times, she understood how to use this sewing machine.

"The design of this sewing machine is ingenious, and it is very comfortable to use! It is also more efficient than hand-crank sewing machines!"

After getting started, Elizabeth quickly fell in love with this sewing machine, and said happily while stepping on the sewing machine.

Liang Yao let Elizabeth try to sew for a minute, and then threw the cloth to Connie, who was experienced in counting stitches, and asked Connie to count the stitches on it.

Soon, Kony rubbed his sore eyes and gave the answer: "615 needles!"

In other words, the sewing efficiency of the pedal sewing machine is twice that of the hand sewing machine!
It is not an exaggeration for Liang Yao to say that one pedal sewing machine is worth 10 old tailors.

"Congratulations, Mr. Walter, you made it!"

Liang Yao congratulated Walter.

Walter, however, felt ashamed, and said to Liang Yao in embarrassment.

"Mr. Liang, although I made the pedal sewing machine by hand, you provided the ideas and drawings. I deserve this award. Can you accept this award with me?"

"Is Liang Yao giving Liang Yao himself the Liang Yao Invention Award?"

Liang Yao shook his head and rejected Walter's proposal.

His original intention of setting up the Liang Yao Invention Award was to recruit outstanding inventors and engineers in the east, not to present awards to himself.

"Then I will write your name on the patent. After all, we researched the pedal sewing machine together." Walter thought for a while and said, "If you don't accept this proposal, I won't accept your award either."

"You can have this." Liang Yao nodded.

"I read in the newspaper that you will compete with the sewing machines produced by Singer Brothers and Bridgeport Machinery Company to be the first inventor of Liang Yao. I would like to serve as a user of pedal sewing machines. You participate in this competition." Elizabeth recommended herself.

"I have also used the sewing machine of Singer Brothers Singer, and I have rich experience in using sewing machines!"

"Of course, it is our honor for Miss Elizabeth to use this sewing machine for the competition." Liang Yao readily agreed.
(End of this chapter)