1850 American Gold Tycoon

Walter quickly disassembled a complete Dresser striker gun into eight pieces and dismantled it into a pile of fine parts. Google search reading

"The design of this gun is so exquisite. Mr. Dresser is really a great firearms designer!"

After figuring out the firing principle of the striker gun, Walter couldn't help but admire it.

"Is it possible to imitate this kind of gun with the advanced technology of the American military industry?"

This is the issue that Liang Yao is most concerned about.

"The main technical difficulty of the striker gun lies in its bolt structure. This structure is very cleverly designed. As long as you understand this structure thoroughly, you can imitate it."

After carefully studying the bolt of the Dresser striker gun, Walter held the bullet in the bolt in his hand and said.

"Now I have roughly understood this technology. Not only can the United States make it, but it may also be able to make it better. Prussia may be due to limited materials or metallurgical problems. The spring that drives the firing pin is very fragile. The United States There are better spring steels that can make springs that are stronger and more durable.”

"Does it mean that it is completely capable of imitation?" Liang Yao's eyes lit up.

"Yes, this one has a more complex structure and may be more expensive." Walter reminded Liang Yaodao, "High-cost guns are not popular in the American army. The colonels of the army and navy prefer to equip their soldiers with equipment that costs 11 dollars or even Cheaper used M1842.”

The main customer of long guns is the military, and the civilian market is not large. The military has long been accustomed to purchasing the low-cost, simple and reliable Springfield.

Walter judged that the manufacturing cost of the Dresser striker gun would not be low, and cost had always been an important consideration when the U.S. military was bidding for weapons.

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

Instead, he hopes that the American army will still be equipped with M1842 in 10 years, preferably without rifling.

"Can you change the cartridge case of this bullet to a metal cartridge case and put the primer at the end of the bullet?"

Liang Yao took out a paper shell bullet used in a Dresser striker gun. The primer of this bullet is at the tail of the bullet. 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 breech-loading guns can also be solved.

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

Edge-pin bullets with copper bases were available as early as 1835. By the mid-19th century, this type of ammunition was widely used in civilian applications.

The Colt revolver used by Liang Yao for self-defense uses metal-cased edge needle bullets.

If you want to directly use ready-made edge needle bullets, you need to make a major change to the Dresser bolt structure and change the horizontal firing to vertical firing. The most reliable and mature vertical firing method is the firing method of a flintlock gun.

Edge needle ammunition is something that will soon be eliminated and has no future. Liang Yao does not intend to use this soon-to-be-outdated ammunition.

"This is beyond the scope of mechanics. I know a little bit about mechanics, 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 developing explosives. His knowledge in this area must be Richer than I am.”

"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 the workshop of my friend Allison, I communicated with him several times, this is a very promising young man." Walter said.

"His personality is very similar to mine. He is a taciturn person who focuses on invention and research. He and I are very attracted by each other."

"When I finish working on the sewing machine, I'll go see this young man." Liang Yao said.

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

In fact, the time given by Walter was too conservative. It only took him five days to create the 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 expected to be launched in 1859, was born in 1851 ahead of schedule.

"Can one sewing machine like this do the work of ten skilled tailors?"

Yin Lisabai looked at the strange-looking sewing machine in front of her curiously and said eagerly.

"I want to give it a try. Can you teach me how to use this machine?"

"my pleasure."

Liang Yao threaded the needle of the sewing machine, then asked for a piece of fabric and asked Yin Lisabai to sit in front of the sewing machine.

Yin Lisabai purchased and used a hand-operated sewing machine manufactured by Singer Brothers. She subconsciously stretched out her hand to turn the round wheel on the sewing machine: "Why is this round wheel so small? There is no crank 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.

Yin Lisabai was very smart. She put her foot on the pedal and tried to step on it for a few times before she understood how to use the sewing machine.

"The design of this sewing machine is exquisite and very comfortable to use! It is also more efficient than a hand-operated sewing machine!"

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

Liang Yao asked Yin Lisabai to try sewing for a minute, then threw the cloth to Kony, who was experienced in counting stitches, and asked Kony to count the stitches on it.

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

In other words, the sewing efficiency of a pedal sewing machine is fully twice that of a hand-operated sewing machine!

Liang Yao's statement that a pedal-operated sewing machine can outshine 10 veteran tailors is not an exaggeration.

"Congratulations, Mr. Walter, you succeeded!"

Liang Yao congratulated Walter.

Walter felt guilty, and said to Liang Yao with shame.

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

"Will Liang Yao award 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 attract outstanding inventors and engineers from the east, not to award himself an award.

"Then I'll write your name on the patent. After all, we developed 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 be competing with Singer Brothers and Bridgeport Machinery Company to win the first place in the sewing machine production of Liang Yao Inventor. As a user of pedal sewing machines, I want to win the prize. You guys participate in this competition." Yin Lisabai recommended herself.

“I have also used Singer Brothers’ Singer sewing machines and have rich experience in using sewing machines!”

"Of course, it is our honor for Miss Yin Lisabai to use this sewing machine to participate in the competition." Liang Yao agreed readily.