Shingles made from wood have been common all over the world for ages.
Their particular form has remained unchanged because many years’
experience has proven it to be the most durable and surest safe-guard
against storms. What is true of wood for roof covering is equally true of
metal for the same purpose. The first metal roofing made in America was
tin sheets, laid shingle fashion, the overlapped edges of which covered
the nail heads which were used to fasten them to the roof boards. Many
of these old-fashioned metal (tin plate) roofs are yet in existence that
were covered over one hundred years ago. The writer covered several
houses in 1849 in this manner, which are in good condition now. The
reason why this style of metal roofing was not common was its expense. On
page 16 we give reasons why it would be more durable than the ordinary
mode of laying tin roofing.
The use of Walter’s and Cooper’s patent in constructing metal shingles
does away with the expense, which was a great drawback to their use, and
leaves no excuse for the use of cheap, combustible material.
The National Sheet Metal Roofing Co., of New York City, have for the past
eight years been manufacturing these shingles, and their use on a vast
number of public and private buildings in all parts of the United States
and Canada attest their superiority. Thinking that our readers would
be pleased to see the process of making these shingles, we illustrate
on pages 65 and 75 views taken from photographs of their paint and
store room. The process requires two press operations for each shingle,
and each press averages a turn out of 4,000 square feet (which is 40
squares) per day. The dies which give shape and form the corrugations of
the shingles are faced with polished steel, which leaves no abrasions
where they come in contact with the metal. During the past year they
have added four new presses to this department to meet the requirements
of the increased demand for their goods. They spare no pains to make
their shingles as perfect as the best machinery can make them. All their
shingles are carefully inspected before they are boxed and sent to the
store room, from which they are shipped to all parts of the country. The
machinery room in which the presses are located is 37 feet wide by 80
feet long, the painting department is 80 × 55 feet, and the store room
the same size. We give these figures that you may form an opinion of the
space required to manufacture and handle their goods.
The process of painting is first dipping the shingles in a vat of pure
linseed oil and oxide of iron paint with just enough turpentine to assist
in drying. They are then set on edge and left to drain, after which
they are gone over with a brush and set in racks to dry, which requires
several days, according to the humidity of the atmosphere. They are all
air dried, no artificial heat being used. Their customers are cordially
invited to call at any time and see the process of manufacturing.
* * * * *
“Why don’t you mend your roof my man?”
He drew him closer to the wall,
And answered with a lazy drawl:
“When ’t rains so hard I never can.”
“Why don’t you mend it when it’s fair?”
“Oh, then it doesn’t need repair!”
He blandly said
As he turned his head
And shook the raindrops from his hair.
From _The Metal Worker_.
[Illustration: WALTER’S PATENT STANDARD SHINGLES.]
[Illustration: COOPER’S PATENT QUEEN ANNE METALLIC SHINGLES.]