Two centuries of shipbuilding by the Scotts at Greenock

108 The Machine Shop.
shown in the engraving on Plate XLIX., facing page 106.
At the level of the top of the wall, which is 25 ft. high,
there is the light machine shop, while at the end of the bay
and over the annexe situated to the left of the engraving,
is the brass-finishing shop. There is a 2-ton hoist between
the erecting-shop floor and the galleries, so that no incon-
venience, so far as transport is concerned, is involved by
this arrangement.
Originally a stream ran down the hill and over the site
on which the Works are located, and its waters have for
many years been utilised as a source of power. A special
24-in. inward-flow turbine works in the conduit which con-
veys the water across the site, and this turbine develops
continuously 80 horse-power. This serves to drive some of
the machines in the boiler works. The turbine runs in
parallel with a compound vertical engine, which drives the
shafts actuating the groups of small machines in the engine
shop. Many of the larger tools, however, are electrically-
driven by separate motors, the current being transmitted
from the central station already described.
The engravings on Plates XXXIX. and XLIX., facing
pages 92 and 106 respectively, illustrate the main machine
shop, which has a width of 60 ft., and, with the adjoining bay,
accommodates some of the finest marine engineering tools
made. Perhaps the best indication of their efficiency is
the fact that three weeks suffice for the machining of
the parts of a complete set of engines to develop 2000
horse-power. The shops are traversed by five overhead
electric cranes, ranging up to 40 tons lifting capacity.
The leading dimensions and the principal work done
by the more important tools afford an idea of the extent
of the equipment. There are several planing and slotting
machines, one of which is shown in the engraving on
Plate L., facing this page. There are two combined
machines, to plane 21 ft. and to slot 18 ft., used in