Rolling mill

Rolling mill, built by Maudslay, Sons and Field, London, 1882

This so-called gauging mill was used in the Royal Mint for rolling silver strip to final gauge. The strip originally measured 0.080 in thickness, and was reduced in two passes by 0.008 in. The machine weighs 3 tons and operated at 115 feet per minute.

The lower roll is driven direct and runs in fixed bearings. The upper roll is driven through gearing and its bearings are in slides so that it can be brought nearer the lower roll. The upper bearings are adjusted together by screws rotated by means of worm and worm wheel, so that the rolls can be set at the required distance apart."