In one of the prettiest parts of Flemington, on the banks of the Saltwater River, within 200 yards of Raleigh's Punt, and about the same distance from the Deep Creek, stands a large plain building, whose tall square chimney denotes that some busy occupation is carried on within. This building has undergone its mutations. It was originally a "boiling down" establishment; it subsequently became a foundry; and it is now used by Messrs. Anderson & Co. as a manufactory for bitumenised paper pipes, after the invention of M. Jaloureau. About twenty hands are employed at the works, and the manager and the men dwell in houses situated on an eminence above the factory, which overlooks a charming piece of undulating grazing country, and commands a view of Melbourne and the shipping in Hobson's Bay.

A specimen of the bitumenised pipes was first brought under our notice about twelve months ago, at which time it appeared surprising that a material so fragile as paper should form an important element in the manufacture of pipes for water, gas, drainage, and mining purposes - pipes which, it was asserted, would be as useful as those of iron, without their disadvantages, and with the additional recommendations of cheapness and lightness. The thing, however, is un fait accompli. The pipes have already been used for draining and pumping on the various gold-fields, and for gas purposes at Back Creek, and at the Eastern Market, Melbourne, and have been found equal to all that was predicted of them. They are now being laid down in Flinders street, to distribute the Yan Yean water, and a quantity are being shipped for South Australia and Tasmania, in both which colonies the pipes are about to be used for water-supply purposes. Under these circumstances it will not be at all out of place to give some account of the process of manufacture.

The paper used in making the pipe is of a brown colour, and of a texture similar to that used in packing by grocers. It is made about seven feet wide, and in lengths sufficient to construct the largest pipe that may be required. A pipe of six inches diameter will take twenty-six yards; a pipe of thirteen inches will require about 100 yards. The paper is taken from the bale and wound upon a roller, the person superintending the operation being able to tell at any moment, by means of a brass --dex, the quantity rolled. The roller being covered with sufficient paper, is taken to the pipemaking machine. This consists of two iron rollers, or mandrils, one above the other, the lower roller continually revolving in a trough of bitumenous composition, which, by means of a furnace underneath, is kept in a fused state at nearly boiling heat. The paper is gradually unwound, and being passed through the bitumen, by means of the lower roller, is thence transferred to the upper roller, which is of the size of the proposed pipe, and has a coating of oiled paper. Presuming a pipe of six inches diameter is being made, as soon as twenty-six yards, duly bitumenised, are wound on the upper mandril, that portion of the machinery is removed to a sand table, upon which it is rolled backwards and forwards several times, in order that the material may be consolidated. The mandril is next dipped into a second trough of bitumen, so as to receive such a coating as will enable the pipe to bear any amount of ill-usage. A rolling on a second sandstone then takes place, to be folled by a similar proceeding on a damp stone. As soon as cold, the newly-made pipe, owing to the oiled paper inside, is slipped without trouble from the mandril. Another bitumenous preparation is then cast into the pipe, giving the inside surface as smooth an appearance as earthenware. The pipe is then taken to the lathe, where the rough ends are removed, and the article becomes fit for the market.

There is on the premises a steam Chilian mill, for crushing to a powder the carbonate of lime and other preparations necessary to be mixed with the bitumen, and the mixture itself is subjected to a boiling of something like twelve hours before it is fit for use.

The pipes are capable of sustaining a pressure of 480 lb. to the square inch, or about four times that of the Yan Yean. They are inoxidable, and one-sixth the weight of iron; and we are informed by Messrs. Anderson and Co. that their cost on the gold-fields is something like 70 per cent. less than that of iron pipes. They are now being constructed in sizes varying from two inches to thirteen inches diameter. We believe they can be made as large as three feet diameter, but pipes of so large a size are beyond the resources of the present establishment. It is the intention, however, of Messrs. Anderson and Co. to build suitable works at Footscray - a situation more favourable for business than Flemington - and there to avail themselves more extensively of steam power than they are able to do at present - a proceeding which will enable them considerably to extend their operations.

One great difficulty with which the Australian patentees have had to contend is the matter of joints. The joint invented by M. Jaloureau was sufficient for ordinary purposes, but it was not able to prevent leakage when it had such a power as that of the Yan Yean to contend against. However, thanks to the ingenuity of Mr. Moore (Messrs. Anderson and Co.'s engineer), two new joints have been invented. The one is a faucet or slip joint, covering the pipes when connected by a tin ferrule, and filled up with melted mastic; the other is an iron joint, similar to that of cast iron pipes, an india rubber washer being placed between, and the flanges being bolted together in the usual manner. With these joints the pipes are said to be equal to anything that may be required of them.

We may add that a Government Commission have recently examined into the merits of the bitumenised paper pipes, and reported favourably upon them.

Source:

"The Argus" Wednesday, 4 September 1861

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