I was the Founding Father of the United States

Chapter 27 Metal Laboratory

Having resolved the issue of the security captain, Chen Wenbin did not linger. He went to the manager's office next to the assembly plant and found Andrew studying the blueprints for the water-powered spinning machine.

Chen Wenbin explained some production and technical details to him, emphasizing that the quality of product delivery must be well controlled and after-sales service must be in place. Although repairs cannot be provided free of charge, prices must be clearly marked.

As a former consumer and salesperson, Chen Wenbin knows all too well how to maintain customer trust.

The housewives who spent a lot of money pooling their resources to buy the Jenna spinning machine valued the machine's ability to reliably help them spin yarn and earn money, and any factors that might affect this had to be eliminated in advance.

At 2:30 p.m., Chen Wenbin, along with old Hoffman, Anthony, and Shelby, rode away from the factory to Robin Estate, two miles to the north.

That was a piece of wasteland that Chen Wenbin bought a month ago for £100. It was near south Pottakette and covered 120 acres.

Two weeks ago, he designated 10 acres of land to officially establish Providence Science School, enrolling his first batch of students. His chemistry lab was also located on the school grounds.

Based on the factory's current production speed, the first batch of Jenna spinning machines will definitely be completed in ten days. At that time, as promised, he will distribute dividends to all company shareholders, including himself.

After this round of financing, Chen Wenbin's shares were diluted to 28%. After deducting costs, and distributing dividends based on half of the profits, he would receive approximately £800.

This money was just the first batch of start-up capital for the steel mill, gun factory, and chemical plant. As for the location of the factory, it would naturally be near Robin Manor, which would become his home.

The location, close to the river and with a large number of guards and company employees, would make him feel safer.

The four men rode fine Quarter Horses, which were very fast, and arrived at Robin Manor, which was under construction, in less than ten minutes.

Although some buildings are not yet completed, the main building of the estate—a magnificent two-story red brick villa—and a row of school buildings not far away are largely finished.

Workers on site are laying red bricks for the road, building stables and warehouses.

Upon hearing that Master Chen had returned home, Chris, the manor's temporary butler, immediately came out to greet him.

"...Sir! Are you here to check on the construction progress of the manor, or to teach the children at the school?"

Chris skillfully took the riding crop from Chen Wenbin and asked respectfully.

"I have a new task for you, Chris!" Chen Wenbin glanced at the young man, who had recently gained some weight but remained calm and composed, and gave his instructions.

"I want to build an ironworks by the river to produce pig iron and crucible steel. You need to assign people to level the land by the river now. Hoffman will tell you the specifics of how to build it!"

He pointed to old Hoffman beside him and added, "A piece of land around the steel mill has also been leveled and reserved for a sulfuric acid plant, a red phosphorus plant, and a timber drying kiln. Once the company has sufficient funds, we also need to build our own armed merchant ships. These factories must be built in advance!"

"Yes, sir, I understand!"

Chris nodded, then, remembering something, reminded him, "Mr. Merlin and Mr. Marcus at the school's metal lab seem to have made the tin-plated iron sheet you need, and they'd like you to go take a look when you have time!"

"They succeeded?" Chen Wenbin was overjoyed. "I'm coming right now!"

James Merlin is a blacksmith whom Chen Wenbin hired from Boston for a hefty sum. He previously worked at a tinplate mill in South Wales, England, and is currently the principal researcher at the Metals Laboratory of Providence School of Science.

Wilhelm Markus, a German watchmaker from Bavaria, learned precision machining in Geneva, Switzerland, which greatly helped Chen Wenbin.

The two are now the only researchers in the metal laboratory, and the manufacturing process of "tin-plated iron plates" is one of the research topics that Chen Wenbin assigned to them.

The term "tinplate" may be unfamiliar, but its other name, "tinplate," is absolutely well-known.

The tin can, invented by the British in the early 19th century, was one of the most important inventions that changed the course of warfare and a major tool that enabled European colonists to conquer the world.

With canned fruit and meat, sailors and soldiers could continue sailing and fighting without worrying about scurvy or logistical shortages. In the future, Chen Wenbin's pioneering endeavors would also require canned food as support.

The metal laboratory is located a few hundred meters northwest of the main villa, but it occupies a large area, several times larger than the main villa of Robin Manor.

To be precise, this is actually a small machining plant consisting of a small blast furnace, a small crucible furnace, and a lathe and boring machine processing area.

"……Your Mightiness!"

An armed guard at the laboratory entrance saw Chen Wenbin approaching with two bodyguards and immediately stood at attention and saluted.

"...Henry, is Mr. Merlin inside?" Chen Wenbin asked, stating the guard's name directly.

"Yes! He and Mr. Marcus work inside!" the young Irish guard with freckles on his face replied immediately.

"Well done!"

Chen Wenbin patted him on the shoulder, then instructed Anthony and Shelby to wait outside, before walking into the metal laboratory.

Because the windows were open, it wasn't too stuffy inside. Two middle-aged men, around forty years old and wearing sealed goggles, were processing workpieces using a treadmill.

Chen Wenbin walked over, stroked the lathe's support, and asked, "You guys...are you machining bolt parts for the Robin rifle? How's the machining efficiency?"

As he spoke, his eyes never left the somewhat rudimentary-looking lathe, and he was filled with pride.

After all, he had poured most of his energy into this metal laboratory at Robin Manor, especially the thread cutting lathe that the two of them were using, equipped with a ball screw, guide rail, sliding tool post, gearbox, and apron, which was his masterpiece!

In order to produce qualified steel balls, Chen Wenbin and Merlin Marcus smelted more than a dozen furnaces of crucible steel and specially designed a steel ball grinding machine before they could barely grind out qualified steel balls.

There are also hand-cranked boring machines and gear drilling machines next to it. Together, these can produce rifled flintlock guns with good precision and performance, and even bolt-action breech-loading guns are not a problem... It's just that because they are still using foot-powered engines, the processing efficiency is low, and the cost and scrap rate are high.

James Merlin, wearing goggles, noticed Chen Wenbin's gaze lingering on the lathe, patted William Marcus, who was stepping on the pedal beside him, and replied:

"...Sir, we have produced four qualified rifling barrels and two Robin rifles in the past few days. We are producing at full capacity every day, and we can probably make two or three rifles a week. But if we want to increase production, we need to either use water power or increase the number of machines..."

At this point, he took out a brand-new flintlock pistol without a stock from the side and handed it to Chen Wenbin, subtly reminding him:

"...Sir, a 30-inch barrel is indeed more convenient to use and carry than the Pennsylvania rifle's 36-inch barrel, but the range will definitely be reduced...Would you like to reconsider and change to a 34-inch barrel?"

"No! We'll use a 30-inch screen!"

Chen Wenbin shook his head directly. He thought 30 inches was too long, so how could he possibly use a 34-inch long barrel?

He intended to use the Minié bullet on this Robin flintlock rifle. With the Minié bullet, the range of the musket would increase threefold, making the use of a long barrel pointless.

He didn't want to waste words, so he simply made the boss's decision and said directly to the two men, "James, William, I welcome your opinions, but I have my reasons for choosing 30 inches as the barrel length! This matter is settled!"

By the way, Chris told me you guys successfully made tin-plated iron sheets. Where are they?