Monsieur Lesobre in the work already mentioned,
M. Rolland’s oven appears to be of a truly novel
and ingenious description. It is heated exter-
nally by means of hot air conveyed from a distant
fire; the admission of smoke or other impurities
into the interior being thus prevented. The floor
is a moveable platform, which can be raised or
lowered at pleasure, and which turns on a pivot
put in motion by a winch, so that every part of it
can be brought round in succession to the opening,
and filled with bread, without recourse being had
to the awkward, long handled peel, which is of
necessity used for ovens of common construction.
The roof is not vaulted, therefore the loaves re-
ceive a more equal degree of baking than they do
under the old system; and they can be watched
through a pane of glass fixed in the door of the
oven, the light from a strongly reflected flame of
gas being thrown upon them.
There are many other particulars of interest
connected with this invention, of which the prin-
ciple appears admirable, so far as an idea of it
can be formed from words, by persons not pos-
sessing sufficient scientific, mechanical, or practical
knowledge of the subject to enable them to form
any correct opinion on it; but able judges may
perhaps be led eventually to bestow some attention
on it, and to perfect it, should it be found to need
improvement.