The Iron Age 1899-02-23: Vol 63 Iss 8

THE Published every Thursday Morning by David Williams Co., A Review of the Hardware, Iron and Metal Trades. i as i i minon | et JO WtHeagy, Y i. 232-238 William St.. New York. ya Vol. LX/I1I: No, 8. New York, Thursday, February 23, 1899. $4.50 a Year, including Postaga Single Copies, Ten Cents. Reading Matter Contents........ Classified List of Advertisers. ... Alphabetical Index te Advertisers Advertising and Subscription Rates *‘ -page 50 * 013 118 57 TUDOR IRON WORKS, ST. LOUIS, Mo. MANUFACTURERS BAR IRON STEEL, THE BRISTOL COMPANY, Waterbury, Conn. Bristol’s Recording Instruments, For Pressure, Temperature and Electricity. All Ranges, Low Prices and Guar- anteed, Send for _Circulars, ~ BRAIDED CORD. Samson and Massachusetts Brands. Send for Samples. SAMSON-CORDAGE WORKS, - Boston, Mass. —— 7 BUCKLES, BRANCH OFFICE: 11 ee New York. Cleveland City Forge and Iron Co., - Cleveland, O. TURN BUCKLES. a> Merrill Bros., 465 to 471 Kent Ave. Brooklyn, E. D., N. Y. PILLING & CRANE, Girard Building, Philada. Lewis Bicck, Pittsburgh. The genuine is stenciled ** Apollo-Vandergrift ” APOLLO BEST BLOOM GALVANIZED IRON Kt pays us tp make the best galvanized iron ; it pays the dealer to sel! it; it pays 99 workertto use it ; it pays the owner o- it. “Good business, from end to Factory Loaded Paper Shells 3 Smokeless and Trap Shells, . | With Nitro Powders. ie Acme Shells, With dense Nitro Powders. ue 3 New Club Shells, With Black Powder. ALL GAUGES, ANY WADDING, ANY COMBINATION OF LOADS. | SPECIAL LOADS IF DESIRED. UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE C0., - Bridgeport, Conn. SEND FOR LATEST PRICE LIST. 1 GAHALL BOILERS See Page 72, 4 : CAPEWELL HORSE NAILS. NEW YORK, + PHILADELPHIA, CHICAGO, ST. LOUIS, BOSTON, DETROIT, CINCINNATI, SAN FRANCISCO, PORTLAND, ORE., = age aE — os ie he ’ ) ) rae a ~*~ , 7 Se se BRANCHES: BUFFALO, Ae BALTIMORE, Ga NEW ORLEANS. yA : THE CAPEWELL HORSE NAIL COMPANY, ett HARTFORD, CONN. ey WE CLAIM THE FOLLOWING MERITS FOR JENKINS BROS.’ VALVES, I) - Manufactured of the best Steam Metal. . a I. rinding. therefore not constantly wearing out the Seat of the Valves. n JENKINS DISCO, which is suitable for all Pressures of Steam, Oil, and The Easiest Repaired, and all parts Interchangeable. 1 2 3 4. 5. Every Valve Tested before leaving the factory. 6. ALL GENUINE stamped with Trade Mark. JENKINS BROTHERS, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston. ltr” ol Tubing the Best, TO MAGNOLIA METAL i Best Anti-Friction Metal fot all Machinery Bearings. eo 66a Snead 28 ; o he Bi Se os came \. “Kg ban rece ae nse dite oei, ae. =F Beware of Imitations. ; f - e Genuine Magnolia Metal is made up in bars of which this =es a none ji . The name and trade- on each Ve sae te box and bar, and the rords *? Manufactured i iy tented June in United States” and der Sale of each a (7 ee are stamped on the un- » . Apollo Iron and Steel Company . Pittsburgh MAGNOLIA METAL CO., (Siznctsctucers’) 266°& 267 WEST ST., NEW YORK. sracere Siac 2 THE IRON AGE Ansonia Brass gp” Correr Co. MANUFACTURERS OF BRASS AND COPPER Seamless Tubes, Sheets, Rods and Wire. ingot Copper. SOLE MANUFACTURERS Tobin Bronze (TraDE-MARK REGISTERED.) Condenser Plates, Pump Linings, Round, Square and Hexagon Bars, for Pump Piston Rods and Bolt Forgings. 19 & 21 Cliff Street, - - New York. Ranpol?h &Cloms LL ERBURY Ci Onn, ACTURERS Waterbury Brass Co. Established 1845. Sheet, Roll and Platers’ Brass, German Silver, Copper, Brass and Ger- man Silver Wire. Brass and Copper Tubing. COPPER RIVETS AND BURS. PERCUSSION CAPS, TAPE MEASURES, METALLIC EYELETS, Brass Kettles, Brass Tags, Powder Flasks, Shot Pouches, &c., AND SMALL BRASS WARES OF EVERY DESCRIPTION. HICK’S PRIMERS, BERDAN PRIMERS. Cartridge Metal in Sheets or Shells a Specialty. DEPOTS: 60 Centre St., New York. 126 Eddy St., Provi- SEAMLESS dence, R. |. 38 Mechanic St., Newark, N. J. MILLS AT WATERBURY, CONN. BRASS AND COPPER TUBES, |THE NEW DEFENDER dein, to 82in, Diam. BRAZED TUBES and BRASS RODS, All Her BRONZE CASTINGS are made of our... Ordnance Bronze Seamless Copper Range Boiler. Bridgeport Deoxidized Bronze & Metal Co., BRIDGEPORT, CONN. MATTHIESSEN & HEGELER ZINC CO., LA SALLE, ILLINOIS, SMELTERS OF SPELTER AND MANUFACTURERS OF GHEET ZINO AND SULPHURIC ACID. Special Sizes of Zinc cut to order. Rolled Battery Plates. Selected Plates for Etchers’ and Lithographers’ use Selected Sheets for Paper and Card Makers’ use Stove and Washboard Blanks. ZINCS FOR LECLANCHE BATTERY. BRASS GOODS MFG. CO, “~ &-<7psctestgutiar eat ti oulds. Address all SPECIAL communica - GOODS tloms to the MADE 10 factory. ORDER, BRONZE DOOR ENOBSB, Bronze and Plated Roses, Combined Rose and Escutcheon Plates, Socket Shells, &c., Patent Mirror Pin Cushion Business Cards, Mucilage Brushes. Novelties of new design made to order. SALESROOM: 117 Chambers St., New York. FACTORY: 86-92 Third St., So. Brooklyn. HENDRICKS BROTHERS, Proprietors of the Belleville Copper Rolling Mills, MANUFACTURERS OF Brazsicrs’, Bolt and Sheathing COPPER. COPPER WIRE AND RIVETS. Importers and Dealers in ingot Copper, Block Tin, Speliter, hema, Antimony, etc. 49 CLIFF ST., NEW YORK. THE PLUME & ATwooo M6. Co., MANUPACTUBERS OF Sheet and Roll Brass WIRE PRINTERS’ BRASS, JEWELERS’ METAL, GERMAN SILVER AND GILDING METAL, COPPER RIVETS AND BURRS. Pins, Brass Butt Hinges, Jack Chain, Kere- sene Burners, Lamps, Lamp Trimmings, &c. 29 MURRAY ST., NEW YORK. 144 HIGH ST., BOSTON. 199 LAKE ST., CHICAGO, ROLLING MILL : | FACTORIES : THOMASTON, CONN. WATERBURY, CONN, SCOVILL MFG. C0., Manufacturers of BRASS SHEET, WIRE, TUBES, Hinges, Buttons, Lamp Goods, Nipples, Pumps and Oilers for Bicycles, Braziers’ Solder, Aluminum. Factories, WATERBURY, CONN. New York, JOHN DAVOL & SONS, AGENTS FOR Brooklyn Brass & Copper Co., DEALERS IN COPPER, TIN, SPELTER, LEAD, ANTIMONY. 100 John Street, - New York. WILLIAM S. FEARING, 256 Broadway, NEW YORK, SELLS TO THE TRADE Sheet Brass, Fancy Sheet Brass, German Silver, Copper, Brass and German Silver Wire, Brazed and Seamless Brass and Copper Tubes, Brass and Cop- per Rods, Brass Ferrules, Pure Copper Wire, Sheet and Ingot Copper; Spelter, Tin, Antimony, Lead, &c. THE BRIDGEPORT BRASS CO, BRIDGEPORT, CONN. 19 Murray St., New York. 85-87 Pearl St., Boston. 17 N. 7th St., Philadelphia. MANUFACTURERS OF Brass {SHEET AND TUBING Copper | WIRE. Lamp Goods of all Kinds, SRASS AND COPPER GOODS In Great Varieties, ‘THE IRON AGE. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1899. Copper Plating Vessels The value of a sheathing of copper for the hulls of vessels has been appreciated for a lenge time. The at tack of both wooden and iron hulls by marine growths has reduced the speed and made necessary the mor frequent docking and cleaning of vessels, all of which decrease the earning power while increasing the cost of operation. It is the usual practice to plate wooden ves sels with copper sheets and to protect iron ships with so called antifouiing paints. The foreign method of covering a metal hull with a casing of wood and then sheathing this over with copper is the only process whicl servative. It is olenginous in its character, and forms a coating which is probably the best base known as a substance for this purpose. It is remarkable, however, that i¢ will adhere to copper with greater tenacity than to any other known material, and it matters not how often this acetate is removed from the surface of the copper, it will, in a very short time, form a new coating, thus presenting a condition which makes copper the best known material for the skin of vessels. This film forms in & most perfect state upon a surface of pure copper. Some time since the National Ship Copper Plating Company of 253 Broadway, New York, began plating vessels by means of electricity, under patents controlled has ever been adopted in the past te meet the problem by them. This method does away with sheathing, there- a < - — a < see —— : — oe SE " - 3 = N U : i i a~ wet Pa y il | te a A “n - | > —_ re —_ ————— <= = — —— j = ——————— 4 fi .? I @ lis, | / \ COPPER PLATING VESSELS. This has been tried on some of the war ships of the Brit- ish navy aud may be tried upon some of the new vessels of our own navy. One main cbiection to this plan arises from the fact that water finds its way to the space filled With wood between the copper and iron, the result being the generation of electrical action and the consequent attack of the hull. An important factor in the consideration of copper as a coating for vessels is the fact that the frictional con tact of water against copper is over 515 per cent. less than against iron. A painted surface can never be made as smocth as a burnished copper surface. An iron ves sel with a speed of 20 knots per hour, if coated with copper will have a capacity of 21 knots, The action of water on iron or steel readily oxidizes the surface, making it rough and greatly adding to the frictional impact in water. On the other hand, the ex- posure of a copper surface in salt water causes the for- mation of acetate of copper, or verdigris. This is a pre yy reducing the weight, and provides a pure copper pro- tection of any desirable thickness, and from which fol- low all the advantages to be derived from the use of cop- per upon the wetted surface. About four years ago the ocean tug “ Assistance’ was electroplated with copper. and since that time has been in continuous service in salt water. The hull is built of iron plates riveted to- gether in the usual fashion. A thorough examination Wis made of this boat last November. There was no evidence of electrolysis on the copper line, and there was ne sign of verdigris or other evidence of galvanic action where the copper left off and the iron began. The sur face of the copper was in excellent condition, although the boat had not been cleaned since plating. It was found that the copper, particularly upon each side of the bow, where it had been worn, was somewhat reduced in thickness, but in no place had the copper been stripped from the iron. This proves conclusively the intimate union which exists between the two metals when united va eres PY Bd we B.S —_-, Pp “ta ype et ea. — — eth ae : be - OR) Piha bs PAS O 14 we es) a Met are + Soar ‘ i i] b 1 ; ¢ ] 4 1 Hy tbe bint Ww i | ; ’ 4 are ee 5 1 , | ee ; : | ry ny a 7 ore to the reserv< 2 THE by means of electricity. In short, the hull had been effectively and thoroughly protected. Method of Depositing the Copper. The method of copper plating followed in this in- stance was somewhat crude, the result being that the copper varied in thickness over different parts of the boat. The new method, being in the nature of local depositions, will do away with this and will make a Coat- ing uniform throughout. The new system provides means for holding the electroplating baths in contact with the vessel by atmospheric pressure. Provision is also made for automatically supplying the plating solu- tion in a constant volume to the tanks or baths, and for keeping a constant circulation through the baths. Other important considerations, which will appear in the de- scription, are also provided for. As the hull of a vessel has a surface with a varying contour, it is necessary to make a bath which is flexible, or one which has its body rigid and its contact edges flexible | JA | | A | pa ” \ - \ J , | / / N\ = | ele | Lb Ii IRON AGE February 23. 1899 As it is an important matter to keep the metallic sat- uration of the solution constant in the bath, and equable in all of the baths at the same time, and, further. that the entire surface of the vessel's hull, which is in process of treatment within the area of the bath, should have a uniform exposure or contact of this solution, it is neces- sary to cause an upward movement of the _ solution through the bath, such movement being opposite to the gravitating tendency of the saturated solution, and in- stead of having the solution enter at one point below and escape through a single pipe above, means are provided as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. In Fig. 4, near the base, within the bath, a horizontal pipe is connected centrally with the inlet nipple J’. This pipe is closed at both ends and has on its upper side a line of small orifices, throug which the solution enters the bath and passes up to the nipple P and down through a flexible tube to the drain pipe N. It will be seen that the pump G forces the solution from the reservoir, through the line pipe H to the flexible tube Ix’, thence into the bath, and overflows from the x P| A A | | | q 4 1 } | A , 4 * 4 —T I = = = = T+ = = heme = — = J" M4 —_ Fig. 4.-—Side View of Bath CUPPER PLATING VESSELS ‘ig. 1 shows the plan outline of a vessel, A, at one end of which is located a boiler and engine, B, and near by a dynamo, C, an exhaust or.vacuum pump, D, a drain tank, E, a solution reservoir, F, and a pump, G. The dy- namo and pumps are connected with the engine to per- form the required work, and the pump G, which is located by the side of the reservoir, is connected with it by a feed pipe. The other side of the pump has a drain pipe, H, Figs. 2 and 3, which extends around the vessel, and is brought to the reservoir, where it terminates in the base of a stand pipe. The upper end of this stand pipe has an overflow pipe, through which it discharges back into the reservoir. The pipe H is located on the floor of the dock and has at intervals short nipples provided with cocks and means for connecting a union, J’, Fig. 4. This pipe, H, is de- signed to supply the electrolytic solution to the bath through the flexible tube K’, the latter having a union at its upper end which connects it to the bath through the medium of a nipple, secured in the side wall of the bath. Near the lower end of this fiexible tube K’ is a short branch connection provided with a cock, and a union or attaching it to the nipples along the line of the pipe XN. This pipe, N, branches out from the solution reser- r F, so that when the bath K is filled with the solu- tion and it is desired to withdraw the same, cock J’ is losed and cock M’ is opened, and the liquid in the bath will then pass down through the branch tube and back ir through the pipe N. pipe N back into the reservoir, thereby keeping a con- stant movement of the solution through the bath. As the capacity of the pump should be greater than is re- quired by all the combined baths in the series, the resi- due travels around the supply pipe H and is forced up into the stand pipe, which by its hight determines the pressure of the solution in the various baths. Each bath has anode holders placed at intervals along its side walls, and as they are equidistant from the side of the vessel when the bath is in position, however much the bath may be curved (to conform to the curvature of the vessel), the electro-deposition will be uniform on the cathode. Otherwise the electrolytic action would be greater over the zone where the anode approached close to the cathode surface. The bath has a concaved flexible web. A flexible tube leads to the air pipe U, which is provided with nipples at suitable intervals. This pipe is connected with the vacuum pump D. This pump is constantly in action, so that as air is exhausted from the bath atmos- pherie pressure holds it in position. It is evident that with this method the plates of a vessel may be copper coated after bending and before insertion in the ship. Rivet heads and exposed edges may be copper plated after completion of the ship. In fact, the plan provides for electro-plating any part of the vessel at any time and to any required thickness. An assurance is thus provided that there will be absoluteiy no exposed iron below the water mark. February 23, 1899 THE IRON AGE 3 Calcium Carbide and Acetylene in Factories. k. V. French, inspector of the Associated lactory Mutual Fire Insurance Company, has submitted the fol- lowing preliminary report: A number of mills having already expressed a desire to trv acetylene lighting, an immediate statement of what could be advised was desired. This report, which gives briefly the present status of the question, was con sequently made. With the present state of the art and the existing prices of carbide, it is believed that any mill putting in an extensive acetylene plant is, to a con- siderable extent, entering unexplored territory. While a great deal of experimenting has been done in this line, there is yet much to learn before a surely satisfactory lighting system is secured. Most any system at present available requires considerable care and attention in han dling the generator. The flame tends, from the great richness of the gas, to become smoky if the burners are not in perfect order. Computations on the present prices of carbide, and with steam and water power at the cost existing in many Mutual mills, indicate that it is very doubtful if acetylene is at all a cheap illuminant. Waiving, for the instant, the question of expediency and considering the dangers in acetylene, the following general properties of the gas may be considered. The figures given are based upon best evidence so far attain able and are believed reliable. There are many conflict THE DIAMOND SPIKE. ing statements abroad. Mixtures of acetylene and air, where the acetylene is from 6 to 25 per cent. of the mix- ture, are explosive, and there is some good evidence that the range may be as great as from 5 to 50 per cent. Com- paring this with illuminating gas, mixtures of illuminat- ing gas and air are explosive over a range of from 7 to 18 per cent. of gas, showing that the range of explosive mixtures of acetylene is much wider than for ordinary gas. Explosions of mixtures of acetylene and air are more violent than mixtures of ordinary gas and air. The weight of acetylene gas, taking air as 1, is about 0.90, showing that acetylene gas tends to rise, so that in this respect it is better than naphtha gases, which are heavier than air. Acetylene gas under some conditions may form acety- lides—i. ¢.. compounds with metals, which are in them- selves pure explosives. ‘The best evidence available would seem to indicate that the principal danger is where pure copper is exposed to acetylene; even then, however, the presence of moisture and possibly some im purities in the gas is probably necessary for the forma- tion of acetylides. Other metals commonly used appar- ently are not subject to this danger, and there is con- siderable evidence to support the feeling that the ordi- nary small composition fittings used in a gas plant are not dangerous, though any considerable amounts of cop- per or copper alloys in piping or machinery or in the shape of large fittings had best be avoided. If, after considering the above conditions, there is still a desire, in any case, to permit an acetylene plant, the following general requirements, it is believed, should be carefully followed: ; 1. The generator should be outside the main build- ings and thoroughly cut off from them, preferably in a small building by itself, 50 feet, if possible, from impor- tant buildings. As a whole, it should be treated about like the ordinary naphtha gas machines. The dangers from possible escape of gas in handling the machine, or in repairing it, or by possible ignorance of an attendant, or by accident, and the very considerable dangers intro- duced if carbide itself is brought into the building, make it appear entirely improper to place one of these ma- chines in a first-class risk. 2. The carbide should be stored entirely outside im- portant buildings, but might be in a compartment of the yenerator house. It should be looked at about like the main naphtha storage tank of a naphtha gas plant. 3. Before a plant is put in the complete plans should be submitted to the underwriters for approval, as there is no standard of construction of machine which can be approved in a general way. ‘There are a number of im- portant features in any machine supplying acetylene gas needing attention, such as certain limit of pressure, con- stancy of action, so that there is no chance of the pro- duction of gas being stopped and then started again after the burners have gone out, allowing the gas to escape through the open burners. Action such that excessive heating, which tends to bring impurities into the gas, which might make trouble in the building, and other similar points, need careful consideration. The interesting possibilities of the gas have attracted almost an innumerable number of inventors. some care- ful, but many without experience and a reasonable understanding of the possible dangers involved in han- dling any gas. Only recently the writer received a list of 70 machines which had been brought to the attention of the underwriters, every one of which machines was considered in such shape that approval was impossible, so that the use of the machines was absolutely inad- visable. It is therefore evident that each special case, for a time, will have to be considered on its own merits. It would certainly be unwise to assume that further ex- perience might not remove many of the objections here raised, but it is believed that a conservative course is at present entirely justifiable. It is therefore believed that the best advice for any one desiring to-day to put an ex- tensive acetylene plant into a Mutual risk is, to wait. Let further experiments be made, and if some light must be had at once, put in an electric plant. eS Te The Diamond Spike. The two cuts here presented show clearly the princi- ple upon which the spikes of the Diamond State Iron Company of Wilmington, Del., are designed. It will be noted that the point is so shaped as to cut through the fibers without breaking or disrupting them, thereby facil- itating driving while offering, it is claimed, greater re- sistance to pulling than any other form of spike. The points somewhat resemble the cutting edge of a car- penter’s gouge, and there is no tendency to turn in the wood even when driven in the toughest timber. The draft of the point is so devised that in driving the spikes home they are drawn over in perfect engagement and full bearing on the flange edges of the rail. Since the ends of the fibers are turned down and confined by the fluted or gouge like form of the point, they exert great downward pressure upon the spike and increase its holding power. It is stated that in tests of these spikes, 134 inches long, in good cedar they offered 20 per cent. more resistance to being pulled than press pointed spikes. > Cotton Tie Rolling Record —The record for rolling cotton tie was recently broken on the Morgan continuous mill at the Joliet works of the Illinois Steel Company. In a single turn of 101%4 hours more than 400 315-pound strips were rolled. Each strip is about 1% mile long and the gauge from end to end is of absolute uniformity. — _ The Keystone Bridge Works department of the Carne- zie Steel Company, Limited, of Pittsburgh will supply the steel superstructure for three river bridges for the San Francisco & San Joaquin Valley Railway, to be placed on that part of the road which is being built west of Stockton, Cal. 'The Carnegie Steel Company, Limited, are supplying tbe rails for the new section of this road. One of these bridges will cross the San Joaquin River proper and will have a draw span of 233 feet. Another will be over the middle river and will have a draw span of 202 feet and one approaching span of 60 feet. The third will cross the old river with a draw span 202 feet in length and one approach 45 feet long. The Keystone Bridge Works have commenced the delivery of the steel superstructure of the long bridge of the Buffalo, Roches- ter & Pittsburgh extension across the Allegheny River at Mosgrove. we 1b ey, VASO aT! a4 =e: = = PR 7 rene = x ij 4 ae aware == oe “Ss = oe i . ; ae r THE Malleable Cast Iron.—lII. BY ERASTUS ¢ WHEELER The Intluence of Carbon. Carbon has always been considered the most im portant metalloid contained in pig iron. It has been counted a great factor in the melting point of metals, and yet of all the impurities is the one most dependent upon some one other metalloid for its presence, either as graphitoidal or combined carbon. Silicon has an all powerful influence upon its formation, and the two should be rightly considered together. Carbon is con tained in pig iron through the blast furnace from the organic matter contained in the ores and melting agen cies. When the pig iron is originally cast at the furnace there will occur an unusual phenomenon in the metal. If the casting temperature should be high (and this will, of course, guide the percentage of silicon present) the earbon will not affiliate with the iron, ‘but rather on the contrary will separate itself to such an extent as to forin the crystallization form of graphitic carbon, and after iron is cooled and broken 1s the predominating fea- ture of product. The metal has not a homogenous ap- pearance, being a collection of crystals, large and small. This most extraordinary occurrence must by the laws of nature be acompanied by high casting temperature. The higher the casting heat the larger will be the erys- tals; in the furnace grading this will be a standard for the founder to follow. As the initial heat is decreased the smaller will the erystals become and iron will range from No. 1 to No. 4. Ina No. 5 or No. 6, to all outward appearances carbon has been eliminated; the product has no longer the black crystals of the No. 1. Where is the carbon’ If it were true that carbon could stand alone (so to speak), and assert its individuality after the man- ner of sulphur, or phosphorus, irrespective of any other eontrolling influence, it would still be in evidence. The higher the percentage of silicon the higher will be the amount of graphitic carbon present; the lower the sili- eon the less will be the graphitic carbon. It is still a matter of great doubt in the minds of metallurgists as to whether the carbon which does not separate in the cooling as graphitie carbon is truly combined with the fron or not. Chemistry during the past ten years has thrown great light upon this subject and from analyses furnished trom the same brands of iron, though of dif- ferent gradings, we find that the amount of * total”’ car- bon varies but little ina No. 1 or a No. 4, while the sill- econ chauges radically. It is heat which determines the presence and amount of graphitic carbon, this being found highest in a No. 1, which, if heated and quenched suddenly, would change its carbon to a state of combination with the tron. The longer the metal will remain liquid in its orlginal cast- ing state (the higher necessarily will be its heat or sill- econ) the more prominent will be graphitic carbon, If the casting temperature be low the carbon enters read- ily into combination with the iron, and fracture presents a distinetly homogeneous appearance. In the theory and practice of malleable iron casting the manufacturer is striving to obtain combined carbon to a high degree in s castings, and will turn naturally enough to that grade of iron which most resembles his desired results. If a whole heat were charged of a No. 1 iron, high in silicon and graphitic carbon, there would be the great- est difficulty experienced in getting carbon into combi- nation. The reason is very clear. Carbon combines at a very low latent heat temperature, and in the No. 1 the latent heat unit is high, the silicon must be burnt out to a great degree, and carbon will not combine in this instance until the silicon or the heat units have be- come materially reduced in power. This is primariiy the cause for iron remaining gray in the test long after the melter has found it hot enough to pour. It is not that the percentage of silicon is too high, but the excess silicon is producing enough heat in both 10 retain carbon in its only assertive form—name- ly, graphitic. As the silicon burns out the tests will be- come more mettled, until finally a perfectly clear test re- sults. Therefore the careful manufacturer chooses his irons from those grades presenting the nearest approach to his desired ends, and will choose irons which, when melted and brought up to the pouring point, will con- tain enough silicon to impart latent heat to the bath, and at the same time not interfere with the combination of earbon. The peculiar local conditions must be studied and understood to determine the amount of silicon nec- essary for the mixture, and when that amount has been detinitely proven it will be found an almost invariable rule that when it is exceeded the test will remain gray. Carbon is not eliminated in such large percentages in air furnaces during melting as has been supposed; rather the greater loss occurs during annealing. The best material in the whole charge is the sprue, and no difficulty is encountered in carrying as high as 70 per IRON AGE February 2%, 1899 cent. on mixtures with the highest results. The whole success of malleable iron depends upon the elimination of carbon. The lower the percentage of carbon in any of the metals incident to the use of pig metal the softer and more readily pliable will be the material. The theory of annealing is that the deposition of carbon commences from the outside and penetrates castings through the generation of carbonic oxide. The nature of the iron will, of course, determine the amount of time they should be annealed. If the carbon and silicon are in proper proportions the carbon will go freely, and anneal may be shortened. But if the carbon is held back here by a too high percentage of silicon the re- sulting material will show invariably a steely frac- ture. and a great many persons would be led to imagine that the iron was not properly annealed, and is still hard iron. The silicon must be reduced in the original mix- ture before the carbon will “let go” in the anneal. ‘his fact will develop in almost every malleable foun- dry, and most frequently happens in the following man- ner: Castings packed in the same pot, off the same pat- terns, will show the widest variance. Some will show that velvety break, the sign of good malleable, while others directly alongside will be hard and show a high crystalline fracture. This is rather a puzzling question to the average amateur, and is generally passed over quickly, through inability to solve it. Chemical analysis will demonstrate the theory without fail. The black, velvety fracture will contain a much smaller percentage of silicon than the one showing crystalline break. The difference in many cases under personal observation has been as high as 0.40 to 0.50. They had been cast trom different heats. Second annealing will in a degree overcome the difficulty, but the material is never quite the same, as its life has been attacked too much. The necessity for keeping the mixtures con- stant cannot be too strongly impressed. When the best general analysis for any local practice has been deter- minned, there should not be any liberty taken with it. In working the metal in furnaces use plenty of “ rab- blers,”’ mix the iron in the bath thoroughly, turn it over completely, allowing the flame to ignite and burn off the silicon. In reference to pokers, bars, etc., use freely; wrought iron is cheaper than charcoal iron, and you are imparting a very desirable low carbon product to the metal. It may be urged that with the knowledge ever before the malleable founder of the desirability of com- bined carbon, he ought to charge into his furnace pig metal having the carbon in that form. This would not be good practice, because the iron would contain no “life”? whatever, its silicon and carbon having already been reduced. It is found necessary to use a large pro- portion of pig iron high in graphitic carbon, in order that the mixture may contain enough heat to take up for the period of melting and bringing same up to pour- ing point. With the high percentage of silicon in a No. 1, we find the liberation of carbon almost in its entirety, its freedom of action uncontrolled. In the No. 6 the carbon is confined, its power void. It would prove inter- esting at this point to examine the analyses of some 13 different gradings of pig iron. and note that with the decrease of silicon from No. 1 to No. 6 the graphitic carbon also decreases and combined carbon increases until the latter form assumes the supremacy in No. 6: Comb. Graphitie Tota Grade. Silicon, carbon. carbon carbon, 1 Seoteh .. - eer 0.52 2.93 4.45 1 Soft pee ab elas 2.05 0.49 3.t0) 3.49 1 Special Kceubeie 1.85 0.42 2 US 3.40 1 Regular....... 1.60 0.38 2.04 3.32 © BM kecnudcansése 1.25 58 2 85 $.43 fea 1.00 0.62 3.04 3.64 OO EE rer 0.32 2.85 3.57 I oars iach ateueicaite 0.70 0.68 2m) 58 8 High...... 5 0.61 0.71 2.78 3.49 CRN vcosdceicasinnsservcnn Gee 0.80 2.30 3.10 4 High.. 0.32 0.91 2 5A 3.46 5 0.22 1.62 2.44 3.62 6. 0.10 3.67 3.67 From the above table one point will at once attract attention. The greatest variance in total carbon has been only 0.57 per cent. There is no low carbon pig metal produced as yet, although a freak cast occurred from ores from Mr. Edison’s plant, about one vear ago, when the pig metal was really malleable. This was caused in a measure by the titanium in the ores used, In mixtures for light castings a great many heats are poured while the test still shows “ gray,’ but on ac- count of the thinness of patterns the carbon combines on meeting the damp surface of the mold. Too much care cannot be taken when making the tests for heavy work mixtures A rapid cooling will combine carbon quickly, and the risk is run of having resulting castings “gray.” Iron will expand when first poured, to a de- gree varying with the amount of latent heat in the metal. In heavy work, when the heat is any way “ soft,” the shrinkage and segregation will be more pronounced than when the mixture is “ high.” It will prove inter- esting to here note the results of a few chemical and physical tests made with the view of throwing some February 23, 1899 THE light upon the question, what should be the proper percentage of total carbon to eliminate from castings from hard iron, through the anneal, in order to obtain the best product. It is understood that the total car- bon is given in all cases. ec. €>. epf ef ¢ ea. co. z EH £82 £32 GE & SEE ESE EE5 a= gus gee 5% & Sos Sms =a5 ) S u = <= rae Th 77 fe 3.02 ».80 2.10 39,150 0.82 5.3838 1.05 0.72 4 Re 3.36 3.12 1.92 38.040 0.37 6.16 0.92 0.68 sid. Se 3.36 2.92 1.8) 36.20 0.42 7.00 0.92 0.56 Pe achass 3.20 2.82 2.00 33.700 0.49 8.16 0.75 0.48 These tests were all taken from heats pouring Ight work, where great malleability was required rather than maximum strength. Test “A” shows a reduction of 0.92 in carbon and 0.838 in silicon, a rather high elongation and also good tensile characteristics. ‘ B”’ and “C” are from the same mixtures poured from the same furnace. but showing furnace irregularities on two heats. “ID” is very close to an ideal malleable iron for light work, showing a loss of 1.20 in carbon and .27 in silicon. In mixtures prepared for ordinary rail- road castings the following figures are presented for consideration: ; a: : oS Se 33 8 : te Se #¢ o- = se §5 €2. ¢ Ex ge ee 858 ee ~ > ow es x = an : © w sf 60s =T O oO = es & Z ee kA 2.80 E 48,900 0.86 6.00 0.43 PEASE 2.63 ¢ ie 52,700 0.47 7.88 0.44 ee waemees 2.72 2.55 1.42 54100 0.52 & 66 0.48 Re ee oe 2.90 yt 3 1 & 50,380 0.61 10.16 0.50 The one patent conclusion to be drawn from above figures is the correctness of that statement made before, that the less the percentage of carbon the more malleable the product will become. how silicon is a sure guide for the removal of carbon in a perfect anneal. There is one very important feature in the annealing of castings which is rather lost sight of in a great many foundries which have a set rule for the number Of days for anneal ing. If the iron is always constant in the mixture this is all right, but with the variations in the metal come the troubles of the annealer. A mixture once estab lished, and that only after exhaustive analysis and dem- onstration, should be stricthy adhered to, to reap the best results of practice. When castings are overan nealed they will be brittle, owing to a formation of oxide of iron with continued heat, after the carbon has been partially removed. The action of ferric oxide and carbon at a red heat indicates somewhat the nature of the processes at work during decarbonization. The ferric oxide and heated air in contact with castings first oxidizes the carbon on the outside, and then passes in ward, reacting upon the carbon. The tnttuence of Phosphorus. This inetalleid, in conjunetion with silicon and car bon, has an inthluence upon the fluidity of iron, and how great its povvers depends entirely upon the percentages of these other alloys present. Unlike sulphur, its pres ence is not strictly due to any heat condition in the blast furnace. It is a result purely of the composition of the blast furnace burden. In the Lake Superior ore the phosphorus is very low indeed, but the Eastern furnaces use it but sparingly because freight rates are high. The percentage of iron is very large, and it en- riches many an otherwise “lean” burden. In the East, as in the Central West or Valley regions, the makers of iron for malleable or Bessemer limits find themselves very close on phosphorus to pass specifications. The amount of phosphorus in pig iron does not change very materially with the grading. In the No. 1 it will be found exerting its full powers toward producing a more liquid metal, and in the No. 6 it will be dormant simply for want of opportunity to expand and free itself. Owing its origin to no heat conditions, yet upon remelt- ing its prominence is directly attributable to heat gen- erated in furnace. Ther exists probably more uni- formity of ideas in relation to phosphorus, and amounts of same necessary for good malleable, than of any of the other alloys. In fact, there seem few questions asked if the amount does not exceed 0.20. With an excess of phosphorus, say 0.25, we find a condition arising in fin- ished material somewhat resembling the effects of sul- phur—namely, hardness. It would be an infinitely fine point to draw the distinction between the effects of the two metalloids after the castings have been annealed. It does not leave any directly attributable shrinkage cracks, but rather asserts itself when the iron is “ hard.” There is a great deal to be written concerning the shrinkage of metals, and that phenomenon is not entirely caused by the natural forces at work, but is aggravated in no small degree by the immediate chemical actions caused by the impurities. In the founding of irregular IRON AGE — patterns we find the metal cracking upon cooling, and the subsequent loss of casting. This bas in a measure been traced to the external and internal strains at work, but the more nearly ** chemically pure,” so to speak, we inake our initial iron the less this will oceur. Phos- phorus is not a dominating feature in pig iron; it can- not be said that like silicon and carbon it will stand alone. It depends entirely upon silicon for its assertive qualities. In charcoal irons it is prominent, coming dl- rently from the purely organie nature of the fuels, but in coke irons we have a reversal of conditions. There isa very general feeling abroad that the phosphorus in mal- leable, as in steel, has a very weakening effect, yet there is not sufficient data published to prove all these as- sertions. If, like silicon or manganese, we could locate with some degree of satisfaction where the line should be drawn, the benefit would be great. In casting gray iron, or ordinary stove iron, a very high percentage of phosphorus is carried with a correspondingly high sill- con, and the two metalloids in conjunction make a very fluid metal, necessary for the large and rangy patterns. In malleable work it is not practicable to carry a very high silicon and the phosphorus does not quite perform the same functions. Nevertheless its working in the air furnace may be traced with accuracy. If a heat is charged in which the percentage of silicon is high, and phosphorus low, we have the condition to face in molten iron of not having the “ carrying properties ” of a high- er phosphorus metal. The action of phosphorus in the anneal has never been satisfactorily explained, there being a great many contrary ideas prevalent regarding the change in chemical formations of this alloy, from the hard iron to the liberation of the final anneal. It is good reasoning to believe that phosphorus, like carbon, changes its formation during period of anneal from determinate phosphorus in the bard iron to an almost amorphous condition in soft iron. Irom the fact that titanium is present with carbon and phosphorus come the widely differing results of chemists on these metal loids. The Influence of Manganese, This metalloid is perhaps the most peculiar one found in pig iron. The presence of manganese is supposed to exert a controlling effect upon shrinkage, yet there are many who still cling to the idea that shrinkage is di- rectly consequent to no set rule concerning amount of alloys present, but rather from the casting strain. In the Fast the foundries are fighting manganese and fn the West, where are located the larger works, manga nese is entertained as a welcome guest, and vet both sections are producing excellent material. There will always be these extreme views to face concerning the auestions of amounts of metalloids, and the more con- servative view the founder takes the more peace of mind he will enjoy. If general practice could be quoted with a degree of safety manganese could be said to inate rinlly affect the shrinkage of metals to a lessening de- gree; and for the non-usage of chills, where one foun dry a few years ago was using chills upon almost all large shapes, by raising the percentage of manganese in mixture this “chilling”? was to a great extent avoided, and the reasons advanced were that the manganese had oxidized the carbon to the extent of rapid cooling. The rapidity with which a easting cools will materially affect the shrinkage. If a casting remains hot in spots, through the influence of induced or natural heat, and is cooling at other points, there is but one solution of the question—namely, a natural condition of circumstances. gut if the cooling of a naturally hot metal could be accelerated by the presence of some known alloy, we would have to recognize this phenomenon as material. During the earlier days of malleable founding but lit- tle attention was paid to the action chemically of any alloy, excepting carbon and silicon, and it must be said as good an article was produced. One after an- other of the elements has been taken up, and manganese is the last. In the West malleable foundries are using pig iron with 1.50 per cent. of manganese, and contrary to the experiences of the past the annealing period has been shortened, instead of otherwise. The effect of an excess of manganese has been demonstrated to no mean results. If, like in the making of Bessemer or open hearth, we were bound by strict specifications as to percentages, we would be producing a more uniform ma- terial, but with the varying practice in every concern we find the methods almost in direct contradiction to immediate local companies. Manganese will combine in any amount with iron; there is no doubt of a high per- centage of same affecting the total carbon. This latter is best illustrated from the fact that ferromanganese and spiegel carry about 6 per cent. of carbon. With this high carbon, manganese still exerts its powerful in- fluence in combining a certain portion of the carbon. In the manufacture of car wheels this has long been es- tablished practice, that manganese exerts this combin- ing influence. 7 < Whew: cere AD i Bn eBHE y z petite 2 Min. = a He BES <a oa ; — Ca”) ee oe oe ; : { 6 THE IRON AGE. In the malleable furnace it is known that manganese will eliminate portions of the sulphur, which will pass off through the slag. In view of these deductions, would it not be possible to look upon manganese in the light of a purifier, and reason with the metallurgists of the West that a large percentage is desirable? The addi- tional strength which will be the direct result of higher manganese will commend it to all makers of couplers and heavy work. In ligh castings it would not be so desirable. as strength is not the first requirement rather malleability rhose concerns which manufac jure small castings, such as pipe fittings, &c., and which are troubled with sulphur absorbed by the iron from fuel used. would find a decided advantage in using a higher manganese with the charge, and so flux off sul phur. The reason of a great amount of the trouble aris ing from small overannealing, and the metal presents a dirty gray fracture, due to the almost com plete oxidization of the carbon. work js — The New Works of Beaman & Smith February 23, 1899 und which is placed overhead upon girders suspended from the ceiling. Yo the rear of this are the larger tools, planers, boring machines and the like, which are driven ly two electric motors of 15 and 10 horse-power. AD lL, 20 feet wide and 48 feet 8 inches deep, projects from this side of the main building and contains the Wash rooms, oat rooms, heating apparatus, which is placed overhead, and so on. Immediately back of this and also in the side projection is the stock room, contain- ing racks for all sorts of raw material and also cutting off and centering machines. This room is separated from the main building by a light well, the object of which is to insure ample illumination in the planer room. Still back of this and sunk a few feet below the main level is the boiler room, which is also the blacksmith Outside of the boiler room is a self supported feet high. The boiler room extends back main room 40 feet main building is 60 feet &8 inches wide by 128 It is constructed upon a masonry foundation and 3, the sides being mainly of elass and iron. Both side elevations show that the walls are almost entirely of glass, so that the lighting of the shop. steel stack TU of the The feet deep. nas shown in Figs. 2 As ne since Beaman & Smith of Providenc interior is amply provided for. Upon the roof of the R. L.. moved into their new works, which they had de main building is a monitor as shown. Occupying about Sleuc ind equipped with every appliance tending to the one-quarter of the rear of the main shop is an erecting accurate d economical production of the machine tools room provided with a 10-ton three-motor electric travel- os —+_— — f , | | — P wh pena stain | | |x J) LJ | as ate Bs ) | a HT WELL SS oo ae ee a eS as =e OF . . aS" Ls i rn 2 10 4 SA EA NE 15 H.P | PLANERS AND S Si Dar mat = ne ee rl DUN 2 ALRINC So 10 on ‘s) + —6- .——_¢-¥ | e = is: i. 3 = TNT - | ic = | | a 42 4 ; 7 Bi | WT) |} =. S é ERECTING ROOM | z le x z = = rt. ; ig pool @ pros . | ‘ | © 4 Z + j | — S ~ J | ‘a | 7 ee | ; | | i | PORTABLE CABLE — 2 i : i NECTED 3 #. P. MOTOR ~ < =| e S | | o 2 | | | 4 33 4 | m4 | 4 so a SS SS SS 1 i L ie ==: I Bae as 1 FOUNDATION wal THICK Fig. .— Plan THE NEW WORKS OF BEAMAN & SMITH manul: ured LyX Tien It is to lv expected that when ing crane and with a portable cable connected 3 horse- : iy hye wo t) : : : a." : a cone h vaviInge the experience of this one decide to power motor. Che latter is mounted upon wheels so gem the new plant will be in every way strictly up that it may be carried anywhere throughout the works, to date rhis we tind to be truly the case with the new works, which are shown in plan and in elevations by the accompanying drawing. Before describing in detail the plan it may be well to state that provision has been made for ainple lightingin every part of every department. The power system is divided into eleetrical units, the motors being so placed that the main shaft may be oper- ated from one in case of accident to another. As far as possible the tools Aare vrouped, and performing being toge’ similar nature work of practically the same magnitude her, and the groups are so arranged that the those of work passes through the shop without any retracing to a large and well supplied erecting room in which it is loaded dircetly upon trucks. The several motors are supplied with electricity by the central lighting station of the city, this being the first case in Providence where pow di ne a manutacturing establishment has been « | from a central station. The boiler shown upon lrawinbges is merely used for heating the works by me s Sturtevant hot blast system. Ie x to the plan. Fig. 1, it will be seen that directly to the right of the entrance are the main offices, hoy s a splendidly lighted drafting room, pro- vided with all necessary appliances for blue print work. To the eht and on the drafting room level are the pat- tern + is fo the left of the entrance on the main floor ® collected the small tools, which are driven by a 15 horse-power motor located as shown in the plan, and provision is made for supplying current through switches located at convenient intervals. The firm own considerable ground to the south and east of the build- ings, so that they can at any time easily provide for addi- tions. This emergency has been looked to, inasmuch as the south and east walls have been so designed that they may be almost entirely removed and still maintain the symmetry of the main design if at any time it should become necessary to increase the capacity. ee The Excess of Imports in Great Britain. Sir Robert Giffen, a statistical authority, has con- tributed recently to the Royal United Service Institution a paper entitled “ The Excess of Imports,’ which pre sents views worthy of study, since Americans hope at no distant day to share in the profits which English capital- ists draw from all quarters of the globe. We take from the address in question the followin