The Iron Age 1899-10-26: Vol 64 Iss 17

THE A Review of the Hardware, Iron, Machinery an Published every Thursday Morning by David Williams Co., 232-2 - IRON AGE O @ wossuyyse As ayn WySUT .00 J TL aeiaosqyiugs vo tiv wi awew Sork, 3. Vol. LXIV: : Me 7. New York, Thursday, October 26, 1899. $4.50 a Year, including Postage. Single Copies, Ten Cents. Reading Matter Contents. .... Classified List of Advertisers. .... Alphabetical Index to Advertisers ‘‘ Advertising and Subscription Rates ‘‘ “eé 122 57 --page 50], 117) THO Wew York. Republic Iron & Steel Co., CHICAGO. MANUFACTURERS TURNBUCKLES DISTRICT SALES OFFICES: Buffalo, N. Y. New York City. Cleveland, O. St. Louis, Mo. Cincinnati, O. Birmingham, Ala. Bristol’s Patent Steel Belt Lacing, SAVES Time, Belts, Money. Grostestaare bh READY TOAPPLY FINISHEDVOWT with Least Me Send ter Circulars and Free Samples. THE BRISTOL CO , Waterbury, Conn. SAMSON SPOT CORD Also Massachusetts and Phenix Brands of Sash Curd. SAMSON CORDAGE WORKS, - Boston, Mass, ¢ TURN BUCKLES. ae fa BRANCH OFFICE: 11 Broadway, New York. Cleveland City Forge and Iron Co.. - Cleveland, O. DROP HAMMERS. MANUFACTURED BY MERRILL BROS., Brooklyn, N. Y.- BESSEMER PIC. PILLING & CRANE, Girard Building, Philada. Lewis Block, Pittsburgh. What’s the use of adver- tizing galvanized iron? Can't fill orders. No regular customer waits: it’s the now-and-then folks that wait. Apollo Iron and Steel Company, Pittsburgh. U. MM. @. an Paper Shot Shells Hen ames Fitted with the **Acme ‘* Trap : ‘¢ Primrose Club’’ celebrated ‘*Nitro’’ — ‘**High U.M a / . . Base’’—‘* New Club ”’ ion are an absolute neces- PRIMERS. sity to sportsmen in Bridgeport, Conn. out of the way local- , ities where loaded ' shells cannot be ob- tained, and to those who have a prefer- ence for their own particular load. 313 Broadway, KL New York. 4 425 llarket St., San Francisco. Union Metallic Cartridge Co. ft CAHALL BOILERS === = CAPEWELL HORSE NAILS. i NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, CHICAGO, ST. LOUIS, BOSTON, DETROIT, CINCINNATI, ‘ SAN FRANCISCO, \ PORTLAND, ORE... . BUFFALO, a BALTIMORE, we NEW ORLEANS. THE CAPEWELL HORSE NAIL COPIPANY, HARTFORD, CONN. a SS - (2,07 ‘ OC if BRANCHES: Compare Weights WHEN YOU ARE TOLD THAT JENKINS ’96 IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OTHER PACKINGS A verage weight, ¥%” “Jenkins ‘96,"’ 11 lbs to the square yard. %" Red Packing, 14 “ At 50c. per pound ‘JENKINS °96” is not only very much cheaper, but the best joint packing manufactured. JENKINS BROS., New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicage. Brass Prices High, So Use Bright “Swedoh” Stamp- ge. 108 | ing Steel Easily Brass Plated and Save Money. i MAGNOLIA METAL Best Anti-Friction Matal for all Machinery Bearings. Beware ot Imitations. Genuine Magnolia Metal is made up in bars of which this is a fac-simile : The name and trade- mark appear on each bog and bar, and the * words ‘“‘ Manufactured in United Statcs” and “Patented June 3, '9), are sli ampe d ou the un- der side of each bar. JENKINS STANDARD PACKING ways sold at— Chicago Office, Owners and Sole } 266 & 267 WEST ST., NEW YORK 'scseg 281 Dearborn St. i *‘MagnoWa neon is still selting ~~ a ape price it has ! i MAGNOLIA METAL CO., ( Mavufactureiss 2 THE IRON AGE THE ANSONIA Brass ‘oun BRASS AND COPPER S AND C Ingot Copper. ss Tubes Sheet Rod OLE MANUFACTURERS Tobin Bronze (TRADE-MARK REGISTERED Condenser Plz Pumg Lining Round, Square and Hexagon Bars, for Pumg Piston Rods and Boli ~jne ngs 99 John Street, New York. Rano oh! MANUFACTURERS OF= TEETOBRA iy COPPER. > ts BRAZED BRASS & COPPER TUBES. SEAMLESS BRASS & COPPER TUBES”38"DIAM ERAN DEPOT 226 LA CHICAGO, ILL. NEW Px ROOM Be STAL TEL EGRAPN 25 SR OAOW PH/LADELPHIA ROOM 220 PHILA BANA “BLDG A CINNAT OD ROOM 308 WEAVE BLOG west Seietons 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- dence, R. 1. 38 Mechanic St., Newark, N. J. MILLS AT WATERBURY, CONN, NEW YACHT COLUMBIA All Her BRONZE CASTINGS are made of our... Ordnance Bronze Bridgeport Deoxidized Bronze & Metal Co., BRIDGEPORT, CONN. Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Co., LA SALLE, ILLINOIS, SMELTERS OF SPELTER AND MANUFACTURERS OF SHEET ZINC AND Special Sizes of Zinc cut to order SULPHURIC ACID. 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. Swiss Hide Belting HIGHEST GRADE. Runs straight, stretches but little, lasts long. MANUFAC TURED BY MACHINISTS’ SUPPLY CO,, aociesren, m. ¥. HENDRICKS PROPRIET‘* BROTHERS RS OF THE Belleville Copper Rolling Mills, MANUFACTURERS OF Brazicrs’, Bolt and Sheathing COPPER, COPPER WIRE AND RIVETS. Importers al Ingot Copper, Block Tir, 49 Spelter, CLIFF ST., id Dealers in Lead, Antimony, etc. NEW YORK. THE PLUME & ATwooD Mee, b0., 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 8T., CHICAGO ROLLING MILL : THOMASTON, CONN. FACTORIES : WATERBURY, CONN SCOVILL MFG. CO., 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 8. 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 Ferrulea, Pure Copper Wire, Sheet and Ingot Copper: Tin, Antimony, ” “Medlh, OIL and GAS Bicycle Lantemns. Send tor Circulars and Electrotypes. THE BRIDGEPORT BRASS CoO., Bridgeport, Conn. 19 Murray 8t., N. Y. 17 No. 7th 8t., Philadelphia. 85 to 87 Pearl St., Boston ———_——__— — TRACTS “ore. sacs. = perce] erwvrwwwwn | [urtS C ONTR send IN YOUR 30G ELS \ Seen Vepeciat pac FACILITIES FoR Co oe MODE ‘THE IRON AGB. THURSDAY, OcTosBER 26, 1899. The Wood 400 Horse-Power Gas Producer Plant. R. D. Wood & Co. of Philadelphia have designed and erected an interesting producer plant at the new shops of the Erie Railroad in Jersey City. In its operation the plant has established an important fact—namely, that where the proper fuel is available power through the medium of gas engines and producer gas made on the spot can be continually produced for less than one- half the cost of the same power produced by means of good steam engines and boiiers, and at approximately the same first cost for plant. The power in this case is used for electric lighting, running shop tools, &c., and has been found entirely THE WOOD reliable. It has been in operation for nearly six months, to the satisfaction of the officials of the Erie Railroad Company, who deserve much credit for the enterprising manner in which they took hold of the matter, for, al- though it is not by any means a new thing in Great Britain and Europe, it was, to a certain degree, a novelty in the United States. The builders guaranteed that the plant would run successfully on anthracite buckwheat coal, but it has been found that very good results are obtained from a still smaller size—namely, rice—at a lower cost. The manufacturers’ guarantee was to de- liver in the form of gas on an average of not less than 10,000 British thermal units for every pound of buck- wheat coal consumed, which would correspond to an efficiency of production of fully 80 per cent. This would correspond to producing 80 cubic feet of gas having 125 heat units per cubic foot from every pound of coal. However, after the contract was made a modification in the design was decided upon by the engineers of R. D. Wood & Co., with a view of increasing the heat en ergy of the gas and reducing the volume. The result of this effort was entirely successful; the gas analyzed an average of 141 heat units per cubic foot, and this 400 HORSE-POWER from the fine rice The volume of gas was also reduced, giving a net result in heat antee, coal, which is almost refuse. units, however, decidedly in excess of the guar- The Otto gas engines used with the plant are able to give aa indicated horse-power of between 11,000 and 12,000 heat units per hour, corresponding to a ther- mal efficiency in the engine of about 22 per cent. and a consumption of about 85 cubic feet of the above men- tioned which is These data were all carefully obtained by means of measurements of fuel, measurements and analyses of gas and indicator cards from the engine, under the direction of the Erie Railroad Company’s testing department. producer gas per horse-power hour, equivalent to about 1 1-10 pounds of coal. Briefly described, the apparatus consists of the fol- lowing items: . v4 ss aun ge | i Ae if iH j F " Pe Mi | \ i GAS PRODUCER PLANT. Producers, Two 7-foot Taylor revolving bottom gas producers, surmounted by the Bildt patent automatic feeders. By this combination the gas is produced continuously and uniformly at any pressure desired, and the labor is re- duced to a nominal amount, less than would be required in firing steam boilers of the same capacity. From the producers the gas passes through the Economizers which stand vertically and are designed to cool the gas and impart its heat to the incoming blast of air and steam to the producer. It will be noted that while the gas enters the top of the economizer and passes out through a wash box at its base, the air is drawn by means of a Korting steam blower upward from the bot- tom of the economizer and out near its summit. where the hot gas enters. — Wash Boxes, The wash boxes serve to prevent a large portion of the tar going into the scrubbers and also act as auto- matic seals, preventing the gas from the holder passing backward into the producer. The small amount of steam required to operate the blowers can, of course, be fur- 2; THE IRON AGE. nished from any available source, but in this instance, as there will be periods in the year when no steam plant will be in operation, a small vertical boiler was instailed for sun er firing 7 \ — a October 26, 1599 of the ammonia, tar and sulphur to leave it clean enough for use in the engine. From the top of the scrub- bers, however. the gas is conducted downward to the purifiers, which are rectangular boxes filled with spe- ECONOMISER & WASH-BOX i | | 4 w VY) PROD = 2 || > z ¥ C ° | ¢ n q w — ; i ~ } ] | | - 7 Wash? 7 ‘waa VOTO OOO . 6Ox ? . BOX ~~? = - ORI Fig. 3.— Side Elevation, THE WOOD 400 HORSE-POWER GAS PRODUCER PLANT. Scrubbers, From the wash boxes the gas passes into the base of two larger vertical scrubbers of ordinary character, whose compartments are filled with coke, which is con- tinually wetted by water sprays from above. The use of these scrubbers is to extract from the gas sufficient cially prepared material, to catch the remaining particles of tar and further arrest the sulphur carried over from thescrubbers. From the purifiers the gas then passes into the gas holder outside the building and thence to the main leading to the engine house. The gas holder is large enough to carry about ten minutes’ supply, and serves the purpose of balancing WATER FROM GAS HOLDER October 26, 1899 irregularities in production, consumption and constitu- tion of the gas. In it a large volume of gas is carried and mixed, so that the analysis is maintained sufficiently uniform. General Details, It will be noticed that there is a drip pot provided, Figs. 3 and 4, into which all the separate parts of the ap- paratus are drained of tar, which overflows automatically into the sewer. Water used to cool the top of the pro- ducers is carried into the holder tank, thus insuring the tank from freezing in the winter time. The coal is raised from a storage bin by a link belt elevator and discharged automatically into the receiver of the auto- matic feed. The hopper of the feed has a capacity for several hours’ run, hence requires but intermittent charging. The feeding device runs continuously and its speed is under easy control of the attendant, so that the amount of fuel being fed can be regulated at will. As it is fed the coal is sprinkled or sifted in uniformly all over the gas producing surface, and to those familiar with the customary labor and difficulties of maintaining a proper condition of bed in a gas producer the advan- tage of this automatic charging will be at once apparent. Not only is the labor largely reduced, but regularity in quality and quantity of gas is assured. <i —_— The Pittsburgh Coal Company. ’ The recently organized Pittsburgh Coal Company have made settlements with the coal operators whose plants they purchased, and the organization has been completed by the election of officers. The Board of Di- rectors is as follows: Francis L. Robbins, Andrew W. Mellon, Henry W. Oliver, John D. Nicholson, Upson A. Andrews and James C. Dysart, all of Pittsburgh, with Frank M. Osborne, Daniel R. Hanna, William P. Mur- ray, Charles W. Baine and Peter M. Hitchcock of Cleve- land; Matthew H. Taylor of Erie, Edwin M. Saunders of St. Paul, Minn.; Grant RB, Schley of New York and Jacob B. Ridgeway of Philadelphia. The Executive Committee will consist of Francis L. Robbins, Frank M. Osborne, Andrew W. Mellon, Matthew H. Taylor, Daniel R. PRODUCER GAS HOLDER | _ es BOILER TRAPS FOR WATER CIRCULATION Fig. 4.—Hnd Elevition. THE WOOD 400 HORSE-POWER GAS PRODUCER PLANT. Hanna, John D. Nicholson and William P. Murray. The executive officers are as follows: Francis L. Robbins, chairman of Board and Executive Committee; Frank W. Osborne, president; James C. Dysart, vice-president; Upson A. Andrews, treasurer; Charles W. Baine, secre- tary and auditor; George W. Schluederberg, genera] su- perintendent of mines, and E. J. Taylor, chief engineer. THE IRON AGE. 3 On Monday, October 23, the company commenced ac- tive business. The entire Hussey Building on Fifth av- enue, Pittsburgh, with the exception of the first floor, hag been rented for offices and will be occupied as soon as the necessary changes can be made. One of the rooms will be set apart for the display of plans and photo- graphs of the mines and coal fields owned by the Pitts- burgh Coal Company, and there will also be a large private telephone exchange. ———$— $$ Foreign Impressions of Wm. L. Brown. A Chicago daily recently contained the following in- teresting statement relative to a gentleman who is now one of the leaders in the iron trade: W. L. Brown, president of the. American Shipbuilding Company, returned to Chicago on the 18th inst., after a trip of two months to Europe. Most of his time abroad was spent in England and Scotland, although Mr. Brown made a brief run over the Continent. While his trip was largely for pleasure, Mr. Brown gave close attention to general conditions prevailing in shipbuilding and in the iron and steel industries of both Great Britain and the Continent. He comes back more convinced than ever that American steel is going to supply the world. Mr. Brown was the head of the Finance Committee of the Illinois Steel Company at the time of the organization of the Federal Steel Company, and is a leading spirit in that great combination. He was also instrumental in the organization of the American Steel & Wire Company. In addition to his very large interests in the steel trade, he is president of the South Chicago Furnace Company. ““ Necessarily, my field of observation while in Great Britain,” he said, “* was limited, hence to a certain extent superficial; but in all my conversations my English ac- quaintances and friends readily admitted the patent fact that, in the very nature of the new conditions we have created and are creating, we would largely increase our mereantile and naval marine. I returned even more strongly impressed than ever that we can and will be able to command practically the markets of the world with our iron and steel products. I was also convinced that with the world’s demand there is certainly a grow- ing scarcity of raw material, both in Great Britain and at the better known points on the Continent. In Great Britain I found every iron and steel industry, as well as shipbuilding, very active, quite as much so as at home, and to a large degree this extends to the Continent, al- though I did not see so much of this on the Continent as in Great Britain.” “What reasons do the English have for feeling that we are going to build up an American marine?” ‘They express many reasons. Among others the fact of our ability to produce raw material for the purpose, our very large and increasing export business at prices that fully compete with their home manufactures, and underneath it all, it seemed to me, a very strong fraternal feeling that it was within the power and province of the two nations to largely act as a unit in the increase of our marine. They recognize the fact that it would be {mpos- sible for them to create and hold it all, and that with the close relations existing the natural sequence would be our progress in that direction.” “Then they regard our growth as that of friends rather than rivals?” “So far as my conversation and observation went, that seemed decidedly the position and condition with them.” “What conditions do you find in the iron and steel trade after your trip abroad?” “The activity in the iron and steel trade continues practically the same as when I left home, and I see no reason why it will not continue through the coming year, and probably longer, but guessing about long futures is always surrounded by too many possibilities to be of much consequence. ‘The activity in the business, both in Great Britain and on the Continent, particularly in Ger- many, Belgium and France, is quite equal to what it is with us.” <> —___ Molders’ strikes are quite numerous, reports of such troubles coming from St. Paul, Indianapolis and several other Western cities and towns. In some cases they are striking for higher wages, and in others for the recognition of their union, so as to enforce a demand for an advance. The report of the auditor in the matter of the account of J. J. Donnell, surviving trustee of Nimick & Co., at Pittsburgh, was filed in the courts in that city last week. It shows a balance of $137,131.93 for distribution. The creditors received 25 per cent. of their claims. Nimick & Co. were iron and steel merchants in Pittsburgh for many years. 4 THE IRON AGE. Iron and Steel Exhibits at the Na- tional Export Exposition. Pencoyd Iron Works. Without doubt the finest and most imposing exhibit in the exposition is that of the Pencoyd Iron Works, A. & P. Roberts & Co., Philadelphia. Towering above all the other exhibits in the main hall, the display is easily located, and is seen to be typical of the magnitude of the works. In designing the exhibit advantage has been taken of the structural features of the firm’s products, and each piece of work exhibited contributes in some particular to the effectiveness of the display. A center piece of mass- ive proportions, surmounted by columns and arches gracefully disposed, with plenty of walking space, is the general scope of the design. The center piece rests upon a wooden pier and consists of a set of the rockers used in the Delaware River Bridge at Philadelphia. The spec imen includes the shoe and shoe plate, the stumps of the October 26, 1899 panel are seen specimens of the different shapes rolled at Pencoyd. The exhibit is open on four sides, the lines being kept by the different structures, with a series of parts composed of ingot molds with ingots inserted in telescope fashion. At the main entrances to the exhibit these posts support flambeaux decorations. The exhibit of material is supplemented by a number of photographs of the different works and structures completed by the firm, notably some very fine pictures of the Niagara arch in various stages of erection. A feature of the ex- hibit which occasions some remark is the disposition at points of vantage of several anvils. These are shown as a matter of sentiment, anvils being the first product of the Pencoyd Works. In explanation a card is seen bear- ing the legend, “Anvils were the first products of Pen- coyd, axles next. Anvils we do not make any more— axles we do.” The Crescent Steel Company. The Crescent Steel Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., havea an exhibit which is highly instructive as far as the use The Pe neoyd Iron Works. EXHIBITS AT THE NATIONAL EXPORT EXPOSITION. eye bars, the end post together with a piece of the cross girder, the stringers and the lateral bracings. The struc- ture without the pier weighs a little over 70,000 pounds. The base and sides of the pier are used to support a va- riety of material and pieces of work. Ore, limestone, fuel, pig iron, ingots, blooms, and other material contrib- uting to the finished shapes seen in the general exhibit are shown. Bridge forgings and fittings in the rough are also shown, and a stand of axles with the results of tests of the axle steel, some of the results being illustrated by pieces of the steel tied in knots. Near the base of the structure is seen one of the intermediate panel points of the Delaware River Bridge, the weight of which is in the neighborhood of 10,000 pounds. The center of a turn- table, with the longitudinal girder cut 8 feet long, is also shown mounted on disks, with the parts inaccessible for inspection duplicated. Among the columns shown is one supplied for the Boston Elevated Railroad, now in course of construction; columns built for the Northwest- ern, and the Union Elevated Railroad of Chicago, show- ing in each case the stump of the cross girders and stringers; and about a dozen of the better known col- umns used in building construction, showing the method of connecting beams and girders. One of the eye bars of the Delaware Bridge, 33 feet 6 inches center to center, is displayed complete, and is said to contain 40 feet of 12 x 2', inch material. Tastefully arranged on a large of Crescent steel is concerned. Instead of exhibiting their steel in its different forms, the company have pre- ferred to show the uses to which it is put, with the re- sult that their exhibit is a veritable museum of tools and auxiliaries used in the industrial arts. The collection is largely composed of dies used for a variety of purposes, and in themselves evidence of long and satisfactory wear. Pin heading dies are seen that have made 120,- 000,000 heads on pins and yet appear to be good for fur- ther service. Dies for hardware trimmings, watch cases, medals and stamped silver articles of many kinds are exhibited, all indicative of the high quality of the steel. Conspicuous in the collection is a small piece of Crescent steel said to have been at one time 2 inches square, but now of the size and shape of a nutmeg, which has been hardened 550 times, and will scratch glass. This specimen is used to demonstrate the repeated hard- ening the steel will stand without cracking. The exhibit is a handsome and substantial one. It is located at the corner of a section and is open in front and at one side. A large showcase occupies the whole of one side of the space, and an open glass specimen case of liberal propor- tions occupies the center of the floor. On the rear wall and grouped at the open side are quantities of hammers. bits and many other tools made, by different makers, from the company’s steel. A set of prize drills used by (so called) champion drillers in Montana who drill for - October 26, 1899 THE IR prizes were conspicuous in the exhibit, a silent tribute to the satisfactory quality of the Crescent productions. The Taylor Iron & Steel Company, Highbridge, N. J. The Taylor Iron & Steel Company of High Bridge, N. J., have a very interesting exhibit, and one of the few IN AGE. 5 diameter flanged and dished boiler head. Prominence is given to the Roe patent steel pressed manhead made by them, and claimed to be the only steel manhead made in one solid piece without a hole in the center. A 5%- foot boiler head is shown with the manhead applied. There are also shown the Roe patent corrugated boiler The Lukens Iron and Steel Company. exhibits in iron and steel attracting the attention of all classes of visitors. Especial prominence in the display is given to projectiles, which are included in the com- pany’s productions. Among the projectiles shown are 6, 10 and 12 inch armor piercing shells, 7 and 12 inch mortar shells, 7-inch howitzer shells, and a 13-inch shell, said to be the largest in use by the United States Govern- ment. The latter, it is noted, weighs when charged 1100 pounds, and has been nicknamed the “ Railway Train.” lug, said to be much lighter than a cast iron lug; manhole saddles, flanged rings for pipe flanges, buckled plates, and double flanged boiler rings. The exhibit demon- strates what the company can do in the way of special plate work. Howe, Brown & Co., Limited, Pittsburgh, Pa. The firm of Howe, Brown & Co., Limited, of Pitts- burgh, Pa., have an exhibit which is attracting a great The John A. Roebling’s Sons Company. EXHIBITS AT THE NATIONAL EXPORT EXPOSITION. The exhibit includes varieties of steel castings, man- ganese steel castings and forgings, in different forms. The Glasgow Iron Company, Pottstown, Pa. The Glasgow Iron Company of Pottstown, Pa., have a roomy corner space in which to show their specialties. The center of attraction in the exhibit is a 108-inch deal of attention as demonstrating steps in the manu- facture of crucible steel. In a large square case of glass are shown a series of crucibles or melting pots. These crucibles are cut open in front and behind, so that their contents are visible. The crucibles, six in all, with their contents, were in a furnace, No. 1 an hour, and the re- mainder each one-half hour longer than the other, so that | ee coe Sap pase Pe THE IRON AGE. No. 6 was under fire 3). hours. In No. 1 the contents of the pot are seen as melting commences, and in the others in different stages up to the pouring state, where the molten slag is seen on top of the metal. In the showcase also are seen the ores, pig iron and muck bar used in the manufacture of steel by the Howe process. In an- other part of the case is a collection of articles made from the steel and exhibited in evidence of what the steel will stand. In the collection are some shavings taken Th Crescent Steel Company. from a round bar on a cutting off machine, some of them 8&7 feet long. A display of drill rods, showing every alternate size made, is also to be found in the case. The center of the case is occupied by an ingot 18 inches square made from the pourings of 24 crucibles, and said to be the largest tool steel ingot known to be poured in this country. Around the floor of the exhibit are to be seen samples of shear blade steel, mining and drill steel, saw plates, die box and special tool steel. The Phenix Bridge Company and the Phenix tron Company. The Phonix Iron Company and the Pheenix Bridge Company of Phoenixville, Pa., make a joint exhibit. The front of their exhibition space is made up of an arch and two side arches constructed of the shapes rolled at Phoenixville. The center arch is composed of girders, culved knee braces supporting the top girder. On the top girder is a section of solid floor trough. The side arches consist of rolled girders with ornamental brack- ets, the whole decorated with rosettes and other trim- mings. The tops of the side arches are set off with sections of I-beams and channels. At the rear of the ex- hibit are two panels carrying in pleasing designs sections of the different structural material rolled in the works. There are also shown a lot of eye bars broken on the testing machine at Pheenixville, and said to be the most powerful in this country, its pulling capacity being 2,000,000 pounds. A record of one of the broken eye bars is framed and exhibited, showing that the strain required to break the bar was within a few hundred pounds of the maximum strength of the machine. A feature of the exhibit was the large display of de- tail plans and shop drawings of a great many of the bridges built by the company for erection abroad. These plans include some covering bridges sent to Korea, China, Japan, Guatemala, Canada, Chili, and South American countries. The ornamental railing used on the arches forming the exhihit is a counterpart in section of the wrought iron railing used on one of the Japanese bridges. A number of beautiful photographs of the works of the two concerns, and many of the bridges built, help to make the exhibit interesting. The Lukens Iron & Stee] Company, The Lukens Iron & Steel Company of Coatesville, Pa., have a very interesting exhibit, covering the plates and specialties made by them. Their exhibit is located ata corner on one of the principal aisles, and occupies a good deal of space. The display is fenced in by a fence composed of pipe rail supported by Huston patent boiler braces, and carrying a number of flanged and dished heads 24 inches in diameter. The fence is quite unique and strongly in keeping with the exhibit. The com- pany’s sign is conspicuous above the exhibit and carries the legend in prominent letters: ‘‘ The first to make boiler plates in America.” At the rear of the space is a small Octuber 26 1899. house or retiring room built for use as an office. Promi- nent among the products shown in a machine flanged and dished boiler head made from 5-inch plate 108 inches in diameter, and a flanged head of the same diameter, but of 14-inch plate. An open hearth homogeneous fire box ingot weighing 12,200 pounds also attracts attention. What is claimed to be the largest thin plate it is possi- ble to make is a plate 156 inches long by 72 inches wide, and seen to be only No. 10 gauge. Ingotsfrom which flange and tank steel are made are shown and a table located at the front of the exhibit carries samples of many se- vere tests made in the company’s works. Quite a number of boiler heads smaller than those already mentioned are seen in the display, including a head % x 72 inches in Merchant & Uo. EXHIBITS AT THE NATIONAL EXPORT EXPOSITION diameter, flanged and dished, and with a manhole and 12 6x 10 inch hand holes; another 66 inches in diameter from 11-16-inch material, flanged and dished, with a 6-inch straight flange; a head 72 inches in diameter from 14-inch plate, having a 66-inch flue hole; a 60-inch head from 7-16-inch plate having 20 6-inch flue holes flanged outward, and a similar head with the flue holes flanged inward; a head 60 inches in diameter, *%4-inch plate, with an S-inch flange; and a 48-inch head from %-inch mate- rial flanged and dished, with a 14-inch flue hole flanged in the center. There are also shown a sample of marine boiler steel 36 x 36 inches and 2 inches thick; samples of Huston patent boiler braces, collar flanges, and pressed steel manhole plates with fittings. a ee In the United States Circuit Court, at Pittsburgh, the National Tube Company have filed a bill in equity against Spang, Chalfant & Co., pipe and tube manufac- turers of Pittsburgh. It is charged that the defendant company are using a certain useful improvement in the manufacture of tubing the patent on which is owned by the complainant. An injunction is asked for. October 26, 1899 Horace S. Smith. With the death of Horace S. Smith, which occurred at his home in Chicago on the 17th inst., another of the pioneers of the Bessemer process in this country has passed away. Mr. Smith’s history as a steel manufac- turer may be said to be the history of the Joliet Steel Works. He won his fame as one of the great American steel makers entirely in connection with those works. The success which he attained is another illustration of the achievements of mechanical genius in a line totally different from that in which a man first makes his mark. For much of the data given below we are indebted to E. C. Potter and W. R. Stirling. Mr. Smith was born in Dunstable, N. H., on Decem- ber 28, 1826, and the earlier years of his manhood were passed in the service of various railroads both East and West in operating and mechanical departments. He rose gradually to positions of responsibility, until he be- came master mechanic of the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company, at Bloom- ington, Ill. In 1875 he attracted the at- tention of Alexander J. Forbes-Leith, who was then receiver of the Joliet Iron & Steel Company, and who needed a man of ability and high mechanical attain- ments to take the management of the steel works. With absolutely no experi- ence in either rolling mill or steel works practice Mr. Smith accepted the posi- tion, and undertook the great task of placing a run down plant in good condi- tion. Mr. Smith had good teachers. He received his first in- struction in Besse- mer engineering from the lips of Hol- ley himself. He was further a close friend of the late Wm. R. Jones, both being men of the same school and type of mechanics. Mr. Smith’s native ability, and his possession of the in- valuable gift of sound common sense, enabled him to meet and cope success- fully with the many and intricate prob- lems of mechanics and metallurgy that are continually pre- senting themselves in every large and progressive steel works. When the company reorganized on June 1, 1879, as the Joliet Steel Company, Mr. Smith had brought the works up to such a degree of efficiency that he was re- tained as general superintendent, and held the position until the company became merged into the Illinois Steel Company, in 1889. Under his management the Joliet works were unvaryingly prosperous and yearly grew in capacity and extent. He was personally a very hard worker for many years, being in the habit of going reg- ularly to the works at night to see that everything was running properly. To this close attention to all manu- facturing details may be attributed not only the great output of the plant for its time, but also the high and uniform quality for which the products of the Joliet works were noted. He introduced improvements in the plant, which were often of a radical character, his great- est professional triumph having probably been the de- velopment of intricate automatic machinery for rolling rails and billets, which greatly increased the capacity of a train of rolls and dispensed with much expensive labor. This machinery was first successfully employed at Joliet, and by its means that plant leaped to the front as a rail producer. In slightly modified form this de- vice is now in use in most of the large rail mills of the country. Mr. Smith also assisted Wm. Garrett in the development of the rod mill. At the time the Joliet rod HORACE THE IRON ~ AGE. 7 mill was built the best output per turn had been 60 tons. The Joliet mill was designed for 100 tons, but under Mr. Smith’s able management it soon sonsiderably ex- ceeded the estimated output. He was also connected with the Fox Pressed Steel Company, and was one of the leading ofticials when that company established works at Joliet. Machinery for the plant was imported from Great Britain, but in a few months Mr. Smith had completely changed the valves and improved the method of operating it until it was running at much higher speed, and turned out a greatly increased product per man and per machine. Shortly after the organiza- tion of the Illinois Steel Company Mr. Smith was ap- pointed to a position involving the general oversight of all the company’s several plants, and removed to Chi- cago. He subsequently bécame a director of the com- pany and second vice-president, in charge of operating. He retained that oftice until about five years since, when he concluded to retire from active business, and leave to younger heads the task of carrying forward the work which he had so ably and diligently conducted. One of Mr. Smith’s sterling qualities was his admirable treatment of his workmen. He had the faculty of at- taching his en- ployees to him and vetting the best out of them. He ever maintained toward ihem an attitude of even handed §fair- ness and regard for their rights. He al- ways kept his word. Iie was accordingly respected, trusted and even beloved by all his men, and this largely explains the creat success which attended the opera- tions of the Joliet plant under his man- agement. He not only had thoroughly sound mechanical ideas himself, but encouraged his workmen in suggest- ing improvements. Underneath a_ gruff exterior no one ever failed to find that he possessed a warm and kindly heart. He was one of the promoters and trus- tees of the famous Steel Works Club, at Joliet, believing in the principle of a large company be- ‘oming interested in the personal welfare of employees, and that the expenditure even of a considerable amount of money for their pleas- ure and mental improvement was a wise step. This was not because he was inclined to make lavish use of money. On the contrary, he had a greater faculty than most men in his position of making material go further and of getting along satisfactorily with whatever he SMITH. found at hand, which was a most valuable trait for the ° company. In private life Mr. Smith was unpretentious, going little into society, but giving all his energy to his life work, which was the service of his employers. He leaves a widow, but no children. His kindly heart, how- ever, led him to extend the comforts of his home to a niece and two nephews, who were reared as tenderly as though they had been his own children. His remains were interred on the 20th inst., at Joliet, where so much of his life had been spent. A Tribute te Horace 8S. Smith. Editor The Tron Age: Tn the passing away of Horace §S. Smith. a shining light in the history of Bessemer steel disappeared. Like many other great men who have dis- tinguished themselves, it was late in life before he got into a vocation wherein he excelled, he being nearly 50 years of age before he had anything to do with the man- ufacture of Bessemer steel. In 1874 Mr. Smith went to Joilet, to take charge of ORS a Sr Pa FF ao | : Lit f ity { upon Foy, er 8 THE IRON AGE. the steel works there, which had been in operation but a short time, and were closed down owing to financial diffi- culties. At that time—knowing little or nothing with reference to the making of Bessemer steel—he became a diligent student, and while he did not burn the mid- night oil, many a time at midnight he was found at the different departments of the works studying and learn- ing by observation the art of making and manipulating 3essemer steel in all its stages. After being there for about four years, operating the works under the most trying circumstances—he had difficulties with the men to contend with, some of the men employed there at that time being of a lawless and turbulent character, and being bampered owing to a lack of finances—a re organization took place, and in 1878 the works became known as the Joliet Steel Company. From that period until 1889, when the Joliet Steel Company’s Works be- came one of the plants of the Illinois Steel Company, his career was one continual round of success, and while in 1874 the Joliet Steel Company were in a state of ut- ter bankruptcy, in 1889 this plant stood as one of the leading steel works in this or any country. While for the first few years Mr. Smith was an earnest student, and followed carefully in the footsteps of those who had already made a mark in the Besse- mer steel business, he soon caught up, and, in keeping with his restless and aggressive nature, he began to plow where no man plowed before—he took a leading position and others had to follow him. Under his man- agement the Joliet Steel Works were the first plant in the country to roll steel rails direct without reheating from the ingot, and to-day this is almost the universal practice all over the world. The rolling of rails with- out hook and tongs men was first adopted at the Joliet Steel Works, and, if I am not greatly mistaken, they were the pioneers of rolling double length rails. To cap the climax, in the year 1887 this plant produced more steel rails than any other steel rail mill in the world, over 200,000 tons of steel rails being produced, for which remarkable achievement (at that period) his staff and officers presented him with a gold medal. In all this, Mr. Smith was most ably seconded by his lieutenants, Chas. Pettigrew and Frank Treat. Naturally, these striking innovations attracted the attention of the whole steel trade, not only in this coun- try, but abroad—in fact, so much so that this plant was the center of ‘attraction, and the wise men from the East came to Joliet (a city built, as it were, at that time, on the verge of civilization) to get the latest improve- ments in the manipulation of Bessemer steel. The foresight and judgment of Mr. Smith were of the first order. He was mainly instrumental in getting his company to go into the wire rod business, and as an evidence of his good judgment it is a well-known fact that the first year’s earnings of the rod mill paid for the erection of same, and to-day, after many additions, &c., this plant is the largest single producer of rods in the world To bring order out of chaos, perfect discipline out of lawlessness, prosperity out of bankruptcy, are results that can only be accomplished by men of master minds, and Mr. Smith well might stand with the same class of men as Bismarck and Grant, having the same inflexible will and gift of organization as the former and the dogged perseverance and fixedness of purpose as the latter In the early stages of the introduction of rolling di- rect, and the adoption of automatic machinery to take the place of manual labor in the rolling of rails, break- ages and confusion occurred that made some of his sub- ordinates waver and doubt of success, but his ery, day after day. figuratively, was in the words of the immortal Grant: *“ Forward by the left flank,” “ Forward to Spot- sylvania.”’ He did more to build up the city of Joliet than any other man, and he was highly respected and beloved by all its citizens; as a friend, strong and steadfast, and as a husband, kind and affectionate; and where stern meas- ures were necessary, intensely strong willed, but as mild and affectionate as a girl in his home life. He died loved and respected by all who knew him. ‘“ May his ashes rest in peace.” WILLIAM GARRETY. CLEVELAND, On1o, October 23, 1899. — - The Central Brick Company, formed by the consolida- tion of a number of brick concerns in the Pittsburgh dis- trict, are erecting a new plant on Soho street, Pitts- burgh. The site is prepared for the foundations of the buildings and the placing of machinery,-which will in- clude a new patent dryer. All machinery will be of the latest design. The plant will have a capacity of 65,000 brick per day, and the concern have-already received sufticient orders to keep them busy for some time to eome October 26, 1899 The Brass Industry in the Naugatuck Valley. The Demand for Copper and Brass Goods. In times such as these, when the wheels of industry throughout this entire Jand are humming their merriest tunes of prosperity, it is almost needless to point out the fact that the mills of Connecticut, from Ansonia to Tor- rington, are lending their best efforts toward maintain- ing the harmony. Nevertheless, this quiet but grand lit- tle section, where nine-tenths of the brass manufactured in this country is produced, is worthy of more than passing mention at this time. Througheut the last few months, when the boom in the copper and turmoil in spelter have been at their hight, this arm of the nation’s industry has stretched out more powerfully than ever before and the Naugatuck Valley has prospered. Traveling through the valley at night, the rumble of the mills is not an uncommon sound, for almost all of the larger plants are operated in certain branches until almost midnight. The enormous demand for electrical goods, and the ease with which traction schemes have been floated re- cently, have particularly emphasized the activity in cop- per wire and copper goods in general. Consequently among the busiest of the mills are those producing cop- per wire. The demand for this article is said to be great. It has been hinted at times that the unusually high price of copper has curtailed the demand for elec- trical goods, and that prospective purchasers of such goods are holding off in anticipation of more moderate prices. If any number of orders are being temporarily deferred on this account some day there will certainly come a tremendous rush, since the demand now for cop- per goods, and especially wire for electrical purposes, is taxing the mills to their limit. Sheet copper for roofing and kindred purposes is doubtless in less demand, as we are informed that there has been a slight decrease in production. The present activity in shipbuilding and engine build- ing has greatly increased the output in brass and copper tubing. Business in condenser tubes is said to be most excellent. In this branch the mills are probably less taxed than they were just before the outbreak and during the late war, when the Government was the chief cus- tomer. But for times of peace the present demand is ex- traordinarily brisk. The large shipyards who have on their stocks large merchantmen have been the best pur- chasers of late. A considerable quantity of tubing is also finding its way into export channels. In sheet brass business is also excellent. This fact in- dicates that there is a good deal of cutting up going on, and that business in manufactured brass goods is active. Brass wire is in good demand, especially in the smaller gauges. Owing to the increased cost of materials the prices of brass and copper goods have naturally advanced. In re- vising the prices on this account the schedule was brought to a more uniform and equal basis, as previously prices of certain articles were somewhat lower than they should have been. This has doubtless resulted bene- ficially throughout the entire trade, from the manufac- turer down. Speaking of changes in prices, however, the manufacturer has always to bear the brunt of fluc- tuations, as no matter which way the prices go, the cus- tomer always expects the manufacturer to protect him. There have been various statements made lately to the effect that aluminum must soon be looked upon as a serious competitor to brass. In mentioning this fact to certain parties who have for some time experimented with this metal extensively, the writer was informed that absolutely no danger on this score was anticipated by the brass manufacturers. A manufacturer of small brass articles stated that besides little trinkets the only article widely used in which aluminum can be employed advantageously is the opera glass. Another manufac- turer, whose efforts are directed in larger lines, stated that owing to the difficulties encountered in manipulating the metal he did not see an immediate future for it in this country. He stated that the fact that it could not be soldered expeditiously was a great drawback, and is also accountable for the statement that no method has as yet been discovered for the profitable disposition of scraps. Theoretically it is figured that the lightness of the metal compensates for its low conductivity as compared with copper for electrical purposes. No practical tests have been made in the valley, however, with a view of sub- stituting it for copper wire. During the last few months the mills have all been equipped to their full capacity. Machinery has been added, and slight additions built. There have been no entire new mills added to any of the existing plants. In fact the only new mill arranged for throughout the en- October 26, 1899 tire valley is that which is being erected at Waterbury by the Waterbury Mfg. Company. Heretofore this con- cern have been strictly a manufacturing company, mak- ing brass goods out of materials which they purchased at various other mills. The new mill which they are building will be utilized almost solely for the purpose of rolling and drawing the material which the company formerly purchased. The machinery is being built by the Waterbury Farrel Foundry & Machine Company of Waterbury. Conn. It is expected that the mill will be brought to a productive state before many weeks have elapsed. The mill is to cost about $50,000 The old Brown Mill, recently operated by Randolph & Clowes, has again been transferred to new hands. The style of the new firm is the Randolph-Clowes Company They are capitalized at $800,000, one-half of which is preferred stock. and the balance common. C. P. Goss, well known in the trade as treasurer and general man- ager of the Scovill Mfg. Company, is president and gen eral manager of the new company. F. L. Curtiss is treasurer, and C, J. Birkenmayer is secretary. Mr. Birk- enmayer has for several years been connected with Ran- dolph & Clowes. Franklin L. Taylor, who for a number of vears has been secretary of the Blake & Johnson Com- pany. has also entered the new company. It is rumored that he will be included in the directorate and will prob- ably he selected as one of the company’s officers. George H. Clowes, who during the last régime was manager of ENGINE LATHE DRIVEN BY BULLOCK MOTOR. the concern, is no longer identified with it. The new ompany have met all of the obligations contracted by their former management and negotiations are on foot for putting the plant in first-