The Iron Age 1905-10-19: Vol 76 Iss 16

A "= ns a J z le , Mo a er A Review of the Hardware, Iron, Machinery and Metaii# Published every Thursday Morning by David Williams Co,, 232-238 ‘William “ah. New York, Vol. 76: N 0. New York, Thursday, October 19, 1905. Luana Reading Matter Contents page 1058 Alphabetical Index to Advertisers ‘‘ 185]| mangers BZ Classified List of Advertisers.... ‘ 177 ie a CA Advertising and Subscription Rates ‘‘ 184 <a \8s | OIC. . ” SaRrerD ars or me -_ a fe : er 4d \ ey U. M. C. Cartridges Be oi of ; do not miss-fire or miss- COUPLINGS oun Fe if = “ i. Yaa sell. No U.M.C. hang- ada peat = le NS , a, aN 7 es fire in the gun or hang- WORKS, . sales in your store. Cuba, N. Y. They go’’ becausethey dillon have a definite energy : of their own. It springs Sa . ) : from the quality, repu- The American Mfg. Co. =. ne PI tation and sacuiliale behind them. Ropes and Sere t rs 65 Wall Street, New York A U.M. C. Cartridge to fit every gun in the world. “is pristoL company,|The Union Metallic Cartridge Company, Waterbury, Conn. Bristol’s Recording BRIDGEPORT, CONN. Instruments. AGENCY DEPOT, For Preseure Temperature | 313 Broadway, 86-88 First Street, Electricity. New ¥ it . ss Gold Medal, St. Louis Exposition. | - ew York City. = San Francisco, Cal. All Ranges, Low Pricer, and Guar- anteed. Send for Coreuiaes. BOMSON “SPOT CORD /STIRLING-CAHALL Boilers SEE PAGE 114 sums |Capewell Horse Nails SAMSON CORDAGE WORKS, Boston, Mass. de ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD Branch Office. 11 Broadway, New York. : a Cleveland City Forge and IronCo., - Cleveland, O. The following voluntary testimonial is from Matt. Byrnes, trainer of ‘** Salvator’”’ pROP when hewon the Suburban and broke the time record foramile. He has trained HAMMER other Suburban winners and some of the best known horses in the country: “a **BeLuontT Park, L.1., N. Y., August 11, 1905. ; THE ‘CAPEWELL HORSES NAIL CO., ‘Hartford, Conn." Gentlemen: Capewell Horse Shoe Nails are the best in use—in a class by themselves. r Pa ee aN n € R Yours truly, MATT. BYRNES.” Girard Building, Phila. Farmers’ Bank, Pit ttab’g PILLING & CRANE, fsirotiac'bacs:|™'24° The Capewell Horse Nail Co. “uzier* | ‘HE Packing of Joints will not be a source of much . : : n , ON trouble or annoyance if you will take the precau- The habit of thinking 6 * * ck peminamen ieaenein (5 } ¥ “APOLLO fee JENKINS °96 PACKING Tees eb It will make perfect steam joint instantly. >? . BEST BLOOM —— All genuine bears Trade Mark as shown in the cut. JENKINS BROS., New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, London. Brooklyn, N. Y. when Galvanized Sheets are wanted has made many » man) QupBAOH”” Gold Roll Steel cit: DIawiNg = Stampin a great Success. THE AMERICAN TUBE & STAMPING COMPANY (Water and Rail Delivery) BRIDGEPORT, CONN, eden MAGNOLIA METAL, AMERICAN Best Anti-Friction Metal for all Machinery Bearings. SHEET & TIN PLATE Fac-Simile of Bar. ReetS seer ee he Beware of Nhe eek ae det Y COMPANY’S a imitations. 7 MAGNOLIA METAL CO., Ad on age 14. ¥ San Franciseo, Montreal and Pittsburg pag 4 Owners and Sole Manufacturers, 13-115 Bank Street. we ee eT ia Menels a Chicago, Fisher Bidg. NEW YORK. compet tive prices. See 2 THE IRON AGE SHEET | THE PLUME & ATWOOD MFG. Co,, B R A 4 5 ROD meecnennin ie Tre Queen’s Run sueer | Sheet and Roll Brass Fire Brick co. (COPPER; *~ WiRE WIRE PRINTERS’ BRASS, JEWELERS’ METAL, GERMA SILVER AND GILDING METAL, COPPER RIVET HIGHEST GRADE GERMAN SHEET AND BURRS. ROD Pins, Brass Butt Hinges, Jack Chain, Kero S | LV E R WIRE a LOW BRASS. SHEET BRONZE. | MURRAY ST., NEW YORE. SEAMLESS BRASS AND COPPER 199 LAKE ST., CHICAGO, TUBING. BRAZED BRASS AND) _ zou BRONZE TUBING. +t: 1 + ¢| coe WATERBURY BRASS C0,,|[°°ovscr-nes’ oO” MANUFACTURERS OF BRASS, WATERBURY, CONN. 99 John St., New York. Providence, R. I. SMenects, Bolle, Wire Bridgeport Deoxidized Bronze & Metal bo, Rods, Bolts and Tubes, BRIDGEPORT, GONN. Brass Shells, Cups, Hinges, Buttons, Lamp Goods. Automobile Castings a Specialty. High Tensile Strength. Special Brass Goods to Order. FACTORIES: WATERBURY, CONN. Bronze and Aluminum Alloys. Write Us. Shapes a Specialty Lock Haven, Penn. DEpotTs: NEW YORK. CHICAGO. BOSTON. Henry Souther Engineering Co, HARTFORD, CONN. Consulting Chemists, Metallurgists and nalysts. Complete Physical Testing Laborato: Ex Testimony in Court and Patent Cases, eee Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Co., LA SALLE, ILLINOIS. SMELTERS OF SPELTER ERS OF SI Airttur T. Rutter & Go. SHEET ZINC AND SULPHURIC ACID nes Special Sizes of Zinc cut to order. Rolled Battery Plates. : NEW YORK. Selected Plates for Etchers’ and Lithographers’ use. Selected Sheets for Paper and Card Makers’ use. . Small tubing in Brass, Copper, Stove and Washboard Blanks. Steel, Aluminum, German Silver, &c. Sheet Brass, C d Ger- ZINCS FOR LECLANCHE BATTERY. ee Site, Sennen due ae German Silver Wire. Brazed and i Copper sad lrase Rode Tce NC on cera Best Bronze, Babbitt Metals, Brass i iy Seren WIRE. “it's toucn.” eens eee TROLLEY, “2 Aluminum e CASTINGS TELEPHONE FOUNDERS—FINISHERS. and WwW. G. ROWELL CO., Bridgeport, Conn. TELEGRAPH HENDRICKS BROTHERS LINES. PROPRIETURS OF THE ity Belleville Copper Rolling Mills, |» BRIDGEPORT BRASS CO., 1d onan. Broadway and Murray S8t., New York MANUFACTURERS OF Brazsiers’ Bolt and Sheathing GEORGE KROU SE COPPER, HEAVY CASTINGS COF'RwER WwyiRE AND RIvers. Manatacturer of afi kinds of Importérs and Dealers in Brass and Composition Castings. Ingot on Block Tin, Spelter, Lead, Antimony, etc. pBrazing Metals, Hard Composition and 49 CLIFF ST., NEW YORK. Phosphor Bronze Castings a Specialty. 160 to 154 Morgan Street, JERSEY CITY, N, J. THE IRON AGE New York, Thursday, October 19, 1905. The Leavitt Peat Machine. There are two processes of preparing crude peat for the market, one by condensing and one by pressure. Ex- perts generally consider the first preferable. Peat has a peculiar affinity for water, and neither centrifugal force nor direct pressure can successfully remove the water which it contains as it comes from the bogs. On the other hand, after peat has been treated by the condensing process it may be spread out in the open air and will give Fig. 1. up its water by evaporation, while it will not to any ex- tent absorb moisture such as rain or dew. Crude peat will burn, and is so used, especially in Ireland, but it is vastly inferior to the prepared article, which after a time becomes mineral like in its characteristics. The machine shown in the accompanying illustrations is designed to prepare crude peat by condensing for the evaporating treatment. It was built by the Moore & Wyman Elevator & Machine Company, South Boston, Mass., for T. H. Leavitt, the inventor, who has been in- terested in peat manufacture since 1865. This machine is the result of experiments and the successful operation of a number of peat machines in which the same general principles have been carried out. The Molding Mill, in which the The purpose of the machine is to destroy the original physical organization and cellular structure of the peat; to eject the air, a great quantity of which is contained in the cells, and by its presence causes air holes in the prepared fuel; to develop the plastic and adhesive prop- erties of the peat, finally condensing the mass in its moist condition into a fine grained felt-like substance which is automatically formed and delivered in brick-like blocks. These blocks, as first molded, are about 4 x 8 x 2% inches. The capacity of the machine is 65,000 blocks, Prepared Peat is Formed into Blocks, or about 113 tons per ten-hour day, which after drying make some 40 tons of hard, dry fuel. This capacity can be readily increased 25 or 50 per cent. The machine may be considered in two parts, the con- denser proper and tbe molding mill, though the latter also plays some part in the condensing. Fig. 1 shows the molding mill, Fig. 2 the condenser and Fig. 3 a line elevation of a complete equipment. The raw peat is fed into the hopper of the condenser at A, Fig. 3, and is cut up by the ripper B, which has flanges 2 inches wide, resembling the blades of a screw propeller, and is carried on a 1%-inch shaft. From the ripper the peat enters a series of three pairs of cast iron rolls, each 3 feet long, the lower roll of the first pair being heavily corrugated 1002 to assist in the delivery of the material. These rolls per- form a rubbing process, which is brought about by the difference in speed of each roll of each pair. The upper roll of the first pair makes 40 revolutions to 20 of the lower ; the ratio of the second pair is 90 and 40, and of Fig. 2.—The Condenser, which Prepares the Crude Peat for the Molding Mill. the third pair 180 and 60. When the peat has passed through the rolls it has assumed much of the desired plastic and adhesive property and has somewhat the con- sistency of putty. The fibers and small roots have been desiccated by the ripper and the granular form has been THE IRON AGE October 19, 1905 adjustable by screws and are very strong, so that the presence of a stone too large to pass between them will do no damage other than to cause the belt to slip. Stones are, however, rarely met in peat, their presence being due rather to accident. From the last pair of rolls the peat falls on a belt con- veyor, inclosed in a wooden casing, and is carried to the hopper of the molding machine at C. In this machine is a series of slotted shelves, D, each shelf filling one-half of the area of the mill. The shelves are arranged alter- nately on opposite sides of the center. The slots radiate from the center and are % inch wide. On a central ver- tical shaft are keyed the sweeps E, each having two arms and three single arm sweeps F, the function of the latter being to press the peat down into the pockets of the re- volving molds. The sweeps just clear the shelves as they revolve, thus continuing the process of rubbing the peat, some of which is pressed down through the slots, but much the greater part falls from one shelf to the other. The distance between the sweep and its shelf is not arbitrary. The sweeps may be adjusted to suit the requirements of the peat, which varies greatly in differ- ent bogs and in different sections of the world. The two revolving cylinders G containing the molds are similar to those used in brick making machinery. Each pocket has its plunger, H, the shank of which car- ries a stud, I. At each side of each cylinder is a plate with a cam slot which holds the ends of the studs. The cam motion is such as to withdraw the plunger as it ap- proaches the upper position ready to take the peat from the mill and to force the plunger forward, ejecting the block as it reaches its lower position. There are 18 pockets in each cylinder, and the cylinders make three revolutions per minute, so that together they discharge 108 blocks a minute. This particular machine is arranged to drop the peat bricks on boards carried on a continuous belt which is provided with dogs at the required intervals so as to deliver the boards exactly as needed. The boards each hold six bricks, and are taken from a magazine shown Fig. 3.—A Complete Plant, comprising the Condenser, Molding Mill and Auxiliary Apparatus, made into a wet, pasty mass, for peat contains when in the best general condition for this treatment on an average 60 per cent. of water, and comparatively lit- tle of it has been removed in squeezing between the rolls. The air, however, has been removed, and the bulk of the mass has been reduced 30 to 50 per cent. The rolls are at U, from which one falls as rapidly as that beneath it is removed. This arrangement is not standard. -A belt conveyor to take the peat bricks to the drying ground may be employed. Similar mechanism may be used to deliver the peat to the hopper of the condenser. Cir- cumstances would govern this practice. October 19, 1905 The blocks, as taken from the machine on the boards, are removed to the spreading ground or stacked on racks and left to dry in the open air. If required the drying may be facilitated by artificial means, such as a blast of hot air from a blower. No pressure is applied at any stage of the manufacture. The blocks ordinarily weigh about 3% pounds, contain 80 cubic inches, and present a surface for drying of 124 square inches. Evaporation goes on rapidly, the particles of peat contract with and about each other and the mass gradually assumes min- eral characteristics until perfectly dry, when it is as hard as stone, is impervious to water and cannot again be restored to its original soft condition. The fuel is in condition to be housed or sold in from four days to two weeks, according to the weather. Provision is made for heating the peat while it passes through the mill, which hastens the drying process. When it is desired an in- jector is attached whereby coal dust, saw dust, oil, rosin, tar, bitumen, crushed ores or other substances may be introduced and mingled with the peat. The mill entire occupies a floor space of about 5 x 20 feet, is 10 feet high, weighs about 9000 pounds and re- quires about 10 horse-power for its operation. One mill has been in very successful operation since the first of last May at the works of the Orlando (Flori- da) Water & Light Company, making the entire fuel supply for the plant, which has a capacity of 500 horse- power. At present the rate of fuel production is that given previously, but the speed is to be increased 25 per cent., so that the mill will deliver 81,000 blocks, or about 141 tons, per day of ten hours. This is entirely possible, for when the machine was being tested before shipment it was run at a rate as high as 400 tons per day and did perfect work. In actual service, however, the latter speed is not practicable for it yields a product far beyond the ability of the men to handle. The fuel produced at the Florida plant is being made for less than the cost of coal or wood. A ton of it exceeds in heating value a cord of wood, costing there about $3.15, or a ton of coal, costing $5.- As yet the fuel benefit of the peat is not being realized, as it will be when the furnaces are better ar- ranged and the men have become accustomed to the new fuel. —~++e—___ The Use of Soft Coal in New York City. BY FREDERICK E. SAWARD. The quantity of soft coal used in New York City is very evidently a growing one, as every person familiar with the city must be only too well aware. Its use has increased very materially since the period of stress for fuel during the anthracite coal strike of 1902. Many of the users of this grade of fuel are doing their best not to make its use a nuisance; the Health Department only takes cognizance of the use of the fuel when it is a nuisance, under the penal code, which in effect means that no one must do anything that will be an annoyance —perhaps that is the better word—to his neighbors. In many places in the city the use of soft coal is effected so that one cannot say that any ill occurs, and then again there are places where it is only too evident that some one is burning soft coal without any regard for the wants, inclinations, wishes or comfort of those in the vicinity. The very cheapness of this fuel during the past summer has been the main thing which attracted many people to its use; then there are the ease and quickness with which steam can be raised by it, and this is a most important point. It is said on pretty good authority that 3,000,000 gross tons of soft coal are used here on shore alone in the course of a year, but this does not by any means represent the fullness of this utilization of soft coal, for there are the adjacent cities and the steamships and tugboats on the rivers that add to the volume. The turnout of smoke such as one may see from the windows of our tall buildings only too well tells the tale. In the bright days of summer it is not so noticeable perhaps, but along about this time of the year and from now forward there will be many evidences by the dust and dirt which accumulate on one’s desk and papers. The THE IRON AGE 1003 use of furnaces such as those in the Federal Building tends to the elimination of smoke to the extent of its be- ing a nuisance, and it is surprising that more establish- ments do not adopt some system of burning soft coal so that they are not nuisances. There is the best evidence that it can be done, and as the winter advances and more steam heat is needed it is surely to be hoped that an effort will be made along proper lines. People frou the West tell us that we have an ideal city, because there is nothing like the smoke, soot and dirt that there is elsc- where. We want it to continue to be cleanly, but, as stated above, there is a growth in the use of soft coal that makes one fear that the worst is upon us. In view of all that has been said, it is only too important to note that much of this dirt and dust does not originate in the city, for there is constantly a great quantity of soft coal smoke emitted from craft on the rivers, which is carried over the entire length and breadth of Manhattan Island by the wind. The volume borne on a westerly wind is especially large, for a considerable tonnage of soft coal is consumed by the factories and steam using plants of various kinds located on the New Jersey shore opposite New York, as well as by the railroads having their ter- minal yards across the North River. In fact, the whole waterfront is often beclouded by dark gray smoke. The nuisance created by the oil refineries on the east side of the East River is too generally known to require coni- ment, and the Williamsburg sugar refineries are also conspicuous offenders. In addition to this every large power plant in the greater city is incessantly producing more or less smoke, even where hard coal is used. In order to burn successfully the smaller sizes of anthracite a forced draft is essential in most cases, and this causes a heavy discharge of fine ash and soot from the smoke- stacks or chimneys, which is nearly as objectionable as soft coal smoke. Everybody, it is safe to say, concedes the smoky chim- ney to be a nuisance. But the view is a passive one. Formerly, and to some extent even to-day, the argument was: “ We can’t stop our chimney from smoking.” Tech- nical advance and commercial development have made combustion a more manageable procedure, and to-day the old argument is replaced by: “ What are you going to do about it? You can’t expect me to spend a lot of money putting in fancy devices to prevent smoke.” The latter argument can be met only by fact—the fact that the law says one must prevent smoke being put forth in sufficient volume to be a nuisance. When this is so, the authorities can take the offender before the court and a fine will be imposed. With some folks it is cheaper to pay an occasional fine than to remedy the evil. 2 At a congress of mine owners and ironmasters recently held at Kristinehamn, Sweden, the question was discussed, “ Why has Sweden to export her ore to for- eign countries, instead of smelting it herself?” Ab- sence of suitable fuel was the gist of the reply. It was pointed out that while Sweden has an almost unlimited supply of wood means of transportation from the provinces to the mining districts in which it is to be used are poor. The fact that there is no standard gauge on the railroads adds to the difficulty, causing great waste of labor. There was some discussion of the use of peat as a fuel for furnaces. In Sweden there are vast areas of peat moors, but the peat is said to be too spongy in its raw form to produce the necessary heat. Experi- ments are now being made at Storfors to devise means by which the water can be extracted and the peat com- pressed into briquettes, the natural oil being carefully retained. These experiments are said to be satisfactory. The report that the Pennsylvania Railroad Company had placed an order for 1500 steel passenger cars with the Pressed Steel Car Company, Pittsburgh, is officially denied. The report probably arose from the fact that the Pennsylvania Railroad has decided to build at the Altoona shops three experimental steel cars consisting of a postal, a baggage and a passenger car. After these ears have been built and tested for a few months the matter of a large order for steel passenger cars will then be taken up. 1004 New Heavy American Engine Lathes. An improved quick change gear mechanism is one of the special features of a new line of heavy lathes built by the American Tool Works Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. The lathes are designed to meet the greatly increased duties imposed by the use of special high speed steel tools and, due to their construction and new features, are claimed to be exceptionally rapid work producers. The change gear mechanism provides 32 changes for feeding and thread cutting, the range of threads being from 1 thread in 4 inches to 16 threads per inch, includ- ing 11144-inch with pipe thread. The feeding range is 6.4 to 92 cuts per inch. A change may be effected, even while running, by revolving the nut at the right of the gear box beneath the head, which moves a sliding key, engag- ing two opposed gears, each being one of a cone of gears contained in the gear box. The feed or screw pitches thus obtained are multiplied through the compound gears on the quadrant for each additional thread. This arrange- ment gives flexibility to the screw cutting mechanism, making it possible, through the introduction of certa‘n THE IRON AGE October 19, 1905 tuated by a hand wheel and screw. The carriage is very heavy, especially in the bridge, which is possible with the drop V bed, has a continuous bearing of 50 inches on the ways: and is gibbed to bed its entire length. The apron extends the entire length of the carriage and js tongued and grooved and bolted to it. It is double, giving all shafts a double bearing. Both the longitudinal and cross feeds are reversible through a tumbler plate op- erated from the front of the apron, and not at the head stock, as on most lathes. This feature is of special value on lathes having long beds. The half nuts are also con- trolled by a lever on the front of the apron. All the gears and pinions in the apron are steel, of wide face and coarse pitch. Those that run loose have bronze bushings. The bevel pinion is never disengaged, hence is not apt to be broken. Convenient means for thorough lubrication are provided from the front. The compound rest is fitted with taper gibs in such a manner that no amount of strain will disturb them. The top slide is provided with power angular cross feed, with 13\,inch travel. The swivel is graduated and the top slide and cross feed screws have micrometer dials. A 42-Inch Engine Lathe with Triple-Geared Head, Built gears, to cut practically an unlimited range of special worms, or threads, either finer or coarser than the range indicated above. Index plates show how to obtain any thread or feed. The bed is of deep section, very heavy and of patent drop V pattern, which gives 2 inches additional swing. It has cross box girders at short intervals its entire length, giving great rigidity. The bed is further strengthened by a rack cast in the center, for engaging the pawl of the tail stock. The head stock is also very heavy and is firmly bolted to the bed. It has triple gears and a five-step cone, the largest diameter being 20 inches, and the face of each step is 4% inches wide. The spindle is of high carbon steel, accurately ground, and has a 25-inch hole through it. The bearings are of phosphor bronze, with improved oiling facilities and means for any necessary adjustments. The triple gears are of the slip gear type and are engaged by a rack and pinion at the front of the head. The internal gear is integral with the face plate, and the pinion is in one piece with its shaft. All gears are of coarse pitch and wide face. Fifteen speeds are obtained in geometrical progression. The ratio of the reduction through the gearing is high, to give heavy cutting power. The tail stock has large continuous bearings on the ways, and is moved rapidly along the bed by a crank and gear engaging a rack on the bed. It is provided with means for setting over to turn tapers. The base is clamped to the bed, and is further secured against move- ment by a pawl engaging the cast rack.in the center of the bed. The spindle has a very long travel and is ac- by the American Tool Works Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. The regular equipment includes steady, follow and full swing rests, countershafts and wrenches. When specified the lathe is equipped with an improved taper attachment, all gear head stock, electric motor and double or triple friction countershaft. ———_»--e—_—____—_ A new method of obtaining oxygen was described in a recent address by Prof. F. Linde before the Technical Society of Frankfort, Germany. It is found that liquid air when evaporated slowly loses nitrogen more read- ily than it does oxygen. After the process has continued for some time, therefore, the resulting liquid will be much richer in oxygen than at first. By repeating the process a liquid is finally obtained which contains about 71 per cent. of oxygen and 29 of nitrogen. A further in- crease in the percentage of oxygen is obtained by rectifi- cation. The cost of production of oxygen by this proc- ess is less than 1 cent per cubic yard. In the Leitner-Lucas system of train lighting as now employed on a number of European roads the voltage of the generator is kept constant, independent of the speed of the train, by a small exciter mounted on the dynamo shaft, supplying current to a set of demagnetizing coils on the main dynamo field. In a newer design this de magnetization is brought about by a second pair of brushes on the main dynamo, placed at right angles to the main brushes. tach of these secondary brushes forms a pair with one of the primary brushes and sup- plies current to the demagnetizing coils, thus doing away with the exciter. a October 19, 1905 An Automatic Sprue Grinder. The purpose of the machine herewith illustrated, made by the Automatic Machine Company, Bridgeport, Conn., is the removing of sprues from cast iron nuts or similar small castings. In any kind of grinding machinery a common trouble is the rapid destruction of the rubbing surfaces due to the presence of dust or detached par- ticles from the grinding wheels. This annoyance in the sprue grinder has been overcome by using bushings in the bearings and detachable surfaces on the slides, which are easily and inexpensively replaced when worn out. The grinding wheel is of ordinary pattern and is mounted in stationary bearings. The special features are all to be found in the mechanism for feeding the work to the wheel. Two slides, operating on the same ways, hold the nut to be ground, and pass it across the face of the wheel. The slides are actuated by two cylin- drical cams on the gear driven cam shaft on the front of the machine. The work is fed through a chute which is filled from a table that rests upon the bracket shown on the side of the chute. The nuts drop by gravity upon a table one at a time and the slide nearest the A Sprue Grinding Machine, Made by the Automatic Machine Company, Bridgeport, Conn. large gear carries the nut from the table to a position where the two slides, acting as vise jaws, grip it. The jaw on the second slide is backed with a heavy spring which gives a yielding grip to accommodate variations in the size of the work. After the nut has been ground it is removed by a stripper finger which holds it while the slides open, and it is then allowed to drop through an opening in the table into a box beneath. ‘ne drive of the feeding mechanism is arranged to slip when a predetermined amount of resistance is en- countered. to prevent injury to the machine from the jamming of a piece of work against the wheel, or in the slides or conveying mechanism. If a nut blank should have a sprue of unusual size or hardness the regular rate of feed would be too rapid. The work must therefore be presented to the wheel as carefully as it would be by hand, which requires an automatic sensi- tiveness. This is afforded by a friction drive from the cone pulley. The driving pinion, which meshes with the driven gear on the cam shaft, is in one piece with a friction flange, both being mounted on a sleeve which revolves on a stud. The cone pulley is loose upon this sleeve and carries on its inner hub a friction plate. The friction flange is between the inner face of the pulley and the friction plate, and is separated from them by fiber disks. The friction plate and pulley are clamped together by bolts under spring tension. The tension is adjusted so that the normal amount of power is trans- THE IRON AGE 1005 mitted to drive the nut across the wheel. When unusual conditions arise and the pressure of the work against the wheel becomes excessive the friction drive slips, causing the slide to hesitate, enabling the wheel to free itself by cutting. This relieves the strain and the fric- tion drive again takes hold, feeding the work at the required rate. —— »-e__—_ The Illinois Steel Company Improves Its Ore Handling Equipment. At a cost of $1,500,000 the Illinois Steel Company, Chicago, Ill., is equipping its ore dock on the south chan- nel of its South Chicago Works with the Hoover & Mason ore handling system, and two bridges of the Hoover & Mason type are being added to the equipment of the dock on the north channel. For more than five years the Hoover & Mason system has been in operation on the north dock and at furnaces 9 and 10, and the results have been so satisfactory that it was decided to extend the equipment to cover both docks. The vessels are unloaded at the north dock by means of a battery of 15 unloaders operated by steam, and the general improve- ment scheme includes the operation of these unloaders by electric power. At the time of the first installation on the north dock two bridges, each 520 feet long, were installed. Two additional bridges have been added of the same length and general dimensions. As soon as these bridges can be piaced in operation the other bridges that are not of the Hoover & Mason type will be discarded. When the equipment on the north dock is complete it will include four bridges and 15 unloaders. On the south dock the equipment will include two bridges and seven unloaders.. The pres- ent ore handling equipment on the south dock is of an antiquated type, and the installation of this equipment will greatly facilitate and lessen the cost of unloading and handling the ore for the four blast furnaces located at this point. Foundations have already been laid for the erection of a fifth stack in this group. When the instal- lation of the new plant is completed it is the intention to unload vessels at night as well as day, and the time for unloading at both docks with the new and added equipment will be greatly reduced. A description of the Hoover & Mason ore handling equipment on the north aock was given in The Iron Age of September 4, 1902. EE —— The Minette District in France. The recent development of the steel industry of France, followed by the appearance of some of the lead- ing works as sellers in the international markets, is coin- cident with the rapid opening up of the Minette district along the borders of Luxemburg and Lorraine. A recent report by H. Cousin, published by the Comité des Forges de France, presents some interesting figures which deal with the output of the Department of Meurthe-et-Moselle in 1904. The iron mines may be divided into two groups, that of the basin of Nancy and that of the basin of Briey and Longwy. In 1904 the mines in the Nancy district produced 1,711,770 metric tons, as compared with 1,668,- 533 tons in 1903. It is not expected that an important in- crease will take place in the future. It is in the Longwy section, with its outcrop mines, and in the Briey section, with its deep mines, that a further rapid growth is looked forward to. In 1904 the production of the Long- wy-Briey basin was 3,821,437 tons, an increase of 588,306 tons over 1903. Adding the output of the quarries, the production of iron ore for the Department of Meurthe- et-Moselle was 5,951,274 tons, an increase over 1903 of 658,931 tons. The shipments to other departments in France and to Belgium, Luxemburg and Germany amounted to 1,043,000 tons. The average value at the mines was 3.51 frances per ton. The total number of men employed was 6075, to whom wages aggregating 8,877,275 franes were paid. In the Longwy-Briey basin miners average 6 to 7 frances per day, but many of them earn more than 10 frances, or $2, per day. Cutting ma- chinery is being employed, Morgan Gardner chain ma- chines being in use at the Maron-Val-de-Fer and the Mont-Saint-Martin mines. They are electrically driven. 1006 The New England Foundrymen’s Association. This association paid a visit to the new plant of the United Shoe Machinery Company, Beverly, Mass., as a preliminary to its regular meeting October 11. It was an unusually interesting afternoon, for the plant possesses some novel features. The foundry was the center of in- terest, of course, but the great works was gone over with much closeness of inspection, including the power plant, where the Curtis steam turbines came in for particular attention. This plant is built entirely of reinforced con- crete, even to the chimneys of the power house, and this alone was of engrossing interest, for there probably exists no better specimen of this form of construction. The 50 members of the party returned to Boston in the late after- noon and gathered for dinner at the Exchange Club. After dinner routine business was transacted, with President = “ig. 1—The Waring Steam Pressure Regulator. John Magee in the chair, and the members then listened to a talk by Leonard C. Wason, president of the Albert- son Construction Company, on “ Different Types of Con- struction for Foundries,” which was a most timely topic after the afternoon’s experience, and this was made the more true by the use of a stereopticon. Frank W. Reyn- olds of Lockwood, Greene & Co., Boston, made remarks on the same general topic. The committee appointed to prepare resolutions on the death of Alva Carpenter of the A. Carpenter & Sons Company, Providence, submitted a most appreciative memorial, which was unanimously adopted as the expression of the association. | ep The first actual connection between the Chicago rail- roads and the Chicago Subway was made last week, when the shafts from the subway tunnel to the tracks of the Chicago & Alton Railroad at Van Buren street were opened. Five shafts connecting the railroad with the subway will be used for coal traffic. The Chicago & Alton brings from seventy-five to a hundred carloads of coal into Chicago daily, intended for the downtown dis- trict, and this will be delivered through the tunnel. Con- nection with the company’s warehouse will be made by elevators later. THE IRON AGE October 19, 1905 The Waring Pressure Regulators. A new line of valves for regulating the pressure of steam, water, air and gas, invented by J. B. Waring, is now being manufactured by William G. Coats, 45 Clinton street, Newark, N. J. The accompanying illustrations, Figs. 1 and 2, show the general external appearance of the Waring steam pressure regulating and reducing valve and the Waring water pressure regulator. Figs. 3 and 4 show sections of the same valves lettered to distin- guish the several parts. The principal features of the steam pressure regu- lating and reducing valve are the poppet valve D, the opening and closing of which are accomplished by the pis- ton © and the controlling valve F. The final pressure of the steam after passing the valve can be regulated to a constant amount regardless of the initial pressure of the steam. The pressure determining factor is the coiled spring V on the stem R of the controlling valve. It will be noticed that the valve is without diaphragms or arms with weights, this spring being the only part which is necessary to adjust in regulating the pressure. Fig. 2—The Waring Water Pressure Regulator. Steam is admitted at the inlet end of the valve and fills the space O around and under the valve D, lifting the valve from its seat and allowing steam to flow through and fill the system beyond the valve. As the pressure in the system rises to the predetermined point the con- trolling valve F is raised by the low pressure steam en- tering the space M at the bottom of the valve F through the passages L and N. The groove 2 is always filled with live steam, which is admitted from the inlet space through the holes G, the screen H and the passage I. When the controlling valve is forced to the top of its cylinder the groove 2 connects the upper port leading into the passage I with the lower port to the passage J, which allows live steam to enter the space S above the piston C. This piston, having a greater diameter than the main valve D, forces the latter to its seat, re- ducing the inflow of high pressure steam. When the final pressure again falls the valve F is forced down by the spring V until the groove 3 connects the upper port in J with the port at the top of the passage K. This allows the live steam in the space S to escape through the passage L into the low pressure side of the valve. The pressure above piston C being thus reduced, the initial steam pressure forces valve D open, restoring the final pressure. The up and down travel of the October 19, 1905 piston C and the valve D involves the movement of the steam surrounding the valve rod R and the stem pro- jecting from the lower side of the valve. These are packed at U and T, where they project through the valve casing A and the bonnet B. It has been found in actual operation that the valve operates very quickly and positively, doing away with wire drawing, and so reducing erosion of the valve seats, prolonging their life. The water pressure regulator is of somewhat simpler construction and operates its valve directly without a controlling valve. The water enters at A, Fig. 4, raising the valve K, and flows through the space M and the outlet B to the system. When the desired pressure has been reached the pressure in the space above the piston THE IRON AGE 1007 Pennsylvania Iron and Steel Statistics. According to the report of Robert C. Bair, Chief of the Bureau of Industrial Statistics, the production of iron and steel in Pennsylvania decreased in 1904 as compared with 1903. The production of pig iron in the State in 1904 amounted to 7,411,300 gross tons, a decrease as conl- pared with 1908 of 770,350 tons, but as compared with 1896 the gain was 3,384,950 tons. The value of the out- put of 1904 was $101,830,467, a decrease of over $29,000,- 000, as compared with the value of that of 1903. The number of persons employed in pig iron making was 14,087. The rolled iron and steel made in the State in 1904 amounted to 8,056,306 tons, a loss as compared with 1903 of 329,055 tons. There were decreases in the pro duction of steel rails, structural shapes, cut nails and spikes and plates and sheets, but there were gains in other branches of production of rolled iron and steel. In Fig. 3.—Sectional View of the Steam Pressure Regulator. P, which communicates through the passage O with the space N, becomes sufficient to force the piston down, closing the valve K, as the area of piston P is in excess of the valve K by an amount proportional to the de- sired difference between the inlet and outlet pressures. As the pressure becomes reduced K opens, again restoring it. Pressure in M is kept from the lower side of the piston P by the smaller piston Z, and a vent hole, V, per- mits air to flow in and out as the volume in the space between the pistons P and Z varies with the movement of the valve. The valve H is a spring check valve de- signed to relieve the system if the pressure in M be comes greater than the initial pressure. This might happen if the water in the system were heated and backed up in the piping. The pressure in the outlet side may be further reduced by using a spring in the upper cap to bear upon the piston P. A pressure gauge may be screwed to the top of the valve to indicate the pressure at all times. This valve is claimed to give a uniform house pressure regardless of the initial or main pressure and to prevent straining or hammering of the pipes. The valve is made in six standard sizes, from % inch to 2% inches. Fig. 4.—Sectional View of the Water Pressure Regulator. 1904 there were employed in these lines of the industry 91,146, a decrease of 8142 from 1903, while the wages amounted to $55,932,427, also a decrease from 1903. The product of tinning plate, tinned and untinned, in 1904 was 515,162,964 pounds over 20,000,000 pounds less than in 1903, and the value of the product was $18,504,358. The entire production of tin and terne plate for 1904 was 542,474,201 pounds, against 554,233,- 702 pounds in 1903. ——_—+_3-e—__—_ A consular communication to Washington summarizes a recent report of the Association of German Machine Tool Works. The demand for machine tools in Germany increased considerably in the past few months and ex- ports were greater. For the first six months of 1905 machine tool exports were 36,155,810 pounds, against 29,982,860 pounds in the first half of 1904. It was found, however, that other countries were making greater ef- forts than before, and thus the difficulties of the German export trade seemed to be increasing. The price of ma- chines in general has risen, though there is a lively com- petition for most business. The association favors a commercia! treaty with the United States. ere 1008 THE Buffalo Armor Plate Punches and Shears. Two new types of hand operated combined punches and shears manufactured by the Buffalo Forge Company, Buffalo, N. Y., are shown in the accompanying Figs, 1 and 2. The first is known as the direct lever type and the second as the cam type. They are machines that are particularly useful for cutting stock, roughing out and trimming work or punch- ing channels, angles or T-bars. All parts are of armor plate, drop forgings or crucible steel with the exception of the stands, which are cast iron. Armor plate has been adopted for the frames proper as it is considered superior to cast iron for service where sudden shocks and irreg- ular strains are common, as is the case in tools of this class. Another desirable result in using armor plate is that the weight of the machines is considerably reduced. The levers are made from drop forgings with the bear- Fig. 1.—Direct Lever Type Combined Punch and Shear. ing surfaces carefully machined and fitted to avoid lost motion: The arrangement of the lever combinations is such as to give the greatest pressure at the proper point of the stroke. The jaws of the shears are made of cruci- ble steel, properly tempered, and are so fastened in the frame that there is no giving or springing while in use. It is claimed that their cutting edges will not chip or break under continuous use on work for which they are designed. The punch blocks are made from drop forg- ings and have three holes of different sizes. The attach- ment of the punch blocks to the head allows them to be shifted when it is desired to punch a larger or smaller hole. The punch and shear shown in Fig, 1 is made in three sizes, the largest being capable of punching 5-inch holes in %4-inch plate or shearing flat bars 54 x 3 inches or round bars 1 inch in diameter. The second size punches %-inch holes in %-inch plate and shears bars 3% x 3 incnes or %-inch round. The smallest punches \4- inch holes in 44-inch plate and shears bars 5-16 x 2 inches or 5¢-inch round. The throat depths of the punches are respectively 5 inches, 444 inches and 4 inches, and the IRON AGE October 19, 1905 lengths of the shear jaws 414, 444 and 8 inches. The weights are 345, 175 and 125 pounds, respectively. These same machines are made with cam and roller action, as illustrated in Fig. 2. They are somewhat more compact in appearance, but not so easy working as the direct lever type. Similar machines are built in which the shearing and punching mechanisms are inde- pendent, being operated by separate levers. —_- oe _—_—_ The S. Obermayer Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, manu- facturer of foundry supplies, states that numerous in- quiries have been received for a reliable and efficient parting compound for parting molds for any sized cast- ings made in iron, brass and other metals. The company states that for this purpose Partamol is now being used successfully in many foundries. This compound is claimed to give the best results, to increase the value of Those who have the output and is a saver of money. Fig. 2.—Cam Type Combined Punch and Shear. used it speak in highest terms of its merits. The com- pany states that %4-pound sample box, which will be sent on application ,will prove sufficient for giving this compound a thorough test. Manufacturers who are members of the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers have decided to enter into scientific experiments to ascertain precisely what grades and compositions of steel are best for the production of a perfectly safe and reliable automobile, The various automobile makers have been ordering differ- ently. One maker specifies a certain grade of steel for its crank axles and another for its shaftings and other parts, while other makers will order totally different kinds of steel for the same parts. Under these circum- stances it has not seemed advisable for a steel company to experiment for any one customer and consequently a great deal of haphazard practice is current in the trade. The statement is made that Henry Souther has been en- gaged as its metallurgist by the association and under his direction a large steel manufacturing company will make the experiments. October 19, 1905 The White and Kernan Hot Blast Stove. In an effort to overcome some of the troubles incident to the use of the ordinary two-pass stoves for blast furnaces the White and Kernan hot blast stove has been devised and is now being introduced by F. L. White of Aspinwall, Pa. The various small piers in the usual two-pass stove, which are hard to keep clear of dust and when dirty require a long shut down to clean, are super- seded, as shown in Fig. 2, by arches extending across the whole inner diameter, from shell wall to shell wall. This gives a large unobstructed chamber, with nothing to prevent a free passage of the products of combustion when the stove is on gas or an even distribution of in- coming air when the stove is on blast. The cast iron casings of the small piers commonly employed are always affected by the cutting action of the cold blast. The arches, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are braced laterally by keys or brace brick set between them. The girder brick which support the checker work are unique. As shown in Fig. 3, the end of each girder brick is RELIEF VALVE ti Sri a i Stn RSS SSS ISS A A a Fig. 1. The White and Kernan Hot Blast Stove. formed with an inclined face and a shoulder at the bot- tom. These inclined faces rest on corresponding inclined blocks on top of the arch walls, having spacing between, forming pockets for the ends of the girder bricks. Should any girder brick crack or break the evenly dis- tributed load of the checkers tends to close the crack, be- cause of the inclined surfaces on which the girder rests, thus preventing it from falling out. The checker bricks are made of the shape shown in the upper portions of Fig. 3 and are designed to form a perfectly bonded checker brick. As arranged they give a round hole 84 inches in diameter, with a partition 3% inches thick between holes, but can be made of any size, furnishing any desired opening or partition. In laying the checkers, the first course, which bridges the girder tiles, has four, forming a circular opening. Above are three, five or six to the opening, forming a rigidly bonded mass of brick work, with a minimum of liability to expand or contract out of shape. The second course breaks joints with the first, and the succeeding courses break joints and bond all the way through. The White and Kernan stove is considered of par- ticular service in cases where blast furnace gas is not washed and carries over considerable flue dirt. Several 20-foot stoves have been installed with the arches as THE IRON AGE Fig. 2. 1009 shown in the illustration, but using the ordinary hex- agon checker brick. The Lucy furnaces of the Carnegie Steel Company have seven stoves equipped in this way. With this arrangement the bottom chamber has been cleaned in three hours’ time and the whole stove in 48 hours. The blast temperature has ranged from 1000 to 1500 degrees. ——_»--__—__ The Phillips Sheet & Tin Plate Company.—At a meeting of the directors of this company held in Pitts- burgh October 10 E. W. Mudge was elected president of the company to fill the place made vacant by the death of J. R. Phillips last spring. Mr. Mudge is vice-president of the La Belle Iron Works, Steubenville, Ohio, and is considered an authority on all subjects pertaining to the iron and steel industry. He is located in Pittsburgh, where he has large interests. At the same meeting fur- ther improvements to the extent of $20,000 were con- tracted for, including an additional 20-ton electric crane, with a 5-ton auxiliary hoist, a duplicate electric plant, two new cold mills, four additional stacks in the tinhouse, CHIMNEY VALVE ARRANGEMENT OF GIRDER BRICKS THE (RON AGE Fig. 3. Construction of Arches and Arrangement of Checker and Girder Bricks. and also a spare river pump. This additional equipment will make the plant one of the best equipped tin mills in the country. The general offices and works are located at Clarksburg, W. Va. SS SS ee German iron founders are seriously troubled over the competition of blast furnaces which are making casting