The Iron Age 1909-01-14: Vol 83 Iss 2

THE IRON AGE Published every Thursday Morning by David Williams Co., 14-16 Park Place, New York. OO a Ye Vol. 83: No. 2. New York, Thursday, January 14, 1909. Zing Copies, 16am Reading Matter Contents........ page 196 Alphabetical Index to Advertisers ‘‘ 182 Classified List of Advertisers i 172 a. and Sehonyhes Rates * 205 REED F. BLAIR & CO. PRICK BUILDING, PITTSBURG, PA. STANDARD CONNELSVILLE COKE FOUNDRY PURNACEB The Original and only Genuine ‘** STILLSON WRENCH ”’ is manufactured by WALWORTH MFG. CO., Boston, U.S. A. And bears their registered Trade-Mark = crs = rr READY TO APPLY 1ED JOINT FINISt Samson Spot Cord is the best sash cerd at any price. Phoenix Sash Cord is better than most and as cheap as any. We make both, and everything else in the line of braided cord. SAMSON CORDAGE WORKS, Boston, Mass. _ TURNBUCKLES ee Cleveland City Forge and tren Co. Cleveland, 0. T uo RN BU Oo zx Ia BP s Maspeth, New _New York, N.Y. N. Y¥. IRON ORES Phila. Real Estate Trust Bl PILLING & GRANE sachesney iag mpire Bldg.. OFAIN de., Pitts Nei w Y¢ rk TAPES and RULES MADE IN AMERICA and THE BEST IN THE WORLD THE LUFKIN RULE CO., Saginaw, a , U.S.A. Windsor, Can. London, Eng. Apollo Special "Electrical Sheets Highest electrical efficiency sheets produced anywhere AMERICAN SHEET AND TIN PLATE COMPANY Friek Buliding, Pittsburgh, Pa. See our ad on page 16 New York CRUSHED The Briste! Company, Waterbury, Ct. MERRILL BROS. | U.M.C. Nitro Clubs are popular for all kinds of shooting. They are moderate in price‘and like U. M. C. Arrows are Steel Lined. And ‘like all U.M.C. Shells Nitro Clubs are made for every make and type of gun. That means that there is a demand for Nitro Clubs from all kinds of sportsmen for all kinds of hunting. Attractive Advertising for the Asking The Union Metallic Cartridge vomrany fm Bridgeport, Conn. Agency 313 BROADWAY New York WATER TUBE Gye Babcock @ Wilcox Sx ‘BOILERS daaainiiaiicail 85 Liberty Street, New Foes Protection for ‘‘Capewell’’ Purchasers Our rigid system of inspection protects every buyer of ‘‘ Capewell”’ nails from paying for defective nails and pieces of scrap. The most perfect nails manufactured anywhere in the world are shipped from our factory and are acknowledged by all who use thm to be the best driving and holding nails. For All Classes of Work the MADE BY | The Capewell Horse Nail Company Hartford, Conn. Best Jenkins °96 Sheet Packing is the kind that will prevent loss of steam. Its great strength and durability give it maximum ef- fectiveness when used underpressure ofsteam,acids orammonia. It does not blow, burn or squeeze out. Jenkins ’96 is also made with wire insertion. JENKINS BROS., New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago “Smeton” GOLG ROMEO Ot Cel eecetac DEQWiNg = Stamping THE AMERICAN TUBE & STAMPING COMPANY SEB 24 (Wacer and Rail Delivery) BRIDGEPORT, CONN. PAGE ANTI MAGNOLIA ,,*°", METAL The Standard Babbitt of the World We manufacture everything in the Babbitt Line. SS MAGNOLIA METAL CO. 115 Bank St. New York: Nicholas St. Montreal : Chicago: Fisher Building. 31 St. wee we Os ee Ee a a Ea le All Valuable Characteristics So much desired in Steel Sheets used in manufactur- ing electrical machinery are found in FOLLANSBEE ELECTRICAL a as es Re ne ee ae ee es Ss Se “ee IRON AGE BRASS!"%,, COPPER'%5 | GERMAN (sieer SILVER e WIRE LOW BRASS, SHEET BRONZE, SEAMLESS BRASS AND COPPER TUBING, BRAZED BRASS AND THE SHEETS We are not presenting ex- perimental material. Our sheets have been proven of superior quality in many important factories. To use them is to exercise economy and secure best results. FOLLANSBEE BROTHERS COMPANY PITTSBURGH BRONZE TUBING: +: : : ee Waterbury Brass Co. WATERBURY, CONN. New York, 99 John St., Providence, R. }. Bridgeport Deoxidized Bronze & Metal Co. BRIDGEPORT, CONN. Phosphor and Deoxidized Bronze Composition, Yellow Brass and Alumi- num Castings, large and small Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Co. La Salle, Illinois. SMELTERS OF SPELTER AND MANUFACTURERS SHEET ZINC AND SULPHURIC ACID Special Sizes of Zinc cut to order. Rolled Battery Plates. Selected Plates for Etchers and Lithographers’ use. Selected Sheets for Paper and Card Makers’ use. Stove and Washboard Blanks. ZINCS FOR LECLANCHE BATTERY. , GERMAN SILVER w \ In Sheet, Wire, Rods, Blanks and Shells NICKEL ANODES BRASS, BRONZE, COPPER in all forms \. THE SEYMOUR MFG. CO., Seymour, Conn. yi HENDRICKS BROTHERS Manulacturers ol | Sheet and Bar Copper, Copper Fire Box Plates and Staybolts, Wire and Braziers Rivets Importers and Dealers in Ingot Copper, Block, Tin, Spelter, Lead, Antimony, Bismuth, Nickel, etc: 49 CLIFF STREET NEW YORK The Plume & Atwood Mfg, Co, Manufacturers of Sheet and Roll Brass, Wire, Rods, German Silver and Brass Goods In great variety. Rolling Mill Thomaston, Conn, Factories Waterbury, Conn. Branch Offices Cc hicago St. Louis and San Francisco ANTIMONY ‘‘A. S. P.’’ Brand (English Star) C. W. Leavitt 2 Co., Agents ew Yor New York SCOVILL MFG. CO. Manufacturers of BRASS, GERMAN SILVER, Sheets, Rolls, Wire, and ods, Brass Shells, Cups, Hinges, Bottoms, Lamp Goods, Special Brass Goods to Order. Sian WATERBURY, CONN, Depots; CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON HlearySouther Engineering Co. HARTFORD CONN. Consulting Chemists, Metallur- gists and Analysts. Complete Physical Testing Laboratory. Expert Testimony in Court and Patent Cases. Arthur T. Rutter & Co, 256 Broadway, NEW YORK. Small tubing in Brass, Copper, Steel, Alaminum, German Silver, &c. Sheet Brass, Copper and Ger- man Silver. Copper, Brass and German Silver Wire. Brazed and Seamless Brass and Copper Tube. Copper and Brass Rod. | THE BRIDGEPORT BRASS CO, BRIDGEPORT, CONN. Postal resegcaps ating Broadway and urray Vo ee 85-87 Penst St., Bos 17 N. 7th St., Piiladelphia. MANUFACTURERS OF Brass | SHEET AND TUBING Copper | WIRE Metal Goods made to order from Sheet, Rod, Wire and Tubing. ~PmOSPHOR: BRONZE GERIAN SILVER THE RIVERSIDE METAL Co. RIVERSIDE, N. J. THE IRON AGE New York, Thursday, January 14, 1909. The Gary Pig Casting Plant. The Heyl & Patterson Machines at the Indiana Steel Company, Gary, Ind. It is the present practice in large steel plants to carry the operations through in continuous sequence from the Gary plant of the United States Steel Corporation it was realized that the casting machines are just as important as other units, and they were given equal consideration, with the result that several innovations were adopted. The conditions at Gary will ultimately require that all of the product of 16 blast furnaces may be prepared for shipment. It is the usual practice to provide two pig casting machines for every three furnaces, and, following ore pile to the finished product. Thus there is saved as_ this idea, the plant is equipped with six machines to 7 Zo = Z = ; a Saas = Ze 7 °o Sm oO a + —- - < a » B v A we 4 > 7 ‘ & iy k a Z x $ £ 2 x G fy - S YW GY y l @ if cc %, — CL4 >) = 4 “ / | / \ A “ 1300-EX TENSION He - 390: |RRESENT BLOG tt > MS Lf. . / , , , / , , % “\ A/z a. <45-P¥+ 60 pr? 60 Prt 60°*|—-60—-|* | - 60-45% v S * ta | 4 Mega ed bpm weh hb ceecedhah enna iehemmmanitel ti} ase / ABS ‘ 7 stp had Md cnancdd bn osal} sab p inten diana fle apeariacl imearagged hemes sind cs YY, y | = nN | Yo Z ; 4 Ne __PIG CASTING PLANT © ane = Z hy / a‘ — —+ = = Vs a = Ze /f r = = = es Se ——— = = = ———— oo 4 yj ee 4 — = — 4 4 ——* Se oe eee — = eee x —_____} k 1 — = ‘a CLEANING ee os - sail Z a ene a = — - - — - “yy Ss —_—_—_—— = = eo a wr’ ? i SS > ye 4 Ss, —— — —_ ——y —— ~- —-— ' o- « Y A, os _ os Z Y Z a [ opens CRANE RUNWAY f — + ——— 7 0 ZA > — | LADLE REPAIR SHOP | ; ‘ & ia < TRAVELIOF-SHOP-CRANE x 5 — = Fig. 2.—View Looking Northeast, Showing the Loading Tracks, much as possible of the heat originally supplied, and the rate of production is increased and the losses as scrap decreased. To provide against shutting down the blast furnaces, it is always necessary to install some means of taking care of the surplus metal. This may be done either by casting it in pigs in sand or in a casting machine. Usually a casting machine is located on the plot of ground least available for other purposes, because most machines so far installed have taken the place of an existing sand casting plant. In the construction of the Cooling Conveyors and the Head Ends of the Casting Machines serve the nine furnaces which constitute the present equipment. The pig casting machines and ladle tilts were designed and built by Heyl & Patterson, Inc., Pittsburgh, ?’a., who in consultation with Messrs. Thorpe and Neu- mann of the United States Steel Corporation are also responsible for the general layout of the casting plant. Among the conditions that were especially required to be fulfilled were that the operations of pouring the metal from the ladles and loading the pigs into cars should be independent; that-means for easy and rapid cleaning of empty ladles should be provided; that the IRON View in the Cast House, Showing a 45-Ton Ladle in the Cradle at the Lef AGE january 14, 1909 t, an Empty Cradle in the Middle and a Ladle Car at the Right, lip of the ladle times, should be kept close to the molds at all and that the pouring end should always be ac- cessible. In the accompanying views, Fig. 1 shows the general arrangement of the plant. The cast house is 82 ft. wide by 390 ft. long by 54 ft. from the yard level to the bottom chord of the trusses. Provision is made for a 300-ft. extension, which will accommodate five more casting machines. The cast house is equipped with two 75-ton ladle cranes of 79 ft. span, each having a 15-ton auxiliary hoist, and with a 10-ton repair crane running longitud- inally of the building above the bottom chord of the roof trusses. Three ladle tracks run through the building at the yard level, and a cleaning platform 15 ft. wide is provided along the side opposite from the casting ma- chines. Directly in front of each casting machine is a ladle stand, consisting of two upright frames, at the upper ends of which are pivoted ladle supports or cradles. The ie -Another View lower ends of the cradles rest on the stand and are con nected together by a cross frame, to which attachment is made for tilting. Fig. 3 shows a 45-ton ladle in the cradle at the left, an empty cradle in the middle and a ladle car at the right. Directly back of the empty cradle is shown the pouring pot, which discharges into runners conducting the metal to both strands of each machine. The cradles are tilted by means of the jib cranes. One is shown over the empty cradle, and the other is swung out of position to permit the ladle being lifted out of the other cradle. The method of pouring the metal may be called “lip pouring,” to distinguish it from that usually employed where the ladle is tilted about its own trunnions, and begins to discharge the metal from 6 to 8 ft. above the pouring pot, finishing when the lip is practically in contact with the pouring pot. A patent has recently been granted on this pouring apparatus. After a ladle is poured it is taken by the ladle crane to the cleaning floor, where it is cleaned and has the lip of the Cooling Conveyors. January 14, 1909 /f Ade = Ky I Ah yy ry Ky Ky fy bk A <4 4 “ Cd z w ¥ 14 —— st no 4A r4 oo a 2s fa Fa oO 4 mY ' ~ Yt oO a Y¥ fo < i 7 » z ‘ a tit . 8 \" A — =| \ _ iil \\ ¥ ae = \ uy z ve yy jI - THE IRON AGE 141 end sing 1j and Conveyors Casting Machine, Cooling Iiouse, Cast the Showing a Section of Elevation .Looking South-Southwest, relined. It is then picked up by the ladle crane and set on its own trucks. Each casting machine is 115 ft. long. Unless the pigs are cooled they are too hot to discharge directly into cars. Each casting machine discharges on to a cooling conveyor having a tank 99 ft. long. The pigs are con veyed through this tank, submerged in water, and finally discharged into cars. A gravity yard is provided for loading the pigs into the cars. Empty cars are stored at the upper end of the yard and are fed down by a system of ladder tracks. The arrangement is such that each machine discharges to its own track entirely independent of any other machine Loading tracks are on a 144 per cent. grade, and there is enough room to store seven loaded cars. Fig. 2 shows the loading tracks, cooling conveyors and the head ends of the casting machines. Fig. 4 is another view of the cooling conveyors, and Fig. 5 a sectional elevation of the plant through one of the six existing independent pig casting equipments. chp dinicnaiilitaa Maltese The Weaving of the First Fourdrinier Wire in America. The Paper Trade Journal reproduces in its current issue the following article written’ for its twenty-fifth anniversary number, October 16, 1897, by Cornelius Van Houten, treasurer of the De Witt Wire Cloth Coinpany, Belleville, N. J., whose recent death invests with fresh interest the facts here narrated: “In the spring of 1847 William Staniar came from England and brought to America a model for weaving Fourdrinier wires, he being then connected with William Stephens & Son, Belleville, N. J., in which firm he had an interest. From that model I made the first American looiwn for weaving Fourdrinier wire, and in September, 1847, Mr. Staniar and myself wove the first American made wire, he being the ‘right-hand’ and I the ‘left hand’ man onthe loom. That first wire was 62 in. by 24 ft. 10 in., and was used in the mill of J. & R. Kingsland, aut North Belleville (now Franklin), N. J. “Tt was very hard work to introduce the American wires. In those days the machines were run in the main by Scotch and English tenders, and they all held the opinion tbat a satisfactory wire could not be made in America. There was a great prejudice against the new American wires, and the only way the American maker could sell his goods was by packing them in imported boxes. ‘They, however, steadily won their way, and to day American wires are superior to those made by Eng lish, German or French makers. **In 1848 I made the first American dandy roll, but | cannot now remember what the design on it was, nor ci: I remember by whom it was used. “T have been continuously connected with the business since 1847. first as journeyman, afterward as superintend ent, and then as treasurer, which position I now occup) in the De Witt Wire Cloth Company, the successor of the original firm, which company was incorporated in 1876 It is one of the pleasures of my life to reflect on the early struggles, the patience and perseverance required to ove) come existing prejudices, which were followed by a com plete triumph over all foreign competitors, and resulted in establishing a new and important American industry.” ee The Reburning of Ashes.—Referring to the formal abandonment of the attempt to force the reburning of ashes upon the firemen of the New York city school build ings, the Engineering News says: “It was found that the great saving in fuel claimed for the ash burning schenx did not really exist, and the boiler repair bill was in creased. The cooler ends of boiler tubes were clogged and the steaming qualities of the boilers were impaired. The boilers appear to have suffered excessive corrosion while idle, although there seems to have been no very active deterioration while they were kept hot. It is quite true that a great deal of unburned coal has gone into the ash pit in the past; but the remedy for this waste is not in trying to burn the ashes over again with oxalic acid or any other nostrum, but in training the firing force in proper management of these boilers to prevent such waste,” 142 THE Handling Coal by Electric Shovels. BY EDGAR H. WATLINGTON, NEW YORK.* Coal handling at a plant usually involves taking it from a car or barge and delivering it to a furnace. There are often intermediate operations. For instance, en eeee err > = IRON AGE January 14, 1909 storage bins before it is finally used, but its destination is always the same—the furnace. When burned it residue, the and this ash has to be taken away in about the reverse of the manner that the coal is brought to the furnace. It is apparent that a distinct gain in economy is made if the same agency that carried in the coal can be made to carry out the ash. coal is leaves a ash, Fig. 2.—A Sprague Electric Shovel Bridge Crane. the car is emptied by gravity and the coal forms a pile, or a number of cars may be emptied to form a pile of great- er extent. The coal may be taken from a barge and piled up for future use at a greater or less distance from the point of consumption, and it may pass through a coal erusher over a weighing scale and through one or more * Sales manager of the Hoist Department of the Electric Company, New York City. Sprague There are a great many mechanical methods of handling coal in use, but only one style of apparatus is capable of taking it from a barge or car in the first place and by the use of a single unit of machinery delivering it to the furnace, making all the intermediate stops for storage, crushing, weighing, &c., and be available for carrying out the ashes. The only machine that can do all tnis work is a nower crane of some kind equipped also January 14, 1909 THE IRON AGE 143 Fig. 3.—A Sprague Electric Shovel Gantry Crane. with a grab bucket. A grab bucket power crane can shovel, lift, carry, deposit and pile, and it is the only self-contained piece of machinery that can perform all these functions. As the use of electric motors for crane drive is so universal, and their many advantages so clearly recog- nized, the following considers only electric cranes. These machines for convenience may be divided into the fol- lowing classes: Monorail cranes or telphers, Fig. 1; bridge cranes, Fig. 2, and gantrys, Fig. 3. Monorail Cranes or Telphers consist essentially of a carriage or carrier propelled by an electric motor along an overhead suspended track. To this carrier is attached a drum hoist driven by an independent motor or motors, the hoist ropes being at- tached to a grab bucket. The simplest form of bucket is the clam shell type, which consists of two bowls at- tached to a frame work, this frame being pivoted at its upper extremity. A spool or drum is attached to the frame and around this one of the hoist ropes is wound. By pulling on the drum or closing rope the two bowls are drawn together; by slacking off, gravity draws them apart. The action of the bucket depends entirely upon the operation of the hoist, which is controlled by an operator, who is usually in a cab or cage attached to the carrier. When the bucket is dropped, opened, on the coal or other similar material contained in a barge or car, or forming a pile, it can be closed, thus scooping up a quan- tity of the material, varying from a half ton to a ton or more. When closed, it can be raised by the action of the hoist as high as the altitude of the runway will permit, and the machine and load can be propelled along the runway and around curves of 10 ft. radius, more or less. : Fig. 4. 144 THE A track scale for weighing the load can be installed at any point in the runway system. Track ean be used and the machine switched from one track to Fig. 4 shows a monorail installation in use. switches another. Bridge Cranes are similar to the ordinary industrial works crane as far as the bridge and bridge drive are concerned, but the crab or combined hoist and carrier usually has two drums driven by either one or two motors, the grab bucket being attached, or “bent on” to ropes winding up on these drums. The operation of the bucket is the same as with the monorail, but the equipment cannot go around curves, and the installation of a track scale is somewhat more difficult and expensive. The advantage of a bridge crane lies in the ability to make or take from a broad pile, as may be seen in Fig. 2. Gautries are exactly similar to bridge cranes, except that the bridge is supported on two end frames or legs, so that the bridge wheels run at, or very near, the ground level. No elevated runway is required with a gantry, of which an example is given in Fig. 3. It will be seen that these three classes of machinery have a number of points in common. They all operate a grab bucket and consequently can shovel; the hoist is carried a considerable distance above ground and so can lift and pile; they travel longitudinally and so can carry and deposit; they can carry both ashes and coal. As before stated, no other kind of coal handling ma- chinery can perform all of these functions. An indus- trial railroad can dump from an elevation and run around curves, but cannot shovel. . A single chain or bucket conveyor cannot shovel or successfully run around curves. <A derrick or mast and gaff rig cannot carry any distance. The industrial railroad, the belt or bucket conveyor, the derrick, the tower and the mast and gaff, all have their distinct fields of usefulness, but when it is neces- sary to transport coal in moderate quantities, say from ™) to 500 tons per day, a considerable distance, in some instances not over 100 ft., and from that up to 1000 ft. or so, then the grab bucket crane shows great saving, both in first cost and cost of operation. The saving in operation is labor, power and maintenance. Labor, be- cause one machine performs the entire cycle of opera- tions; power, because the motors are only run while the material is being transported ; maintenance, because only one style of machine has to be looked after and kept in order. So far only general types of cranes have been con- sidered. There is, however, one type made by the Sprague Electric Company, New York, which will be specifically described in certain respects concerning the method of control. The grab bucket control of this make of crane is dis- tinctive in that it is entirely electrical. Two drums are used ; one to operate the closing rope, the other the hold- ing rope. The operation of the closing rope has already described. The holding rope holds the bucket in position, when the closing: rope is slacked off to permit the bucket to open. Each drum is geared to an inde- pendent motor through a train of spur gearing. There is, however, no mechanical connection of any kind be- tween the two sets of drums, the gears or the motors. The two ropes are made to maintain their correct posi- tion relative to each other by the proper use of re- sistance in the motor circuits. This resistance is correct- ly adjusted by the manufacturers, and once set the ad- justment cannot vary. Only one controller is used. To lower the operator simply places the handle on the lowering notch and to hoist, open or close the bucket the single controller handle is simply turned to the proper position. This is much simpler than the usual arrangement of two hand levers and two foot brakes, all of which must be operated in immediate succession by one man. The elimination of one or two clutches and two foot brakes is obviously a great advantage, and it does away with the necessity of frequently replacing a number of moving and wearing parts, been IRON AGE January 14, 1909 The New Union-Cinch Pipe Fittings. Those who have tried to make a neat job of small piping with the ordinary threaded pipe and tapped fit- tings have possibly wondered why there is not some more practical way in which to accomplish the work. In the first place, it seems probable that the work of threading pipe and getting a good fit for the threads could be ac complished at a factory or in the shop much better than it is often done by means of a set of dies in the hands of more or less inexperienced who are often rz BSS dba ee Se workers, BSS Perr S «LOGE: NK Fig. 1.—Sectional View of the Union Cinch Connection. obliged to thread a piece by holding it with a Stillson wrench while they try to run the die on by hand; and after all the care possible has been exercised in making up a job where the pressures are rather severe, it is un- usual not to find a number of leaks, and these leaks usual- Fig 2.—The Union-Cinch Tee, an Example of the Line of Fit tings Made by the Sight Feed Oil Pump Company, Milwau kee, Wis ly occur where it is least convenient to get at them to give the pipe another turn to take them up. The Sight Feed Oil Pump Company, Milwaukee, Wis.. considers that it now has something that overcomes the majority of the difficulties. Believing that it is more practical to do the work of threading in the shop than it is to do it in the field this company has brought out an interesting line of pipe fittings, which are known as the Union-Cinch type. They are made in sizes corre sponding to s.andard iron pipe up to 1 in., and are espe cially designe. for use in connection with the oil pumps and o.rs manufactured by this company. It is possible to use ordinary rough pipe with these fittings, if care is exercised in filing the ends of the pipe round and smooth, but the maker of the fittings is pre- pared to furnish smooth drawn steel tubing corresponding to the iron pipe sizes on the outside diameter. This tub- ing has a wall of No. 16 gauge in the % and 1 in. sizes, and No. 18 gauge in smaller sizes, and has, therefore, a very much larger carrying capacity than ordinary pipe. In fact, the \%-in. pipe will carry almost as much as the January 14, 1909 ordinary \4-in. iron pipe. This steel tubing is cheap, is thoroughly annealed, readily bent, and the expense for labor and putting up a job of pipe work using the Union Cinch fittings is much that for work done in the ordinary manner, A hack saw and monkey wrench are ull the tools that are required. except where ornamental appearance counts, than less claimed to be in which case a bending rig of some sort is convenient. Each fitting is a union, and the piping may be taken down at any point where a fitting is inserted. The joint is made by screwing down the outside nut, which presses a thin, tapered shell into the annular cavity around the pipe, between it and the fitting, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 shows the exterior of a typical fitting. These nuts may be pulled up hard and the soft cone shell will make an absolutely tight joint around the tubing, which, it is claimed, is capable of withstanding 1000 Ib. pressure per in fact, is absolutely tight under any pressure that the tubing will stand. Where it is desirable for the sake of display, brass pipe may be used, although in cases where nickel plating is done the steel tubing will nickel plate as well as brass square inch.; or, pipe and is much cheaper. This type of joint may be taken down and made a) THE IRON AGE 145 itself in the hole in the bar. ‘This positions the head accurately on the bar and clamps it rigidly at the The bar as well as the locating pin and the seats same time. bushing which guides it are hardened, ground and lapped. with head re micrometer head in position disk the can be measured in this The distance from the bottom of the base to With the head positioned to the second The bar is Fig. 2 shows the instrument the anvil and the the base anvil From O to 7 in. moved bar and > over with a 2-in. between meas uring surfaces. manner the anvil is 1 in. hole of the bar O to 1 in. drawn to its seat in the base by the same screw used in can be measured. connection with the anvil head. Fig. 3 shows the instrument with the bar given a half turn in the base and the head positioned to the seventh hole in hight block. In this position any distance from O to 8 in. can be measured Cast iron hight blocks, as illustrated, 6 and 12 in. high, can be furnished. With these the instrument has a meas- uring range of 26 in. by thousandths of inches. They are the milling and boring ma- position in relation to the centers of their spindles, and also in measuring the various hights of planed and milled work, the hights of jig bushings, &c. the bar measuring a 6-in. useful in setting tables of chines to an exact Fig. 1. Fig. 2. The New Universal Micrometer and Surface Gauge Made by again any number of times without any trouble. It seems to be especially suitable for the work of piping up oil pumps, gravity oiling devices, gauges, drop pipes, &c., and especially in such work around ammonia handling machinery, where this steel tubing and fittings (made of steel) are especially valuable because of the readiness with which they may be made up perfectly tight against the escape of ammonia gas. The fittings include ells, tees, couplings, adapters (for connecting to threaded systems) and relief valves in all sizes from % to 1 in. ——~ -— _ ~~. - The Universal Micrometer and Surface Gauge. A handy shop tool has been devised by the Schellen- bach-Hunt Tool Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, known as the Universal Micrometer and Surface Gauge. The ac- companying engraving shows the instrument in various In Fig. 1 the device is used as a bench instru- ment, with the bar of the micrometer held in the clamp; measurement from 0 to 7 in. can be taken. The bar can be shifted endwise to any desired position a quarter turn backward the nd placed in positions. base any in the base clamp and by instrument can be lifted out of the clamp position to permit the sliding head to be moved t° the desired unit on the bar as indicated by the figures. The instrument used in the hand will measure round work to tf in. diameter and flat work to 7 in. by thousandths of inches. The bar is flattened on one side as shown, and the inch positions are marked by conical holes in the cen- ter of this flat. To set the measuring the re- quired position on the bar, it is only necessary to slide the head to an approximate position as indicated by the figures and the until its end head to screw locating pin down Fig. 4. the Schellenbach & Hunt Tool Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. Fig. 4 shows the instrument used, as a scribing gauge with a circular scriber attached to the end of the meas- uring spindle. This disk is notched on its periphery, as shown. The lower face of the disk is ground at right angles to its bore and the upper side at a slight angle and to a sharp edge, the points formed between the notches being the scribing elements. The lower side of the disk is drilled and tapped for a screw, the end of which projects over the wall of the bore and locates the scribing line in the plane of the end of the measuring spindle. The disk is slotted and clamped to the spindle by a binding screw. The face of the disk being flat sub- sequent grinding to keep the scribing points sharp will not affect the accuracy. Taken in connection with the hight blocks lines may be drawn on work from within 1-16 in. of the base surface to the full range of the in- strument by thousandths of inches. It is of course to be understood that the measuring spindle should be locked before the scribing is done. —————__»>--- The London Times Engineering Supplement, referring to the return to England of Colonel Hughes, who repre sented the Sheffield high speed steel manufacturers in the recent hearing in the United States of the action recently sethlehem Steel Company, Company the makers of high brought against them by the says: “Should the Bethlehem effect would be serious on the Sheffield speed steels, who export considerable quantities to the United States. An important combination of high speed steel makers was formed in America just before Colonel Hughes came that now practically all high speed steel makers in this country who have already been associated in defending the action will be joined by a succeed, away, so similar combination in the United States.” THE IRON A Mammoth German Rotary Planer. An electrically driven rotary planer, constructed by Ernst Schiess Actien Gesellschaft, Diisseldorf, Germany, is herewith illustrated, as one of nine built for the Krupp Company, to be used principally upon armor plate and similar work. The table has a diameter of 35 ft. 9 in. (11 m.), but work 39 ft. (12 m.) wide and 11 ft. (3.4 m.) high can be handled. The table is driven by a series-wound motor, which through differential gears allows of five different working speeds, ranging from one revolution in 51 sec. to one in 4 min. The table is supported in the middle by a spindle or shaft set in a hydraulic bearing; it is also supported underneath. In a table of its size extraordi- nary measures had to be taken to take care of the bend- ing moments, and in this case heavy plates were placed in slots on the plate above and around the circumference of the plate below. The operation of such a giant machine made it neces- sary to deviate from common practice in many respects. AGE January 14, 1909 For the Abolition of the Numbered Metal Gauges. As is well known, efforts have been put forth from time to time over a long period of years to rid the iron manufacturing and iron working trades of the confusion in designations of the thickness of metals. Some head- way has been made, but the situation has been left far from clear, from the fact that efforts have been directed in many cases toward the adoption of a new or com- promise standard of gauges or to the abandonment of some of the existing standards rather than toward secur- ing uniformity in designation. The latest movement aims at the abolition of the gauge numbers and the use of decimal designations entirely, but with- out attempt to eliminate any of the commonly used sizes or gauges. The Association of American Steel Manufacturers, which is carrying on this campaign, has prepared a circular on the subject, which it is now send- ing out to manufacturers, presenting the argument for the decimal description’. 'The secretary of the associa- A 35-Ft. Motor Driven Rotary Planer Built for the Krupp Works by the Ernst Schiess Actien Gesellschaft, Diisseldorf, Germany. For instance, all operations of stopping and starting the feeds, the regulation of the driving motor for the table, as well as the changing of speeds, are controlled from a platform, shown at the right in the engraving without its flooring. This effectually does away with all climbing about of the operators in charge. Besides this, the cutting tools are provided with every device for their easy, safe and automatic movement. If they are cutting more than they will stand they will automatically raise themselves and take a shallower cut. The tool heads may be oper- ated by hand as well as automatically. The compensating weights of the tool heads are in- dependent and self-contained. This arrangement, while not absolutely new, it is believed has nevertheless not be- fore been employed on a rotary planer. In most German planers the weights are carried on the ends of wire ropes and the holder is balanced between them. The weight of the machine assembled is 660,000 Ib., 330 tons, but even this does not convey the idea of its enormous size; that may be had from the engraving by comparison with the size of the operater. tion, Jesse J. Shuman, inspecting engineer of the Jones & Laughlin Steel Company, Pittsburgh, has sent with the circular a blank form to about 700 manufacturers. This form calls for answers to two questions, first, whether the recipient agrees that the remedy proposed is the best, and, second, whether he will enforce the decimal designations in his own business. Of several rundred re- plies received thus far nearly all are favorable. The association’s views on the subject are set forth in the circular as follows: This circular is sent to you as a manufacturer or user of any kind of material the size or thickness of which is commonly described by a gauge number. You are doubtless aware of the confusion that exists by rea- son of the divers systems of gauges, and we can as- sume with confidence that you agree that it would be a good thing if the numbered gauges could be abolished forever. Failure of Previous Efforts, The misunderstandings—sometimes expensive, always annoying—that have been caused by the existing confu- January 14, 1909 sion in gauges, have been the subject of much discussion among technical bodies during the last 30 years, and very considerable progress has been made along the road to a remedy. Unfortunately, however, the movement toward a common standard has been more or less im- peded by two things: _ 1. The adoption by Congress in 1893 of the United States Standard system, which may have been forced on the nation with good intentions on the part of our lawmakers, but which has certainly failed to meet their expectations in point of universal use, and has become instead the most serious element of confusion. 2. Misdirected efforts on the part of mechanical and technical and In this connection we might include the adoption of decimal slot gauges or gauge plates, which it was hoped would do away with gauge numbers by substituting decimals nearly equivalent. This movement has been only a halfway remedy and in the 12 years since it was started it has steadily lost near- ly all the ground it gained, chiefly, it would seem, because the tools have a limited number of slots, so that they do not take care of the exact decimals which the trade is used to and has a right to keep. societies others, The Better Way. The Association of American Steel Manufacturers has been in close touch with this subject for the last 15 This body is firmly convinced that the only way out of the tangle is to make no effort to change any of the existing standard directions of materials, but to in sist that sizes and thicknesses be expressed in decimal] parts of an inch instead of indicated by number. This change is so easy to make and is such a thor ough and complete cure for the ills of arbitrary gauge numbers that it is hard to see what valid objection could be raised against its adoption. It is just as easy to say 0.025-n. sheets as to say No. 24 sheets, and then there is no danger that the thickness will be misunderstood to mean 0.020 in., 0.022 in. or any of the other numerous equivalents for No. 24. In 1904 the Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Company Officially abandoned the use of all wire and sheet metal gauges in exactly the manner we now propose, freeing itself from the confusion of the 10 or more different sys- tems which had governed the materials used in its shops. We are informed that the change was made with ease and that at once its effects began to show in simplified details in all departments. years. What Is Proposed, If you agree that it would be good to have an end of the numbered gauges, we respectfully suggest that you do your share by making an official rule in terms some- what as follows: 1. Effective this date, al! sheets, wire rods, tubing, hoops, &c., are to be designated by decimal thickness instead of by gauge number. For instance: No. 5 rods W. & M. gauge will be described as 0.207- in. rods; l-in. x No. 10 B. W. G. hoops will be described as 1-in. x 0.134-in, hoops; No. 20 U. S. Std. sheets will be described as 0.0375-in. sheets, &c. : 2. Requisitions for material, drawings, correspondence, in- voices and all other business of the company will discontinue the use of the numbered gauges in referring to the thickness of materials. 3. (If a manufacturer of the products in question). Orders received from customers, in which dimensions are described by number, will be translated into decimal equivalents before they are given out for execution. In acknowledging such orders mention will be made of this change, with the request for the customers’ co-operation in future business. 4. No sizes or thicknesses of standard materials are to be changed. The same sizes or gauges at present in use will re- main unchanged, the only change being that they will be desig- nated by decimal dimension instead of by number. 5. In calipering materials micrometers or other gauges read- ing to thousandths of an inch will be used. 6. The extreme refinements shown by the fifth or sixth decimal places will be dropped, and not more than three signifi- cant figures will be used. By significant figures is meant all figures to the right of ciphers after the decimal point. Thus, No. 21 U. 8. Standard will be known as 0.0344-in. instead of 0.034375-in.; No. 8 U. S. Standard will be shortened from 0.171875-in. to 0.172-in. 7. This change does not affect finished articles of any kind, such as screws, nails, rivets or any manufactured article known to the trade by size number. THE IRON AGE 147 The Work of the Association of American Steel Manufacturers, In considering this appeal you are to understand that the Association of American Steel Manufacturers is do- ing this work from disinterested motives, each of its members being perfectly able to take care of itself in matters touching its own interests. A movement of this kind can be best furthered through a technical body, however, and the individual firms can in this way act as a unit. It may be of interest to state further that this asso- ciation is composed of the leading steel and iron manu- facturers in the United States and that its work is and always has been purely technical. Among its achieve- ments are the standardizing of structural sections; the promulgation of the well-known manufacturers’ stand- ard specifications for structural, bridge, boiler, rivet and other grades of steel, which to-day facture of, perhaps, more than half of the these materials and on which govern the manu- tonnage of have been based most of the specifications written subsequently; also other sery ices valuable to both manufacturer and customer in the removal of trade restrictions unfair to one or the other. In making this effort to bring about this further large benefit the association is asking of. you nothing difficult nor expensive. If the firms to which this booklet is sent will each make this simple change there is no doubt that the long battle against numbered gauges will be won. A Table tor Comparison, given herewith for convenience in A table is translating gauge numbers of the more prominent sys- shortened to the three your tems into equivalent decimals, significant places when necessary. WIR! AND SHERT METAL GAUGES IN APPROXIMATE DECIMALS OF AN INCH. my on; a] _ & = . eg [. h6U6FlChUh.!hUmEhCUF a + 6@ Spo. 2 BO = a a 5s £ «@ gesa¥ « an 2 = 5 a S88 steS a Bo, nn = a Q = ~=F Loy = S32 fs a a ® $ be ga"s ¢ Bs 2 4 & = S sq Sat = 2 EN = = a 0 _ =~ = =~ fas! nh faa} Oo 7-0 0.500 ane 0.500 7-0 6-0 0.469 0.460 0.464 6-0 5-0 0.438 .... 0.430 0.450 ere 0.4382 5-0 4-0 0.406 0.460 0.394 0.400 0.454 0.400 4-0 000) 0.375 0.410 0.363 0.360 0.425 0.372 000 00 0.344 0.365 0.331 0.330 0.380 0.348 00 0 0.313 0.325 0.307 0.305 0.340 a. biten 0.324 0 1 0.281 0.289 0.283 0.285 0.300 0.227 0.300 1 2 0.266 0.258. 0.263 0.265 0.284 0.219 0.276 2 3 0.250 0.229 0.244 0.245 0.259 0.212 0.252 3 4 0.234 0.204 0.225 0.225 0.238 0.207 0.232 4 5 0.219 0.182 0.207 0.205 0.220 0.204 0.212 5 6 0.208 0.162 0.192 0.190 0.203 0.201 0.192 6 7 0.188 0.144 0.177 0.175 0.180 0.199 0.176 7 8 0.172 0.128 0.162 0.160 0.165 0.197 0.160 8 9 0.1356 0.114 0.148 0.145 0.148 0.194 0.144 9 10 0.141 0.102 0.1385 0.1380 0.134 0.191 0.128 10 11 0125 0.0907 0.121 0.118 0.120 0.188 0.116 11 12 0.109 0.0808 0.106 0.105 0.109 0.185 0.104 12 13 0.0938 0.072 0.0915 0.0925 0.095 0.182 0.092 13 14 0.0781 0.0641 0.080 0.0806 0.083 0.180 0.080 14 15 0.0703 0.0571 0.072 0.070 0.072 0.178 0.072 15 16 0.0625 0.0508 0.0625 0.061 0.065 0.175 0.064 16 17 0.0563 0.0453 0.054 0.0525 0.058 0.172 0.056 17 18 0.050 0.0403 0.0475 0.045 0.049 0.168 0.048 18 19 0.0438 0.0259 0.041 0.040 0.042 0.164 0.040 19 2°09 0.0375 0.032 0.0348 0.035 0.035 0.161 0.036 20 21 0.0344 0.0285 0.0318 0.031 0.032 0.157 0.032 21 22 0.0313 0.0253 0.0286 0.028 0.028 0.155 0.028 22 28 0.0281 0.0226 0.0258 0.025 0.025 0.153 0.024 23 24 0.025 0.0201 0.023 0.0225 0.022 0.151 0.022 24 25 0.0219 0.0179 0.0204 0.02 0.020 0.148 0.020 25 26 0.0188 0.0159 0.0181 90.018 0.018 0.146 0.018 26 27 0.0172 0.0142 0.0173 0.017 0.016 0.143 0.0164 27 28 0.0156 0.0126 0.0162 0.016 0.014 0.139 0.0149 28 29 0.0141 0.0113 0.015 0.015 0.013 0.134 0.0136 29 30 0.0125 0.010 0.014 0.014 0.012 0.127 0.0124 30 81 0.0109 0.0089 0.0132 0.0138 0.010 0.120 0.0116 31 82 0.0102 0.008 0.0128 0.012 0.009 0.115 0.0108 32 83 0.0094 0.0071 0.0118 0.011 0.008 0.112 90.010 33 834 0.0086 0.0063 90.0104 0.010 0.007 0.110 0.0092 34 85 0.0078 0.0056 0.0095 0.0095 0.005 0.108 0.0084 35 86 0.007 06.005 0.009 0.009 0.004 0.106 0.0076 36 387 0.0066 0.0045 0.0085 0.0085 0.103 0.0068 37 88 0.0063 0.004 0.008 0.008 0.101 0.006 38 39 = .... 0.0035 0.0075 0.0075 0.099 0.0052 39 ae wees 0.0031 0.007 0.007 0.097 0.0048 40 148 Fluctuations in the Prices of Iron and Steel Products, 1899-1908. (With Supplement.) the an indicate the billets and the 10 based on the The Supplement accompanying this issue is nual chart in which plotted lines are used to course of prices for pig iron, Bessemer steel the leading of years 1908. and steel in liagrams finished iron rhe prices given forms ending with monthly averages of market reports of The Iron from the leading selling The the the chart are for dollars and the black, red and blue lines represent gross are week by week in Le margin of centers. figures on tons. The market prices of finished material per 2240, the relation like quantities of pound have been multiplied so that plotted lines the by would show exact between all products. The table below gives the monthly average prices that is, the average of the weekly market quotations for month. These are for Bessemer pig iron at Pitts burgh, Southern No. 2 Cincinnati, local No. 2 foundry iron at Chicago, basic iron at Philadelphia (from 1904 on), Bessemer steel billets at Pittsburgh, tank plates, refined bar iron and beams at Philadelphia, and cut nails and wire nails at Pittsburgh. each foundry iron at The chart repre sents one more product, steel rails, but that price can be readily obtained from its generally unvarying line. The prices below for pig iron and billets are in dollars per gross ton; those for finished pound : materials are in cents per Average Monthly Prices, 1899-1908 tp x! oS “= wm of = ~ 3 os H¢ wn = Th D r=] r} =e ~ nD = m= < =o S a ~ == ~ = 4 2 “ _ T _ 1899 Jan. .10.87 16.62 10.31 11.12 1.18 1.35 1.40 1.15 1.43 Feb. ....11.60 18.00 11.69 12.12 1.32 1.55 1.42 1.20 1.57 Mar. .14.59 24.30 3.75 14.60 8 1.89 1.55 1.41 1.94 Apr. .-15.03 25.37 14.50 15.12 67 2.18 1.64 1.50 2.05 May .....16.20 26.75 14.56 15.37 1.65 2.23 1.68 1.56 2.10 June -18.51 30.10 16.00 17.60 1.97 2.48 1.82 1.81 2.30 July .-20.65 33.12 17.56 18.87 2.12 2.58 2.08 2.00 2.42 Aug. ....21.75 35.40 18.35 20.30 2.20 2.00 2.50 Sept. ....238.43 88.87 19.94 2187 2 2.40 2.05 2.76 Oct. .....24.18 38.75 20.75 23.00 2.50 3.00 2.40 2.13 2.87 Novy. --24.78 36.50 20.75 23.10 2.48 2.87 2.40 2.21 2.95 Dec. 24.90 33.75 20.75 23.50 2.45 2.48 2.40 2.20 2.95 1900 Jan. .-24.90 34.50 20.69 23.50 2.50 2.40 3.20 Feb. -24.80 34.87 20.50 23.50 2.50 : 2.40 3.20 Mar. ..-24.72 33.00 20.30 23.50 2.10 2.40 2.18 3.20 Apr. .....24.70 32.00 20.19 23.37 2.02 2.40 2.12 2.95 May .21.00 19.75 22.30 2.05 1.75 2.40 1.77 2.20 June 19.72 18.75 20.37 2.05 1.60 2.22 1.56 2.20 July .16.75 16.81 18.25 1.97 1.37 2.05 1.33 2.20 Aug. . 15.60 14.25 15.90 1.95 1.30 1.89 1.28 2.209 Sept. .13.87 16.93 13.62 15.00 1.95 1.25 1.65 1.80 2.20 Oct. .-13.06 16.50 12.87 14.50 1.95 1.21 1.65 1.28 2.20 Nov. .-13.48 18.95 12.95 14.50 1.95 1.44 1.65 1.28 2.20 Dec. 13.43 19.75 13.75 14.75 1.95 1.54 65 1.42 2.20 I19e!l Jan. --13.15 19.75 13.45 14.75 1.95 1.55 1.65 1.44 2.22 Feb - 14.43 20.31 18.12 14.23 2.05 1.535 be 1.35 2.30 Mar. -16.31 22.88 14.00 15.25 2.01 1.62 1.68 1.35 2.30 Apr. .16.75 24.00 14.50 15.50 2.00 1.76 75 1.47 2.30 May -16.30 24.00 13.85 15.50 00 1.78 1.75 1.51 2.30 June -16.00 24.388 13.37 15.00 2.00 1.75 1.75 1.55 2.30 July -16.00 24.00 13.00 15.00 00 1.7 1.75 1.55 2.30 Aug 15.75 24.20 13.00 15.00 2.00 1.7: 75 1.56 2.30 Sept. 15.75 24.88 13.06 15.00 2.05 75 7 1.61 2.80 Oct -- 15.89 26.70 13.75 14.75 2.04 7 75 162 2.2 Nov 16.00 27.00 14.00 14.88 2.05 1.7: 7 1.64 2.17 De 16.31 27.50 14.25 15.50 2.05 1.7 75 1.65 1.99 1902 Jan. .....16.70 27.50 14.55 15.90 2.05 1.78 7 1.65 1.99 Feb 16.93 29.37 14.75 16.50 1.95 1.78 1.75 1.68 2.05 Mar 17.37 31.25 a By 1.84 2.05 \ .-18.75 31.50 Ss 5 1.92 2.05 May ....20.75 32.20 3 1.96 2.05 June ....21.56 32.37 1.99 2.05 July ere Fe Bee 1.95 2.05 Aug. ....21.62 31.06 1.93 2.05 Sept .21.75 29.50 1.92 2.03 Oo 21.75 29.70 1.93 1.89 Novy 21.68 28.50 23.62 5.00 0 2 00 1.87 1.85 I) 21.70 29.12 29.44 3.00 0 = 7 92 1.85 THE IRON January 14, 1909 L= < : eo = = = tf f — = ay of SB SB MS Uns CSS CE COGS «CSS = Ss £5 9&5 «6. 4. 33 2s ,;4 = > = = £6 ZP oP a2 as ao = “ 7 ea) 7. J 5 ey 1903 Jan 22.15 29.60 21.65 2.10 1.78 1.93 1.89 Feb 21.45 29.87 21.50 ] 5 ae Lace 2,98 2.92 Mar 21.85 90.6 21.37 1 1.94 1.75 1.94 2.00 pl 21.28 0.25 20.15 l 1.85 1.74 1.93 2.00 Ma 20.01 0.37 IS.87 20.37 2.15 1.80 1.73 1.86 2.00 Tune 19.72 S.S87 17.75 19.50 2.15 1.78 1.78 1.79 2.00 July IS.S9 27.60 16.15 17.90 2.15 1.77 1.73 1.69 2.00 ug 18.35 27.00 .... 15.19 16.87 2.15 1.78 1.73 1.60 2.00 Sept. 17.22 27.00 14.75 16.06 2.15 1.78 1.73 1.60 2.00 Oct 16.05 27.00 13.50 15.35 2.15 1 78 1.73 1.50 2.00 Nov 15.18 24.00 12.00 14.75 1.90 1.78 1.78 1.40 1.97 Dec 14.40 23.00 12.05 14.46 1.90 1.77 1.73 1.30 1.87 1904 Tar 13.91 23.00 13.90 12.37 LT? 1.78 1.78 1.85 1.89 Feb 13.66 23.00 3.73 12.12 1.70 1.73 1.73 1.86 1.90 Mai 14.25 23.00 13.78 12.10 Luge 2.71 1.73 1.45 1.91 Apr. 14.18 23.00 14.00 12.50 1.44 1.73 1.73 1.48 1.90 May 13.60 23.00 13.81 12.25 1.75 1.78 1.73 1.48 1.90 June 12.81 23.00 13.538 11.80 1.75 1.7: 1.73 1.48 1.90 July 12.40 23.00 138.04 11.81 1.72 1.73 1.73 1.48 1.89 Aug. .12.81 23.00 12.81 12.00 1.65 1.73 1.78 1.48 1.71 Sept. .12.63 20.00 12.73 12.00 1.60 1.57 1.57 1.45 1.60 Oct. 13.10 19.50 13.21 12.81 1.60 1.53 1.58 1.48 1.60 Nov. 14.85 20.25 14.56 15.19 162 1.53 1.538 1.47 1.62 Dec. 16.65 21.20 15.75 15.85 iso i157 1.867 1.660 1.78 1905 Jan. .16.85 22.75 16.50 16.25 1.6 1.63 1.65 1.75 Feb. .16.41 23.50 16.50 16.25 1.66 1.66 1.68 1.80 Mar. .16.35 24.00 16.69 16.25 1.73 1.73 1.73 1.80 Apr. .16.35 24.00 16.75 16.25 Ze i.78 278 1.80 May .16.16 23.50 16.56 15