The Iron Age 1911-10-12: Vol 88 Iss 15

THE IRON AGE — Established 1855 New York, October 12, y911 vou. 88: No. 15 (pee Published Every Thursday by the DAVID WILLIAMS COMPANY - 239 West 39th Street, New York Bntered at the New York Post Office as Second-Class Mail Matter. Sabseription Price, United States and Maxion, $5.00 $7. 50 per Annem: be Osher Fersias Comntrinn, S 0. is requested, none will be sent. Credit for payment date on the wrapper of your paper. W. H. Taylor, - 1. A. Mekeel, - - Harold S. Buttenheim, - W. . Manager Assistant Manager Branch Offices Philadelphia, Real Estate Trust Building Chicago, Fisher Building Pittsburgh, Park Bulding Cleveland, American Trust Building Boston, Compton Building Cincinnati, 807 Andrews Building CONTENTS. Low Prices Attract Buying The Curve of Pig Iron Production The Educational Value of an Export Trade... . The Lime Light on Factory Lighting... . fhe Tin Plate Imports and Exports.................-200- The Buying of Replacenient Parts...............-....05, Correspondence National Founders’ The Iron and Metal } Sunshine in California................ \ Move to Reduce British Steel Imports....................- Personal The Southern Iron & Steel Reorganization September Copper Production and Stocks............. The he N ational Machine Tool Builders.... The he Philadelphia Foundrymen’s Association Pittsburgh and Vicinity Business Notes...............++-- lhe Steel Corporation’s Unfilled NN e's v0 CR a ee ee ira eualee Machine Tool Dealers Meet Obituary Fac tory The Broken Lehigh Valley Rail Molten Ferromanganese for Deoxidation [he Deutscher Eisenhuettenleute’s Meeting Hupmobile Plant for Windsor, Osborn Drop-Plate Squeezer ke Iron Ore Shipments in September ectrical Iron ee in Sweden Large The Canada } ‘gust Iron ual Steel Exports and Imports Jenckes Valve Gear ilds Motor-Driven Mine Pump Panama Canal Cableways Sale of French Panama Scrap Material Connellsville Coke Trade \ligning of Shafting Open-Hearth Furnace Construction ‘sion on Gas Producer Operation New Burt Oil Filter ‘ Newark Foundrymen’s Association. ew Internal Combustion Engine. . ew Mount Union Ejre Brick Enterprise rters Should Fully Describe Merchandise Pittsburgh Steel Company’s Report Snyder Heavy Duty Drills an High Grade Steel Machinery Markets “tae Plows Attract Buying Railroad and Vessel Business Pending Heavy Pig Iron Purchases by Pipe Foundries— A Canadian Rail Inquiry While the policy of keeping stocks at a minimum, throwing all the is unchanged, by which consumers have been chances of the market there are further evidences that the cheapness of steel is producing business. The railroads have been influ- enced by it to some extent, though it is evident, too, that purchases which they have long been classing as upon the mills, optional have at last become imperative. The Missouri Pacific The Car orders have increased. has bought 2400 and is expected to buy more, New York Central has bought 1000 and is in the mar- ket for 2000. The Pennsylvania is preparing another inquiry and the Baltimore & Ohio is figuring on 5000 to 6000 cars, the need of which has for some time been apparent to its shippers. The New York Central's contract for 40 locomotives is a welcome break in the dullness in that line. It appears, too, that the low level reached for plates and shapes has started some figuring on lake boats, in spite of the forbidding outlook for vessel Capital is attracted by building enterprises, also, fabricating companies offer their product at $38 Open hearth bars are sold low enough to compete with hard bars for concrete rein- forcement, and the cuts in shafting have been deep enough to induce some forward contract business. A reduction of 84,000 tons in September in the ac- cumulated orders of the Steel Corporation indicates a moderate falling off from the rate of new bookings in August, when orders showed a gain of 111,000 tons. It is to be considered that the daily rate of ship- ments from the mills was greater in September than in August and that the corporation's blast furnaces are now turning out pig iron at about the same rate owners. when are able to as in the past three weeks. The week has brought lower prices on some fin- ished products, but they yield less readily at the pres ent levels. The Canadian Pacific is inquiring for 50,000 tons of rails, deliveries to begin in the spring of 1912. The duty of $7.84 is one obstacle to this business coming to the United States, though a Chicago district mill recently finished rolling an urgent order for 30,000 tons for this railroad. While Canadian rail mills will be crowded for some months, they will be able later to take on the business now pending and American makers are not at all sanguine of getting it. The Chesapeake & Ohio has placed a 4009-ton rail order at Gary and a Southern road -has increased its original order to a western Pennsylvania mill. Structural and plate mills are encouraged by the steel car business of the week and in the East ship- yards are figuring on fully 20,000 tons. The great FT ea + le PM ens eM: THE IRON AGE Madison Square buildings in New York will require 22,000 tons. In Chicago the Field Museum steel con- tract, 10,000 tons, was taken by the Bethlehem Steel Company. . The Texas Company will buy 150 miles of 6-in. line pipe which is expected to go to the Republic Iron & Steel Company. Quotations on semi-finished steel are no longer made at a uniform Pittsburgh and Youngstown price, but mills west of Pittsburgh are giving buyers farther West the freight advantage of their position. Thus open hearth billets have been sold from Ohio mill at less than the $19 Pittsburgh basis. Buying by pipe foundries has been the feature of the. pig iron market. The largest company and an Eastern company have taken together about 50,000 tons of Northern and Southern irons. The foundry iron market has broadened but little. What business has been closed for 1912 has been substantially at the prices quoted for this year. Stocks in furnace yards were reduced in all districts in September, but buyers see also the increase in the output of merchant iron. Bessemer and basic iron are weaker in the Central West, the former being now quoted at $14.50 and the latter at $12.50 at Valley furnace. A sale of 6000 tons of basic was made by a Chicago district furnace for delivery at St. Louis. German iron and steel markets are stronger, a record business being reported in bars and plates, in both of which advances are likely. Galvanized prod- ucts are also higher abroad in view of the sharp ad- vance in spelter. It is noteworthy that almost without exception this week's reports from the machinery markets show an improvement in inquiries and orders—confirming the tradition of October activity in that trade. ———_——_ pom = The Curve of Pig Iron Production The fact that pig iron production is increasing when prices are at the low point for the year has caused some comment since the publication of our blast furnace statistics for September. It would seem that a net gain last month of seven in the number of mer- chant furnaces active is to be accounted for in part by individual conditions, as where a furnace company with a regular foundry trade has found its stocks of iron materially cut down and the call for iron con- tinuing, while one or more furnaces were idle. But the reduction of furnace yard stocks has been general in the past month and there has been in nearly all dis- tricts enough urging forward of shipments, on the part of melters, to show that as a rule they are carrying comparatively little iron. The statistics and the known facts concerning the movement of merchant iron agree in indicating that after steadily declining for seven months, the production of merchant iron had fallen below the consumption. So far as the steel works blast furnaces are con- cerned, their daily rate of production in September was the highest for niore than a year and reflected the relatively large output of finished steel. in that month. The interesting question is whether the increase in steel works and merchant furnace output is to continue. A.week’ ago a half dozen merchant furnaces were named which were to blow in if the early part of this month. This week nearly as many are known, that October 12, 911 have blown out since the month opened or will s\ | do so. The steel works furnaces, if the slight falli: of in accumulated orders is a criterion, are not apt © in- crease their output greatly. However, the active ur- naces at the opening of the month had a total ca), city of 565 tons a day greater than the average prod. ‘ion in September, so that some further increase is :. he looked for. In this connection the accompanying ia gram is instructive. It is taken from our moi thly Ses st FR ss ze st B fF EF B Bryan Curve of Daily Rate of Pig Iron Production by Months 1909, 1910 and 1911. blast furnace chart and shows graphically the course of pig iron production in the 33 months beginning with January, 1909. It represents strikingly how the ascent of the curve in the seven months after April, 1909, was followed by a descent in the 14 months after November, 1909. Then came a rise, followed by a corresponding decline. Another rise is now in prog- ress, and the wavelike movement shown at the right of the diagram suggests that the upcurve produced by the August and September production will be carried somewhat farther. . The figures on which the diagram is based are given in the total or right-hand column in the table below The first and second columns give respectively the steel works and merchant production. For 1909 and 1910 the daily averages are given by quarters, while for 1911 they are given by months: Daily Rate of Pig Iron Production in 1909, 1910 and 1911. Tons Steel Works Merchant 1909 Furnaces Furnaces Total Firet quarter soo. in cashes s caweees 37,054 22,341 59.579 Senond: quarter 2 iiies aden ee ee 40,825 20,299 61,124 Cad quattel ..0cksa ei scshwaaees 51,795 21,487 73,282 Fourts Gquaktet *. Gictiasceaeee > 56,819 27,779 84,998 1910 s First quartet (4: ...i.slsempngeee’ 57,063 27,678 54,/4 Sevond quarter: ..s ssi skacewesuae 53,178 25,292 78.4 Se ee epee pen 46,908 21,696 60,008 Fourth -guertet <i oc. <snd0beeeee 41,043 21,767 62,5 1911 02 4789 JOM Es oh se ob nateeaeneee 36,401 20,351 90,/ 94 PEE iss ss 40 ha vb oe oka eee 42,349 21,741 64,090 MERGER © 4. oS pak wee y bene dbs UNkeeee 48,970 21,066 FU, 00% RIEE 5. bs v oo Sb hie ccd ek whee 47,805 21,031 65,590 MOG. ...0 6 dines wat Salads VE 42,270 18,809 61,079 FOR 5. cate oes ous op a babaawnan 42,708 16,877 39,952 PONS 3.4 0<n peas wha 680 ed ke 42,472 15,369 3/54 AMeUeE oi0n'os ns 6 sdnenageatys aan 47,120 15,030 G2, 100 Semeur” 2. «ick veknaeece eee 49,696 16,207 69,709 Taking the pig iron figures as an index, it is plain that the decline in finished material prices this ycat has not resulted in any such demand as may be com: pared with the great restocking movement of 19° which culminated at the end of that year. With 10 such impetus from stock replenishment this year °° any early prospect of it, a repetition of the vaulting curve of 1909’is not imminent. tober 12, IQII ‘he Educational Value of an Export Trade \ feature of an export trade in connection with a inufacturing business is its educational value; and s is a contribution made by the export trade which not as generally recognized as it should be. The ucational feature of the domestic business is too smmon, too much a part of the business, to be recog- ‘ed as a feature at all. One cannot avoid learning a reat deal when conducting any kind of business; and ; one could avoid learning he would find still greater ificulty in avoiding bankruptcy. This acquisition of nowledge being so intimately associated with the con- uct of the business, it is easy to miss the conception hat the addition of an export trade adds an educa- tional course of its own, and that such additional uirse can hardly fail to be of great advantage. In the sale of goods, each new market opened up ; expected to bear its own expense and is not usually redited, with contributing to the prosperity of the ceneral business as pertaining to the supplying of the lder markets. For instance, a manufacturer who has een selling his goods in a certain number of nearby ates will not ordinarily decide upon carrying his selling campaign into an additional state unless the lditional business promises to pay all the expenses ind furnish a profit, or at least avoid a loss. Simi- larly he wilh net ordinarily add a new ‘product to his list of manufactures unless there is reasonable assur- ince that in time the business in the new product will y all the expenses involved. There is a natural disposition to follow the same principle in canvassing the prospective advantages of in export business. Of course all manufacturers are uick to see that an export business may be conducted it a loss, when charging to it its own expenses aad the proportion of the total manufacturing cost, and vet be an advantage by the additional output lower- ng the average cost of production on the entire out- put. That is a principle which has come to be well recognized and which needs no defense or exploita- tion at this time. The educational value of conducting an export trade, on the other hand, is one which needs to be more generally recognized. If the profits directly ccruing to the export trade, or the reductions in ‘ost of manufacture due to larger output, are to be charged with the entire expense involved in conduct- ng the export trade, an injustice is usually done in the accounting, for a great deal of the information which must be gathered in connection with the export trade, and much which naturally accrues in the conduct t that branch of the business, is of direct value in ‘onducting the entire business, or the domestic branch The alert manufacturer almost always profits by coming in contact with purchasers whose wants are lifferent from those of his old customers. He ob- tains ideas which sometimes he can put in practice nd make his goods more salable to his old customers. ‘le ascertains what his competitors are doing. He cognizes that without knowing what his competitors re doing he cannot hope to hold a competitive mar- ket. If the competitor is met in a foreign field, there may easily be ideas which’ are new in the domestic ticld, and once they are acquired they can sometimes be used in the domestic field, in which case the manu- ‘acturer will find himself armed with an idea which is new to his competitors, giving him an advantage over them in the dothestic field. He is led to study THE IRON AGE 781 the processes of manufacture used by the foreign competitors, their costs of production and all the fea- tures connected with their business. Such knowledge cannot fail to be of some benefit in conducting the en- tire business, domestic as well as foreign, thereby making a direct contribution to the success of the domestic business; although, according to the more common habit of thought, the entire expense and trouble involved in the acquisition of such knowledge would be charged to the export sales branch. That our manufacturing industries require a large export trade is being preached everywhere, but the spirit of nearly all this preaching is simply that the country requires a larger favorable balance in the foreign trade, and the individual manufacturers require larger outlets in order to engage their productive capacity more fully. It is always intimated that we must pare our costs and learn from the competitors met in the foreign fields; but the spirit of all this is generally that the improvements we should make are called for solely through our wishing to export. The export trade does not by any means furnish the full measure of the advantages thus to be obtained. The domestic trade is directly benefited by costs being re- duced, quality improved or the character of goods made more attractive to buyers. The statement of the value of traveling as a means of broadening the mind is a truism. Precisely the same principle applies in the cultivation of foreign markets. In traveling, the ideas gained, the know!l- edge obtained, the mental training involved, are not of value to the possessor purely, or chiefly, because he is to travel more in his lifetime. He brings home with him certain definite assets, which are of use at home. They are assets which could not be acquired at home. Similarly the manufacturer who exports has his horizon broadened, obtains new ideas and in various ways better fits himself for the conduct of his domestic business. In estimating the rewards of an export trade the value of this educational course should not be overlooked, but should be credited as one of the offsets to the expense and trouble involved in conducting the export business. —_—_3--e————_ The Lime Light on Factory Lighting It is a singular fact that for a number of weeks associations meeting in New York City have each one given conspicuous attention to the matter of shop lighting. The fact is one of the signs of the times, emphasizing the attention being paid to the human factor in manufacturing. The question is not dis- cussed solely from the standpoint of gaining clear vision, but from the relation of light to human en- deavor. Illumination is now studied as a science, and this development owes itself to specialization in the electrical field, with the early formation of a national illuminating engineering society and the appearance in engineering circles of engineering specialists in illu- mination. Recent issues of this journal have reported the general views of some of those making a special study of shop-lighting problems. It is not likely that the subject will be overdone in itself, particularly as there are so many other concomitant features of plant oper- ation requiring attention. It is probable that the emphasis placed on the tungsten lamp as a panacea may be too great and may develop the same suspicions 782 THE IRON AGE that followed the enthusiasm accorded other forms of lights which had their day and were then regarded as the last word in lamps. It is worth while noting, how- ever, that the present favored lamp has made it possible commercially to market a series of lamps of different lighting power so that almost any condition of lighting may readily be met. The serious consideration which lighting is given, the corps of specialists in electrical companies in a position to give valuable assistance and the consulting specialists awaiting the call of the factory owner, cer- tainly argue that the time has passed when their recommendations will be listened to and then carefully disregarded. It is pointed out that periodic attention to lighting equipment is highly beneficial and an insig- nificant item from the cost standpoint. Proper distri- bution and diffusion also are recognized of importance, particularly with reference to the human factor, a little increase in lighting cost being calculated as increas- ing very largely the value of the worker. oo ge The Tin Plate Imports and Exports One of the most interesting developments in our foreign trade this year is the decline in imports and the increase in exports of tinplates. We are now exporting considerably more than we are importing. For the eight months ended with August the exports of tinplates were 36,094 gross tons, while the imports were but 12,706 tons. In the corresponding period of 1910 the exports were but 7586 tons, while the imports were 51,082 tons. The reversal of trade im this product has therefore occurred this year for the first time. In July and August the imports totaled but 533 tons, against exports of 10,517 tons. This great change is partly due to the growth of our export trade in tin- plates with contiguous countries, and partly to the capture by domestic tinplate manufacturers of the very .important business done by packers. They have long purchased foreign tinplates for making cans to hold their exported products, thus getting the benefit of the drawback in the tinplate duty when the cans were exported. scnigcenieapliadinitteabicts The Buying of Replacement Parts Users of machinery fare best who buy repair parts directly from the manufacturer. Often they save in the cost and almost always they save time, which in many cases is the equivalent of money. The modern machine tool builder regards the replacement of parts of his machines with jealous care. Generally speak- ing, he desires no profit in this department of his sales. He knows that each item of repair is charged up against the individual machine, and that the highe: the total of this cost the greater the handicap thai his product must carry when the customer again enters the market. Wherever there is a good cost system— and the exceptions are becoming fewer every year—a record of all these details of expense is maintained, together with the idle time resulting from repairs, so that a tool has a good or indifferent or bad name as the case may be. Consequently, the machine builder resents the purchase of repair parts from a middle- man, if the transaction means increased cost to the user or increased delay in delivery. The well-bal- anced shop is usually prepared to make immediate shipment of replacements, on the theory that every day lost in production is an argument against the efficiency of a tool. October 12, 1:\11 The usual custom nowadays is to consider a tion of repairs from one of several well-defined y points. If a part proves defective in material workmanship the builder cheerfully bears the expe: If the user is to blame, through the negligence s carelessness of an operator, he is charged the e, cost price. The question of responsibility may | to be adjudicated, but the principle is unchanged. however, a machine is of an old model and has a useful existence covering a number of years si) it left the shop of its builder, the latter may {ce warranted in charging a snug profit, and the sou ness of the position cannot reasonably be assaile< In this way the repair account of the machine t manufacturer is kept within reasonable limits. Bur the indirect loss may be large, in the way of depr: ciated good-will. To minimize this is the constant aim of the well-organized sales department. Usuall) a point is strained in favor of the customer. In cer tain branches of machinery the repair part. still plays an important revenue-creating part, but with the basic tools—the machines which make machines—a_ good name is considered an essential factor. Correspondence Ferrotitanium and Its Use To the Editor: Referring to the letter by Dr. G. B. Waterhouse in The Iron Age issue of July 27 on the sub- ject of ferrotitanium, I note that he says that ferro- titanium containing 5 to 8 per cent. carbon has only a very small amount of the carbon content combined with the titanium as titanium carbide, and that by far the largest part occurs as graphitic carbon in the alloy. The writer cannot agree with this as, in his opinion, only the excess of carbon crystalizes out as graphite in the production of this alloy. Benefit of Carbon-Free Alloys This opinion is supported by the famous French metal lurgist, Moissan, in his book, “The Electric Furnace.” The excess of carbon in this alloy is great, as only about 3 to 4 per cent. carbon is required for 12 to 15 per cent. titanium to form titanium carbide. On account of the carbide content, the alloy is not easily soluble, as it is a well-known fact that carbides dissolve with great difficulty in iron or steel, particularly titanium and vanadium car bide. The accuracy of this opinion is well established by practice, and there are many users of the 10 to 15 per cent. ferrotitanium with 5 to 8 per cent. carbon who have found from experience that a considerable part of the alloy does not dissolve at all but rises to the surface and is found afterward imbedded in the slag and, therefore, wasted. No case is known where this has happened with the carbon-free alloy. The user of the carbon-free alloy derives the full benefit of the titanium content, as there are no carbides at all in the alloy, neither of titanium nor iron. Ferroalloys should be free from carbon, whether ferro- chromium, ferrotungsten, ferrotitanium or ferrovanadium No steel maker now uses ferrovanadium containing 5 to 6 per cent. carbon, as he knows only teo well that the carbon is combined with the vanadium to form vanadium carbide, anl this does not dissolve in iron or steel but is wasted in the slag. It is the same with titanium, and those who use both the carbon-free ferrotitanium and that containing carbon will find that the above statements are correct. In the last paragraph of this article Dr. Waterhouse says, referring to the carbonaceous alloy, “the alloy quickly dissolves because of its low melting point.” Now solubility and melting point are two entirely different things. and it is only necessary to state here a few examples where one metal will not dissolve in another, although heated far above its melting point. This is very clear) shown in the case of lead and copper. Lead has a melting point of 330 deg. C. (628 deg. F.), and copper a melting tober 12, I9QII t of 1098 deg. C. (2008 deg. F.), yet an effort to pro- an alloy of copper and lead would not be successful iout the aid of a flux. On the other hand, there are many metals with high iting points which easily and quickly dissolve in others low melting points. This is shown conclusively in the se of carbon-free manganeses, which, in spite of its melt- point of 1245 deg. C. (2273 deg. F.), alleys especially ly with copper; in fact, more easily than manganese taining carbon. lhé 20 to 25 per cent carbon-free ferrotitanium dissolves ry easily, although its melting point is a little higher the 10 to 15 per cent. carbonaceous ferrotitanium. is fact makes the carbon-free alloy extraordinarily titable for use in the ladle or runner—the best way to e any deoxidizing ferroalloy. With reference to the analysis of the carbon-free alloy en by Dr. Waterhouse, showing 7 to 8 per cent. silicon, vould like to say that this was made for a special pur- se, and it is certainly’not suitable for all purposes. The erage silicon content of the alloy is 1.2 to 1.5 per cent. nd is, therefore, lower than that of the Io to 15 per cent. rrotitanium in comparison with the titanium content. High Aluminum Content In regard to the aluminum content of the carbon-free ry, | might say that in former years the alloy was used ith a lower aluminum content, but practice has shown the higher aluminum content gives better results, and ikes the use of ferrotitanium more economical. Dr. \\aterhouse’s opinion that the high aluminum content might extremely harmful is, it would appear to me, theoretical, pecially when the alloy is used in the ladle. When ificient time is allowed for the aluminum oxide to pass nto the slag, no harm can possibly result. If it were irmful, why do most steel makers use aluminum as a eoxidizing agent in their steel ? rhe addition of aluminum to carbon-free ferrotitanium ntaining 25 per cent, titanium is intentional and decidedly seful. This is brought out in a letter published by Dr. ans Goldschmidt in the October number of Metallurgical | Chemical Engineering. In this letter he states that titanic acid is well known to be very difficult of fusion and this reason the titanic acid, which is formed by the errotitanium (if alone present), separates out only with iculty. If, however, alumina is produced together and multaneously with titanic acid, the two react together at ice, forming aluminum titanate, which is more easily isible than titanic acid, also more easily fusible than umimmna. \luminum, used to such a large extent in the steel in- stry, has atso the disadvantage that its oxide alone is tusible only with great difficulty and does not separate out isily. By microphotographic methods it is easy to show e small particles of alumina inclosed in steel. Aluminum Titanate Gives a Fusible Slag \ simple expegiment shows that aluminum titanate es a much more fusible slag than either titanic acid ilone or alumina alone. If one tries to melt pure alumina lone and pure titanic acid alone in a clay pot or in a iall shallow crucible by means of the oxy-acetylene flame, ither oxide alone will refuse*to melt except if the flame applied for a very long time and concentrated directly the oxide, but even then it will only be possible to melt together small globules. But if now the two oxides are mixed together, say in ratio of three to four parts of titanic acid to one part alumina (that is in the same proportion in which the vo oxides are formed in the oxidation of carbon-free ‘errotitanium, containing aluminum and made by the uminothermic metaod), the two oxides together will elt in a very short time. This simple experiment shows learly the advantages of the aluminum content of errotitanium. In cases where steel contains a large proportion of xides, which could be deoxidized much better by means | aluminum, if this were pérsent, the titanium has to be ‘his deoxidizer and it is consumed uselessly as such, ither in whole or in part. In order to avoid this useless id more expensive consumption of the titanium, aluminum > added simultaneously with titanium, in the case of the THE IRON AGE 783 carbon-free ferrotitanium, so that all the impurities and oxides are first reduced by the aluminum, When this is done the titanium can manifest its own effect more strongly. Another Advantage of Carbon-Free Alloy Another great advantage of the carbon-free alloy lies in the fact that it is always uniform in quality and density and perfectly free from slag. This can hardly be said of the 10 to 15 per cent. ferrotitanium containing 5 to 8 per cent carbon. Judging from the material that the writer has seen being used by consumers, it is often very irregular in structure, some of it being apparently dense and undoubtedly of the specific gravity mentioned by Dr. Waterhouse, but a large percentage of it is of a porous, spongy character,-which would hardly work itself through any considerable layer of slag and might even tend to tloat on a metal bath and thus be wasted. This porous material has a slag-like fracture and appears to contain melted titanium oxide, which would hardly be a beneficial adlition to molten steel. There can be no doubt that with the aluminothermic process a much more complete separation of metal and slag is’ obtained than in the electric furnace. In the latter the metal and slag melt drop by drop, while with the thermit process the heat developed is so great that everything is melted at once and, therefore, a much more uniform metal is obtained. The high titanium content of the carbon-free alloy is of great importance, especially if the ferrotitanium is added to the ladle. In many cases it is necessary to add from 400 to 500 lb, of ferromanganese, and where this is done it: is a great advantage to add.only 100 Ib. of the carbon-free 20 x 25 per cent. ferrotitanium, instead of 200 Ib. of the 10 to 15 per cent. alloy. For this reason many steel manufacturers prefer the higher per cent. ferro- titanium, as not nearly so much heat is required to melt it, with the result that the temperature of the steel is not reduced to the extent that it would be otherwise. The slightly higher melting point of the 20 to 25 per cent. ferrotitanium does not amount to anything in comparison with the amount of heat required for melting the double weight of alloy. Dr. Waterhouse’s opinions, as expressed in his letter, are particularly interesting, as the subject is one which is now being very generally discussed, and | trust that his further investigations may show him the correctness of my views. WitiiaM R. Hucperr. New York, October 5, 1911. —__—__+-o—___ National Founders’ Association —Announcement is made that the fifteenth annual convention of the National Founders’ Association will be held at the Hotel Astor, New York, Wednesday and Thursday, November 15 and 16. The Administrative Council will hold a meeting on Tuesday, November 14, and the alumni dinner will be held Tuesday evening. Prominent speakers have been en- gaged for the annual banquet on Wednesday evening and committees are now arranging a programme of papers and discussions for the convention. net G pn ene The Bignall &* Keeler Mfg. Company, Edwardsville, Ill, manufacturer of pipe threading machines, is chan,- ing its entire line of pipe machines over to single pulley drive. The different speeds are obtained by shifting ¢ears in the gear box and the positions of the different levers are shown by a speed plate. All gears are covered to protect workmen. The weight of practically all the ma- chines has been increased to provide for the use of high speed steel in the dies. The Mumford Molding Machirie Company, Plainfield, N. J., announces its appointment of James T. Lee, for- merly of the Hanna Engineering Works, as its Chicago representative, with address at 2059 Elston avenue, . Chi- cago. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Re- public Iron & Steel Company will be held in Jersey City, N. J.. October 18. Four directors will be elected for three . years. ne 784 THE IRON AGE October 12, The Iron and Metal Markets A Comparison of Prices Advances Over the Previous Week in Heavy Type, Declines in Italics. At date, one week, one month and one year previous. Oct. 11, Oct. 4, Sept. 13, Oct. 12, PIG IRON, Per Gross Ton: 1911. 1911. 1911. 1910. Foundry No. 2 standard, Phila- GER, . inks nach dkd a eaenats $15.00 $15.00 $15.00 $15.75 Foundry No. 2, Vailey furnace... 13.50 13.25 13.50 14.00 Foundry No. 2 Southern, Cin- GEES © ooh Fak occ enecees 2 eee 13.25 13.25 14.25 Foundry No. 2, birmingham, Ala. 10.00 10.00 10.00 11.60 Foundry No. 2, at turnace, NE <a GA nas de eee des oa 14.50 14.50 14.50 16.00 Basic, delivered, eastern Pa.... 14.50 14.50 14.75 15.00 Basic, Valley furnace.......... 12.50 12.60 13.00 13.10 Bessemer, Pittsburgh ......... 13.40 15.55 15.90 15.90 Gray forge, Pittsburgh........ 13.65 13.65 13.90 14.15 Lake Superior charcoal, Chicago 16.50 16.50 16.50 18.25 COKE, CONNELLSVILLE, Per Net Ton, at Oven: Furnace coke, prompt shipment. 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.60 Furnace coke, future delivery. . 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.70 Foundry coke, prompt shipment 1.80 1.85 1.85 2.10 Foundry coke, future delivery. 2.00 2.10 2.10 2.25 BILLETS, &c., Per Gross Ton: Bessemer billets, Pittsburgh.... 20.00 20.00 21.00 24.00 Open hearth billets, Pittsburgh. 19.00 19.00 21.00 24.50 Forging billets, Pittsburgh...... 25.00 25.00 26.00 29.00 Open hearth billets, Philadelphia 21.40 21.40 23.40 26.00 Wire rods, Pittsburgh......... 26.00 26.00- 27.00 28.50 OLD MATERIAL, Per Gross Ton Iron rails, Chicago......%..... 13.75 I 14.50 16.00 Iron rails, Philadelphia........ 16.50 16. 17.00 18.00 Car wheels, Chicago........... 12.50 12:3 12.75 14.00 Car wheels, Philadelphia...... 11.75 11.75 12.75 13.75 Heavy steel scrap, Pittsburgh... 12.00 12.25 12.75 14.25 Heavy steel scrap, Chicago.... 10.00 10.00 10.50 12.25 Heavy steel scrap, Philadelphia. 12.00 12.00 13.00 13.75 FINISHED IRON AND STEEL, Per Pound: Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Bessemer rails, heavy, at mill.. 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 Iron bars, Philadelphia... 1.22 1.22% 271 1.40 Iron bars, Pittsburgh. ‘ 1.20 0 25 1.45 iron bard, Ohicaeo..:......... 1.20 1.20 223 1.35 Steel bars, Pittsburgh.......... 1.15 1.15 1.20 1.40 Steel bars, tidewater, New York 1.31 1.31 .36 1.56 Tank plates, Pittsburgh........ 1.20 1.20 1.30 1.40 Tank plates, tidewater, New York 1.36 1.36 1.46 1.56 Beams, Pittsburgh es ee ad 1.20 5 1.35 1.40 Beams, tidewater, New York... 1,36 1.41 1.51 1.56 Angles, Pittsburgh .........<+. 1,20 1.25 1.35 1.40 Angles, tidewater, New York... 1.36 1.41 1.51 1.56 Skelp, grooved steel, Pittsburgh 1.15 1.15 1.20 1.40 Skelp, sheared steel, Pittsburgh 1.25 1.25 1.30 1.50 SHEETS, NAILS AND WIRE, Per Pound: Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Sheets, black, No. 28, Pittsburgh 1.85 1.85 1.90 2.20 Wire nails, Pittsburgh?........ 1.65 1.65 1.65 1.70 Cut nails, Pittsburght......... 1.50 1.50 1.60 1.65 Barb wire, galv., Pittsburgh?... 1.95 1.95 1.95 2.00 METALS, Per Pound: Cents. Cents. Cents, Cents. Lake copper, New York........ 12.50 12.50 12.75 12.871 Electrolytic copper, New York.. 12.25 12.25 12.37% 12.75 eS Oe eee 6.00 5.85 5.90 5.45 Spelter, New York............ 6.15 6.00 6.05 5.60 SS a Se eee 4.10 4.32% 4.40 4.27% i. De. SOSR cane ceed ces ; 4.25 4.47% 4.50 4.40 Tm, Mew York......ccccccccee S0cn8 , 4.35 39.75 ua Antimony, Hallett, New York.. 7.70 7.70 7.75 7.87% Tin plate, 100-lb. box, New York $3.84 $3.84 $3.84 $3.84 “The average switching charge for delivery to foundries in the Chicago district is 50c. per ton. +These prices are for largest lots to jobbers. —-e—____ Prices of Finished Iron and Steel f.o.b. Pittsburgh Freight rates from Pittsburgh in carloads, per 100 lb.: New York, 16c.; Philadelphia, 15c.; Boston, 18c.; Buffalo, 11c.; Cleveland, 1oc.; Cincinnati, 15c.; Indian- apolis, 17¢.; Chicago, 18c.; St. Paul, 32c.; St. Louis, . 22%c.; New Orleans, 30c.; Birmingham, Ala., 45c. Pa- cific coast, 8oc. on plates, structural shapes and sheets No. 11 and heavier; 85c. on sheets Nos. 12 to 16; 95c. on sheets No. 16 and lighter; 65c. on wrought boiler tubes. Plates.—Tank plates, 4 in. thick, 6% in. up to 100 in. wide, 1.15c., to 1.20c., base, net- cash, 30 days. Fol- lowing are stipulations prescribed by manufacturers, with extras: Rectangular plates, tank steel or conforming to manufacturers’ standard specifications for structural steel dated February 6, 1903, or equivalent, 14 in. thick and over on thinnest edge, 100 in. wide and under, down to but not including 6 in. wide, are base. Plates up to 72 in. wide, inclusive, ordered 10.2 lb. pe: foot, are considered %-in. plates. Plates over 72 in. wid be ordered % in. thick on edge, or not less than 11 lb. per foot, to take base price. Plates over 72 in. wide ordered less 11 lb. per square foot down to the weight of 3-16-in. take the of 3-16-in. Allowable overweight, whether plates are ordered to gauz weight, to be governed by the standard specifications of the As tion of American Steel Manufacturers. Extras. Cents Gauges under 4% in. to and including 3-16 in. on thin- | EER. RR OF ree ee ieee Gauges under 3-16 in. to and including No. 8......... Gauges under No. 8 to and including No. 9.......... 2 Gauges under No. 9 to and including No. 10....... 3 Gauges under No. 10 to and including No.-12.......... Sketches (including all straight taper plates) 3 ft. and OUT: 2 RII 0.0 nb Keb vee anereds cabana ead oiees alco Complete circles, 3 ft. in diameter and over......... ne: ON CN RN in 5 Lirds ook heik bans Meas be “A. B. M. A.” and ordinary firebox steel............. ; ie ORE MOREE Ws, apa comb bviek te oss Sowers Cale es at en EEC PTET CCE LES TREE CCC OL ee ae : Locomotive firebox steel. . 6. .wis sc ccccceuceses Ps Widths over 100 in. up to 110 in., inclusive.......... Widths over 110 in. up to 115 in., inclusive........ Widths over 115 in. up to 120 in., inclusive....... Widths over 120 in. up to 125 in., inclusive.......... Widths over 125 in. up to 130 in., inclusive....... ee PU BOW Ns oars Cd bk beh we Bek kes So ny Cutting to lengths or diameters under 3 ft. to 2 ft., in- MUD <a oc. os RED 84 6 Obes WER EEY Ade peek uae h Cutting to lengths or diameters under 2 ft. to 1 ft., i: CGR sinc abs neh easth does cb pe UPEs ES Gaeke Ss mene = 50 Cutting to lengths or diameters under 1 ft.............1.55 No charge for cutting rectangular plates to lengths 3 ft Structural Material.—I-beams, 3 to 15 in.; chann 3 to 15 in., and angles, 3 to 6 in. on one or both legs, 4 in. and over, 1.20c. to 1,25c. Other shapes and sizes are quoted as follows: Cents per lb. E-news ower 25 Sie se aces heer o ueGi nen leere 1.35 to 1.40 B-eann. o8OT- 0B: Bi. 06 6c ck due eteaenins Vaamene 1.45 to 1.50 Angles, 3 to 6 in., inclusive, 4% in. and up...... 1.25 to 1.30 Augies’ ower: @ “We. shen ch bas nabine 30 ecukowees 1.35 to 1.40 Angles, 3 in. on one or both legs, less than %4 in. thick, plus full extras as per steel bar ecard Sept. 1, 1063... sciwisd swaeccatsupevemen 1.30 to 1.35 Tees, 3 Ut. BiG Wi 5 os56s sce cee beks knee aka 1.30 to 1.35 1006, 3 Uh. ONE Gy oc hss ssuehkey veh ebesccdenes 1.25 to 1.30 Angles, channels and tees, under 3 in., plus full extras as per steel bar card Sept. 1, 1909.1.30 to 1.35 Deck beams and bulb angles.............ee000: 1.55 to 1.60 ef Be ere ey ee ee ee ee oe eh 2.45 Checkered and corrugated plates...........0++++5+: 2.45 Sheets.—Makers’ prices for mill shipments on sheets of U. S. standard gauge, in carload and larger lots, which jobbers charge the usual discounts for small lots from store, are as follows: Blue Annealed Sheets. Cents per !! Nos. DBO Bed cv kdives sacks sdescekss bat seater 1.25 to 1.30 Oe. 9 athe Wess rs cawrviansedssees ieee tenes 1.35 to 1.40 PEG. BE ROG ADs 6 ais'c c d 0s CURA DES ON SEE ERED 1.40 to 1.45 Pe@e.. 13 DAE BG, snchvtdsctavepucneuh ssannewee 1.45 to 1.50 Nos. 25 ene "86.<4 cwca onside nthe se bnlabenne 1.55 to 1.60 Box Annealed Sheets, Cold Rolled. One Pass. Three Pass Nos. 10 to Batevenbbbadades i SS ee Pe Nos: 13 ae -84.<,. oviwisn Pane 1.55 to 1.60 gt Baa, Nos: 19: O06 8G@ss.dcckebanwan 1.60 to 1.65 1.70 to 1.75 Woe: 17 Bi Wlai ick ccm ss caean 1.65 to 1.70 1.75 to 1.80 Nos, 22, 23:0ne 34.c0s%% #.... 1.70 to 1.75 1.80 to 1.85 Nes. 25 pie Beucacu scar dive 1.75 to 1.80 1.85 to 1.90 Me. Biii.sicantssuswene seers 1.80 to 1.85 1,90 to 1.95 ING.” 2B sso ais cain cater eensaees 1.85 to 1.90 1.95 to 2.00 No. | 205 se. cb obs oes seks 1.90 to 1.95 2.00 to 2.05 No. 2Oiscan beans suerkataeee 2.00 to 2.05 2.10 to 2.15 Galvanized Sheets, of Black Sheet Gauge. Nos, 80 a@8 Bs oc... sskiadd dea knees eden 1.85 to 1.90 Nos. 12.33 GG 14.55 <<a tees vob ees scenes 1.95 to 2.00 Nos, 15,96 Ok 27 iia 2 dc G 6 ea day oe nek de 2.10 to 2.15 Nos, 18: to BZ... ..i6:deeen saahs Uhenawneecudaen 2.25 to 2.30 Noe,: Be RW SOs ccs ba SR Od ees eR Ae Ree cs dee 2.35 to 2.40 Nes. 25 awk: B65... < Sawa ki plevied cemPar Fs 45 us tee 2.55 to 2.60 INO, Bl oo nk cise kd dns see eth ae ehen eee 2.70 to 2.75 Wes Bix cicncvccsodencen asuuaebeveuusrs4seeee 2.85 to 2.90 No. BB. nccas cccévcbs cbvnnsehegs teaesaneeivees 2.95 to 3.00 Na. SBias v5.00 00s Ris Weiéapesh tlhe» 0b ekeeeas 3.15 to 3.20 All above rates on sheets are f.o.b, Pittsburgh, terms 30 days net, or 2 per cent. cash discount in 10 days trom date of invoice, as also are the following base prices per square for painted and galvanized roofing sheets, wit! 214-in. corrugations: Gauge. Painted. Galvanized. Gauge. Painted. Galvanizec BS iva ae cae $2.30 | Seas sess $2.35 $3.45 ’ Pee $1.30 2.45 | BBi i. ots 2.55 3.65 2 eee 1.45 Te ee * Pa 2.75 4.00 _ pe pe 2.60 BP dE We 3.00 4.30 29 os cow ue 1.80 3.00 OB wbics'ss 4.60 5.65 BGs » » Stes 2.05 3.10 ! 86. 348 4.85 6.45 Wire Rods and Wire.—Bessemer, open hearth and chain rods, $26 to $26.50. Fence wire, Nos. 0 to 9 pe! 100 Ib., terms 60 days, or 2 per cent. discount in 10 days, carload lots, to jobbers, annealed, $1.45; galvanized, $1.75. Carload lots, to. retailers, annealed, $1.50; ga! tober 12, 1911 zed, $1.80. Galvanized barb wire to jobbers, $1.95; ted, $1.65. Wire nails, to jobbers, $1.65. [he following table gives the price to retail mer- its on wire in less than carloads, including the ex- on Nos. 10 to 16, which are added to the base price: Fence Wire, Per 100 ib. : 0to9 10 11 12&12% 13 14 15 16 ealed ...$1.65 $1.70 $1.75 $1.80 $1.90 $2.00 $2.10 $2.20 nized .. 195 2.00 2.05 2.10 2.20 2.30 2.70 2.80 ind Stone Ware in Bundles, Discount from Standing List. ght and Annealed: > and GOBSORE Sc is nee ca bP ieds tie oe rTe ee eee iua . .80 ) to 1B. agin kaGdesn 6 date Se Bee chee kee es 80 and 10 ) tO 26. «i wkeltee bon eon OR eee 2 80 and 10 and 2% to 36. .\cincd be RUE een eed dine os Se eeekn eae 80 and 5 vanized: ) and cemreet.d2<aacdukkewe bbddbatcceunis here 75 and 10 ) t0 16... viet aes dtd Rebbe kd oceans eee eee 75 and 10 7 10 26. os cacaceehbestieeeOcas cones se rerten 72u% and 10 7 to 36.0%» sisids cee tei Saleies Lk kd cc eS ec etens 72% ppered or Liquor Finished: ) and COMRGMGs onan cee cc 4ée sehr eweabee 75 and 10 0 to 26.00: dda hwe uaa bel ine tans tee eReia eee 75 and 10 7 a 56. cn cdevGetkcedihe id paces Keb thedee 70 and 10 and 5 nned: 6 to 18. ci ccaldecteaktee ce 0 eae 75 and 10 and 10 Wrought Pipe.—The following are the jobbers’ car- discounts on the Pittsburgh basing card on ught pipe, in efféct from October 2, 1911: Butt Weld. ——Steel———, ——Iron-—-~ Black. Galv. Black. Galv. and 36 iQoe.ccb< on op aeeaea 73 53 68 48 $1). o a'pie ¥6-sinl ae Ae eee 74 64 69 59 16 iM..0. eo Cum ee aes eee 77 67 75 65 4% in. to ly Mt Ges vied Jes 80 72 75 67 in. to 3° canewe Seka tee 81 74 76 69 Lap Weld i a 68 61 77 70 72 65 . 79 72 74 67 4 78 70 73 65 7 to 76 66 71 61 52 ad 47 ee extra strong, plain ends, card weight. 70 60 65 55 75 69 70 64 79 73 74 68 80 74 75 69 Lap Weld, extra strong, plain ends, card weight. 13. cc avewitls Une é 6 dees ey oe 66 60 Tre?) ow ee 76 70 71 65 to 4 it. cantxikdevebensens 78 72 73 67 to 6 fs rcuwenticeaeehaes 77 71 72 66 0 8 im... sswbe enews 70 60 65 55 to 12 im. .iieesvexeneeeese 65 55 60 50 Butt Weld, double extra strong, plain ends, card weight. 1h. cov cctctee eahemewneee 65 59 60 54 4 to 1% itis ccctemevesseuns 68 62 63 57 2 to 3 88. scp veurweee cou bene 70 64 65 59 Lap Weld, double extra strong, plain ends, card weight. 2 IN. . o2cgee ees nea ne nnraen 66 60 61 55 Y to 4 Min wicpeeaeeasee 68 62 63 57 % to 6 igvucs. cued 67 61 62 56 8 in 1s deGadeLeh vas 60 50 55 45 Plugged and Reamed. {will be sold at two (2) points lower basing (higher price) than merchants’ or card weight pipe. Butt or 4 lap weld, as specified. lhe above discounts are for “card weight,” subject to the usual tion of 5 per cent. Prices for less than carloads are three (3) ower basing (higher price) than the above discounts, to 1%, 2 to 3 in.Butt Weld ry to 4 wae Lap Weld Pittsburgh PittspurGH, October 11, 1911.—(By Telephone.) Pig Iron.—We are asked to state by the Standard itary Mfg. Company that reports that it is in the tket for 22,000 tons of foundry and forge iron are ‘rue. This company has all the iron that it will | for some time to come for its Allegheny and ulsville works.. The local pig iron market is very the only inquiry out being one for 500 to 1000 > of malleable Bessemer for October and November very. Prices are weak and not enough new busi- is being offered to test the market. Several Val- ‘urnaces are offering Bessemer iron freely at $14.50 basic at $12.50 at furnace. We quote Bessemer n at $14.50 to $14.65; basic, $12.50 to $12.60; malleable semer, $13 to $13.25; No. 2 foundry, for the remain- of the year, $13.50, and gray forge, $12.75, all at ey furnace, the freight rate to Pittsburgh district ng 90 cents a ton. Steel—The lower prices ruling on billets and sheet "s are causing consumers to take more interest in the rket, and some inquiries are out for billets and bars delivery over the remainder of this year and into rst quarter of next year. Specialties against con- THE IRON THE IRON AND METAL MARKETS AGE tracts are coming to the mills at a fair rate. Prices are unchanged and we quote open hearth billets, $19; Bessemer billets, $20; open hearth sheet bars, $20; Bes- semer sheet bars, $21, and forging billets, $25, f.o.b. at maker’s mill. The steel mills are no longer quoting prices f.o.b. Pittsburgh or Youngstown, but are all quoting f.o.b. at maker’s mill, adding the freight to the point of delivery. We note a sale of 1000 tons of open hearth billets of special quality at $20, delivered, equal to about $19.50 at maker’s mill. ¢ Steel Rails —The Carnegie Steel Company has sold 1400 tons of standard section to a Western road for prompt delivery. r Merchant Pipe.—The Ohio Fuel Supply Company has bought 10 miles of 4 to 8-in. steel pipe and the Philadelphia company § miles of 6-in. iron pipe. (By Mail.) New inquiries and specifications against contracts are reported as coming in a little better, but con- . sumers are still placing orders cautiously, taking only such quantities as are absolutely required to meet cur- rent needs. Prices have gone to a still lower level in the past week and are believed now to be very close to bottom. Plates have sold at 1.15c. to 1.20c., struc- tural material seems to have settled down to 1.20¢., and steel bars, while generally quoted at 1.15¢., have sold in some cases at 1.10c., at mill. The new dis- counts on pipe and boiler tubes are reported to be quite well maintained and the specifications of two pipe mills up to to-day are slightly ahead of those for the same period last month. Car orders have been a little better and several good-sized inquiries are out. Some pretty heavy work is coming up, which, if it goes through, will take a good tonnage of plates. Ferromanganese.—Sales are reported of 300 to 400 tons for delivery in last quarter at about $37, Balti- more, while for first quarter shipment most importers are asking $37.50 to $38, Baltimore. The freight rate for delivery in the Pittsburgh district is $1.95 a ton. Ferrosilicon.—Prices on 50 per cent. are higher than last week’s. We note sales of about three carloads for early shipment on the basis of $50, and we quote $50 to $60, Pittsburgh. Two blast furnaces have recently gone into the manufacture of ferrosilicon and prices are being cut to some extent. We quote 1o per ¢ent., $22; 11 per cent., $23; and 12 per cent., $24, f.0.b. cars Ashland, Ky., or Jackson, Ohio. Muck Bar.—While prices are not very firm, we quote best grades made from all pig iron at $28 to $28.50, delivered at buyers’ mill in the Pittsburgh dis- trict. Skelp.—The market is very quiet and a local mill that rolls both steel and iron skelp has closed down for lack of orders. A sale of 1000 tons of narrow grooved steel skelp is re