The Iron Age 1917-03-15: Vol 99 Iss 11

New York, March 15, 1917 ESTABLISHED 1855 psy mT oe ye LI mI i, lela abeccteasasibassictUllleab aT EG adele i. v0 MEG é VOL. 99: No. I! Improved Method for Molding Lathe Beds Use of Cheek Bars Eliminated— Output Increased 50 Per Cent, With the Quality Decidedly Better BY PAUL HE usual plan of molding lathe beds of the type here described consists in using a three- part flask. The cheek is made with chuck bars that reach in over the lower flange of the pattern. In order to carry the sand in the cheek it is gen- erally conceded that these chuck bars should extend far into the mold as possible and as close to the sides of the pattern. With the chuck bars in the cheeks it is necessary to take the sides of the cheek off in order to get the casting out without breaking the chucks. This involves considerable work when a large number of bed molds are made daily. The fact that the cheek is made to take down daily renders it less solid than when the flask is made all in one piece. i iE | ULL / e Le, a4 j — y r wen ty f ~ B BF a : c Se 8/0), 1 ; Section (Fig. 1) Represents the Mold of a Lathe erwise many fallouts are the result. Another tion to the cheek flask with the chucks is the surface they produce if the molder is not careful in tucking around them. Every soft t then becomes very prominent when the casting nted. lhe object of this article is to describe an im- ment in the method of molding these castings not only produces a more perfect bed but es the molder to increase his daily output 50 ent. ir plan is to cut out the chuck bars and use a strip along the inside bottom joint of the Fig. 1 is a cross section of the mold of a bed rammed, with pattern out and cores l, ready for casting. The sand strip referred ithor is with the Putnam Machine Company, Fitch- ss R. RAMP* to is shown at B. One row of gaggers, indicated by C, oh either side of the pattern, is all that is required to carry the sand besides the sand strip, except the two support rods shown at F. The ar rangement for holding the support rods is a clamp, H, which extends through a slot in the side of the flask. The support rods are laid in after the cheeks have been rammed two-thirds of the way. They are tapped down snugly with the rammer and the rod clamps are put into position and the ramming of the cheek is concluded. Before the pattern is drawn from the mold, the rod clamps are firmly wedged on the outside of the cheek. This plan is very effective and simple and it can readily be seen that there is no excuse for sed Rammed, Ready for ¢ ting The other g ) part of a complete flask with rod imps extending t nd show vy tl I i soft spots on the surface of the molds since the chuck bars are not in the way to prevent uniform ramming. We were able to get two beds, 10 ft. by 18 in., from one molder and one helper, with the old method of take-down cheeks with chuck bars, and we had considerable complaint about the uneven surface under the bars. With the new method using no chuck bars, as here described, we are able to get three of the same beds with the same number of men in one day. Fig. 1 was a bed that we were obliged to make with chilled vees. In this case it was not good practice to roll the drag over and the chills were bedded in the drag on very hard-rammed new sand. As the bedding of these chills entailed consider able time and expense, we made the drag part of our flask solid as shown here, that is to say, the 645 LP A ener oe 7 zt j a ¥ be, Landes Sa: 1.20) a 646 THE 2 | x } i | ) \ VV ‘ bottom plate was ast on the drag part ot tne flask, shown at H. job on the floor occupied by these all that was neces sary was to hook the crane on the drag and move it, sand chills and all, without disturbing the chill layout in the least. D is the slot the of the cheek to the extend through. Fig. 2 shows a part of a complete flask of this kind with the rod clamps extending through. It shows how they are wedged. Care used in driving these wedges. If they are drawn too tight the support rod will be pulled away fron ts position and a cavity formed on the side of the rod next to the mold surface which will result in a long bad swell. The best plan is to lightly tap these wedges or to push them in between the flask and the toe of the rod-clamp with the hands. Fig. 3 is another view of placed 1 When we desired to put another cast 1n side allow rod-clamp to also must be the cheek only two thirds rammed. The support rods ar position and the ramming of the cheek will be ished. This sketch another view of how the rod-clamp is wedged, although this wedge is not securely placed until all of the rammed. fir also shows mold nas peel While a few may not agree with us regarding this method of making these castings, we believe it will be of value to many. We introduced this plan in a foundry that had the reputation of lathe molds out of one than any shop in the country and we were able to secure a production per man that equaled 50 per cent more than their best record. The quality of the work was improved in the manner referred to above getting more bed man othe. A 20-In. Crank-Driven Shaping Machine The Hendey Machine Company, Torrington, Conn., 1as added a 20-in. shaping machine with crank drive to the line built. The frame and base are cast in one piece, and an expanding friction clutch drive engaging with the cone pulley on the back of the machine is used. A single casting forms the frame and base, an oil pan inside the latter being relied upon to catch the drip from the bearings and keep the floor clean. The hub for the bull gear is cast integral with the frame and takes the strain set up in the drive by the cut. The crankpin is hardened and ground on all wearing surfaces, as is the crankpin block and the bearing for the pin is bushed with a cast-iron sleeve. The ways for the ram in the frame are planed from the solid metal and have an angle of 50 deg. The gib for the ram is combined with the cap in a single casting, thus, it is explained, making it rigid and at the same time providing for adjustment in a horizontal direction. The bearing of the ram in the frame measures 1114 x 34 in. The ram is a casting reinforced with bracing fon heavy cuts and can be set in any position, either while it is in motion or idle, the length of the stroke being shown on the index, the maximum being 20% in. The cross feed has a range of from 0.008 to 0.200 in. ar- IRON AGE March 15, 19 G— | a aaa citememnteial how the rod-clamp is wedged anged in 25 steps. The amount of feed is controlled and indicator and can be varied while the machi: operation. a dial is in The ball lever on top of the casti: enables the feed to be thrown out, engaged or reverst without stopping the machine. The mechanism is op: ated entirely at the end of the cross-rail, irrespective position, and the feed takes place when the ram making its return stroke. A square lock serves to clan the cross-rail to the column-and a telescopic elevatin, crew raises it through a distance of 15 in. The to head swivel is bound to the head of the ram by a sing screw. A screw down feed is provided with a micron eter dial reading to thousandths of an inch and power lown feed is optional. The table has ar adjustable bottom support whi on a channel-shaped track, the horizontal trav being 24% in. This arrangement is relied upon to p1 tect the track from chips and dirt that might throw th« table out of alignment. A graduated base, which is held down by four bolts, is provided for the vise and also acts clamp to hold the vise down to the table. The vise are supported on the table by a boss cast on the inderside of the vise, which also serves to tie the ways together and give added stiffness. The thrust of the crew controlling the movement of the sliding jaw is the head end of the vise casting. The vise aws measure 2 7/16 x 12 in. and the opening of th ise is 13 in. The top and sides of the table are pro vided with T-slots and measure 16 x 20 and 15 x 16! n. respectively. The long horizontal lever at the side of the fram: provides for the engagement of a large-diameter ex panding friction clutch drive with a four-step con pull y. to the slide as a ways taken al Back gears are provided, giving eight speed strokes per n ram ranging from 8 to 115 Adjustable-Speed Motor Drive with a Silent Chain, ‘ stant-Speed Motor Drive with a Gearbox or a Belt Driv Which the Belt-Shifting Mechanism Is Operated by ‘ Can Be Furnished for This 20-In. Crank-Driven Sh Machine farch 15, 1917 THE IRON AGE Driving a 58-In Low-Pressure versing Engine for Valves Kither motor or belt drive can be employed with the nachine. If the former is used it can be either of the idjustable-speed type, the power being transmitted through a silent chain, or the motor used can be of the nstant-speed type with a gearbox for furnishing the irious speeds. With the belt drive a special belt shift- mechanism is provided in which the cams are ar- nged to move the shifters alternately, an arrangement hat it is emphasized changes the belt much quicker an when the work is done by hand. Citizenship Training at Midland, Pa. The co-operation of officials of the Pittsburgh Cru ible Steel Company with the municipal authorities at Midland, Pa., where its plant is located, has resulted the establishment of an effective campaign to raise standard of citizenship in that city. One of the principal steps in the inauguration of this movement vas the recent opening of a Carnegie library contain- ng over 2500 volumes. In dedicating the edifice, T. J. Donnell, superintendent of construction of the Pitts irgh Company and president of the local school board, itlined some of the methods adopted as follows: “We have and must have in every manufacturing own many people who do not understand and speak ir language. In my dealings with these people I am ften impressed with their keen humanity and great lesire to learn and understand our language. For that reason the school board on recommendation of one ' the most interested officials of the Pittsburgh Cru- ible Steel Company has been for some time in corre- pondence with the Department of Labor and Natural- ation at Washington and has established citizenship schools which are conducted at night. The readers ed at these schools have been selected with great are and the subject matter pertains especially to the iws of the country and the requirements of good tizens. The course outlined will enable our foreign- orn townsmen not only to acquire within two years ntelligence on the most important subject of American itizenship, but to read and write our language in- telligently.” Beam Rolling Mill Developing Drive the betwee! [0.000 and Valves Direct ;.000 Hp iH High-Pressure 35,000-Hp. Reversing Engines for Bethlehem Shape Mills The William Tod Company, Youngstown, is ing two twin tandem compound reversing engines for the Bethlehem Steel Company, South Bethlehem, Pa These engines are designed to run 58-in. Gray beam mills, will de velop between 30,000 and 35,000 hp. each and are stated to be the largest reversing engines eve! built in the United States and possibly in the The high-pressure cylinder is 46 in. in diameter; low pressure cylinder, 76 ir stroke, 72 in. Many im provements have been worked out on these engines to make them more economical ir complet world and regard to steam economy and upkeep, as there was much to be accomplished in this respect over previously designed of this type. The principal features are the Walschaert valve gear, the high-pressure valves being driven directly from the low-pressure valves and eliminating all intermediate rockers, links, and parts subject to wear and likely to work loose and cause trouble. engines The cylinder clearance is kept to a minimum for steam economy The control of the engines is of the Tod patent single lever type throttles for high and low pressure cylinders with the reversing gear. The cut-off at the opening of the throttle is a maximum and is gradually shortened until the throttle is wide open, the cut-off then being about 40 per cent of the stroke Any further movement of the throttle increases the cut- off to a maximum to give a large torque. This, it is emphasized, is a decided advantage to prevent stalling the engine when there is a sudden demand for more power, in which case the usual method is to reverse and in mill terms “take a run at it” often resulting in broken rolls, spindles, pinions or housings The engines are also designed to conform with mod- ern safety laws, protecting operators and attendants, all moving parts being completely covered by substantial guards. interconnecting the Deliveries of Austrian steel companies in 1916 were 904,000 metric tons, exceeding the record year 1912, when they were 830,000 tons. Preparing American Industries for War Plan Proposed for Factories, Workmen Maximum Production BY ROBERT THURSTON ET have ¢ ned the problem whi will con front the country in the ever wal Let now eXa ne 1ts 1t101 The Solution ine Keynote of the writer's plan for the prepal ing of the industries and technical skill of the nation for war is organization. We have, without doubt, al ready at hand the means of making practically ever thing that we will need in war. We have th« tori¢ the skilled workmen, the raw materials, all within our own borders. There is little, if anything, that we would require that we would have to import from outside the country, excepting perhaps rubber. We have only, then, to learn what we have available, and to learn how quickly to make This can be accomplished rapidly if we have the proper organization. The Facts to Be Learned use of it. The organization that is needed is one that will first discover certain fundamental and then ascertain how to act on those Among these are: 1—What are the items of equipment that must be manufactured for the army and navy? 2 In what quantities must each of these items be plied? 3—When must deliveries begin? The an swers to these questions can be given, most of then at once, by the military and naval authorities. In putting these questions to the several depart ments and bureaus that must answer them, it should be made plain that the answers must be specific in regard to the last two questions at least, in order that the plans for manufacturing can be made so that production can be carried on with a maximum of speed and efficiency. For example, if the arm) is to consist of 1,000,000 men, requiring, say, 5,000, 000 rifles, the report on this subject how soon it is desired to have the first million rifles, and the intervals at which the remainder must be delivered. The full complement will not be until the whole army is on active service, but. must be at hand when the army takes Rifles for the purpose of training will be soon as the army facts, best facts sup should state needed the, the field needed as is recruited, but the time needed to train the men can be utilized for building up the reserve supply. The army should give the indus trial organization this information at the outset, so that it can plan intelligently its part of the problen Having received the information called for by the first three questions, we are in a position to formu- late some others, which will not be so easy to an swer. These are: 4—What plants are best equipped to undertake the manufacture of each of the many items of equipment called for? 5—How can they best be expanded, quickly, capacity to manufacture in the quantity 6—How shall we insure to each plant the necessary supply of raw materials? 7—-Where are the skilled mechanics who will operate the existing plants and the enlarged ones? 8—Are these skilled mechanics at present employed in places where their services there is not sufficient needed? *Cor IRON AGE, New York tinued from THe sulting engineer March 8, page 598 ‘Con rapidly Organizing Our and of Engineers for Means of Warfare KENT* are of the greatest advantage to the nation? | how can they best be transferred to the job w hey will be of the most value? 9—How sha ipplement the skilled workers to make up age of labor? 10—How shall we organize various plants so that we will obtain the maxin production? 11—Which plant in each class most efficient method of manufacturing? can we best transfer to the less efficient p the most efficient? 13—W manufacture is best for articles that several component parts? Shall tl up complete in the various factories, the parts be made in factories to assembling points for assembly and where they are needed? 14—How shall we ¢ he methods of methe d of ] ‘ made ip oO! be made io snal separate sh ppt d wne trol the inventive ability of the country so that will act along the lines which will prove of t greatest service to the army and navy? 15—Wher are the executives for the different factories to found? The Organization Needed The correct answer to these questions will put the country in a state of preparedness adequate to all its needs. But it is evident that the obtaining f these answers will require a highly developed, flexible organization of wide powers and possessing in the line of technical skill, knowledge, directing ability, and research. It is certain that such an organization does not to-da: exist in the United States. We have the nucleus o! it in the Council of National Defense and in the Naval Consulting Board, but these will have to be greatly expanded, reorganized and co-ordinated wit! ther boards and committees before they can rende! that will be required. We shall discuss the ideal organization, and then consider how it ca! take up the answers to the fifteen questior propounded above. The organization in which all the authority ove’ the preparation of munitions of war would cente! would correspond, in a large degree, to the prese National Defense. This at present co! sists of cabinet officers and an advisory board. It recommend but not initiate movements for na While this body is undoubtedly able t consider and advise regarding what is necessary fo! the safety of the country, it is not a body whic! will, by its constitution, give confidence that it hi: the ability to organize and direct the multifari activities requisite to the equipment of an army a! All of the men on such a body should be only for their proved ability to direct impressive resources the service hest Council of can tional safety. navy chosen control. A board of industrial control composed of met demonstrated ability in the organization and diré tion of large enterprises or having a reputation specialists in one line or another of industry shou! be formed to take entire charge of the furnish of munitions of war and the direction of the indus tries of the country for the supply of the army 4a! navy, and if necessary, for the supply of the civil population if the war shouid be of such magnit! 648 March 15, 1917 THE IRON AGE 649 tax our resources relatively as much as it has would be to investigate the me X d those of England, France and Germany. It_ ing plants, labor questions and | have the power to initiate and direct, and t ference efficic ethods f1 n the services of plants, men and equip ‘his committee would be charg: needed. This board would report to the obtaining spec rs 8 War and to the Secretary of the Nav 2 l [he reason for this is that most of the rhe vhich would arise in supplying ! the a vould arise Ip} ng t I r Sé lUl¢ ! e HX a i ] ( duplicatio1 effort and confi hat g to this rdw d be a serit nl ms charged h certair f g ral, these « missions would ( he ubjet noted tne ympal ! ire ! nat Ee Cl tnese con na yosed of the al specialists in th ay e re ve lines and they should not be limited as 1 the divisior it should be ex] led as mu he r line ild have the personne est fitted t ope nd pi SECRETARY of WAR SECRETARY of NAV) a ee en y v BOARD OF INDUSTRIAL CONTROL | +i _ _ epee - | i : Y ' Y Y v COMMISS ON ON COMMISSION COMM $S/ON OMM ON MA he 4 j V VENTION, SPECIFICATION ON ON ON MEDICINE AND ON RAW AND RESEARCH MANUFACTURING TRANSPORTATION AGERY MATER/A | COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEE ON | ORGAN/ZAT/ION PRODUCTION AND ADMINISTRATION y v Y ’ METHODS LABOR INSTRUCTIONS MACHINERY SMALL TOOLS CHEMICAL MUNIT y SUPPLY AND GAGES NDUSTRY AND SPECIA: TIME STUD/ES E7C PRODUCT = ee = J ' Cl M W certain specific problems within the domain with a view to evolving the best methods and appl) particular commission. ing them in all the factories under f irisdictio SS of the committee Invention, Specification and Research In all probability it also would be e to form a i . ° . . Mm . On hen cal ingdue p ywitt hy omry t (he commission of invention, specifications and Comm ttee on chemical industry, with su ' : . . . Teac cloaaling | oY . he nrYr } _ irch would take charge of the invention of all ees dealing with specific probl : new devices which would be called for by the and the navy. This commission should include l'ransportation ts membership the ablest inventors and engi Che commission on transportat : 4 that could be found and probably could be or posed of railroad men, preferab from the ope ed immediately from the Naval Consulting ng department Its duty would be to organize thi rd with the addition of other members to look many different railroad lines of the country and o1 r the needs of the army and to perform certain orate them as a sing sten The idea to be con al duties. In addition it would be given the tant! kept in mind by this com on wou ' developing new methods of manufacture to that nothing must be owed to interfere with the the needs of the industrial plants as reported free flow of raw material to the munition plants and e cOmmission on manutacturing. One Or 1tS a prompt movement of finished product away from would be the formulation of the specifications them to the distribution point f the army and methods of inspection which would assure the pay, Evervthing must be ibordinated to these ol material wanted without too heavy reje two ends. Next in importance would be the pr ~ on account of slight imperfections of manufac em of food supply and fuel to the country at large which would not affect the usability of the After these problems had been met and solved, thos * of transportation for the ordinar ndustries and Manufacturing for passengers could be considered (he commission of manufacturing would be di- Phe : ce Medicine and Surgery 1 into at least two sub-committees, one devoted rganization and administration of factories and The commission on medicine and surgery would other to actual production. The function of the be organized from the foremost physicians and sur committee on organization and administration geons and its duty would be to investigate and place 650 at the service of the great body of physicians and surgeons called into active service the most advanced practice in the treatment of wounds and disease. This commission also would be in charge of the mobilization of the men of the medical service for the army and navy. It is quite probable that it would be wise to form a research division for this committee which would do for it what the board of invention, specifications and research would do for the manufacturing commission. Raw Material The commission on raw material would be in charge of the supply of all natural materials needed by the other boards, such as coal, iron ore, copper ore, timber, etc., and any other minerals which would be necessary in the manufacturing process. It, too, would be composed of men who had specialized and made their mark in these various lines. In case of a war of such severity as to require regulation of the food supply, this board might include intensive agriculture within its province in order to increase the quantity of food stuffs and also, by the addition of mechanical methods to the farms in place of labor, release a large number of men for service on the firing line or in the factories. The Work of the General Board Let us now consider the work which the general Board of Control and its several commissions and sub-committees will have to do. Most of the solu- tions will be found in the answers to the fifteen questions heretofore presented. In discussing these questions, the duties of the various commissions will appear in somewhat greater detail. The Board will have to concern itself but little with answering the first three questions, except in those cases where military authorities seek its ad- vice as to manufacturing possibilities. This will be done with a view to substituting for a desired item of equipment which can be produced only in limited quantities, another which can be produced in the quantities demanded. The army and navy having stated what they need, how much they need, and when they need it, the function of the Board, through its commissions will be to ascertain immediately whether or not these needs can be met in the time specified. If the manufacturing capacity for any particular item is limited, preventing the fulfillment of the orders, the Board will immediately take the matter up and either secure a modification of the quantity, an ex- tension of the delivery time, or it will take steps to expand the manufacturing capacity as seems most feasible. In all cases it should cause to be reported back to the department or bureau placing an order spe- cific information as to when deliveries will begin and the rate at which they will be kept up. It is better to promise delivery on a smaller quantity than is ordered and to keep the promise than to promise a large quantity and deliver only part of it on the date it is due. Failure to receive the equipment may disarrange highly important mili- tary plans and work serious damage to the country. In war, for instance, every department must be co- ordinated with every other department. The fail- ure of two minor departments to co-ordinate prop- erly their activities on a single night was responsi- ble for the failure of the British Gallipoli cam- paign. Selection of the Plants We pass now the detail questions with which the Board would concern itself. What plants are best THE IRON AGE March 15, 1:17 equipped to supply each of the items of equipn called for? This is a question which clearly w be answered by the manufacturing commission. data for answering it are, or should be, alread the hands of the authorities at Washington in \ of the industrial census taken last year under :), direction of the Naval Consulting Board. Ths formation gathered in this census should by time be classified so that a very brief refers would show just what plants are fitted to make different items, the capacity and the number workmen available in each, and how promptly ea plant could begin producing. The promptness w which the plant could start on an order would pend in certain lines on its supply of jigs, gag fixtures, small tools, etc., and on its facilities producing these necessary auxiliaries. Infor: tion regarding these points. should be in the p session of the Board. The information given by the industrial cens : could and should be supplemented by a corps , traveling inspectors under the jurisdiction of th division of organization and administration. Thes inspectors should be men well versed in the man facture of the particular items of equipment e: trusted to their judgment and familiar in all cd tails with the requirements for rapid productio: The Board, having made its decision from the dat: available in the, industrial census as to which plants should undertake work on certain equipment, would despatch one or more inspectors to each of the plants selected with orders to confirm the report of the census and to indicate what work, if any, must be done before actual manufacturing could begin. These inspectors could probably best be recruited from the staffs of consulting industrial engineers. These are the men who are accustomed to make rapid and accurate surveys and reports thereon deal- ing with the very subjects concerning which the council would require information. The selection of plants for the manufacture of each item having been completed and the size of the order to be filled by each having been decided, the plant would be turned over to the division of pro- duction with orders to produce the material within a specified time. At the same time the commission on raw material would be advised of the order and would make provision for supplying the plant with whatever it would need for the purpose of carrying it out. In supplying the raw material, the commis sion would co-operate with the transportation com mission to insure its rapid movement and prompt delivery to the plants. There are other question: to be considered in the starting of manufacture, but these will appear and be answered shortly. Expansion of Munitions Factories The question as to how the plants can best be expanded quickly if there is not sufficient existing capacity to manufacture in the quantity needed is again one for the industrial engineers to answer. These men should be gathered under the jurisdic- tion of the manufacturing commission and specif- ically under the division of organization and ad- ministration. Certain industrial engineers and en- gineering firms have established enviable records for rapid analyses of the needs of factories and for completing the construction necessary for supplying these needs. The problem presented by the question above is simply the same one that these engineers and engineering firms have solved many times be- fore with the possible exception of its being 4 larger problem than any that they have heretofore handled. : In the expansion of the munitions plants, the March 15, 1917 vision of organization and administration again ll have to work hand in hand with the division manufacturing, for the obvious reasons that ex- nsion means not only buildings, but also ma- nery and other equipment. If the equipment is available from present stocks it will have to be iunufactured, and here again the industrial census | prove its value. Coincident with the extension buildings and plants, the machinery manufac- ers should be making the necessary machinery tools. In the event of a conflict of require- nts for new machinery for different groups of the nufacturing commission, due to insufficent ma- nery building capacity, it would be the function the Board to decide which group should have edence. This decision would, of course, be based strictly military necessities. Recruiting the Personnel The three questions next in order can best be wered together. Where are the engineers and ed mechanics who will operate the existing nts and the enlarged ones? Are the skilled me- cs and engineers at present employed in those s where their services are of the greatest ad- tage to the nation and if not how can they best transferred to where they will be of the most . ie? How shall we supplement the supply of led workers to make up any shortage of labor? ; The first and most vital need in this connection find out first where the engineers and me- ics are located; second, what their experience been; third, for what branch of work they are ‘st fitted and in what capacity they could be of eatest service to the Government. A census should taken of every engineer and skilled mechanic in he country. The Board would obtain from the census the in- rmation needed to answer the last two of the three iestions propounded above regarding labor. It iid already have ascertained from the commis on manufacturing the number of men needed the manufacture of the quantities of each of the items of equipment specified by the army and The census would show whether there was a irplus of labor available for one group of items | a shortage of labor for another group. The de- ls as to experience, etc., would also show whether not it would be possible to transfer men from one of work to another without any particular loss ficiency, and whether it would be necessary to ite skilled labor as has been done abroad by train ‘ women, boys and men not fitted for active serv to undertake the performance of one or more ple routine jobs in munition plants. If such tion is necessary, the skilled mechanics can bably be utilized as teachers to train these un- led workers. If they have executive ability they become gang bosses, foremen, etc. ‘he manufacturers of the country should be ed upon to complete the census of workmen and hanics, and this could be done in a few weeks a proper system of co-operation. The digest- and indexing of the information gathered from manufacturers would, of course, take consid- longer, but even this work could be so or- ized as to be rapidly carried out. One valuable ture of this census is that it is not necessary to until it is complete before it can be of use. aking the census of the engineers will be a e complicated problem. In the ultimate analysis collecting of the information will be up to the vidual engineer himself in spite of any mech- m or organization that can be formed at Wash- n. If the engineer is not inclined to give the THE IRON AGE 651 information desired and to volunteer his services in case of need, there is at present no power in the country that can compel him to do so. Of course, if a universal service law is enacted, it will be easy to obtain the desired information, and the writer is heartily in favor of the enactment of such a law Pending the enactment of such a law, however, it will be necessary to do the best that we can with the means at hand. One of the great difficulties is that we lack knowledge as to how many engineers there are in the country and where they are. The mailing lists of the national and local engineering societies will furnish the first line of attack in the gathering of this census. Private mailing lists sucl as are maintained by many firms, and the mailing lists of the engineering publications, would furnis} other sources of information regarding the locatior f engineers. All these should be requisitioned | the General Board. Organizing the Plants to Manufacture How shall we organize the various plants so that we will obtain the maximum of production? Whicl plant in each class has the most efficient method of manufacturing? How can we best transfer to the less efficient plants the methods of the most efficient These are three questions that naturally go togethe1 and which must be answered by the division of o1 ganization and administration. The division of pr duction can by its records furnish informatio supplementing the reports of the organization div sion’s inspectors, as to which plant is turning out the maximum of product per workman or per ma chine. A short investigation should serve to show whether or not the high efficiency was accidental or the result of a carefully considered scheme of or ganization and also whether or not the organization could be improved. If this rapid survey should in dicate that the plant was operating as efficiently as could reasonably be expected, then the methods used in it and the type of organization should be trans ferred as rapidly as possible to the other plants operating on the same product Methods of Manufacture What method of manufacture is best for articles that are to be made up of several component parts? Upon the answer to this question will depend in great measure the snveed with which a great amount of equipment will become available. Most of the implements of warfare to-day are assembled mech anisms. In a great many instances the assembly has no relation whatever to the manufacturing processes excepting that these latter must be a curate if the assembly is to proceed with smooth ness. The assembling often can be done miles away from the factory where the parts are made and per- haps done better than at the factory It is quite probable that in the manufacture of munitions of war, we can take a leaf from the book of the automobile manufacturer. For example: A field gun consists of a number of different parts, the manufacture of which have no particular rela- tion to one another. Thus there is the gun itself, the recoil slide, the axle, the wheels, the stock and a number of other minor parts. The question comes up for decision as to whether all these parts shall be made in the one factory or made in separate fac- tories especially adapted to the manufacture of that one part and then shipped to assembly centers desig- nated by the army and navy for assembly and use. If this course is followed, it will necessitate much closer manufacturing than will be required if all of the parts are made in the same factory and fitted together. It will necessitate a larger supply of jigs and fixt will also for speed ures, but it in manufacturing after this preliminary equipment has been provided. Che quest n, while only a que nm of policy, is nevertheless one which will have great influence on the speed of manufacture and quality of product and which should therefore re ceive careful consideratio. Control of Inventions How shall we control the inventive ability of the country? Primarily through the commission of investigation, specification and research. The Naval Consulting Board is the foundation upon which this commission should be built. It already includes in its membership men of proven ability in the it is organized and has done some of the necessary preliminary work. solu tion of different problems, Specifications and Inspection Not the least important duty of this commission will be the making of specifications for all items of equipment called for and also development of. meth- ods of inspection to see that these specifications are carried out. The specifications should be exceed- ingly liberal in regard to non-essential details and correspondingly rigid on essentials. Methods of in- spection should be similarly rigid and lax for essen- tials and non-essentials respectively. The value of this combination of laxness and rigidity has been shown in the manufacture of munitions for the En- tente Allies, wherein insistence on extreme accuracy in non-essentials has resulted in the rejection of thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment. For in- stance: The accompanying sketch shows a piece forming part of a mechanism manufactured in large quantities for the English Government. The dimen- sions A and C were required to be accurate to 0.001 in. The connecting piece had no function except to tie the other parts together. It was not required to fit anything and a variation of 1/16 in. in its diameter would have made no difference. Neverthe less, thousands of these pieces were rejected by the inspectors because the dimension B did not conform to the dimension given on the drawings within the limits of accuracy called for by dimensions A and C. Finding the Executives fac for the different The proposed census of Where are the executives tories to be found? eng neers will show what men in the country are accus tomed to the management of men, in doors and out. It will show their experience along the particular lines for which executives are needed and their se lection will be a matter of comparative simplicity, once the information is T and where the men available as to who are. Work Should Begin Now The above general plan is offered not with the idea that it is the best plan or the only plan for the organization of the industries of the country for purposes of war. It is offered simply as represent- ing ideas of one man with the hope that it will be taken up, discussed and improved until the proper co-ordination is effected among all the industries of the nation. It is realized that an organization such THE IRON AGE March 15, 1517 as has been proposed will require new and r legislation. The Board of Industrial Control s have arbitrary, not to say dictatorial powers, p which we would not dream of giving to any n group of men in ordinary times. But we are in an extraordinary time and this demands ex dinary measures. The start has already bee: in obtaining needed information regarding o dustrie; Let us at once start to obtain ‘ormation about, and organize the men who be required to run these industries. Let th be made now. Judicial Decisions ABSTRACTED BY A. L. STREET POINTS IN EMPLOYEES’ PERSONAL INJURY S It appearing that belt shifters are not, and cannot ticably be, used on cone pulleys, an employer’s | for injury to a workman cannot be predicated up former’s to provide a belt shifter a belt from a large cone pulley to a smal personal injury suit, the jury is not entit] damages for prospective loss of earnings injured plaintiff where the extent to which his f power is impaired is. purely (United States Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Cir United States Cast Iron Pipe & Foundry Company Eastham, 237 Federal Reporter, 185.) Loss OF ORE IN LIGHTERING—The owner of a chartered for the purpose of lightering a cargo of from a vessel and which sank while being load liable for the loss, it appearing that there was no over loading, that the cargo was properly trimmed, and that the scow was unseaworthy because of a leak. The char terer was entitled to assume that the scow was in sea- worthy condition, in the absence of information to the contrary, and was not at fault in failing to provide a pump. (United States District Court, District of Mary- land, Naylor & Co. vs. Terminal Shipping Company, 237 Federal Reporter, 725.) Prion Use OF PATENTED DEvICES—To supersede a patent, prior use of the invention must have been pub- lic, and not merely private. Where machines were shown to customers and were familiar to employees us- ing them, their use was public, although they were kept secret from competitors. The sale of the product of a machine which is still being experimented with and im- proved, and the use of which is kept secret, does not take the machine out of the experimental stage, so as to constitute a public use, and invalidate a subsequent patent for the completed machine. (United States Dis- trict Court, Western District of New York, Mayer vs Mutschler, 237 Federal Reporter, 654.) LEGAL ASPECTS OF MACHINERY SALES—A for sale of a weigh pan to be used at a mine implied ar undertaking on the part of the seller to furnish on reasonably well adapted to the intended use, and buyer was not bound to accept delivery of an unsuital Where separate articles are bought at the sam time for use in conjunction with each other (in tl a weigh pan and scales for use in a coal min¢ if one article fails to come up to the contract requ ments the entire delivery may be rejected, although on yr more of the articles come up to the agreement. (Ok) homa Supreme Court, United Iron Works Company ' Henryetta Coal & Mining Company, 162 Pacific porter, 209.) VALIDITY OF MANUFACTURER’S CONTRACT—A ma facturer’s agreement to supply certain products dealer for sale on commission as ordered by the latt during a stated term, the dealer agreeing to ord stated minimum quantity each year under penalty cancellation of the contract, is not invalid as being one When the language and circumstances surr< ing a contract of sale indicate that the parties mutua intended that time for performance of the contract, specified in the agreed terms, should be a material con- sideration, failure to live up to the provision will just!'y the other party in cancelling the contract. (United ror In a } award earning conject cont! one, case, sided. States Circuit Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, Meier Maren 15, 1917 Mfg. Company vs. Smith, 237 Federal Reporter, INJURY THROUGH STARTING MACHINERY.—In an ac- ‘or injuries sustained by a blacksmith in ing establishment th ough sudden starting of a by the operator while the blacksmith was es in the gear of the machine, at a poir ne operator, it held th the two empioyees regarded low Yi hin ‘ emplove1 7 ble , < i ‘ t ne me li I VOI L! emp a ! tne re ar I € nta I le safegua I g of tl he ope I i t ‘ the I I ne roren {’ pos n te the dang ( ilins yrecauti iden starting of the machine tae. 3 Appeals, Dittr vs. Ame} n Mfg Compa western Reporter, 1006.) STRUCTURAL IRON SALES CONTRACT In a su ! t of plaintiff to recove damages ur ntract to bu tructural iron e Maine Supreme Judicial Court holds that that the buyers, in accepting the seller’s 1 that part of the material be rushed did ite imposition of such new term of sale as to ‘eptance of that condition by the seller before ng contract of valid to time and manner of the presuming, in such t was mutually intended that payment should be on delivery. The fact that plaintiff seller re d that defendants furnish credit rating, after the was entered into, did not justify defendants in ding the contract; it not appearing that plaintiff ht to impose giving of security as a new condition lelivery. Defendants’ reply to this request, naming erence and stating that defendants did not ask for dit and that the plaintiff had better cancel the order, ithorized plaintiff to cancel, but did not of itself re- nd the contract. The damages recoverable by plain are to be measured by the profits lost through defendants’ refusal to carry out their contract of pur hase, and include any loss sustained through contract- with a third person to furnish iron on the strength the broken contract. (Simpson vs. Emmons, 99 At tic Reporter, 658.) TRADEMARK RIGHTS. tne sale could exist. Nor was the cor because silent as law circumstances ; tt Priority of use of a trademark principal element upon which its ownership de- The prior use need not be large or extensive or long duration. (United States District Court, South- District of New York, Waldes vs. International ifacturers’ Agency, 237 Federal Reporter, 502.) ; w Line of Heavy-Duty Quick Change Lathes Machine Company, Los Angeles, is ling a line of heavy-duty, quick change gear lathes ire built in 16 and 18 in. lhe Axelson sizes with a three-step pulley and double back gears, although a four-step pulley and single back gear type can be supplied ired. The standard length of bed is 6 ft. but othe s up to 12 ft. can be furnished. The lard heavy construction with a headstock re reinforced by ribbing. ‘he double-plate type of apron interfering the and e friction cross and traverse proy tools are ot! and bed is used equipped with device to prevent imultaneous en rew and reverse feeds with which the An automatic stop capable of adjust- feed rod is provided to check the motion of arriage when feeding toward the headstock. Only vers are required to secure the 32 available threads, ng from 3 to 46 per in., from the gearbox. These nges can be made while the lathe is running, and iuxiliary quadrant enables extra change gears to employed for cutting threads that cannot be secured ugh the quick change mechanism provided. Spindle ds to the number of 18 and ranging from 12 to 349 n. are provided for the 18-in. machine, while the er lathe has 16 speeds ranging for 6.67 to 420 ent of feed rod lead sec ided. on the THE IRON a manu- AGE 653 Vertical Milling and Profiling Machine The Bickett Machine & Mfc. | nt ( A . y nas pul or [ mal ‘ } if; ‘ | A me i ry ¢ i WN and has three thread screw, tnat ntted to a ! ‘ I can be engaged or disengage The longit 1dina reed ¢ | t acti 6 in.; transverse feed, e The total height of ne ! é | esta 26 in.: width of base, 11 in.; lengt! base, 20 in tance from yp of rotary tabi | ] 1 The weight of the machine complet 00 equipment, such as a toolmaker’ e, Hard draw-in attachment and tl eces y wrenches furnished. If desired the nacnine i tur? feed attachment, in plac« he el rew, V " makes it handy where rapid tme! ! . quired The National Board of Fire Underwriter : attention to the numerous fires caused by leaving sma! electric devices in circuit when not t ise. The Actuarial Bureau of the National Board reports that in one day 100 fires out of a total of 2000 were traced to this cause, and it is estimated that fully 30,000 fires a vear have such an origin. 654 Determining Efficiency of Gas-Fired Boilers Given the Boiler Evaporation and the Consump- tion of Blast-Furnace Gas, the Result Is Obtained Graphically NHE accompanying charts have been prepared by H. A. Reichenbach, steam engineer, South Bethlehem, Pa., to determine graphically the eficiency of a boiler fired by blast-furnace gas. They have been found useful in a plant having a number of boilers and employing an efficiency corps of young men capable of taking field data in a boiler test but not of making the cal culations for determining the efficiencies. The use of the curves, according to Mr. Reichenbach, have given results within 1 per cent of by calculated results. Chart 1 is a graph of factors of evaporation. The test data supply the total evaporation and the pressure under which this evaporation occurred to gether with the feed water temperature and from these, of course, is obtained the factor of evapo ration. Chart 2 is used to determine the volume of the gas under so-called standard conditions correspond ing with the volume under observed conditions. The test data give the number of cubic feet per hour, for example, supplied to the boiler and the tempera ture of the gas as supplied as well as the pressure. The chart provides for determining the correspond ing volume at 32 deg. Fahr. and 30 in. of mercury pressure. Chart 3 provides for determining the amount of heat represented by the evaporation and also the amount of heat represented by the combustion of The ratio of the one to the other is a large gas-fired those obtained tne gas wt re 09 10 213 14 15 16 LT 18 19 20 ZI 22 23 24 + Factor Chart 1 Locate point f where horizontal lings hroug! point e€ (126) on steam pressure scale intersects line of feed water temperature (169) Pass line vertically until it inte sects line corresponding to number of pounds of water evap orated at observed conditions or point g (45,976) Draw li g-h horizontally to intersect scale showing equivalent number Fahr 0.000 Ib. per hr of pounds of water evaporated from and at 212 deg The equivalent evaporation is thus close t« THE IRON AGE Lon t point &b Where lhorizol tal line drawn t oO mperature of