The Iron Age 1917-04-05: Vol 99 Iss 14

q 4 % e & ” Equipment for Carbonizing Purposes Special Form of Boxes to Contain the Parts to Be Treated Arrangement of a Recently Constructed Cementation Plant arrangement of a cementation plant for a car- vuilding works have been obtained from Fred- eric Schreibman, a consulting industrial engineer of Belgium, who has been practising in this country since the German occupation of Belgium forced him to come to the United States. The accompanying drawings will serve largely by way of description, but the following notes may be added. The main feature is the design of the cementa- tion pots. which are made of stove plate. They have an arrangement of ribs on the outside so that they may be stacked closely together and yet provide flues for the passage all around the pots of the prod- ucts of combustion. This applies to the tops of the pots as well as the bottom. As indicated in the drawings, the channels formed in the bottom and or details of a recent reconstruction and re- ,* pe wea [Q" -----=--7Dd ag pe-- --- gf7- - -- >| CRANE HOOKS FOR HANDLING CEMENTATION POT tops are arranged diagonally with respect to the general dimensions. This favors the movement of the gases from end to end and at the same time gives direction to the flow of gas that is calculated to prevent the so-called channeling action within the furnace. The stacking of the boxes is, of course, facilitated with a resultant conservation of furnace space. The ribs on the sides of the pots are utilized also for handling. A special form of crane hook is shown among the drawings. Hung from a crane, it is utilized after the fashion of ice tongs, but with two carrying points on each side. While the stand- ard size of there cementation boxes is 8 x 8 x 26 in, a longer and deeper type of box for long pieces is provided, this being still 8 in. in width, but hav- ing a length of 7 ft. inside. The reinforcing of the MADE OF STOVE PLATE ‘lhe Cementation Box and Crane Hook for Handling it 821 ae gi am Bites" > - MEPITIA 9 ae 25 ek fa Se Pee a 822 TORAGE 1 x PURI “me a” Dd ow « n ~ { sides, forming also the gas passages, is shown in one.of the drawings. In laying out the cemen- tation plant itself, use was made of three old oil-burn ing furnaces which were re- built, two of them constitut ing a double furnace. Two large coke burning furnaces were also built. The latter are constructed with an air space inclosed in the walls, simulating the thermos bot tle with its advantage in the reduction of the heat through the non-conducting quality of the confined rare fied air. losses The sketch of the plan of the building shows where parts to be case hardened are piled and where the car- bonizing material is stored. in between are stacked the empty carbonizing pots. As they are filled they are car- ried on trucks to a central Cementation Box THE IRON AGE April 5, 1917 point with respect to the furnaces and there + |eq awaiting their turn in the furnace. As the box: to be removed from the furnace, a water-quen tank, mounted on wheels, is moved to a conve) position near the furnace and the contents of pots dumped into a wire basket and immerss« the water. The empty pots are then again retu: to the filling space. The cooled carbonized art go into the adjoining storage spaces and the car izing material may be removed from time to t from the tanks and dried for use again. In this | ticular plant the material used is known as pea and is used over and over until it has the form of dust. Each of the larger furnaces has space for pots or boxes, the larger oil burning furnace tal 12 boxes and the small one 6, a total capacity of 1: In regular procedure the furnaces are charged tw daily, which would give a capacity of 3€) boxes assul day. The plant was laid out to take care of sor 3000 parts per day, requiring 219 pots. Thus | SKE TCHE PARTS TO BE HARDENEY es, f Fr N\ ik iN T ~~ a2 ifs) rm i ‘5 | ~N i | ION ecco De nensmetnen N SHOP ORDER P-2as ings ne eee eee ee j ‘=e oan a a <i a Be Ce-ven Giles! a pe- == : s on -- | ” D cesnumenapiitiihe | a . la oor “Y k \+i >|} | TS Sa ae — : . 1 t ee —_ ied re } - —~ tm et ae | = f. . .-- } e ~ . - ——- ie i pret eet _— | wet 2 00? ste Pig Bram Baren uf Goon boot Pin Brats Conseetion Maver Deering BR betes ania! Tia Magtge a finn i \ = 5 - 4 (6) ©) aay ¥ b “ _-— “| t. +s “_—_s or rw? 7 oo io be Hardened Are Marked Parts siderable latitude exists between requirements and furnace capacity. The arrangement for the long pieces, comprising four furnaces and an independent water tank, is shown in the sketch. One of the illustrations is a reproduction of part of a blue print which is supplied to the cementa- tion department. It is calculated to give quickly the information concerning the part of each arti le which is to be carbonized and therefore the parts 0! these articles which must be protected against th influence of the carbonizing material. The Lake Erie Forge & Machine Company, Clev land, has been incorporated with a capital stock of $0, 000, to succeed the Lake Erie Forging Company: The company’s stock has been increased to take care of ' growing business, but no plant extensions are plan! Improvements at the plant of the Penn Steel & | Company, Lancaster, Pa., will enable the company increase its working force. The old puddle and heating furnaces are being torn down and improved ones bu New boilers will be installed. pril 5, 1917 Shell Turning and Washing Machines \ line of heavy-duty lathes for shell turning and a ‘ial machine for cleansing the shells of chips, etc., e been developed by the Pottstown Machine Com- ny, Pottstown. The lathes are built in three different es for shells ranging from 3 to 12 in. in diameter and vy-Duty Lathe with Two Toolposts Designed Primaril irning 12-In. Shells, but Also Capable of Being Used for the Rough Turning of Heavy Forgings washing machine is made for shells having diame- rs of 220 and 270 mm. respectively. The washing machine consists essentially of a tank ntaining the cleansing fluid, a six-armed spider on ch the shells are hung and an apparatus for revolv- the spider. Each arm of the spider has a cradle size of which is varied according to the shell that is ng washed. This spider dips into a solution of hot la water which comes within 3 in. of the top of the nk, the heat being supplied by a steam pipe projecting m one corner of the tank. The shells to be washed are placed in the cradle by the cantilever crane. After the shell is placed in the adle it slides along a bar as the spider rotates, being tipped as it drops into the water to bring the mouth ipward and allow the air to escape and the shell to fill vith water. After the shell has traveled downward for ibout 1 ft., it tips back so that the mouth points toward the bottom of the tank, thus allowing the chips, etc., to out, while a further cleansing is given by a steam As the shell emerges from the water, it points »wnward to facilitate draining and by the time it ar- at the unloading station the heat has thoroughly lried it. The cantilever crane is again brought into use emove the shell to the table. \ motor having a capacity of 11% to 2 hp. drives the ishing machine, the starting and stopping being con- led by a shaft located directly in back of the crane | coming through the hollow shaft of the spider. A rip motion is provided which causes the spider to move rough one-sixth of a complete revolution and stop, THE IRON AGE 823 thus enabling a shell to be removed and another placea in the cradle. This machine, which has a capacity of 2000 shells 6 in. in diameter per day and from 800 to 1000 of the larger sizes, is sunk into the ground so that the loading station is approximately 30 in. from the floor. The lathe, which is designed for 12-in. shells, is pro vided with two tool posts and it is pointed out can also be used as a single-purpose machine as well as for the rough turning of forgings. The swing over the bed is 24 in. and the maximum length of work that can be accommodated is 57 in. The lathe is belt driven, the diameter of the driving pulley being 28 in., while the face width is 6 in. War Prices for German Ore and Steel The extent to which the war has affected the prices of materials in the German iron and steel industry is indicated by the subjoined analysis, published by Engineering, London. Prices are marks per ton: Pig lron Ir M ! I I Period Ore Quality lets Shapes iro! Third quarter, 1914 12.60 69.4 ‘ Lit 4 to Fourth quarter, 1914 12.80 74.0 Of ( Mto9d First quarter, 1915 12.8 74.4 10.0 11¢ 4 tog second quarter, 1915 l I ) 120 LSot if Third quarter, 191 | 14 L4 Fourth quarter, 191 16.34 l l to 1 First quarter, 1916 16.30 Ss | 0 140 to 166 second quarter, 1916 17.0¢ l4 Raw material and unfinished steel rose more mod erately than the finished materials. The most important advance in steel quotations took effect only after the end of the business year 1915-16. Despite this most of the companies showed brilliant balance sheets for the year. The sales of the German Steel Works Union amounted to only 3,200,000 tons out of an aggregate steel production of 14,750,000 tons. Fifty Colleges Offer Men for Technical Service The services of many thousand alumni of specialized training, representing 50 of the leading universities, col leges, and technical schools throughout the country, have been tendered to the Government by Dr. William McClellan, director of the Intercollegiate Intelligence Sureau, organized in Washington several weeks ago Dr. McClellan sent this telegram to President Wilson and the Council of National Defense: “The Intercollegi- ate Intelligence Bureau advises you that 50 of the larg est and most prominent universities, colleges, and tech- nical schools throughout the country are ready to pro- vide the nation with men of specialized training for every need which may arise in your plans for national defense.” a Shells to Be Cleaned of Chips, Dirt, Etc., Are Placed in Cradles on the Spider and Immerse d in a Solution of Hot Soda Water, Provisicn Being Made for Tilting Them in Their Progress to Insure Thorough Draining 824 PHOSPHORUS IN STEEL Its Determination by a New Method Using an Ammoniacal Water Solution of Molybdate BY CHARLES M. JOHNSON* WING to the high price of molybdic acid the author decided some months ago to prepare it from the ore for use in the laboratories under his supervision. Early in the experiments, it occurred to him not to carry the process to the molybdic acid stage. Why not dissolve the ammonium molybdate, which is ob- tained first in the manufacture, direct in the required ammonia, and then in the nitric acid? It seemed use- less and wasteful to obtain ammonium molybdate, drive off its ammonia and then right about face to convert it into ammonium molybdate again as a preparatory step in the concoction of the usual nitrie acid solution of ammonium molybdate. The ammonium molybdate, equivalent to the quan- tity of molybdic acid used in the usual nitric acid solution of it, was weighed, dissolved in water and the required ammonia, allowing for the ammonia in the ammonium molybdate itself. This solution was poured into the amount of 1.20 nitric acid called for in the formula. A nice clear solution was obtained which did not stay clear very long, but clouded with a white precipitate of molybdic acid. The volume of the pre- cipitate was small, but on filtering out this precipitate the clear filtrate, so obtained, again clouded in a few hours, and so on apparently indefinitely. Many varia- tions of the proportions of acid, water and ammonia were tried, but the clouding invariably resulted. This failure suggested an attempt to precipitate the phosphorus by adding the ammoniacal water solu- tion of the molybdate to the usual solution of the steel in 1.13 nitric acid. This was tried, but only a partial precipitation resulted, or all, or, as in some instances, the whole mass set to a yellowish jelly. This pointed to the need of more acid. It was inter- esting to see in the case of the clear still acid solution of the steel, containing the required amount of 50 cc. of the ammoniacal water solution of the molybdate, the phosphorus begin to precipitate on the addition of more acid. This precipitation became quantitative only when the additional acid was put in. The next step was to try to dissolve the steel or iron in 1.20 nitric acid instead of 1.13 acid. This gave quantitative and prompt precipitation of the yel- low phosphomolybdate. nOoTLE at The Old Methed and the New One The following are the principal details of the old method and the new one. The old method, as prac- tised by the author called for a molybdate solution to be made by dissolving 185 grams of 85 per cent molybdic acid and 2 grams of ignited molybdic acid in 900 c.c. of 0.95 sp. gr. ammonia water and 250 c.c. of water. This solution is then poured slowly into 2700 c.c. of 1.20 nitric acid, cooling the latter fre- quently to prevent overheating; 50 c.c. were used to precipitate 1.63 grams of the steel sample dissolved in 45 c.c. of 1.13 nitric acid. The new ammoniacal water solution is made by dissolving 220 grams of ammonium molybdate and 200 grams of ammonium nitrate in 2000 c.c. of water to which have been added 200 c.c. of 1:1 ammonia water (0.90 sp. gr. ammonia water diluted with an equal volume of water). The whole mixture when dissolved is diluted to four liters and filtered, but the filter should not be washed. The solution of the ammonium molybdate can be effected most conveniently by dividing the same into four 55-gram portions, placing each portion in a sep- arate beaker. Also, 50 grams of ammonium nitrate, 500 c.c. of water and 50 c.c. of the ammonia water are put in each of the four beakers. The contents of the beakers are heated and stirred until all of the white salt is dissolved and nothing remains but some *The anthor is chief chemist Pittsburgh, Pa. Crucible Steel Company of America, THE IRON AGE April 5, 1917 slimy flocculent matter, if anything is insoluble at Rinse the contents of the four beakers into a stoppered boitle and dilute to four liters. Mix by frequently inverting the bottle. The four-liter tion is then filtered, but the filter must not be wa for if it is washed, in the author’s experience, of the impurities on the filter run through and rer the filtered solution turbid. The filtering can be with slight suction on a paper pulp filter or thro a porous filtering crucible. This forezoing sch« gives a beautifully clear solution which remains fectly clear indefinitely. At least this is true of | solutions that the writer has prepared from ammoniu molybdate that he has made. The 1.20 nitric acid is prepared by mixing 1250 c.c. of the 1.42 sp. gr. ¢.p. nitric acid -vith 1950 c.c. of water. This should give 1.20 nitric acid room temperature of 27.5 deg. C. The 1.13 acid r ferred to is prepared by mixirg 2450 c.c. of water with 700 c.c. of 1.42 nitric acid; 50 c.c. of the clear filtered ammoniacal water solution of the molybdate is used to precipitate the phosphorus in 1.63 grams of steel dis. solved in 45 c.c. of the 1.20 nitric acid. Advantages of the New Method The advantages of the method are: The total amount of nitric acid consumed is less than the old way, even when the 1.13 acid is allowed for. The nitric acid in 50 c.c. of the old acid molybdic solution plus that in the 45 ec.c. of 1.13 used to dissolve the steel, when figured to 1.42 basis, exceeds that contained in the 45 cx of 1.20 acid used in the new method to dissolve th; The extra expense of producing molybdic acid from thé ore is saved by stopping the process when the ammoniun molybdate is obtained. steel The simplicity of the preparation of the ammoniacal water solution of the ammonium molybdate as compared to the elaborate method of preparing the acid molybdate solution in nitric acid The handlir on the g of the acid molybdate is disagreeable, hard clothes and fingers of the operator and on table tops The slightly ammoniacal water solution is harmless in all of these particulars As stated the slightly ammoniacal water solut’on keeps as clear as distilled water once it has been properly filtered, while the acid nitric solution of the molybdate very slowly, but constantly, becomes turbid and therefore its precip.tating power is lessening continuously. Four liters of the ammoniacal water solut:on can be pre- pared ready for use in a half day's time lables of Comparative Results of Analyzing Steels When Using the Two Solutions Slightly Nitr'c Ammon acal Acid Water Solution of Molybdate, Phosphorus, Per Cent Solution of Ammonium Molybdate, lho pho_us, Sample Per Cent eG (Mes hd vow d Raha Ra ake eee 0054 0.056 I ae laa ace ae eet tee 0.023 0023 I SEEM. on hak womans eee 0.019 0.018 PO BOE ckaldaetcan ue haan bas 0.056 0054 EE ie Wb abe k Ee ae a ee ee 0013 0.014 MG. Sirisvs eegwe ah cies ae eed 0058 0058 Pn Getwvevciwden eons Lontseee 0.042 0 044 TOG Miwach esawe eae wee eis 0.052 0052 Pee, SOORitseeavanie hae ed 0.055 0052 PG; BAGG ks dente wves whew 0042 0.044 Pe He ch acackuee aba ee 0.736 0.730 Paty ee Rs o.64.4:4-0 borane oN 0.006 0 004 PO, GEE aks thcuek ave taaw net 0.050 0.049 NE OA: caiveobtkacawwanw aa 0.025 0.025 RUSK. EO nie dS Sask aoe o0.8 aes ee 0.058 0 076 Pig iron standard A........ 0.097 0.096 U. 8. Government Standards U. S. Bureau, Phosphorus Value Pig iron, D. third set....... 0.610 0.602 OR RO VEN is 6 ala S die alee Bee 0.104 0.105 Pee Cs, BPG sas dn tuaees 0.540 0.545 ok em ee 0.119 0.120 The results given in the two tables are not averages, but single determinations just as they were obtained by the operator who did not know the phosphorus values of the samples or standards with which he was working. Averages would give exact agreements. The office of the William J. Breen Company, pig-iron and coke dealer, was removed on April 1 from 84 State Street, Boston, to 148 State Street. | essere nufacture in a Modemam@ehim SSG EY: ftom tye Roam | OM GTA MEM OTT MME LACe temt tere wieremm\ TIMED) ec Bhitetegcds a este tices @- Stamforg. Rolling, Mill Plants — ENE Sane a NE of the most in- ( ) teresting features of the Springdaie nt is the brass recov- system. The ma- nery and apparatus r this work are housed a separate building. a pit under the fires the casting shop is industrial track and the ashes and skimmings ire loaded into a car nd run up to the ground level. The car is then run over the yard system of ndustrial tracks to the recovery building, where its contents are weighed and then dumped nto a bucket conveyor, which discharges the ashes, skimmings and sweepings into an ele- vated hopper from *Second and concluding part of an article dealing with the plants and practices f the Stam‘ord Rolling Mills ‘ompyny The first part ap- The Molds, Arranged on an Industrial Car, Are Poured Di- ired in Tue IRON AGE, rectly from the Furnace in Which the Recovered Metal Is larch 29 Melted tion of the Riffle Table in the Foreground Causes the Particles of Brass in the C Fires and the Skimmings and Sweepings to Sink to the Bottom and Be Caught in t Material Pass.ng Off the Table 825 > R w nic tne I ¢ ted ravit ! volving screen rhe tailings from th are delivered through it chutes to a picker table where thi cinders ar sorted and the arse pieces of brass, coal and coke removed. The cin ders and clinkers then go to a small jaw crusher, from which they are conveyed to re- volving crushers, where the material is ground more finely and again lifted by a bucket con- veyor to a rotating siz- ing screen. The small particles drop through this screen and are con- veyed directly to a jig- ging machine and the large pieces pass out of the end and into the crusher again From this crusher they are once more lifted to the screen, this cycle con < i Fo 826 tinuing until the pieces are reduced to dimensions which permit them to fall through the screen. After the cinders have been screened, water is mixed with them, just previous to their passing to a four-compartment jig and then to a riffle table. Practically all of the metal is recovered either through the jig or from the riffle table, even to the most minute particles. The recovered metal is next run through a drying machine of the revolving type and then through a magnetic separator which re- moves any steel or iron which may have become mixed with the brass. The recovered metal is then carried to an adjoin- ing building, where it is melted and cast into ingot form. On the draw-off side of the furnace is a pit in which is a length of industrial track and a spe- cial car arranged to hold a number of molds in a nearly vertical position and placed so that they can 4 50,000-Lb. Riehle Testing Connect It to Any Muffle in the Ant ng De be successively moved directly under the discharge spout. Each heat is analyzed and its contents noted. The ingots are then cut up and used in the casting shop. Executive Offices and Laboratory The executive offices of the company are located at the Springdale plant, occupying the space over the shipping room. On this floor, also, are the chem- ical, physical and metallurgical laboratories, im- portant parts of the scheme of production. The laboratories establish the standards for all raw ma- terials purchased and check incoming shipments by analyses. Each lot of metal cast is drilled and each caster’s work is analyzed to check mixtures. This is a most important part of the work and upon its thoroughness and precision depends the reputation of the company for turning out a superior quality THE IRON AGE Machine, a 70-Set Electrolysis Boar partment April 5, 1917 of product. A variation of more than 2 per in the proportion of constituents of the mixture or the presence of more than 0.1 per cent of impu is sufficient to cause the rejection of a cast bar. jected bars are either remelted or sold to mak: inferior quality of metal. Another important of the work of the laboratory in the past year been the checking of chemical and physical ana! of products destined for foreign government verify the analyses of chemists assigned to ins; tion work. The equipment of the laboratory is complete for the work assigned to it. For physical tests, a 50 000-lb. Riehle testing machine is installed. Fo; making copper and lead analyses, there is a 70-set electrolysis board of a special type and two sets of Veit electro-analysis apparatus. To check annealing furnace temperatures in the mill a pyrometer r- Selective Swit Laboratory Pyrometer with a the Equipment of the cording instrument is located in the laborator This is equipped with a selective switch so that record can be made of the temperature of any muffie at will. There is the usual array of chemical a] paratus, water stills, electric stoves and ovens and similar equipment. Another section of the labora tory is a metallographic department which has thé latest facilities for making photomicrograp! studies. The company makes large use of this s* tion of the laboratory to check and correct oper: ing methods and to establish the precise standaras made possible by the results of its work and studi Other Features of Springdale Plant For the proper care of the operatives in the event of accident or illness there is provided a modern hospital department with a trained nurse and at- tendant always on duty. This department is ril 5, 1917 lipped with the latest and best outfit for mill rk that can be obtained. Although the company s paid much attention to the installation of me- nical safeguards, it is not possible to eliminate ose minor injuries which are incidental to brass ll work. In both plants of the company, considerable at- tion has been paid to the fire risk, and careful inning has resulted in the placing of hydrant ises and Ajax chemical tanks at strategic points. iter for fire purposes is stored in large tower nks. The vacuum system of steam heating is ployed. A separate building houses two 75-hp. ilers, which are used only for heating purposes. Steam pressure is maintained at 50 to 60 lb. and nters the shop through a reducing valve at a pres- ire of 1 to 2 lb. There is a blacksmith shop for ill purposes. the Casting Shop Are n Sets of 12 Instead of power for operating the plant is purchased local generating plant. The erergy con- is in excess of 500,000 kw.-hr. a month. having a capacity of 1500 hp. are installed. the large machines are equipped with inde- nt motors, and in every case the grouping of is arranged, as far as possible, so that any the series of machines may be shut down disarranging the routing of materials. The rolling mill motors have auto-control boards topping and starting as well as reversing nes, controllers, etc. Both lighting and power are run in steel conduit, the former leading panel board so that the lighting of the mill e readily controlled from one point. There bout 16 lights to a circuit, four 60-watt nitro- amps being placed together in a cluster in a g reflector. ; THE IRON AGE Set in Rectangular Holes, Lined with Fire x i) ~] A nearby river furnishes facilities for securing an adequate water supply at a small cost. A dam has been built across the river at a point about 200 ft. from the plant, and the water flows through coated cast-iron pipes to a pump that raises it to a 12,000-gal. tower tank, 50 ft. high, which furnishes pressure for mill service. For cleaning the waste water and recovering the oil from it for furthe use, a filtration plant has been installed. The general superintendent of the Springdale mill until March 1 was William C. McGrath, who has since been made assistant to the general man ager. He entered the brass business in 1908 in the rolling mill department of the Bridgeport Brass Company, Bridgeport, Conn., continuing with that company until June, 1915. For the next year he was active as a consulting and operating engineer in the installation and operation of several brass Which Is the Custo Practice ind the ¢ ble Ar brick Just in Front of tl ( B foundries and rolling mills. He assumed his present position in July, 1916. Max Wright, who was until recently night superintendent and had previously had a long experience in metal-working industries in Mexico, has been made general superintendent of the No. 1 mill; A. B. Kelsey is assistant super intendent of this mill; Robert Whidden, night super intendent; A. P. Meng, chief chemist; J. W. Blake man, master mechanic, and J. E. Hedgecock is in charge of the brass recovery plant The Stamford Plant Mill No. 2 is located on Fairfield Avenue in Stamford, and is notable among the plants making copper alloys, as it was designed and built for the special purpose of making cupro-nickel, one of the least known and most difficult -to make of all the cupric mixtures. Its chief use at the present time ; 5 el tt 828 is for bullet sheathings for small-arms ammunition, but its commercial use in other lines is extending. The writer asked the chief inspector for a foreign government where America stood on the production of this metal, and he replied: “We have had the usual difficulties that one finds in turning out a new product but on the whole are now getting from American producers cupro-nickel of a quality which does not necessitate an excessive amount of rejec- tions. In this particular plant they have overcome practically all difficulties and the standard of qual- ity is very high. It is hardly fair, though, to com- pare this plant with its special equipment and facil- ities with the ordinary plant which is making cupro-nickel with brass equipment.” As originally designed, the main rolling mill combined a monitor roof with a sawtooth section on one side. It has been in operation but a few months, but it has already become necessary to add three more sawtooth sections, which give largely increased floor space. There are two casting shops with 48 fires each, and the general arrangement of these shops is the same as in the Springdale plant. The first breaking-down mill consists of a pair of 20 x 24-in. rolls, driven by a 250-hp. motor. A second breaking-down mill of the same size has only a 150-hp. motor, as it is not used for the heaviest reductions. There are two running-down mills, each a double mill with two stands of 20 x 24-in. rolls driven by individual 200-hp. motors. The usual speeds of the rolls are 90 to 100 ft. per min. for breaking down, approximately 200 ft. for running down and 200 to 225 ft. for the finishing mills. The finishing mills in this plant are a new prod- uct and will be of special interest to rolling mill men. There are eight of these mills with 121% x 16-in. rolls, arranged in four double sets. The form of mill is quite different from the usual type. Each mill is self-contained, the rolls are driven by 75-hp. motors, the pinions are inclosed and the lubrication is by forced feed. These mills afford great economy of floor space and the arrangement is such that one roller operates two stands. In place of the usual cast-iron spindle and coupling, or wabbler, with its wooden spreader sticks, the spin- dles in these mills are of forged steel and the coupling is a universal joint which makes a connec- tion between driving pinions and roll necks that is free from blacklash. Cut-steel herringbone gears and chilled iron rolls which are water cooled inter- nally are used and the mills are equipped with fully automatic, motor-driven blocking machines. Other Equipment at Stamford Mill This mill has three double-chamber muffles of the same under-fired oil-fuel type as are in use at the Springdale plant with a similar arrangement of cooling beds. Besides the pickle tubs located near the cooling beds. there is a set in front of each pair of finishing mills. These tubs are approximately 4 x 20 ft. in size, and around each is a grating covering the pit beneath. These pits have an acid- resisting tile flooring on a concrete base and are ar- ranged with a steep angle to afford drainage. Over each set of tubs is a serving crane and the coils of metal are handled on racks as has been described. Cupro-nickel is pickled in a snecial bui'ding de- signed for this product. As is well known by cupro- nickel manufacturers, this product has given con- siderable trouble in the pickling on account of the solution necessary to obtain the required finish being of such strength that the fumes given off are most objectionable. The company’s laboratories have perfected a mixture for cupro-nickel pickling which, while obtaining the proper finish, does not THE IRON AGE April 5, 1 17 give off these objectionable fumes. This me¢ enables the company to finish this process in n less time than by the former practice. This b ing has four sets of pickle tubs served by a tra ing crane and a drying-out machine is installe front of each set of tubs. The finishing department is similar in eq ment to the one in the Springdale mill. A-feat of No. 2 mill is the press department which eight cupping presses and the necessary installat of tumbling barrels and rotary hot-blast dry machines. Other Buildings at Stamford The railroad siding at the Stamford mill is in a cut 18 ft. below the ground level. This necessitates the employment of some interesting facilities for loading and unloading. In the center of the unload- ing platform, on which an industrial track is laid, is erected a concrete elevator tower so that mate- rials can be unloaded upon the industrial cars which are run on the elevator platform, lifted to the level of the first or second story of the storage building, turned and run off upon the yard system of tracks which serves all parts of the plant. Boxes of fin- ished product are landed by a chute on the loading platform which is near the shipping room. Coal and coke are handled as in the No. 1 plant, except that the bucket elevator has a lift of 75 ft. and the coal is delivered over a space 400 ft. long. A building which was on the property when pur- chased has been utilized for office purposes. The machine shop and toolroom are in a separate build- ing, which has a thorough equipment of machine tools for the repair and upkeep of mills, presses and dies. A capacious building near the machine shop has a modern equipment of lockers, toilets and wash- ing facilities for the rolling mill employees. A smaller building adjoining one of the casting shops affords similar conveniences for the casters and their helpers. A boiler house shelters two 75-hp. boilers for heating. Electric power is purchased to run the machinery and the rated capacity of the motors installed is about 2400 hp. The water supply is furnished from the city mains, the piping system furnishing a com- bination of mill service and fire line, fed usually from a tank on a 50-ft. tower. A 6-in. city main enters this plant from the street and just outside of the rolling mill is placed a gate valve with an in- dicator post, this valve having a 2'4-in. by-pass to compensate for any loss that may occur in the mill system. On the 4-in. riser to the tank a vertical swinging check valve is placed between the gate valves. In case of fire, the gate valve on the city main is opened. allowing the city pressure of about 60 Ib. to come in. thereby overcoming the mill serv- ice pressure of about 22 lb. and automatically closing the check valve on the tank riser. In case of failure of the city service. the 25.000 gal. of water stored in the tank and pit become immediately available by the automatic opening of the check valve. Filtering the Mill Drainage The water from the pickle tanks is drained to 4 settling tank cuite remote from the mill. The water from the muffle cooling beds and roll pits is led to a filtering plant consisting of two pump pits and four filtering sections. The drains enter the first pump pit, which is 1014 ft. deep, at a point 1 ft. below the pump house floor. At the same level, on the opnosite side of the pit. is an overflow pipe. A centrifugal pump carries the water from this n't to the first filtering chamber. which is filled with broken stone. The problem of removing grease and oil from the water is met by installing 2%-in. drain pipes at the pril 5, 1917 2 ae ee ee ee rr rrr rire g@piyeal | t | fee pt ee CENTRIP FUGAL Mill Drainage Is Filtered to Prevent the Discharge « Water and the Oil water level of two of the chambers as shown. pipes lead to an oil separator, where the oil is ex- tracted to be used again and the water flows to the econd pump pit. The partitions between the several imbers are staggered so that the water flows from the bottom of the first and third chambers i from the top of the second and fourth. The last nree chambers are filled with charcoal. The last chamber discharges into a large pump pit, also has an overflow pipe on the opposite side : usual water level. From this pit a triplex elevates the water to the mill service tank il drainage from the plant. ndent of the Stamford plant; D. e mechanical engineer of both plants is C , Who was previously assistant to the mechan- igineer of the Bridgeport Brass Company. Evans began work in the Coe Brass branch American Brass Company, Ansonia, Conn., and id special opportunities to carry on work in the brass industry. The electrical eer is Benjamin Offen. he Stamford Rolling Mills Company has a cap- ck of $2,335,000, of which $2,000,000 is com tock. The officers of ‘the company are Evans Dick, president; Harry Wright, vice-president Potter, vice-president ; Shaw, secretary and treasurer. The directors general manager: E. Evans R. Dick, Dick Bros., Inc., New lirects the financial policy of the company; Wright, who is also president of the Con- ited Rolling Mills & Foundry Company, ce, DD. ¥, instrumental in the building up of the pres- isiness from the little original German silver at Springdale; E. C. Potter, New York, a re real estate operator; A. M. Plyer, Metcalf ove. This installation has resulted in great econ omy in the use of city water and in the saving of oil and removes any possible objection against Melville K. Weill is assistant general manager harge of the Stamford plant. After serving in us capacities in brass foundries and machine n this country, he went to Mexico, where for 20 years he was engaged as a mechanical en- eer in mining and rolling mill work with Consolidated Rolling Mills & Foundry Company, | in the management of iron and stock mills he had an interest. F. H. Wilkie is assistant night superintendent; H. C. Rhéaume, eer, and Edwin Peters, foreman of the casting , Mexico, and has been the man THE IRON AGE 829 ~“ } by - x -e —_— —— y oa 2 = 3 x | } Me a = xy Th c —— ay bp ~ a“ Ty 4 7 ; - f \ aA N =! | + yt N ] ooo oe x : Bas7, j way <. { | eet \ j \ a 4 4 E \ | y } i Wr ’ . | \l } I ¥ cs r Further Use Brothers & Co., the well-known woolen house of New York and Rhode Island, and R. M. Tolin, who is also secretary and treasurer of the Consolidated Mills & Foundry Company. H. H. Smock is general auditor in charge of all accounting, E. M. Franklin is production manager, E. T. Cuenin is general purchasing agent and traffic manager, P. F. Head is purchasing agent, and E. K. Wiley is superin- tendent of stores. The sales office of the company is at 23 Broad Street, New York City, and is in charge of R. M. Tolin. Book Reviews Manufacture of Artillery Munitions. By L. P. Alford, EF. H. Colvin, Robert Mawson, FE. A. Suverkrop and John H. Van Deventer. Pages, xii 765, 6 x 9 in.; illustrations about 675. Published by McGraw Hill Book Company, New York. Price $6. The book is a reprint of a series of articles which have appeared in the American Machinist in the past three years, with some additions. The purpose is “to preserve a record of some of the great work done in the United States and Canadian machine shops in pro lucing munitions for the belligerent nations of Europe.” The selection and placing of machinery in shops and the successive operations and tools and gages required for the manufacture of the common types of British, French and Russian shells, fuses, detonators, primer and cases are profusely illustrated and described In most cases the time required for each operatior 1s specified, though the manufacturer in calculating costs should not be misled by these figures, which do not take nto account the larg: percentage of rejections due to most exacting limits of dimensions, physical tests and hemical analyses \ chapter, “Making Shells with Regular Shop Equip ment,” describes how a bridge shop, with a few extra home-made tools, was transformed into an arsenal. Other chapters describe how parts are produced in shops whose product in times of peace extremely varied. Only a few firms at present engaged in muni tions manufacture realized at the beginning the im mense amount of gages and tools required and conse quently few placed early orders for sufficient toolroom equipment. Commenting on this condition, in the ap pendix, the authors state, “after learning from the hard school of experience, it is now realized that toolroom machinery should have been bought during the first period.” There is much information which is the result of actual experience in a number of shops that will be of great value to the prospective manufacturer of ammunition and will prevent costly experiments and delays. As there is a simi.arity between European and nee 830 American ammunition this book will also be found of value to the engineer and tool designer who may soon be called upon to assist in converting their shops into munition factories. G. F. MATTESON. A booklet entitled “Protecting Your Factory from Fire,” written by Chief William Guerin, has been pub- tished by the Pyrene Mfg. Company, New York. The author, formerly organizer of the New York City Fire Prevention Bureau, is chairman of the Fire Prevention Committee of the Safety First Federation of America. He states his object as the desire to show that the prevention of fire is the best and cheapest form of insurance. The book contains chapters on organizing a fire drill and fire brigade and points out the hazards which must be eliminated and the appliances which should be installed. A series of report forms are in- cluded which should be used to keep a prevention system efficient. The volume is paper bound, contains 77 pages, § x 8 in., and is fully illustrated, principally with Pyrene appliances and utensils. A price of $1 has been put on the book. How an employees’ association may develop is indi cated in what may be called a year book issued by the 3arber-Colman Association, an organization of em ployees of the Barber-Colman Company, Rockford, Ill. The book is an example of the profusely illustrated iarge-size book in which special attention has been paid to typographical display. While most of the 168 pages are given over to employee activities throughout the year, indicating a large number and variety of athletic and social organizations within the association, it gives some space to the growth of the plant and a description of products, such as the milling cutters and hobbing machines, “Combustion in the Fuel Bed of Hand-Fired Fu naces” is the title of technical paper No. 137, by Henry Kreisinger and others, issued for general distribution by the Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C. It furnishes data for the design of coal-burning grates and furnaces and their efficient yperation and gives light on clinker trouble as related to fusibility of ash and also the possibility of a high rate of gasification of coal in gas producers Automobile Parts Consolidation The Standard Parts Company, Cleveland, which has a capital stock of $4,000,000, has acquired the Western Spring & Axle Company, with plants at Cincinnati, Carthage and Canton, Ohio; Wheeling, W. Va.; Con- nersville, Ind.; St. Louis, Mo., and Flint and Pontiac, Mich. This purchase places the Standard Parts Com- pany in the front rank of large manufacturers of auto- mobile parts. The company, which was formerly the Perfection Spring Company, some time ago took over the Standard Welding Company, Cleveland, and re- cently secured control of the Bock Bearing Company, Toledo, Ohio. It is stated that the steel requirements of the consolidated companies are at least 175,000 tons annually. E. J. Hess, president Western Spring & Axle Company, will become a member of the directorate of Standard Parts Company. Rapid progress is being made in the remodeling of the Union Street rolling mill, Columbia, Pa., re- cently acquired by Edward T. Edwards, who is also operating the West End rolling mill. The Union Street mill was formerly used by the Susquehanna Iron Com- pany. Machinery is being installed and early operation is planned. The Buckeye Machine Company, Lima, Ohio, has moved into its new plant, which includes a machine shop and gray-iron foundry. In addition to its other prod- ucts, the company will: build crude oil burning engines of a semi-Diesel type. THE IRON AGE April 5, 1°17 Reinforced Dolomite or Magnesite ‘or Open-Hearth Furnaces There is evidently a lack of silica brick in Fra; the French plants not making enough for the nati consumption, according to a most interesting and s gestive article by Henri Godfroid in a recent issu Revue de Metallurgie. For this reason Mr. Godf, publishes the methods he has used with success to place this material with what he calls reinforced d mite and magnesite construction. Its Preparation and Use All steel makers are familiar with the method mixing heated tar with dolomite or magnesite, th burned and ground dolomite being carefully mixed w the tar on a clean plate in the proportions of about liters of tar to 100 kg. of refractory material (1.76 pint to 220.4 lb.). This mixture can then be reinforced two ways: 1. To each five parts by weight of mixture one part by weight of steel turnings is added and the whol thoroughly mixed with a shovel, the turnings to be as spiral as possible, but not of excessive length. The mix ture is then used in successive layers 8 to 10 cm. thic! and packed into place by iron rammers heated to a red heat. 2. The mixture of dolomite and tar is used in layers 5 to 8 mm. thick, and on each layer about 20 per cent by weight of turnings are spread evenly, then a new layer of mixture and so on until the required shape and thickness is obtained. In order to make the walls or other parts of any pro- ducing apparatus such as an open-hearth furnace, con- verter or cupola, all that needs to be done is to build the appropriate wooden form so as to give the proper internal shape. The mixture is then rammed into place in successive layers and is reinforced by either of the two ways outlined above. In the case of a furnace, if the arch is made of fire brick there is placed between the arch and the walls a layer of packing paper about 3 mm. thick (% in.). When the furnace is finished the hearth is made of the same reinforced mixture but with- out being rammed into place. Thus prepared the fur- nace takes a long time to heat up and the first heat is often too cold. It is possible to make, in this way, all kinds of shapes and after being carried to a very high temperature and then cooled they are often stronger and better than silica bricks. The material is molded into shape very similarly to reinforced concrete Advantages of This Material The following advantages may be expected from us- ing this basic reinforced material. First, there is n chance for the bath of metal which is for the most part in contact with basic material being also in contact with acid refractories. Also the dropping of silica bricks into the bath from the walls is prevented, which may happen with old furnaces of the usual construction. Repairs of broken down parts are easy. By means of a shovel enough of the mixture is thrown on to the part to be repaired, and the material then carried to a temperature near the point of fusion of the turnings A high temperature is readily obtained because of the large mass of refractory material free from joints, which forms an important reservoir of heat. An open-hearth furnace has been built by the writer having the back wall, hearth and piers or uprights con- structed in this way, which has given full satisfaction. After the first few heats there was splendid regularity of temperature, a minimum time per heat and good purification of the metal. Some heats were made with phosphorus down to 0.010 per cent and sulphur 0.020 per cent, with a carbon 0.55 per cent. It seems perfectly possible to make arches and ports in this way which will be easy to repair. Also flues and all those parts of a furnace exposed to sufficiently high temperatures. In any case the writer is sure that the so-called laboratory of the furnace can be built en- tirely of this reinforced dolomite with the certainty of obtaining marked superiority over the ordinary silica G. B. W. brick construction. Very Heavy Increase in Federal Taxes Tentative Plans of Senate Finance Com- mittee Hit Manufacturers—Sharp Discussion at a Hearing—Civil War Experience Recalled WASHINGTON, April 3, 1917.—The manufacturers of ountry, and especially those engaged in the produc- of war material, will face a very large increase he Federal taxes they are now paying if plans al- y foreshadowed by the Senate Finance Committee carried out. Unlike the Ways and Means Com- tee of the House, the tenure of which expires with end of each Congress, the Finance Committee, .as rgan of the Senate, is a continuing body. For this n, its projects carry over from one Congress to ther, and on this account the majority members of committee for many months have given serious ight to the measures it might be necessary to take the event the United States should become involved tual hostilities with Germany. is possible at this time to quote some very definite tements made within the past 60 days by Chairman nmons and several of his colleagues on the Finance mittee concerning the taxation of corporations, and ecially of munitions makers, in the event of war. statements are found in a verbatim report re- tly printed by the committee of a hearing accorded representative of a large number of manufacturers ar material, steel producers and others who ap- ed at a special meeting of the committee to oppose evying of the so-called excess profits tax upon cor- tions already paying the munitions tax. The cor- rations represented included the American Steel ndries, the Federal Pressed Steel Company, the Yale & Towne Mfg. Company, the E. W. Bliss Company, the ggs-Seabury Ordnance Company, the Smith & Wes- Company, the Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Mfg. Com- , the Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Company, E. I. ‘ont de Nemours & Co., and others. John Quinn, esented the protest, urged the committee to con- the transient character of the munitions business, izing the large investments frequently necessary idded that in his opinion “the day of big profits ed in this country.” Profits in Foreign Countries if we should become involved with Germany,” ed Senator Thomas of Colorado. “War breeds ht , t it is not the experience of England and France,” Mr. Quinn, “that it means big profits to large cor- ¥ was our experience in the Civil War, when Mr. assured the business men of the country that was no customer like a great nation engaged in ffensive war,” said Senator Thomas. “You will abnormal profits if we are unfortunate enough yme actively involved in the present world-wide We will also have abnormal taxes,” retorted Mr. think you will,” agreed Senator Thomas. “This,” erring to the proposed excess profits tax—‘“is only + - , er. this country is involved in war,” interrupted man Simmons, “probably all the profits anybody s anywhere and all the income anybody makes e needed by the Government. Nobody will work mself if we get into the war.” ‘lr. Quinn then called the committee’s attention to ict that the munitions manufacturers would not be to recoup themselves from the excess profits tax dding the amount to their existing foreign con- ts, Which he thought would be a hardship. ‘We may take your entire pl