The Iron Age 1917-08-23: Vol 100 Iss 8

THE IRON AGE New York, August 23, 1917 ESTABLISHED 1855 VOL. 100: No. 8 Expansion of the Gier Pressed Steel Co. From Small Start Nine Years Ago to a Large Daylight Shop—Comfort and Convenience of Employees Considered BY CHARLES LUNDBERG HE new plant of the Gier Pressed Steel Co., perfecting of automobile-building plants is frequent, Lansing, Mich., contains 108,000 sq. ft. When with justifiable wonderment thereat, commensurate the company was founded in 1908 by Burton attention is not given to the industries which have S. Gier it occupied 300 sq. ft. It was first engaged grown with the automobile and without which the in the manufacture of postal-card racks. To-day it modern automobile would be impossible. The de- produces pressed steel work ranging from the small- velopment of this company, and of the pressed-steel est to the largest, and for various purposes and _ industry generally, has been a concomitant of prog- industries. Its capital has grown from $1,600 to ress in automobile manufacture because of quantity $800,000, and the site upon which its plant stands production, and the adaptability of pressed steel for comprises 84 acres. Its equipment includes 69 automobile construction, a result being that a great power presses, including a 120-ton toggle press. assembly of equipment for pressing and stamping A thought inspired by the growth of the company steel is available for service to other industries is that while comment on the quick development and which of themselves would not have warranted such one Ot Ge ae OB Ae 1 ae a oe Sams wR 1 len's Locker and Washroom Is Provided with Tables, Chairs and Benches to Enable the Employees to Eat Their Luncheo in Comfort and Afterward Read the Magazines Which Are Provided 415 : er 2 ~ eres a aa : ‘ indi ac cae in it te tiation a oy Whetet®h S&S ae s ¢ ¥ 416 a large investment of capital in a mapiveces special line. , J In attempting a general descrip- 4 tion of the new plant of the com- d pany one is puzzled to know just f 6/RLS’ | what, if anything, should be em- 4 bo phasized, for the reason that the " plant in its entirety stands on such a high plane of excellence. One can easily expatiate on the design ; of the huge building itself, on the orderly arrangement within, on the consideration that has been shown for the workers, on the i lighting, the ventilation, the broad g aisles and even on the efficient method of cutting up and handling scrap material. The operating department of the A company is contained in one steel and glass building of double mon- itor construction, 180 x 600 ft. It has dust-proof floors, and is essentially a daylight shop, the walls, except for about 4 ft. above the floor, being entirely of glass set in steel sash. There are no adjacent buildings to obstruct or lessen the admission of light. Along one side stretches a rail- road dock, built of concrete, 10 x 600 ft. The build- ing contains six long bays. Each monitor bay is served by a 20-ton crane running the length of the building, and each of the bays between by 5-ton cranes having similar travel. Running transversely across one end of the building is another 20-ton crane, the runway of which is extended a consid- erable distance outside of the building to carry ma- terial to and from cars, and later will serve a con- templated steel storage building as well as the shop. On the transverse runway also travels a 3-ton crane, which among other things is used for the handling of scrap material, more of which will be said later. A new office building and a power plant complete the number of structures now erected. ee A GARAGE Made Shop Good Place to Work In its old quarters on North Grand Street, Lan- sing, the company was cramped for space to such | a Some Privacy Is Afforded the Women Employed in the a Steel Paneled Partition Light THE IRON ” MENS i | LOCKER AND } 5 WASH | ROOM _— The Various Departments of the 99 mv, AGE August 117 swervegey DEPAATMENT | ,-@ L/GHT PRESS = SHEET METAL DEPT. ae ZED eeereerraerrerrceerrrrrtins exrerrecerrrerrrrrrrererrr Shop Are Separated by Partitions of Heavy W a degree that B. S. Gier realized that conditions were unfavorable both to production and the wel- fare of the men, and he had both in mind when he went about planning a new plant. With regard to the welfare of the employees Mr. Gier was desirous of creating a shop in which men would like to work, in fact, this was one of his dominating ideas. An interesting point of consideration for the human element is exemplified by the placing of clear glass in the bottom row of panes in the steel sash. To some this may seem unimportant, others may not like the idea at all. Mr. Gier explains it as follows: We wanted to make the shop a good place to work Here we are with plenty of grass and trees around. Certainly the men like a glance at these surroundings once in a while, and they do not have a sense of being penned in. If a severe storm should come up suddenly they would become uneasy if they could not look out, and they would be itching to get to the doors, but if they can raise their heads and see through the windows that everything is all right, they are more disposed to go on with their work. Business men are pretty well agreed that the better surroundings men are given, the better men they are. Therefore you will see we have not provided what we have as an act of philanthropy. A thoroughly modern and well- equipped plant, with proper at- tention given to the comfort and convenience of the em- ployees, in our estimation, is only good business. First observed, on entering the shop building through a passageway from the office building, is a first-aid room equipped with all of the es- sentials for treating accident cases. This room which, with its equipment, is entirely in white, is in charge of an ex- perienced nurse who is on duty throughout working hours. She is- competent to attend to minor injuries, also to dress those of a more serious char- acter after they have first been treated by a physician. In addition to these duties, the nurse also serves as 4 matron for the women who are employed in the light press department, which adjoins the first-aid room. For men and women there are separate and in. Press Department by STOCK 00M re Netti + eter. ng August 23, 1917 THE IRON AGE 417 ee URE EEE ELE EL LEL ELIE LE REEL ERE EOE SEES EOI LEE LLL LLEE LLL LELELL ELE LEBEL EE LLL ANL ELE LELELEAE E. ° : : DIE STORAGE } ‘ . $ ‘ ' Gg howe AOE tee eee HEAVY PRESS DEPT. seywcriON LATHE DEPT. weeeee Wire Fencing 7 Sheet Metal Partition — o* S aw 1g Loo » STEEL STORAGE LEE werererrerrererere rrr LELIATTIL TITTLE EESERETID OXE2EEIL IE LIPEPT ALITA IID More Privacy Is Desired Pressed Steel Panels About 7 Ft nodious rooms equipped with steel lockers, white nel washbowls, hot and cold water, and tables, iirs, and benches. The light press department, wherein the women ire employed, is about 60 x 160 ft. and is inclosed a partition of pressed steel panels, about 8 ft. height and painted olive green, this color being iwreeable to the eye as well as durable. The small presses are equipped with safety devices of one kind yr another, mostly of the type which prevent the tripping of the press until two levers are pressed down, this action engaging both arms and neces- sarily taking the hands away from the die. Stools with backs are provided for the women. Heavy Stamping Department Equipment A view of the heavy stamping department is re- produced herewith, and it sets forth more concisely than can be done by words the orderly arrangement the big presses and the abundant aisle space which permits the free movement of shop trucks. Shown, also, back of the presses, are large hoods for collecting and carrying away heat, smoke and gases which may escape from a battery of oil-burn- ng annealing ovens. The largest press, in point of size, s one of the toggle type, weighing 120 tons, used for the forming of automobile dy shrouds and panels, fend- s and similar sheet metal parts. Two slightly smaller ggle presses are used for the production of radiator pans, radiator casings, etc. Also nspicuous is a battery of arge, heavy, straight-sided presses, one of which, with \7-in. shaft, is capable of rawing cold a pan 21 in. in meter by 6 in. deep out of steel. This press is also le of working cold steel in. in thickness. All arge presses have direct r drive. \mong other departments be enumerated one for rking light sheet metal, as door panels; one for nobile body work, a working shop for crating anc the making of patterns, a I storage room for factory sup- plies, another for storing dies, a lathe department for rough fin- ishing certain kinds of stamp- ings, a shearing department equipped with three plate-shear- ing machines, shipping and re- ceiving departments and what may be called a scrap depart- ment. The last named deserves some detailed mention. SE ASEES SL At one end of the building is / a concrete pit 19 x 28 ft. and 8 i | ft. deep, at the edge of which are 4 i placed two power shearing ma- sceaP,) 2 chines. To the latter are fed the \ steel strips from which blanks have been punched, and as they are sheared the pieces slide down a metal chute into the pit, the chutes permitting an even distribution of the pieces over the area of the pit. The 3-ton crane, previ- ously referred to, is equipped with an electric magnet and with its aid 50 tons of cut material can be placed in a car in 34% hours. Of prime importance in the plant is the large tool- room or die-making department, a view of which accompanies this article. Like the small-press de- partment, it is separated from the main part of the shop, but only in part, by the pressed-steel panels, the remainder of the partition being heavy wire netting. In this department the company takes special pride and asserts that every machine and device for expediting the manufacturing of dies has been provided. In all production departments the company uses the Gisholt Machine Co.’s Periodigraph which en- ables it to effect proper control over time and its distribution against various operations and over the complete job. It is particularly important to know if an operation is requiring an excessive amount of time for its performance, as once this is ascertained steps may be taken to improve the time on that operation. A feature of all depart- y f How Scrap is Handled f earrerizesrirzh High Are Employed 1 the Heavy Press Department Abundant Alsle Space Is Provided for the Free Movye- ment of Shop Trucks oe ; — —. =a < eA es ae rapt ne Gnighskos The Steel Strips from Which Blanks Have Been Punched Are Brought to Two Power Shearing Machines Located at the Side of the Scrap Pit Into Which the Cuttings Drop Through Chutes A Lifting Magnet Is Employed for Handling the Scrap and It Is Possible to Load a Freight Car with 50 Tons in 3% Hr ments consists of raised platforms where the de- partment foremen and clerks can sit and have a clear view of the floor. Heating and ventilating are effected by an over- head system with American Blower Co. apparatus Artificial light is furnished by the Cooper-Hewitt THE IRON AGE August 23, mercury vapor system, it being sought in thi : nection to obtain a maximum diffusion of light with a resultant elimination of shadows. Toilet rooms. constructed of pressed-steel panels, are cen located at either end of the building, standing o; shop floor, and therefore readily accessible to the men. Sanitary drinking fountains are convenient), located in each department. The office building js a two-story and basement structure of light pres brick. The business of the Gier Pressed Steel Co. has been largely making such parts as automobile brake drums, hub flanges, radiator casings, body shrouds and panels, wire wheel hub shells, hub bodies, uni- versal joint casings, wheel parts, etc., as well as general contract work. The general management of the company is in the hands of Burton §S. Gier, its founder; David F. Edwards is treasurer; Leo 0. 3enner, manager of sales; James W. Gier, purchas- ing agent, and John R. Winter, factory manager. ed British Cognizance of American Shipbuilding A transfer of the supremacy in building ships from Great Britain to the United States is likely, according to Engineering of London, if organized labor of that nation is unreasonable after the war, if their engineers do not adopt standardization and other economical methods, and if British statesmen do not give industry the best possible consideration. The advantages now held by British shipbuilders in the proximity of coal and iron supplies, steel works and shipyards and shipping ports are, of course, emphasized. High cost of con- struction and of operation in the United States is also a British advantage. A tramp steamer costing $330,000 in England in 1913 would, it is said, have cost $690,000 in the United States, with an expense in sailing favor of the British ship of $400 per month in wages and $100 per month for supplies, food, etc. i The Ti »olroom or Die Making Department Is an Import and Is Separated in Part by Wire Netting Organizing Many Fighting Industries With Voluntary Discipline, They Will Support Fighting Armies—Director Gifford Reviews Accomplishments of Council of National Defense spiring résumé of the recent accomplishments Council of National Defense and its Advisory ion in the work of industrial organization for has been prepared by W. S. Gifford, director of cil. The progress made embraces the active and adaptation of the nation’s railroad facili- war purposes; the further development of of supply for all kinds of war munitions and mponent parts, from artillery and machine guns us forms of motor transport; unusual progress mprehensive aviation program; very material nce to the War Department in the construction ew army cantonments; the adaptation and aug- tion of electric communication lines, both tele- graph and telephone; the procuring of leather and tex- tile supplies of all kinds for the new armies; the co- perative development of lumber, copper, aluminum, steel and other raw material sources for the war needs Government; notable progress on many phases difficult labor problem; extensive assistance in the consummation of the medical preparations for the f the military forces of the country; and definite mplishments in the adjustment of commercial con- ind methods to war needs. Marshaling of Munitions In the work of assisting the War and Navy Depart- ments in securing munitions,” says Mr. Gifford, “the General Munitions Board, whose functions the new War Industries Board has taken over, through its committees, omposed in part of army and navy officers and in part of civilians, has performed yeoman service in develop- ng new sources of supply for gun forgings and other essentials to the manufacture of artillery. It is not permissible for military reasons to make public de- tails, bat the board’s work has greatly increased the possibilities for securing both field and machine guns in uantity at a much earlier date than was at first thought possible. Like other branches of the council, the board nas done its work in large part through personal con- ference with manufacturers, securing their loyal co- peration in subordinating commercial demands to the eeds of the Government and often in adapting large of plant, hitherto used for commercial pur- ses, to war operations. ‘The efforts of the board have not been confined to guns and munitions, however. All kinds of allied sup- es come under its jurisdiction, including carriages, mbers, caissons, forge wagons, military vehicles, steel ieimets, surgical supplies, optical glass, gages, tools i dies of many kinds. Besides this, all kinds of ques- to price, priority of shipment and methods of Xpediting production have been referred to the board the departments for advice. Extensive aid in ac- y problems has been furnished. The board has is a general clearing-house for innumerable re- problems coming both from the Government de- rtments and from the committees on munitions, raw and supplies of the council. Work of the Railroads served + ed work of the railroads, combined under a volun- entralized organization through the council, has lirected in wartime channels through Chairman rd of the Advisory Commission and the war ex- utive committee of railroad presidents, co-operating ‘ith the council. Under this scheme, according to Mr. Willard, the roads have made all transfers of troops lule without serious disruption of regular traffic. of an admittedly serious shortage of freight | terminal facilities, moreover, through a general throughout the country to develop added effi- ciency in freight car use, the effective supply of coal cars has been greatly increased and general freight traffic has been effectively spurred up. Regular traffic has been the largest in the history of the country and has been constantly increasing, but in spite of that the shortage of freight cars was reduced from 148,627 on May 1 to 105,000 at the end of June.” The work of the Aircraft Production Board has de veloped rapidly. A bill providing for the increased serv- ice has been passed in record time by Congress and signed by the President, making provision for the manu- facturer of thousands of military airplanes and training thousands of men for service at the front. Notable progress on the accomplishment of the plan has already been made. The program has been worked out in great detail, including personnel, the standardization of ma- chines for quantity production, equipment of all kinds, including machine guns and scientific apparatus. Three Fields Completed Three of a system of 24 big training fields have al ready been completed in record time, training machines are now being shipped to them, and instruction in flying has already begun. Reciprocal arrangements have been made for training American cadets in Canada in return for the training of Canadians in the South in the winter. A mission of technical experts has been in Europe for several weeks gathering information for the use of the American Government and American manufacturers. Through committees and subcommittees of men rep- resentative of the producers, the Committee on Raw Materials has been able to keep in touch with the whole range of raw products needed for war uses and has been able to ascertain the amounts of each available and to place at the disposal of the Government departments sources from which it could draw them. Through per- sonal conferences it has been possible frequently to secure speed and convenience in delivery impossible under normal conditions as well as most reasonable prices. Included in the list covered fully by the organi- zation have been steel, sheet steel, ferro alloys, pig tin, tin plate, scrap iron and steel, wire products, wire rope, tubular products, cold rolled and cold drawn steel, cop- per, aluminum, brass, rubber, cement, alcohol, asbestos, magnesia and roofing, coal tar by-products, lead, mica, nickel, oil, pig iron, iron ore and lake transportation, sulphur, wool and zinc. Stimulating Coal Production “The Committee on Coal Production,” Mr. Gifford says, “has been constantly engaged in the work of stimulating production and in arranging for an adequate supply of coal to meet the combined needs of the navy and army, the American civil population, and to some extent the European allies. Through conference with railroad officials and shippers, it has brought about a pooling arrangement for the Atlantic tidewater region which already promises to do away with the waste in car and barge service under the old system of individual consignments and make possible a great increase in shipments to New England and the other northeastern states. A similar arrangement for the Great Lakes and the northwest has been in successful operation for many weeks. It has also been of material service in the readjustment of prices. Particular attention has been given to securing prompt shipment for all war purposes, both military and industrial. “Dr. Godfrey’s Committee on Engineering and Edu- cation has been giving thorotgh study to the relations of American educational institutions to the war and to the best methods to be used in adapting their courses to the national needs both for the conduct of the war and 419 Dyan ‘ : : : a i. . . t i bs i ‘ f ooo tape eK Bie le , a Oi hia le clei est, nea inl Mami, ie i namie, Aa s i e oy aes * ee ee jaye 420 to the reconstruction period to follow the war. Con- ferences have been held with leading educators on the problems and their co-operation secured in carrying out the recommendations of the committee. During the past month, a group of distinguished Canadian edu- cators went to Washington for a two-day conference to give American institutions the benefit of their ex- perience during the past two years of war. In addition, the production engineering section of the committee has been working with other divisions of the council in de- veloping new sources of supply for various materials needed in munitions work.” In the Motor Truck Field The Co-operative Committee on Automotive Trans- port has had most important work to perform in adjust- ing commercial and industrial conditions to the needs of the Government in its requirements for motor trucks, tractors, airplane engines, motor boats and other forms of machinery driven by internal combustion engines. Its services have been particularly valuable in bringing to the Government the fruit of the standardization work which has made the quantity production of American motor cars one of the marvels of modern industry. Other committees which have performed valuable serv- ice, which it is impossible here to set out in detail, have been those on Gas and Electric Service, Locomotives and Cars, Electric Railroad Transportation and Inland Waterways. “Our nation possesses more producing resources than any other two nations in the world,” says Mr Gifford in conclusion. “Organized as a producing ma chine, we shall win the war. Individual initiative and self reliance are normally developed ir a higher degree than a democracy to in any other form of government. Peoples and institutions have grown under the spur of competition and freedom of action, so that we are noted for our individual efficiency and enterprise. An army must obviously be highly organized and subject to disci pline. Individual efforts, no how be organized so as to work for a commo! matter great, must purpose, if Not alone team work, but a voluntary acceptance of discipline in the cause of na tional defense, is imperative. We do not wish to Prus- sianize America, but each of us must voluntarily submit 1 they are to be effective. to the rules and regulations of organization in order that we may build up fighting industries which with their voluntary discipline will stand side by side in efficiency with our fighting armies.” Abell-Howe Co. Organized The Abell-Howe Co., Chicago, has been incorporated ide for the expansio) to pro 1¢ | ne s ¢ r mec ing organization inaugurated some months ago by Oliver J. Abell, 565 Washington Boulevard, that city The new company has acquired important interest ome of the manufacturing companies for whi prod ucts it will be the national distributor, and in additio1 it will continue to market other « juipm AL o sale agent. Among the produ { to be sold exclusively through the Abell-Howe Co. are “American High Speed” chain and Howe “One Man” detachable tongu trucks Oliver J. Abell is president and treasurer of the new company, Glenr G. Howe is ce-president and C., | Arrang the principal distributing shortly completed. ements tor Kane, secretary. centers of the country will be The General Electric Co. will supply the entire elec- trical equipment for the Commonwealth Hotel, to be erected in the Times Square district, New York. The power equipment would suffice for a city of 20,000 people. The hotel will have 2500 rooms, and will cost $15,000, 000. Electrical apparatus for lighting, ventilating, heating, pneumatic tube service, vacuum cleaner sys tem, as well as the operating and controlling devices for the kitchen, laundry and refrigerating departments, together with the necessary conduits, cables, wires and lamps. THE IRON AGE August 23, 197 MINING EXPERIMENT STATIOon Establishment Is Authorized by the Secretary of the Interior WASHINGTON, Aug. 21.—The establishment mining experiment station at Minneapolis, Minn the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Mines, was authorize; by an order issued by Secretary of the Interior Lan, on Aug. 17. The station will represent the iron mining districts and will work in co-operation with the Schoo} of Mines of the University of Minnesota, which js located at Minneapolis. Director Van H. Manning of the Bureau of Mines in recommending the establish. ment of such a station in a formal letter to the Se tary said: re- bureau should, as soon as The possible, give attentior to the treatment and concentration of low grade iro: ores with the purpose of increasing the iron ore reserves country by making available those low grade ores wl present cannot be economically smelted. Vast as are the ore reserves of Minnesota, at the present rate of production the high grade ores now developed y almost exhausted within 30 years. However, there are uge deposits of lower grade ores not now utilized these will become of great value, if their treatment made profitable Some important problems that n the high standards of the mining indust: Int I d, il e concentration of the hematite ore carrying per cent iron, which are now practically worth l t mice ition ¢ gre quantities of magn rticularly those on the east end of the Mesaba range lization of titaniferous ores that occur in t bu ul n no ist Mir ) Owing to fic hese are not now tilized entr on of the low grade manganese rang If these ores could be concentrated phe ontent lecreaser he would be ver 1 } ‘ t ( now utilized to any gt In the opinion of the experts of the Bureau Mines, there is a large field for experimental and « nomic work in the iron mining industry. The iro mined in the Lake Superior region amounts to 85 per cent of the total production of the United Stat \t present, there is a growing interest among operato! ’ this district in regard to beneficiating the low grades of ore material. This is also true of othe tricts of the United States which have not bee! ‘favorably endowed by nature with high grade ores The entire question is therefore of national importa! and the Bureau feels that it is the duty of the nati utilize its iron ores most effectively economically in view of the fact that high grad are rapidly being depleted by the enormous an! draft upon them, the grade of ore produced each yea! gradually decreasing. The possibilities of beneficiating should be determined in orde! safeguard the iron and steei industry of the futur Many individual operators are conducting more or haphazard experiments in regard to the treatm their particular material and in many instances the) are doing the same work, repeating the same mistakes and arriving at the same final results obtained by ope! ators in other districts. To be most effective the bureau believes the 4: from all such work should be assembled and supp* mented by special investigations which may seen greatest importance and value to the State as w* the Nation and the results made public for the bene! of individuals taking up such matters in a commercia way. By combining the equipment and personne the Minneapolis School of Mines Experimental Stat with the United States Bureau of Mines and estabiisi- ing a main iron ore and central concentrating stave! a very effective organization would be obtained unusual facilities would be available for the coo! tion and dissemination of data relative to the cons tion of the ore reserves of the country. reserves of } the leaner material rt jygust 23, 1917 THE IRON AGE 421 Record Production of Fluorspar in 1916 n mines broke another record last year in ion of fluorspar, as shown by statistics com- the direction of Ernest F. Burchard, of the tes Geological Survey, Department of the In- 1916 the shipments were 155,735 short tons, )22,654, an increase of 14 per cent in quantity per cent in value over the shipments of 1915, ‘ch had been the record year. The increased demand for fluorspar has come largely tom the manufacturers of open-hearth steel, who use the mint as a flux, but the demand for it in other wetallurgic operations and for the manufacture of nvdrofluoric acid has been very active. The bulk of the fluorspar sold in 1916, as in former years, Was gravel spar, the quantity in 1916 amounting +) 133,651 short tons, or nearly 86 per cent of the total. The average prices per ton received at the mines in 1916 were. gravel $5.34, lump $7.94, and ground $12.38, and the general average price for all spar sold was $5.92. These prices compare with $4.89, $7.51, $10.80 and $5.58, respectively, in 1915. At the close of 1916, owing to a shortage in supplies, the price of gravel spar for prompt ielivery, not covered by contracts, was about $21.50 ner ton, although it is believed that not much was sold ' this price. Shipments (or sales) of fluorspar were reported from n 1916—Illinois, Kentucky, Colorado, New re and Arizona—in the order named. In 1915 four shipped spar and also New Mexico, which one in 1916. Probably the output would have er in 1916 had not the mines in southern shut down for part of July on account of rts of fluorspar in 1916 entered for con- the United States were 12,323 short tons, $54,000, compared with 7167 short tons, valued $22,878, in 1915, an increase of nearly 72 per cent and of about 136 per cent in value. From mports of fluorspar steadily declined until difficulties in getting supplies from American needed, on account of freight embargoes, uncertainties of transportation on Ohio abor troubles, coupled with higher prices, an extra effort on the part of importers spar from Great Britain. Agrees to Build Plant \. Cooper, New York City, representing the m & Steel Co., has entered into a contract ty Commission of Superior, Wis., to pur- now owned by the city for a proposed iror int which ultimately will cost $3,000,000. provides that the company must construct ng not less than $200,000, work to start by and give employment to not less than 60 the company fulfills the terms of the con- essee is given an option to purchase ad- lands within three years’ time, at $500 deed will provide that the company manu | iron or steel for a period of 10 years. strial Commission of Wisconsin has issued eport on female labor in positions formerly lusively by men, in which it is indicated mployment of women is increasing by leaps Machine shops of Wisconsin, it is pointed oying women on an especially large scale. concerns in Milwaukee and elsewhere which efore hired women, are placing females at facturing operations, where they give splen- tion and show a high degree of skill. One & ficulty in machine shops, the report says, is to npetent forewomen. The commission is co- th employers, not only in obtaining female make suitable arrangements for their com- venience, x ims have been selected to represent the Reading and Steelton, Pa., plants of the Steel Co. at a first-aid meet to be held at Pa, A New Device for Marking Steel Tools As a substitute for the older methods of marking steel tools by etching with acid or with a hammer and stamp, William Brewster & Co., 30 Church Street, New York, have brought out a device employing electric cur rent. The Etchograph, as it is known, is intended for marking dies, cutters, etc., the piece to be marked rest ing on a metal plate which is connected to one side of the circuit, while the marking pencil is connected to the other side. Ease and speed of marking are the advan- tages claimed. Under the old method the piece to be marked was coated with an asphaltum paint and after this had dried a brush was employed to remove the paint and trace the design that was to be etched. The piece was then immersed in an acid bath, which marked the tool. When the etching process was completed the remaining paint had to be removed and the tool thor- oughly cleaned from traces of the acid. All this took time and with the Etchograph all the time that is re- quired, it is explained, is that needed for tracing the design with the marking pencil. The device includes a transformer which takes cur- rent from the nearest lighting socket at 110 volts and steps it down to approximately 5.5 volts. A resistance Tr) \I | I | () — i leé ( | i \\ t Ss conne i ac! | { f e | I ng of the transformer to vary the amount according to the width of line desired One the terminals from the secondary winding of the trar former goes to the marking pe! . while the other connected with the metal plate on which the piece to be marked rests. The pencil consists of a fiber holder witl ‘opper wire point that can be touched up with a fil when it becomes dulled and easily removed when it has become too short for use After the tool to be marked has been placed on the metal plate and the resistance adjusted to give the desired width of line, the pencil is brought into contact with the piece and the marking proceeds as rapidly as it is possible for the operator to trace a design. It is pointed out that no great amount of skill i required and the amount of current drawn from th line is between 1.5 and 2 amp. When the pencil is lifted at the end of a stroke there is practically no are to cause a hole to be burned in the metal. Among the applications of the device are the marking of tools in a shop to discourage unprincipled workmen from stealing and selling them to dealers. Another use to which it may be put is the marking of precision gages, either with the maker’s trademark or to indicate their acceptance by Government or other inspectors where marking with a hammer and steel stamp might distort the gages and render them unfit for use a were ix ee ee ee re — 422 GAS FIRED WELDING FURNACE The Surface Combustion Principle Applied to the Utilization of Illuminating Gas BY CHARLES E. RICHARDSON* NTIL recently welding has been considered impos- sible in furnaces with city gas, the chief deterrent to successful operation being a number of rather vague theories. Probably the most common of these was the belief that the chemical composition of the gas itself n some way rendered it unfit for use as a fuel for welding. It was believed, however, by those designing welding furnaces that welding was produced solely as a result of temperature plus a furnace atmosphere that was slightly reducing at all points. The only relation the chemical composition of the fuel bore to the result, it was considered, was that it must be of such a com- position as to yield a gas strong enough to give a flame temperature sufficient to make it possible to secure the temperatures required for welding economically. Bearing in mind that it was readily possible to secure the necessary temperatures and that suitable propor- tioning and mixing devices could be obtained, the Sur- face Combustion Co., Long Island City, N. Y., recently installed a welding furnace at the plant of D. Lovejoy & Sons, Lowell, Mass. This furnace is used for the production of machine knives for rotary woodworking cutters and similar machines. The knives consist of a slab of soft steel with a thin layer of tool steel welded on one face. adaddaradadsadeaaaadaaaadaade , ] tween That Is Heated by the The furnace consists ef two working chambers, one 2 ij wide, and the other 48 in. deep 32 in. deep and 14 in. and 20 in. wide, the height of both being 10 in., with *Surface Combustion Co., Long Island City, N. Y. After Being Warmed in the Preheating Chamber a Soft Steel Slab with a Tool Steel Strip on the Upper Face Is Placed in the Working Chamber and Brought to a Welding Heat THE IRON a preheating chamber measuring 48 in. in depth, 12 in ( IOP IOP, TIYTT IWS — rITTTTr a The Welding Furnace Consists of Two Working Chambers Heat “lue Gases from the Other Two AGE 1 the Furnace the Work Passes under a Power Ham- mer Where It Is Welded Together in width and 16 in. in height between them. The working chambers were intended to be used either separately or together, according to the size and amount LEE LLL LOOP OOOO OOOO TP LOO rere d by Gas Burners with a Preheating Chamber of work to be handled, but thus far one chamber been found sufficient to handle the tonnage The furnace is fired with the company’s high pressur burners and the quantity and quality of the mixture are regulated by its high pressure control devices The burners heat the working chambers and the fiu gases from them pass into the preheating chamber an¢ out at the rear. The temperature of the chamber is between 2700 and 2800 deg. Fahr., whic! gives a temperature of approximately 1800 deg. Fah in the preheating chamber. - In operation a pile of eight or ten soft steel siabs measuring 1% x 8 x 34 in., is placed in the preheating chamber at the beginning of the day’s run. When the slabs have been brought to the desired temperature, ont of them is removed and the surface sprinkled with borax, after which it is placed in the working chambe! As soon as the temperature of the slab has been raise to between 1900 and 2000 deg. Fahr., it is removed ane the scale scraped from the surface. The strips 0! Nt steel are then placed in position so that they are Mus) with one edge of the soft steel slab and the whole Is sprinkled with borax. The piece is then replaced a! requirec Y working 4 na brought to a welding temperature, after wget ' > en removed and welded under a power hammer. al the welding operation is completed the stock 1s PU through a set of rolls to reduce it to the desired thes: ness. In a number of cases the piece has to be reheated several times before the welding and rolling operatiol™ are completed. After rolling the piece is allowed ‘ug , 1917 e, hardened, tempered and ground to the ensions. ime required for preheating and a number ecessary varies greatly, no definite figures as to the efficiency of the furnace. It has, ndled 1790 lb. of work in 9 hr. with a con- 12,700 cu. ft. of gas, having a heating B.t.u. These figures do however, e capacity of the furnace, but serve to give mn of the gas consumed per ton of welded tock. y were obtained in a test of the large work a er and it is possible to at least treble the ~() | not, Stage in the Desired Process Is Rolling the Stock to the Thickness tallation has been in operation for several among the advantages which have been ilt from it are quick heating of the furnace a cool and clean shop, close control of and furnace atmosphere, continuity of a minimum amount of scale. Coal Gas as a Motor Fuel pment in the use of coal gas for automobiles the experimental stage, according to U. S. H. C. Claibourne of Bradford, England, a ising coal gas having made the journey from r » Eastbourne and return, or 130 miles. ‘he Grimsby municipality, which operates a system driven omnibuses to outlying districts, is said, trial extending over four months, to have ef- g reduction in fuel cost per mile from 4.30d to the price of gasoline being 61c. per gal., and gas 1000 ft. The only change made in the motor ng of a butterfly which allows the engine to gas in the correct quantity according to load It is claimed that an advantage accruing ise of gas is that the engine is cleaner and do not require grinding so often. The ap- relatively cheap and easily adjusted, consist- invas bag with an inner layer of rubber, e a mattrass, which holds the gas drawn nain, and is strapped to the top of the motor t The gas in > ea to the rear of the automobile. D connected with the induction pipe and the S gir worked by the suction process in the same a the ordinary gasoline vapor induction. : ‘ipal disadvantage in the use of coal gas I les is the bulky container necessary for The use of gas for small cars has proved on ry by reason of the problem of adequate torage. A suitable cylinder for containing is said to be necessary for the general fuel for motor cars. THE IRON AGE 423 An Offset Drilling Attachment \ ced and counterbored, the H. FE Bridgeport, Conn., has develope 1 an attachment for vertical drilling machines. Among the work tha be handled by the attachment are the drilling of screw and oil cup holes in pulley hubs, balancing or lub: cating holes in engine crankshafts, the facing of in frames, automobile parts, et The attachment also designed for use in the producti of nda munition and automobile parts and machine tools, railroad and machine shops and also in establishmer handling jobbing and contract work The attachment consists of a tool holder for the drill, counterbore or milling cutter, an auxiliary spindl into which the holder fits, a square shaft for receivit ( power from the spindle of the drilling machine and ‘ set of heat treated vanadium steel gears for tran ‘ mitting power from the drilling machine spindle to the tool holder. In this way the tool holder is driven posi tively and the tool is held centrally so that it will run true. The auxiliary spindle runs in a hardened and ' ground tool steel sleeve and the thrust is taken cars of by a ball bearing. One holder is furnished with each attachment to which the tool is fitted. When it is neces sary to grind or change tools, it is recommended that the holder and tool be removed from the attachment instead of removing the tool from the holder only This, it is pointed out, can be done easily without dis turbing the set-up of the attachment in the drilling machine and the replacing is an equally simple proposi tion. The attachment can be swiveled around the cet ter of the drilling machine spindle to the most co: venient position for performing the work For drilling holes in pulley hubs it pointed out that the use of the attachment does away with weaken ing of the rim by drilling through it, and in the cass of oil cup holes to supply lubrication to bearings, the nen: até copper tube to carry the oil from a locatior where it would be more convenient to drill by ordinary means is done away with. One of the special uses the attachment is to place an end mill in the attacl ment on a drilling machine with a compound slid mounted on the table for milling in an inaccessib! place which could not be readily reached with a ordinary end or face milling cutter in the milling o1 : profiling machine ; The attachment is made in eight sizes to fit al standard makes and sizes of drilling or similar ma chines. If, however, there is not room enough for the i + ee ; § ; ‘ Drilling, Facing and Counterboring Holes and Bosses in Out of tl Wavy Places Is Possible with an Offset Att Drilling Machines regular attachment to be used or a longer extension . would prove more desirable, the standard form can be modified to suit the machine or the work in hand and a special attachment supplied. M The National Board of Fire Underwriters, 76 Wil liam Street, New York, is mailing to a list of 66,000 manufacturers of the country a booklet, the Council of National Defense, prevention of fire, particularly in plants working under the abnormal conditions of wartime emergency. It ha prepared for of directions for the been given the title of “Safeguarding Industry iby eed Leaders of Congress Are Again Startled Secretary of the Nine Billions — [2 WASHINGTON, have August 21 The lead again been startled by tary of the Treasury for war needs of the current fiscal next, in addition to the sums alr huge amount $2,000,000,000 or will be loaned to the Allies with the understanding that the money is to be spent in the United States for the pur chase of war material. Mr. McAdoo is insistent that 34,000,000,000 or $5,000.000.000 shall be appropriated at the present session and that of this $500,000,000 shall be provided by increasing the pro ducing capacity of the bill. The probability that this large amount will be added to the ers of a demand from the Secre $9,000,000,000 to meet the June 30, Of this Congress year ending sady provided. $3.000.000.000 Sum at least pending war revenue revenue measure by increasing the income and excess profits taxes foreshadows the laying of still heavier burdens on the corporations and developments will awaited with the liveliest ir entire business community. It is altogether probable that promptly comply with the request of the the Treasury for the authorization of a big bond issue. That another “liberty would be issued during the coming fall has understood for some recently circumstantial reports have the effect that the new loan would be therefore be terest by the Congress will very Secretary of loan” been time and been current to floated in ( lctober and would amount to at least $3,000,000,000. Legis lation for this purpose must originate in the House of Representatives, according to the constitution, and Chairman Kitchin has called a meeting of the Ways Committee for August 25 for the consider ation of a bond bill which has already been drafted by the Treasury Department. No amount has yet written into this skeleton measure, but the rate of in terest has been fixed at 4 per cent as against 3% pet cent for the recently floated “liberty loan” which however, will automatically be increased to 4 per cent to keep it on a parity with the new luan. As finally perfected, the bill will authorize the distribution of a specified portion of the proceeds of the loan among the Allies and may contain other provisions with respect to the participation of the allied nations in benefits ob tained by the United States in the form of less than market prices on war material. This interesting phas: of the matter is under serious consideration in connec tion with the effort now being made by the War Indus- iuthority for requiring manufa Allies at the conceded and Means beet now, Board to find turers to supply goods to the prices that States Government. tries same low been the United have already Part May Be Postponed Any part of the $9,000,000,000 required by the Treasury Department, not provided at the session, will be authorized in a introduced immediately in regular Congressional present special measure to bs upon the convening of Congress December. The leaders in thus dividing the authoriza tions is two-fold: first, to avoid the depressing effect upon the financial community of an immediate de- mand for $9,000,000,000, and second, to make it certain that when Congress acts next December it may have before it, the final demand of the Treasury Department and not be placed in the embarrassing position of being obliged to bring forward later on a supplemental budget for the fiscal year 1918. No less than three times dur- ing the present session the Treasury Department has sent to the Capitol new estimates of liabilities for this fiscal year and on each occasion the assurance has been given that no more money would be needed before July 1, 1918. The supplemental estimates have proved session next purpose of the Treasury More to Meet War Needs rge Loans to the Allies Included Asks for embarrassing, the revenue bill, changes, is As to creased by decidedly especially in the which, as the result of far from being a symmetrical mea whether the war revenue bill sha the addition of another half billio: the Conference Committee to which the m about to be sent will decide. Chairman Kitc} Ways and Means Committee, who will head t} 1s is an advocate of heavy taxation to meet the war needs and would favor the raising of a much larger proportion of current revenues by imposts upon th: corporations than would Chairman Simmor the Senate Finance Committee. Mr. Kitchin is in thoroug! sympathy with the minority members of the Fina Committee led by Senator La Follette, of Wi who advocates a graduated scale of war profits t} would produce not less than $2,000,000,000 per anr from this source alone. Like Senator La Follette, Kitchin declares that to advocate lower tax rates a present on war profits with a view to leaving a margir for a later day is to ignore the fact that this pro source of revenue will automatically disappear wit! end of the war and that the opportunity to tax each year’s profits passes with the year. Failure to draw ipon this source to the fullest extent while the war lasts will therefore result in throwing a much larger burden of taxation upon the people and the normal in- dustries of the country at a time when the easily made war prof fits will be no longer available and when the business of the country will be staggering under the burden of readjustment. conferees, Mr. Kitchin’s Argument Mr. Kitchin demands to know why, if it is fair and reasonable to impose a tax of 50 per cent on normal incomes of a certain size as is proposed in the Senate bill, should there be any hesitation in applying a fi 50 per cent tax or even a 70 per cent tax on excessive war profits. Mr. Kitchin and Senator La Follette a's make the specious plea that neither the war profits tax nor the income tax affects the amount of existing capital and therefore neither is in any sense “a burde! on industry.” Both of these taxes are levied, claimed, upon extraordinary and unusual profits even if they absorbed the greater part of the profits individuals or corporations, such taxes would not affect the income of the next year. Thes taxes, it is asserted, do not impair the earning power 0! capital, which X€s any way will continue without regard to taxt limited to profits and in the case of the war profit even if it were fixed at a rate of 100 per ce! normal profits would be left untouched. This is the reason, Senator La Follette says, the conservative British Finance Minister does hesitate to impose a rate of 80 per cent on war Pp without fear of any ill effect so far as further revenU from the same source is concerned. Both Mr. Kitch! and Senator La Follette also demand that both incom and excess profits taxes for the war period s