The Iron Age 1919-07-24: Vol 104 Iss 4

New York, July ESTABLISHED 1855 24, 1919 VOL. 104: No. 4 An Example of Forge Construction Arrangement Providing for High Economical Production—Travel of 210 Feet from Stockyard to Outgoing Cars plant of the Central Forge Co., Detroit, Mich., is the general arrangement of the buildings and equipment, which give minimum distances in the straight-line routing of material during the \ N important feature of the new drop forge manufacturing processes. Movements of material in the process of manufacture are crosswise through the shops. The layout is arranged so that exten- sions can be made without disturbing in any way the plan of routing. The plant is designed for high production and continuous operation. Stock passes in a straight line from the steel yard to the shears, to the steam forge shop, cooling dock, heat treating department, straightening machines and inspection, and the fin- ished forgings pass on to the loading platform. When the forging bars are sheared the stock is placed on racks supported on legs that are moved with elevating platform storage battery trucks, on which the material is moved to the hammers and to other points for succeeding operations, being placed back on the racks after each operation, eliminating handling by hand and wheelbarrows. The arrange- ment of the steam and air lines and the lubricating and fuel-oil systems are features that are said to have resulted in high efficiency. Plant Erected in 105 Days The Central Forge Co. is a division of the Gen- eral Motors Corporation, and the plant, which was Placed in operation Oct. 10, 1918, being erected in 219 and of the The Board Hammer Shop, Cooling Dock and One of t Overhead Connections Between Two Buildings of the Central Forge Co Detroit This illustrates the general character and the open space provided on all sides by the use of rolling doors buildings 105 working days, supplies forgings for the various automobile plants of that corporation. Its daily output of finished forgings has exceeded 50 tons, but there will be capacity for 85 tons with exten- sions that are now nearing completion. The prod- uct includes crankshafts, connecting rods, gears, camshafts, and various small forgings. Axle forg- ings will be added shortly. The general layout of the plant was made by A. A. Motherwell, general manager of the company, who for years has occu- pied a conspicuous position in the drop-forge indus- try, and his plans were carried out in detail by the designers, Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, architects and engineers, Detroit. There are three main buildings. A steam forge shop occupies a building 70 x 600 ft., and in a parallel building of the same dimensions is a board hammer shop and heat treating department. At the front end of these two buildings is a die shop, 96 x 192 ft. The two forge buildings are separated by a 40-ft. areaway that is used for a cooling dock and driveway. Two of the bays of the die shop building, or 48 ft. at one end, are partitioned off for offices, lavatories, lockers and shower baths, and in front of this section the erection of a two- story office building, 48 x 48 ft., is planned. A 32- ft. areaway separates the die shop and office from Cen Rear ta An ag vi eres wee i ee 220 THE IRON AGE July 24, 1919 Interior of the Board Hammer Shop. The cold trimming presses, 16 in number, are located in two rows in the cent of this shop, which contains 16 board the other two buildings. The two areaways have 8-in. concrete floors. The forge and heat treating shops of the origi- nal plant were 300 ft. long, but these have been doubled in length, and forge equipment is now be- ing placed in the extensions. Further extensions are contemplated to make each building 900 ft. long. Adjoining the steam forge shop is a steel yard 80 x 600 ft., served by a 5-ton Milwaukee electric traveling crane with a 75-ft. span, the runway being 25 ft. above the yard level. Another crane of the same capacity will be installed. The inner crane girder is supported on the columns of the forge shop. Two railroad sidings extend the length of the steel yard, one on each side of the outer crane girder. Cars are unloaded from the inner track under the crane, the outer track being used for the storage of loaded and empty cars. The crane is equipped with a lifting magnet for unloading steel and with a clam-shell bucket for unloading coal in the storage yard at the end of the steel yard. The present boiler room occupies two bays at the corner of the forge shop, adjoining this storage yard. Two shear houses adjoin the forge shop in the steel yard. These are equipped with two Cleveland guillotine-type bar shears with a 6-in. capacity and two Canton alligator shears. Several concrete bins are provided in the steel yard for the storage of heavy scrap, flashings, scale, etc. On the opposite side of the plant is a shipping COAL PLATFORM LL hammers of 800 to 1200 Ib. capacity platform 30 ft. wide, on a level with the forge shop floors, and covered with a creosote wood block floor Alongside this is a depressed railroad siding for loading, the platform and track extending the length of the plant. The steam forge shop and the board hammer and heat treating shops are generally similar i: construction. The frames are built of 24-in. col- umns on 20 ft. 1% in. centers. Both have standard type monitor roofs with gypsum block roofing. The steam forge shop is 37 ft. high to its roof truss and 63 ft. high to its peak, and the other shop 24 ft. high to the roof truss and 50 ft. to the peak. Between all the building columns on the four sides of each shop are Kinnear rolling doors, 20 ft. wide, with a clear height of 10 ft., so that space is en- tirely open through the two shops all the way from the stockyard to the loading déck. The rolling doors are supported by trusses between the col- umns. This section, occupying a space 5 ft. wide, is filled in with cement plaster on metal lath. The truss also supports the bottom of the sash above. Continuous glass surface is provided above the 5 ft. of plaster up to the roof truss. The sash is fitted with factory ribbed glass. Above the area- way are four sections connecting the two buildings that are used for toilet rooms for both shops. These are of steel and concrete construction, being sup ported on the building columns, and the floors are 15 ft. above the areaway, leaving a clear passage beneath. Each building is equipped with sixty 72-in. COANE GRIER x). 1000000 YZ —_ JE TRANSTORMER STR ee ef 4 BOARD HOUSE | ee 4 © r r YT A 1 4 ¢ 4 z i Se ease oe ee eee 3S <t-<3--3---E = aaa , em ss SMALL SHEARS MUSE LARGE SHEARS MUSE } be FORG F SHO F 4 EEE Bh. a 4 }-¥--4 i i — f 7 i | | 4 ‘ 5 HOP en a nS a ne Bo oe -- 2-3 = - 35-2 - 3 -- aj b THER TOLETS, oncrete Pevemen? ‘THETS ' 4 r , F r-=3--—8 x tose ot see COMPRESSOR | — BOARD HAMMER & HEAT TREATING BUILDING somone” | | OFFICE & WASH R M N » PYA W | ® : { q ] | i Ro nnciicnealinasaathiacndnnsiaticacanlaaatie aoe ee 9D, WG > LT FDP | Layout of the Plant of the Central,.Forge Co., Detroit shop buildings are 70 x 600- ft The company ' * division of the General Motors Corporation 24, 1919 THE IRON AGE 221 7 . - _~ - ee . os =o igs a | i i i i i I i I Z a sa — = ae Rial 7 oy qn mst th 4 ne furnace Press Furnace furnace ? afress 5 Hp. efress : Sp. Cae Qe"Ooa™ Le Se Or Y mer Peal Menmer e Timmer /500Ib? " Mammer [00b* ‘ arminer [500/b ; Q f me cy 7 —— ¥. ea $s“ — }; ne » coal ~S> el V2 a b==3 VG - <y tad 2 AX? RY Press 73 Hp. OSs —, ess Sip. , furnace: furnace : ly y | furnace ) ] ‘| V] “ a ——y a ‘a ey I ' I ! 1 I t { ! I ! j I i I | I —_ eden a aa L L j n Which the Equipment Is Installed in the Steam Forge Shop The 17 steam drop hammers ing 12,000 lb. capacity The presses are at an angle to make work easier fi the me Swartwout ventilators, that provide a displacement 10,200 cu. ft. of air every two minutes. One f the photographs taken in the areaway between forge shops shows the exterior of the board hammer shop, and illustrates the general type of struction. One of the toilet rooms connecting the two buildings appears in this illustration. The steam forge shop is served by a 10-ton Mil- waukee crane for changing piston rods, handling dies, etc., and the board hammer shop by a 5-ton crane. The extensions will necessitate the instal- lation of additional cranes. Automatic Transpor- tation Co.’s storage battery trucks are used in the handling of material on-the floor. The steam forge hop has an 8-in. concrete floor, except around the hammers where the hot metal falls. Here firebrick used. The board hammer and heat treating shop has a firebrick floor laid on a 6-in. concrete silat Lei h tne Equipment of Forge Shop The forge shop equipment includes 17 steam drop hammers of from 1500 to 12,000 lb. capacity, built by the Morgan ne Co., Toledo trim- ming presses with individual drive by 5 to 25-hp. <= See weeuwvwwe ew a a iss i+ = -three motors, and Ferguson furnaces. Twenty ad- ditional hammers of the same range of capacity and the requisite press and furnace equipment will be installed in the extension. ‘lhe furnaces along the outer walls, and the hammers are 18 ft. back from the walls, there being an &-ft. space from a line at the front of the furnace to the center of the hammer. The presses are in line with the hammers. These will all be set at an angle of are 22 deg. with a view of making the work easier for the men, although only a part of them are in that position at present. The board hammer shop is equipped with 16 Billings & Spencer board hammers with a capacity of 800 to 1200 lb. and 16 trimming presses. The furnaces of the Ferguson type are located along the walls, and the Toledo trimming presses are in two rows in the center of the shop, one row serving the hammers on each side. Each hammer is driven by a 75-hp. motor. Complete equipment for heat treating and fin- ishing forgings is provided in this department. From the hammers the work passes to the cold trim- ming presses, and from there to tumbling barrels and grinders, to final inspection and to the ship- CAR de 5 an! “ae 220 THE IRON AGE July 24, 1919 T ping dock where the forgings are accumulated and shipped in carload lots. Crankshafts go from the ‘presses to double-end Hendey centering machines, and then to Metalwood hydraulic straightening presses, of which there are three of 5-ton capacity, and then after indexing are ready for final inspec- tion. Grinding operations are performed on a battery of motor-driven grinding machines. The heat treating department is located at the lower end of the building. In this shop are Williams & White bulldozers for stretching and padding axles and for various bending operations, a 5-in. double-gear Ajax upset- ting machine, and a 4-in. National upsetting ma- chine, all served by Ferguson fur- naces, and Ajax hot saws for cutting off the gate ends. Addi- tional equipment to be installed in the extension to this shop will in- clude three Bill- ings & Spencer board drop ham- mers of 1000 to 1200-lb. capacity, four Williams & White board drop hammers with a capacity of 1200 to 1500 lb., a2 x 35-in. National up- setter, and two 4-in § 1 5- ‘ 4 In, and twe ) Showing the Location of the Steam Lines That Extend Around the Steam headers are carried on brackets 16 ft. 5 in. ab: the floor level. Expansion in the steam lines taken care of by looping the lines between columns at stations on each side. The method looping is shown in one of the illustrations, Unique Lubricating System The lubricating system for the steam hamm is unique. It consists of two Richardson-Phe: 20-ft. lubricators located near the boilers, ea lubricator being provided with a steam-driven inder. Each has a heating coil and an automat float valve to keep it filled with oil when connected to an overhead reservoir. A pressure release valve is located in each feed. The pres sure valve and atomizing quil] are located 5 ft. from each cylin- der. It is stated that the system has resulted in a great saving of oil. In the shop extension there will be_ installed two 26-feed lubri- cators with steam - driven cylinders mount- ed on a concrete base. The method of distributing air through the two shops is of con- In. Ajax upset- Forge Shop and the Method of Looping These Lines to Care for Expansion siderable interest. and Contraction. Under the steam lines is the air line Die Shop Showing Bay in Which Forging Dies Are Made. Along the wall at ters, and additional straightening presses and a modern heat treating plant. A hammer with 2000 lb. capacity is being installed for straightening crank- shafts after coming from the drawing furnace, tak- ing the place of a straightening press. The steam hammers are supplied from an 8-in. high pressure header, and the exhaust is carried in a 12-in. exhaust header, each making a loop side by side around the entire steam forge shop. Both A battery of Becker profiling machines is shown at tht the right are benches Each building has an air loop 20 in. in diameter, ex- tending entirely around the building. The air line is made of 14-gage welded sheet steel with a flar.ze joint. The main air supply header is 36 in. in diam- eter. In the steam forge shop the air line is carried on brackets underneath the steam lines, and in the board hammer shop on brackets 13 ft. above the floor. The two loops are connected at three points in order to insure an evenness of pressure. The July 24, 1919 vantages claimed for the loop system are that ler main ducts are used than would otherwise equired, equal pressure is provided, and loss is inated. Gates are provided so that the air can turned off in any section of the shops. Air at pressure is supplied by four General Electric trifugal compressors, each with a capacity of 0 cu. ft., and each driven by a 50-hp. motor. } compressors are located at each end of the Eliminating Impurities from Fuel Oil Fuel oil is stored in 14 tanks, each 10 ft. 6 in. diameter and 31 ft. long, mounted on a con- ‘te saddle 3 ft. above the ground. Each tank equipped with a heating coil, float valve and ge. QOil is pumped or siphoned from tank cars to a concrete settling tank with a capacity of 16,000 gal., located under the pump ‘house: After remaining in the settling tank 12 hr. the oil is drawn into the storage tanks, leaving the heavy oil nd dirt in the bottom of the settling tank, which is then flushed out. By this method the oil is kept clean and the danger of burners becoming clogged with dirt or other foreign matter is eliminated. So far no trouble has been experienced with the mpurities in the oil. From the storage tank the oil for the furnaces pumped into pipes that run through a concrete trench located around the two shops just inside the building columns and back of the furnaces. These trenches are 2 ft. 6 in. wide and the same depth, and have cast iron covers. The oil is carried in a 1-in. main and in 14-in. distributing loops to both buildings. The oil line has a return to the settling tank. The total length of the system is 2000 ft. The Bowser system is used for the circulation of oil. A live steam line is carried in the trench to keep the oil warm in winter. The pump-house is equipped with three Viking entrifugal pumps, each with a capacity of 50 gal. r min., and each driven by a 2'2-hp. motor. The pumps are so interconnected that each may be operated independently or all together. he boiler room is equipped with three Wickes 100-hp. water tube boilers, fired by Jones under- teed stokers. These supply steam for the steam hammers in the portion of the plant that is now operated. The exhaust steam is used for heating purposes throughout the plant, a vacuum heating system being provided. A new central power plant is now being built a short distance away. This will equipped with five 1000-hp. Sterling boilers, automatic stokers and complete coal and ash lling equipment. In addition to supplying am for the forge shop hammers, this will fur- steam for heating other general motors plants that will be grouped on a large factory site. The power house will have a 225-ft. brick stack. he die shop has a steel frame, monitor roof, ontinuous window in steel sash from 3 ft. ve the floor up to the roof trusses. It is pro- | with the latest types of sinking and profiling The shop is divided into four bays, the : of which is devoted to the manufacture of tt ging dies, and contains profiling and die sink- ig machines and finishing benches. Raw material’ nished dies are stored in the second bay. nes, . 1 third and fourth bays are used for making a" ing dies, and are equipped with 24 to 36-in. ; Planers, surface grinders, lathes, shapers, die sink- sd ‘Ng machines and cold saws. In the manufacture s the Becker Milling Machine Co.’s profiling ne machines, Jackson Machine Tool Co.’s typeless die ‘inking machines, and Keller Mechanical Engrav- THE IRON AGE 22% ing Co.’s machines are used. Group drive from 40-hp. motors is provided for much of the machin- ery, but the die sinking machines and planers have individual motor drive. The two outer bays are served by two Palmer-Bee hand power cranes that span each bay. The electrical equipment includes three 150-kva. transformers for power and one 75-kva. trans- former for lighting. In the enlarged plant there will be added three 400-kva. and one 300-kva. trans- former for power, and one 75-kva. transformer for the lighting circuit. Uncertainty as to Freight Rates—Roads Not Buying Rails WASHINGTON, July 22.—Despite the continuance of the monthly deficit record of the Railroad Administra- tion, Director General Hines says it is still too early to determine whether the industries of the country must carry another increase in freight rates. He de- clares that it is impossible completely to segregate the figures of the various railroads in a way that will reveal just how much deficit is attributable to an actual decrease in the usual volume of business and how much is due to the disparity between the increase in rates and the increases in the costs of labor an: supplies. Commissioner E. E. Clark of the Interstate Com- merce Commission, who testified before the House Com- mittee on Interstate Commerce concerning the railroad problem, had no doubts about the future. He said an- other raise in freight rates was imperative whether the roads remained under Government control or were turned back to their private owners. He did not believe that wages would be reduced, nor did he think that the economies which might result from private control would be enough to save the country from higher rates. The May figures show that the operating expenses in May increased 24.5 per cent over those of May, 1918. Rates were approximately 25 per cent higher. The operating revenues, however, increased only 9.8 per cent. The total traffic as expressed in ton-miles and passenger-miles has fallen off approximately 12 per cent. The falling off in freight traffic alone amounted to 13.5 per cent. Director General Hines denied reports that the Railroad Administration is about to enter the steel market for more rails. He says that so far no esti- mates have been made up as to immediate needs, nor has there been any effort to sound out the. steel mills on possible prices. Apparently he is waiting until Congress has come a little nearer a decisiom concern- ing the future of the roads. Ten Italian steamers are loading 64,000 tons of steel at New York, besides 10,000 tons of general cargo, according to the weekly report of the Railroad Admin- istration on the export freight situation. A number of British ships, which were in need of coarse freight to be used as density cargo, are moving automobiles overseas. Southern Furnaces to Resume The Matthew Addy Co., Cincinnati, says in its com- ment on the pig-iron market: “The fact that’ Northern furnaces are beginning to fill up their order books makes it easier sailing for the South. Several Southern interests, whose furnaces have been out of blast for some time, are preparing to go in, but are staying out of the market for the present, as they expect to get higher prices in the near future.” The Trackless Train is the title of a very attrac- tive pamphlet which has been issued by the Mercury Mfg. Co., Chicago. Instead of concentrating on speci- fications and mechanical] details, it treats entirely of method, and instead of being issued as a catalog of the Mercury tractor, it is issued under the name of the system of the company. . a Sic Teepe see ' PIP C Re en: i NRT BR RR ET eee SA ete ae. ce 224 THE IRON AGE COSTS IN ENGLAND Consul General Hollis’s Reports on Advances in Material and Wages WASHINGTON, July 22—Conditions which have caused steel and iron costs in Great Britain to advance two or three times over their pre-war levels are described in a report received by the Department of Commerce from Consul General W. Stanley Hollis at London. “The increase in the price of coal to the railways and steamships in Great Britain,” reports Consul General Stanley, “is causing freight rates on all raw materials to be still further enhanced; the prices of all raw mate- rials are also increased and, owing to the general rise in the cost of living, the costs of labor have been greatly advanced. Thus the prices to the manufacturer of fuels, raw materials, transportation and labor are very much greater to-day than in pre-war times. “As present British home prices are largely in ex- cess of those quoted by American and in some cases by the more enterprising French houses, Sheffield manu- facturers hesitate to commit themselves to any fore- cast as to the effect of further advances in fuel costs, Responsible steel makers declare that if foreign prod- ucts are to be admitted tariff free while British goods are offered at uneconomic values, the steel trade will be badly hit. What the new addition to the coal miners’ wages will mean to local industry depends on the extent to which collieries advance prices to recoup themselves for the extra labor cost of basic material, electric power, liquid fuel, and, in fact, the cost of every service in which coal is consumed to any material extent. In other words, the immediate increase which will result from the advance in miners’ wages will be only one of the factors which will cause steel prices to advance. “The increased cost of coal since 1914 alone has al- ready added from $5.60 to $5.84 per ton to the cost of steel, which in the majority of cases a great deal more than constituted the whole of the profit on steel in pre- war times. Inquiries show it is not unlikely that pit- head charges will advance $0.85 to $1.09. The bare manufacturing cost, apart from the extra work cost, would be from $2.12 to $2.73 per ton of steel; while in the case of higher class steels, involving a larger expen- diture of fuel, the cost would be proportionately higher. “Largely owing to increased fuel costs, base mate- rials and finished goods have advanced to two or three times their pre-war values. Thus tramway rails, to Second Pacific Cable Proposed An effort is being made by companies with trade interests in the Orient to have a second Pacific cable laid. The present facilities, according to Pacific coast delegates to the sixth National Foreign Trade Council convention, held in Chicago last April, are wholly in- adequate to the demands of the increased business, during and since the war. Big interests in the United States and Scandinavian countries are also projecting a cable to be laid between New York and Sweden, probably ending in Gothenburg. The present Pacific cable from San Francisco passes through Honolulu and Guam to Yokohama and northward to Shanghai. During the war the burden on this single cable was tremendous, owing to the cen- sorship regulations, necessitating the use of the Eng- lish language and prohibiting codes, both standard and private. Besides the additional business due to the war, Government communications were given priority. The average time for a message from San Francisco to Yokohama or Shanghai is now about four days. The congested conditions of the Atlantic cables, as well as the increased trade with Norway, Finland and Russia, are responsible to a great extent for the prop osition to lay the new cable to Sweden. A northern route of communication has been needed for some time. A committee on foreign communication has been ap- pointed by the National Foreign Trade Council to July 24, 1919 take a concrete example, have risen from $31.62 to $94.87, although in no case has the price of coal] ai- vanced more than $2.55 per ton. The accompanying tables give comparisons of pre-war and current va! of all the various classes of fuel, steel, and iron. Materials 1914 19] Manufacturing Fuels— Pee - CEO BPD oicccactcesevn $2.92-—$3.18 $5.46-$ CE. 6h area he wéde Cane ewoes 2.79— 3.04 5.34 ee IE 6 og al alee a wee ~see 1.82— 32.06 4.38 Steel Billets— Acid: NE “nao Gap whee ane wae eele's 34.06 ED, aS w.0 ea wn Beak nba ae 36.49 Basic: Pn: ehomend Sabte scores pate 29.19 ¢ a a hs Scam eal kid dw 6 bd ; 24.33 Common and Finished Iron Hematites: Se SY Geka bd wa heee ds ; 17.87 45.1 ES aaa oes Bw re oe aera 16.59 43.49 Foundry : Lincolnshire ....... ian hs 13.29 Derbyshire 13.38 } Forge: ES Cre re eee 13.05 f Se ere a 12.40 PTT TT Terre Tree 35.27 ] “The war-time demand for steel was so great that all impediments in the way of manufacture had to be removed, cost what they might. Previous to the war, steel helmets were unknown, but a sudden demand sprung up when they were found to be a means of saving life. Therefore they had to be produced, no matter what the expense. “Steel sheets or piling, for shoring and cribbing in the trenches, had to be made in enormous quantities, and this particular line of manufacture was largely taken up by the South Wales tin plate manufacturers, who, obtaining large prices from the Government for their product, were largely obliged to increase the wages of their operatives. Now that the manufacture of tin plate has been resumed, the workmen demand the same high wages, with the result that the cost to the con- sumer of an ordinary 100-lb. box of 120 sheets of 20 by 14 in. common tin plate, which before the war cost only $3.16, now costs from $7.77 to $8.74 per case. As tin is used almost entirely as a container of preserved foods, as well as for the manufacture of a large range of do- mestic and other utensils, the prices of all these com- modities have been largely increased in consequence. “This week it has been announced in the daily press that, on account of the high prices of ordinary Welsh tin plate, orders for considerable quantities of American tin plate have been taken from large consumers in Great Britain, and that American tin plates have also been sold for the first time in continental countries.” investigate conditions and urge the present Pacific cable company to expand the facilities. The cable cost in the neighborhood of $8,000,000, and business interests both on the Pacific coast and in New York are of the opinion that a second cable would soon pay for itself, with the increased trade in the Far East The Committee on Foreign Communication, consisting of two Western members and five from the East, fol- lows: Chairman, E. P. Thomas, president, United States Steel Products Co.; R. P. Tinsley, vice pres! dent, American International Corporation; M. A Oudin, vice-president, International General Electr! Co.; R. H. Patchin, manager, foreign trade, W. Grace & Co.; Fred J. Coster, president, California Barrel Co., San Francisco; William Pigott, Seattle, Wash.; Howard E. Cole, Standard Oil Co. The District Salvage Board of the Ordnance De partment of Bridgeport, Conn., is issuing a week!) bulletin containing a list of all Government proper within the Bridgeport district available for sale, cluding buildings, building equipment, power equ!] ment, materials, factory supplies, tools and machiner) The bulletins may be obtained from the chairma! the board, Major E. T. Walsh. The Sierra Electric Co., San Francisco, Cal., has been appointed Pacific Coast distributor for the Chicag°? Solder Co. Characteristics of Rifle-Barrel Steel Metallography and Heat Treatment—Best Structure for the Best Results—Rolled and Heat-Treated Barrels—Factors in Erosion to be presented at the Chicago meeting in Sep- tember of the American Institute of Mining and allurgical Engineers. The object is to promote a ussion which may lead to an explanation of some the traditional beliefs on this subject, on which ere exists a wide difference of opinion. The “Metal- raphy of Rifle-Barrel Steel” is discussed by G. F. tterworth, metallographer, U. S. Armory, Spring- Mass., and “Erosion Tests of Rifle Barrels” is ited by A. E. Bellis, major, Ordnance Department, [Me important papers on rifle barrel steel are deg. C.). Barrels rolled within this temperature range give an exceedingly fine grain, shown in Fig. 1. In fact, the grains may be so fine that, at a low magnifi- cation, they may be confused with the heat-treated structure discussed below, Fig. 6. A magnification of 500 diameters, however, will always resolve a rolled barrel into the characteristic structure, shown in Fig. 2. As the temperature is increased, the grains are found to be larger. If, on the other hand, the rolling tempera- ture is below the critical range, the structure previous to rolling will not be obliterated, the only effect of ted States Army. Abstracts of the two papers. rolling being to elongate the coarse sorbite grains in w: the direction of rolling, Fig. 3. This distortion is . greatest at the muzzle. Metallography of Rifle Steel ' . ; Structure of Heat-Treated Barrels 7 metallographic structures most frequently 4 encountered in rifle barrels, and which are illus- Heat-treated barrels are quenched in oil from above ited by the accompanying photomicrographs, fall the critical range, which should give a martensitic irally into two groups, distinguished by the method _ strueture, Fig. 4, but the presence of some troostite in to produce in the stock a physical condition hav- the martensite is frequently noted when the quench requisite properties. has not been sufficiently drastic, Fig. 5. The structure + {ee x }\ oF and 2 (Left to Right)—Barrel Steel Rolled at 1350 Deg. Fahr., Magnification 100 and 500 Diameters Respectively. Fig The first group consists 1 epi vig abeg gir Barrel Steel rolled below the critical range, muzzle end, 100 diameters. Fig. 4—Barrel steel given drastic quench from above critical range, 100 diameters : ; n a ic a le ; iC _ rh . 3 1) & 1g g. 5 Left )—Barrel Steel Given Less Drastic Quench, 100 Diameters. Fig. 6—Barre] steel quenched from 1500 deg. Fah irawn at 1200 deg., 100 diameters. Fig. 7—Barrels quenched from 1500 deg. Fahr. and drawn at 800 deg. (dark) od 200 deg. (light), 100 diameters. Fig. 8—Barrel quenched from 1500 deg. Fahr. and drawn at 1200 deg., 500 diam- eters 3} Huvevenvanvaveveenernsvsnvenngpenrosuree® ObenedoeenvunoneseneNNauaEOEsGeNELoeeDennEDeantneNDecesnnenenoeonenereenDY \ lled barrels, or barrels subjected to hot working R y rolling in or near the critical range. In the second p, the stock, which is smaller in diameter than the is upset to form the butt end and is then heat- by giving it a quench and a draw. These brought about by the subsequent draw is not so strik- ing, though quite as typical. It is sorbitic or sorbito- pearlitic, and under a low magnification appears almost homogeneous, as in the case of fine grains of pepper ; and salt well mixed together, Fig. 6. This structure will be referred to as heat-treated barrels. is substantially the same for all drawing temperatures : Structure ef Relled Barrels from 800 to 1300 deg. F. (427 to 704 deg. C.), 1200 deg. (648 deg.) being the temperature most frequently KY e structure of the rolled barrels resembles closely used. In fact, it is almost impossible to determine, rt { the same steel after annealing. There is the even roughly, by microscopic examination of its struc- network of excess ferrite outlining the grain ture, the temperature at which a barrel has been drawn, ‘ries but the grains themselves are composed but it is possible to estimate it within 100 deg. F. by rbite rather than pearlite. The grain size is a macroscopic examination. related to the rolling temperature. The critical- It has been found that the color of the specimen irves of this grade of steel, which is approxi- varies with the drawing temperature, the color be- 0.50 to 0.60 per cerit of carbon and 1 to 1.30 coming lighter as the temperature increases. This is has t of manganese, show a single very pronounced illustrated by Fig. 7, which shows specimens drawn ago etween 1300 and 1350 deg. F. (704 and 732 at 800 and 1200 deg. F. (427 to 648 deg. C.) respec- 99° at ee * 4 Is eae ny © apie elie ye et Hae woe OEE NE IS Oicg Sir 1 NA 3 hee 226 THE IRON AGE Fig. 9 Barrel Given Ineffective Quench; Structure Near the Bor 100 Diameters Fig. 10—Same, with structure near outside, Same magnification tively, photographed side by side. The color contrast is greatest after etching the specimen for 45 sec. in a 5 per cent solution of picric acid in alcohol, or for 6 sec. in a 5 per cent. solution of nitric acid in alcohol. The use of the former is recommended, as it will re- duce the effect of the unavoidable differences of time in etching the specimens to be compared. Experiments so far made have shown no variation in color after drawing, due to differences in the original quenching temperature, and the relation of this factor remains to be determined. Under the higher magnification, this heat-treated structure may be resolved into fine light- eolor seeds in a dark matrix, as shown in Fig. 8. Detecting Poor Heat Treatment The following are the most frequent microscopic evidences of defective heat-treatment: If the barrel is quenched before it has been soaked through at a proper temperature, it will show large amounts of excess ferrite collected generally near the grain boundaries. These white areas are more pronounced near the bore than near the outside of the barrel, as appears from a com- parison of Figs. 9 and 10. The former shows the structure near the bore, and the latter near the outside of the same barrel. If the drawing temperature is too low, the specimen will appear very dark in a macroscopic comparison with one drawn at the proper 11 Steel Burned by Upsetting, 35 Diameters. Fig. 12 3anded structure, 100 diameters temperature. If the temperature has been too high, but below the critical range, the specimen will be lighter than the standard; and if drawn to or above the critical range, the network of excess ferrite will again appear. Certain other defects, not due to heat treatment, but which appear in the finished product, are: Barrels are sometimes burned in upsetting the butt end, with the result that the grains, enormously enlarged, are forced apart, leaving dark cracks between, as shown in Fig. 11. A more frequent defect, occurring in both rolled and upset barrels, is the presence of very marked bands in the steel, which the normal heat treatment is unable to obliterate, Fig. 12. Sometimes this struc- ture may be traced directly to a segregation of phos- phorus by etching the specimen with Stead’s reagent, Fig. 13. The most frequent defect is the presence of slag, appearing in the longitudinal section as strings, Fig. 14. There is always some of this present, but, unless it occurs in abnormal amount or in seams, it appears to have no injurious effect. Erosion Tests of Barrels HERE is a wide difference of opinion among rifle experts in the matter of barrel steel, and the rela- tive importance to the life of the barrel of the steel’s July 24, 1919 composition, heat-treatment, structure, and physica] properties. The detailed metallographic study of this steel is given in the paper by Mr. Butterworth. T conclusions from these tests should be capable of wid application than their direct bearing on the bar: steel problem. Specifications for Barrel Steel The Government specifications for barrel steel { model 1903 rifle (Springfield) call for carbon 0.50 0.60 per cent., manganese 1.00 to 1.29 per cent., sili: under 0.25 per cent., sulphur under 0.06 per cent phosphorus under 0.08 per cent. The minimum phy cal requirements are: Tensile strength, 110,000 lb. sq. in. (7733 kg. per sq. cm.); yield point, 75,000 per sq. in. (5472 kg. per sq. cm.); elongation, 20 cent.; reduction of area, 45 per cent. Material fulfil!- ing these requirements gives practically no failures when proof fired, with charge of 70,000 lb. per sq. i Fig. 13 Phosphorus Segregation Etched with Stead’s R gent, and Fig. 14, Stringy Slag in Longitudinal Section. B 100 Diameters pressure, which is 40 per cent. in excess of the service charge. The turning and drilling operations show up any seams or laps that accidentally occur even in the best heats of open-hearth steel, so that faulty stock is practically all eliminated before proof firing. These physical requirements are met either by roll- ing billets at a proper temperature down to the form of tapered barrel blanks or by heat-treating bars that have been upset to enlarge the breech section. The transformation temperature of this steel, on heating, is around 1350 deg. F. (732 deg. C.), varying somewhat with the composition and the rate of heating. Th¢ actual treatment of the barrel blanks, as carried out by different manufacturers, gives four kinds of barrels. which will be called A, B, C, and D, for convenience. A barrels result from heat-treating upset blanks by quenching at 1500 deg. F. (816 deg. C.) in oil and drawing at 1200 deg. F. (648 deg. C.), which is below the critical temperature for 2 hr. B barrels are made by rolling the steel at or above 1350 deg. F. (732 deg. C.), the critical temperature of the steel. C barrels are made by rolling at 1200 to 1250 deg. F. (648 to 677 deg. C.) or below the critical range. D barrels are made by quenching the billets from 1500 deg. F. (816 deg. C.) in oil and then rolling at 1250 deg. (677 deg. C.). The resulting structure and physical properties are the same as A barrels. This treatment was de- veloped in order to raise the physical properties of B and C barrels that did not fulfill physical require- ments. A and D barrels give a structure of homogeneous sorbite, as shown in Fig. 1. B barrels give homogene- ous sorbite but on higher magnification (< 500) small rounded particles of unabsorbed free ferrite are ob- Photomicographs of Barrel A. 100 to 500 Diameters Respectively July 24, 1919 THE IRON AGE 227 These barrels were then submitted to a 13,000-round firing test with measurements for accuracy and erosion. The accuracy tests consisted of two targets of 10 rounds each at 500 yd. with muzzle rest and were made after each 2000 rounds from 4000 to 10,000 and then every Table 1 Results of Physical Tests on A, B, and C Barrels Tensile Strength, Yield Point, Lt per Sq. In Lb per Sq in I Barre Barrel I € Ba Bat \ B Cc \ I ( tomicographs of Barrel B, 100 to 500 Diameters, oS eae f1,700 ‘fre 106 190 116 7ee bie qs : Respectively o . > * 59,900 06,400 . v «4 : 600 ( S 0 6.150 116 0 120.950 ‘ } j 0 32.6 ) LO hou l :.¥ 22.0 ) |, as shown in Fig. 2. C barrels generally show 54,001 (0,400 109,450 116, nee of cold work, especially at the muzzle end, in a Reduction of Area tudinal section, as shown in Fig. 3. Large masses Elongation, Per Cent Per Cent ee ferrite are characteristic of this kind of barrel. Bal Bart Barrel B Ba Ba 7 a \ B ( \ i ( Factors in Erosion ’ Lf e real test of the quality of a barrel is the number 24 1. inds that can be fired without loss of accuracy excessive erosion. Erosion can be directly meas- by the increase he size of the after firing. lhe extent to which nature of the is a factor in on is a much issed question, 1000 to 13,000. The iring was at the rate of 10 to 12 rounds per minute per rifle, cooling the rifles with water after each 100 ne on which every rounds. The same rifle expert has lot of ammunition ope,” but one in was used through- out the test. The results are sum- marized in Table 2 The relative erosion is shown by the increase of vhich there is very published data based on facts. The mportance of ac- iracy and barrel life, especially in whine-gun bar- °°: , pie te : . : ; ' diameter of the rage work, make it He : ean lands at the muzzle. essential that all opel L : r these being 18, 20, the metallurgical ' and 29 ten-thous factors of the prob- andths of an incu lem be appreciated. for barrel A, B, and fhe subject was brought forcibly to writer’s atten- C. Barrel B gave a good target (7.3 in. mean radius at 500 by the metal- _ = ios ae ’ - yd.) after the 13.,- graphic examina- Appearance of Barrels A, B and C, Each Differently Treated, After Firing 000 rounds. Barrel tion of a short- a Stipulated Number of Rounds C shot off the target 1 barrel show- after 11,000 rounds. structure C. A. barrel giving much longer Barrel A shot off the target after 12,000 rounds. inder the same conditions of firing, gave Barrel A had a mechanical defect, viz., a slight pocket structure A. Most of the rifle experts consulted about 10 in. from the muzzle, which was discovered ed that other factors than the structure of the when the barrel was sawn lengthwise to expose the , were the primary cause of the excessive erosion. bore. It is well known that the dimensions of the bore and ne ' amber, the analysis of the steel, the conditions of Table 2.—Erosion Table . ng, particularly with respect to temperature, and (Unit = 0.0001 in.) ; the direct temperature effect of the powder, are im- Barrel A Barrel B Barrel C rtant factors of erosion. [ omie Gieienaten’ Cate Manan Aeon aeaioeeds The following test was therefore planned, in which Breech 85 35 0 £5 90 7% " ese factors were kept constant and careful records Muzzle a ‘ ev : 29 6 ‘the treatment, structure and other metallurgical 1 factors: Three barrel blanks were prepared from the ar of steel and treated differently so as to give A, B, and C barrels. The A barrel was heat- This experiment shows that the homogeneous struc- ture of a heat-treated barrel (A or D) offers the best resistance to erosion. The network of free ferrite of treated by quenching from 1500 deg. F., and drawing for 2 hr. at 1200 deg. F. (648 deg. C.). The B barrel is rolled at 1850 deg. F. (732 deg. C.) ; and the C bar- tel was rolled at 1200 deg. F. (648 deg. C.). Physical ade from blanks given parallel treatment gave ilts shown in Table 1. e physical tests, the specimen was taken from the large end of the barrels as possible. The alyzed: Carbon 0.48 per cent., manganese 0.98 t., sulphur 0.050 per cent., phosphorus 0,060 per \s the minimum amounts of carbon and man- were present, conclusions reached with this would be emphasized with higher amounts of Photomicographs of Barrel C, 100 and 500 Diameters, tespec tively ments. + +. Lar << liege tx obo nee ay, bo LP Ol dace wae Ce NR AC RE oye se ay Pe enr ees Pete re Se 228 the C barrel apparently offers easily eroded channels to the washing-out action of the hot gases and metal. The appearance of the section of the barrel confirms this explanation. The uniform structure of the B bar- rel has better erosion-resisting properties than the C barrel, but not as good as the heat-treated barrel. CANADIAN CONDITIONS Many Obstacles in the Way of Business, but Some Bright Spots Appear TORONTO, July 22.—“As far as the selling of steel in Canada is concerned it has been nothing short of a procession of obstacles since the signing of the armis- The tonnage that has been placed has been, in spite of conditions, rather than by their assistance.” That is the way the Canadian representative of several American mills sized up the situation for THE IRON AGE to-day. In many ways he is right. Following the signing of the armistice many of the firms that had been en- in munitions were tied up for some time waiting for adjustments for canceled contracts. In many cases these have been made. In others the final award has not yet been made. Then came the work of investi- gation for new lines that would find markets that had previously been served by enemy countries. None of these things did anything for the steel market, nor for the pig iron or scrap market, except to bring forth a number of single-purpose machines for disposal in the tice gaged ¢ latter. The Matter of Prices The steel situation in the United States is very quickly reflected in the Canadian markets. The price at Pittsburgh or the price at Cleveland or Buffalo is the price at the Canadian point for the Canadian steel mills, jlus freight, duty and exchange. One word tells the whole story of the Canadian trade for the first three months of the year, and that word is “waiting.” Buying was for actual needs. Warehouses did business on hand- to-mouth tactics. They were not going to stock material that was liable to mean a small financial funeral for them later on. Statements were made by several of the leading financiers about this time that were, to state the truth, plainly pessimistic, and their effect was not calculated to help put any confidence into the market. The announcement of March 21 concerning the prices that had been submitted to the United States Govern- ment did something to stabilize the situation here. There was some response in the way of buying, but most of it was for contracts that had been secured, and buying for future use was not done. The investment buyer stayed out, hoping for better prices. Labor Troubles But the big trouble was yet to come in the way of labor trouble. Although it did not break until May, there were rumors of the storm some weeks in ad- vance. It was just one more monkey wrench tossed into the wheels, only it happened to be the biggest and most injurious of all. For instance, one American agent had signed a contract to supply material to a firm for the manufacture of automobile rims in To- The work was to be undertaken in a big way. day after the papers were signed the general was declared, and the steel mills did not hold firm to the contract. The proposition has been abandoned. Boiler shops, marine work, agricultural and automobile makers were hit, especially in the To- ronto district. The strike has stopped any chance for much business in structurals for this season, and it may be that there will be men looking for work that would otherwise have been provided, finishing the interiors this winter of buildings where the structural erection had been completed. One ship and boiler shop stated to-day that the wages their shop would have paid, had there been no strike, would have amounted thus far to $240,000. But in spite of all these conditions business is being ronto. The strike the THE IRON July 24, 191¢ _ AGE [At the meeting in Chicago other papers on 3 subject are.expected. The discussion will probably be participated in by many prominent metallurgists it is likely that some very valuable data will be n public, some of it results of work held back beca of the war.] e placed. Above have been set forth the discoura; features. There is another side. One selling ag representing American firms reported to-day that had booked an order for 15,000 tons, the largest si order for over a year. Inquiries are good, and a num ber of them are being converted into orders. Firms that have men on strike are not taking advantage of can- cellation clauses in their contracts, and the larger warehousing interests are placing business now for three months, a thing that has not been done for some time past. There is a feeling that prices are not going recede, and the placing of new orders for Government ships means good business, especially for plates, tubes etc. The Canadian Plate Mill The contract made this week between the Dominion government and the Dominion Steel Corporation is com- ing in for some criticism. The work of the mil! at Sydney, N. S., was stopped because the first price of 4.15c. per lb. was considered too high after the war As stated in THE IRON AGE last week, the price now agreed upon is 3.65c., and the quantity contracted for is 250,000 tons. Apart from Government work, it is hard to see how plate from this mill can be a com- mercial competitor. For instance, plate from Pitts- burgh can be laid down in Toronto at 2.92%c., plus exchange, whereas the Sydney plate would be 4.20c. Then, again, it is very likely that the Canadian Steel Corporation, a branch of the United States Steel Cor- poration, will build its own plate mill at Ojibway, across from Detroit. One official of that concern is re- ported as saying that they intended to go ahead, “no matter if 14 other firms decided to put plate mills Canada.” The mill will be used not only for Canadian business, but for exporting to other sections of the British Empire under the preferential tariffs. Merger Is Declared Off The much-discussed merger between the Dominion Steel Corporation and the Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Co. is off. There have been plenty of rumors of this for weeks past. Boston interests are in control of the Nova Scotia company, and it was said they were ver) anxious that the deal go through. Purchase Plant of British Chemical Co., Ltd. Briggs & Turivas, Chicago and New York, dealers in iron and steel scrap and salvage, have purchased from the Imperial Munitions Board of Canada, the entire plant and property of the British Chemical Co., Ltd., located at Trenton, Ont. A Canadian corporation under the name of Briggs & Turivas of Canada, Ltd., and capitalized at $1,200,000 has been formed, with main offices in the Canadian Pacific R. R. Building at Toronto, Ont., and a branch office at Trenton, Ont The property consists of 255 acres and fronts the Tren- ton River, a navigable stream. Three trunk line rail- roads enter the plant. The British Chemical Co. was formed and built during the war at an output of ap- proximately $8,000,000. The equipment consists prin- cipally of