The Iron Age 1920-06-24: Vol 105 Iss 26

ESTABLISHED 1855 Pittsburg, Cal.,50 miles northeast of San Fran- cisco, has been so important in Pacific coast in- dustry, recently completed a modern rolling mill ad- joining the steel foundry. The products of this mill consist of square deformed bars for reinforcing, from %% in. to 114 in., plain square and round bars, in. and Tn Columbia Steel Co., whose steel foundry at from 1% in. to 1% in., and rivet rods, %% larger. Cleveland, assisted by D. H. Botchford, the com- pany’s general manager, and had originally a 20-ton basic open-hearth furnace. A 10-ton acid open-hearth furnace was added and later a 30-ton basic fur- nace, making the present capacity of the open- hearth department about 7000 tons per month. Im- portant additions were made to the steel foundry in the period of the war and it was under inten- sive operation in all that period, supplying castings to Pacific coast shipyards in addition to its regular products, which are prin- cipally railroad and sugar mill castings. The open-hearth depart- ment supplies the new rolling mill with 8-in. in- gots cast in groups of 24 and bottom poured. The newly completed plant consists of an 18-in. mer- chant mill. an _ 18-in. roughing mill and a 12-in. finishing mill, which were furnished by the United Engineering & Foundry Co., Pittsburgh. The ar- rangement of these mills together with the heating furnaces, power equip- ment, cooling beds, etc., is shown in the accompany- The steel foundry was described in THE IRON AGE of Jan. 23, 1919, by J. D. Fenstermacher, the company’s general sales manager. under the supervision of the late S. T. Wellman, of It was erected year. o “hutraoctor 450 Hp. Motor f — oh Ory m as rack oP 9 "Rovahin : ] “an ame r< berg} — Who Moor Meese | 257 rpm oo.) ro: 450-Ho. Motor | BMI rot } / TR a 450 f am 4 gd ] Koll Lathe } 300H0..\ a, Mrndn | +7 5 ap] Lee Direct Connected BiacksM/TH SHOP 5) f 7 P=] | La] | | } cae s | & | | ri~x |} Feels & | Arrangement of > | 3 New Billet and Q | | | Bar Mills of th 5 OPEN CovrRrT KR Columbia Steel x 2. || Co Pittsburg, > “a . . S ~S California. = . 2 N : ~ | U/| 2 & . Mer Beo KE Hor BER ; Pee) | a Bi06.,| | 0x20 a!) 4x 200 | Snippine Building | [ Scale 40x 200' A Modern Bar Mill at Pittsburg, California Motor-Driven 18-Inch and 12-Inch Stands for the Production of Bars and Small Shapes, in Part for the Export Trade VOL. 105, No. 2 ing plan view, which includes also an 8-in. mill. This latter is now building and will be started late in the It will roll small sizes and these will be reeled. On March 29, 1920, the first product was rolled at the new plant. The 18-in. merchant bar mill is used to break down the 8 x 8-in. ingots into billets which are finished into bars by the 12-in. Belgian mill. The latter started operations on April 5. ally large rounds, squares and light Shapes will be finished on the 18-in. mill direct from the ingot. The three mills are motor-driven, there being in the case of a Pacific Coast rolling mill, in addition Eventu- to the usual advantages | of electric drive, that of low-priced current. Coming from the open-hearth department the ingots are charged into a continuous heating furnace, end oil-fired, and of the pusher type, 91 ft. long, 6 ft. 6 in. wide, with a capacity of 104 ingots. An ingot extractor, de- signed and built by the company and operated by compressed air, travels back and forth on a track between the _ discharge end of the furnace and a conveyor leading to the tilting table serving the 18-in. mill. It is equipped with tongs which open and close and raise and lower. A table revolves on the car, since it is nec- essary to turn every other ingot as it comes from the furnace so as to get the small end of each into the blooming rolls first, effecting a consid- erable saving in time. Thus also the ingots go to the shear in proper or- der for cropping. The ex- tractor, which is operated by a boy, has an ordinary 3-way air cock control, acting quickly and effici- ently. The 18-in. mill has ee OG ~om pe > ae ae Ee ee a Ses THE IRON AGE Mill Building four stands, three of which are three-high and the other two-high. It is driven by an 800 hp. heavy duty, slip ring type rolling mill motor with a speed of 257 r.p.m. With reduction gear 3 to 1 the mill speed is 85 r.p.m. The flywheel is 16 ft. in diame- ter and weighs 20 tons. The mill is equipped with outboard bearings and inclosed pinions. At pres- ent two mechanical tilting tables, one on each side, handle the piece in rolling. Another set of tables will be provided later. The plan view shows the provision made for billet storage and for the transfer of billets to an end oil-fired, continuous furnace which is 45 ft. 18-In. Merchant Mill. Mill in Foreground long and 13 ft. wide. This, like the furnace of the 18-in. mill, is equipped with skid pipes circulating water. A conveyor delivers billets from the fur- nace directly to the 18-in. roughing mill. A down- side roughing table is now being installed, also a bar conveyor for handling bars from the rough- ing mill to the 12-in. finishing: mill. This last, which is a Belgian mill, has five stands, four of which are three-high and one two-high. .The roughing mill and finishing mill are each driven independently by a 450 h.p. motor with a speed of 450 r.p.m. The roughing mill speed is 100 r.p.m., reduction gear being 4!» to 1. The fly wheel is 12 Ingot furnace in the background June 24, 1920 THE IRON AGE ae ~~ — cd oe ue Al» a ele ng Billet Direct] into 18-ir Roughing Mi -Inecl Finishing Mill, with |! outs Cooling beds at Ingot extractor and Billet to Shear a H | tue RE wt ; > pens > nt ey tty Heme rg Flam to ¥ tn » , ecg ear 1782 THE IRON AGE ft. in diameter and weighs 14 tons. In the case of the 12-in. mill the speed is 185 r.p.m., reduction gear being 214 to 1. The fly wheel is 10 ft. in di- ameter and weighs 10 tons. Both the mills have inclosed pinions. The mill motors are alternating current and the table and conveyor motors direct current. All motors, transformers and _ switch- boards were furnished by the General Electric Co.; the reduction gear sets were furnished by the Falk Co., Milwaukee, and the flywheels were cast and machined by the Joshua Hendy Iron Works, San Francisco. The tables, conveyors and shears were designed and built by the Columbia Steel Co. The cooling bed for the 12-in. mill is 20 ft. wide and 200 ft. long with top and bottom conveyors. The bars are delivered by bottom conveyors to fin- ishing shears in the end of the storage building. Similar hot bed equipment will be supplied for the 18-in. merchant mill. Ground was broken for the building founda- tions on Aug. 8, 1919. Due to the coal, steel and railroad strikes, the work was set back from time to time but in spite of these obstacles excellent progress was made later, as is indicated by the starting of the mills before the end of March. The buildings, which are of structural steel, fabricated and erected by Dyer Brothers, San Francisco, are of the V roof type, and are covered with galvan ized, corrugated iron. All are light and airy, with high roofs, the minimum crane clearance being 28 ft. The billet building is 60 x 260 ft., and the mill building 60 x 240 ft., with a lean-to 40 x 200 ft. The hot bed buildings are each 40 x 200 ft. and the shipping and storage building 80 x 200 ft. Two Decline in British Non-Ferrous Metals The following comparison of British metal prices per gross ton at the end of February and on May 19 is given by the London Jron and Coal Trades Review to show clearly the enormous depreciation of values, un- precedented in so shor. a space of time, that has taken place: End February. May 19. Copper . a ee £121 0 0 £87 10 O Tin - Cane : 418 0 O 283 0 0 NE 6 a es thr me 61 0 O 44 15 O BO 26:64. seb bc oe ake © 51 0 0 37 5 0 Such movements cannot occur without causing seri- ous loss in the trades and industries using and dealing in these metals. If they were confined to metals, the reasons for them might be of little general importance, but similar and even worse demoralization dominates practically every market in the country, and the root causes are not far to seek and can be stated quite briefly as follows: Over-speculation. The mere discussion of a levy on capital increment since 1914, however gained, has produced a widespread feeling of alarm that, if it gets beyond discussion, the financial fabric of this country will stagger. Acting on the instigation of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the banks all over the country are stated to have withdrawn certain facilities to their customers, and apprehension, probably unjustified, has been occa- sioned. The British Ferroalloy Market Conditions in the British ferroalloy market are thus outlined by a recent issue of the London Jron and Coal Trades Review: Ferrovanadium is still in demand for a large tonnage, both for home and continental destinations, but there is little or no material to be obtained in this country, and there is also little in transit. Ferrochrome is slowly coming back to its own again, and increasing quantities are being inquired for in all grades. Low carbon gradés have not yet advanced, but June 24, 1929 5-ton overhead traveling cranes are provided for the billet building, a 10-ton traveling crane for the mill building and a 10-ton crane for the shipping and storage building. These were furnished }, the Cyclops Iron Works, San Francisco. The crane motors are alternating current. A feature of the plant which the visitor w))) not overlook is the precaution taken to insure safety. All gearing is solidly inclosed and motors transformers and flywheels are surrounded hy heavy wire screening. Steps and platforms are built to permit ready passage from one side of the mill to the other. A further feature is that the layout permits the travel of steel in practically straight line from the ingot to the finished bar in the storage warehouse. This is no small factor in securing economical production. There was no in terruption in the early period of operation, as is commonly the case, the first month showing an av- erage output of about 100 tons per 8-hr. turn. Op- eration is now on a two-shift basis. The product of the new mill is sold both in the export and the domestic trade. Material for ex- port is shipped direct by lighters from the com- pany’s docks, which are located on the New York slough of the San Joaquin River. Both the San Joaquin and the Sacramento rivers empty into Suisun Bay, a short distance from the plant. Ship- ments from the docks are delivered alongside steamers in San Francisco Bay. Two transcon- tinental railroads, the Santa Fe and the Southern Pacific, connect with the plant and the San Fran- cisco & Sacramento Electric Railway line gives added facilities. the improved rate of exchange between this country and France has adversely affected French material, and the British makers hold the market. MHigh-carbon grades maintain their recent advance, and are expected to improve further. Ferrotungsten supplies are easy, and the price of 3s. 3d. per lb. is maintained. Tungsten-powder can be obtained with fairly prompt delivery at 3s. 9d. per lb. Twelve per cent ferrosilicon, blast-furnace grade, is offered at about £17 per ton makers’ works. Twenty- five per cent ferrosilicon, electric-furnace manufacture, is about £20 per ton, while 45 per cent and 75 per cent grades remain firm at about £25 and £37 10s. per ton respectively. Stock deliveries can be given in all cases. The following are current prices of ferroalloys and metals for steel making. Prices are net, delivered Shef- field steel works: Ferrotungsten (low carbon).—80 to 85 per cent, 3s. 3d. per lb. Tungsten metal powder.—98 to 99 per cent, 3s. 9d, per Ib. Ferrochrome (5-ton lots).—4 to 6 per cent carbon, £46 ton, scale 15s. unit; 6 to 8 per cent carbon, £44 ton, scale 15s. unit; 8 to 10 per cent carbon, £42 ton, scale 15s. unit; all 60 per cent basis. > Ferrochrome (specially refined), broken in small pieces for crucible steel work; quantities of 1 ton or over.—Max 2 per cent carbon guaranteed, £97 10s. ton, scale 34s. unit; max, 1 per cent carbon guaranteed, £112 ton, scale 39s. unit; max. 0.75 per cent carbon guaranteed, £128 ton, scale 47s. unit; all 60 per cent basis. Ferromanganese.—76 to 78 per cent loose, £37 ton; ex- port, £45 ton; packed, £1 per ton extra. 5 a Ferrosilicon.—40 to 50 per cent, £25 ton, basis 45 per cent, scale 8s. unit; ditto, 75 per cent, £37 10s. ton, basis 70 per cent, scale 12s. 6d. unit. Ferrovanadium.—35 to 40 per cent Va., 60s. Ib. of Va. contained in alloy. Ferromolybdenum.—70 to 80 per cent Mo., 11s. lb. of Mo contained in alloy. Ferrotitanium.—23 to 25 per cent Ti:, carbon free, 1s. 10d. lb., flat price. Ferro-carbon-titanium.—15 to 18 per cent Ti., 84d. Ib. ton lots, flat price The strike in foundries at York, Pa., is not proving very troublesome. THE IRON AGE is advised that none of the foundries was shut down entirely, and all are working with production very little reduced. A few pickets are out and one strike fence has been erected, but there*has been no serious trouble. Use of Nut Coke in the Blast Furnace Result of an Interesting Experiment Reported at Southern Ohio Pig Iron and Coke Association— Serious Car Shortage Discussed at Ironton Meeting T the regular bi-monthly meeting of the Southern Ohio Pig Iron and Coke Association, attended by representatives of blast furnaces and coke producers operating in the Ashland, Ky., Ironton, Ports- mouth, Hanging Rock, Jackson-Wellston, Hamilton and Columbus districts, a very interesting paper was read by J. B. Rogers, superintendent of the Norton Iron Works, Ashland, Ky., on “The Use of Nut Coke in the Blast Furnace.” Mr. Rogers’ paper, covering, as it does, the operation of the furnace for a long period, will prove very instructive to operators everywhere, and for this reason the paper is reproduced in full here. A very interesting discussion followed the reading of the paper, and much valuable information gleaned from the experiences of other operators with nut coke. It developed that some furnaces are now using coke that passes over a %-in. screen. One operator re- ported that he did not get as much breeze as from regular furnace coke, and did not make as mach flue dust. The practice of putting coke breeze into furnaces will always give trouble, according to the experiences of several operators, while it was the opinion of coke operators present that small-sized coke must be free from breeze to be used efficiently. In addition to the results secured from the use of nut coke in the com- pany’s blast furnace, Mr. Rogers stated that nut coke was also successfully used in the cupola of their foundry making small castings. A report of tests made on burning properties of coke was made by Mr. Tillinghast, and he will, in con- junction with the committee cn standards, continue his experiments in this connection. H. E. Bourne, of Oglebay, Norton & Co., Cleveland, brought up the question of the serious shortage of cars, stating that in his opinion the Interstate Commerce Commission should revert to the 1918 plan of car dis- tribution, at the Lake ore docks. It was the sense of the meeting that cars should be distributed on the basis of furnace requirements, instead of boat capacity, as is being done, with the result that some interests are now getting more than their fair allotment, afd a telegram was dispatched to the director of service of the com- mission urging that a more equitable distribution of cars be made. A discussion also took place on the proposed freight rate increase, and while no opposition to the railways getting fair compensation was expressed, it was felt that the freight rate on iron ore from mine to vessel should be reduced. The committee on furnace rating reported progress, and a discussion followed as to the best methods of securing accurate ratings. This question will be taken up again at the next meeting, when more data will be available. The association is endeavoring to secure a standard method of sampling ore and coke at furnaces, and sev- eral plans were suggested, but no definite action taken, the whole question being referred to the committee on samples and analysis. Mr. Rogers’ Paper Mr. Rogers’ paper follows: “On Jan. 8, 1920, the blast furnace of the Norton Iron Works at Ashland, Ky., was forced to bank on account of its inability to secure coke. There was ab- solutely no furnace coke offering on the market at that time. Incidentally, in response to inquiries sent out by the Norton Iron Works we were offered a tonnage of egg-size domestic coke. The question arose quite nat- urally, Will the furnace operate on egg coke? In the absence of any established precedent, the writer ven- tured the opinion that it would give satisfactory re- sults—not as good as all standard coke, but it would make it possible to operate the furnace and not be forced to suspend operations indefinitely. “The management, acting on this suggestion, pur- chased 9000 tons of egg coke with the feeling that it was more or less in the nature of an experiment. On Jan. 31, we had received a sufficient amount of egg coke to start the furnace. This was done and the fur- nace worked normally, making foundry iron averaging 3 per cent and over in silicon and all low sulphurs. The output for ten days, including the day of starting up, averaged 155 tons per day; the volume of blast was less than normal, ranging 18,000 to 24,000 cu. ft. per min- ute, with fuel consumption around 2800 lb., blast pres- sure from 12 to 15 Ib., burden ratio, 1.6 to 1. On Feb. 9 we were still using 100 per cent egg coke. Silicons had been ranging from 2% per cent to 3 per cent, output 200 tons per day; coke consumption, 2500 lb.: burden ratio, 1.75 to 1; blast pressure, 12 to 15 lb. “At this date, acting upon a suggestion from Mr. Colville, of Eaton, Rhodes & Co., we used walnut size coke in our furnace for the first time. On Feb. 10, 11 and 12 respectively we used a 50-50 mixture of egg and walnut size coke, and under the most careful ob- servations we found practically the same operating con- ditions as heretofore, with this exception—the furnace came up hotter and we increased the blast volume about 5 per cent. From Feb. 13 to 25, 100 per cent egg coke was used and from the latter date on to the close of the month we ran on a 50-50 egg and walnut mixture; output 200 tons per day of foundry averaging 2% per cent silicon, sulphurs under 0.030; coke consumption, 2400 lb.; burden ratio, 1.80 to 1; blast volume, 24,000 cu. ft. per minute; blast pressure, 11 to 13 Ib. “The month of March we ran two days on foundry, 23 days on Bessemer, six days on malleable; fuel 50-50 egg and walnut. The tonnage for the month was 6970, or 225 tons per day; fuel consumption, 2380 tb.; blast volume, 26,000 cu. ft.; blast pressure, 12 to 14 lb.; bur- den ratio, 1.9 to 1; silicon, 1.20 to 2.5 per cent, all low sulphurs. “On April 10 all of the egg coke was consumed and no more available, so we were forced to run on 100 per cent nut coke from April 10 to 17, when we were in position to obtain some furnace coke on account of the conditions following the switchmen’s outlaw strike of April 14. The result of the six days’ run on 100 per cent nut coke are as follows: April 11, 225 tons; 12th, 180; 13th, 180; 14th, 215; 15th, 210; 16th, 205; total, 1217; average, 208 tons per day. From the first to the 14th of April, tonnage produced was 2811, made on 50-50 egg and nut for 10 days, and six days 100 per cent nut. The average for the remainder of the month from the 17th on, using 50-50 egg and furnace, was 215 tons; fuel consumption, 2350 Ib.; blast pres- sure, 10 to 12 lb.; blast volume, 26,000 cu. ft. The month of May is summarized as follows: May 1 to 23, 50-50 furnace and nut; 24 to 29, 100 per cent nut; 30 and 31, 50-50 furnace and nut; tonnage for month, 5900; coke consumption, 2500 lb. Since June 9, we have been running on all nut coke. Due to a shortage of limestone, we were compelled to slow down in the driving of the furnace, but within the past few days we have been relieved in this respect and have been able to drive the furnace faster. Yesterday, June 17, using all nut coke, we produced 190 tons of standard Bessemer, silicon 1.55 and over; burden ratio, 1.75 to 1; blast volume, 26,000 cu. ft.; blast pressure, 12 to 14 Ib. The blast temperatures have been uniformly about 900 degrees Fahrenheit, covering the period described in this paper. Conclusions Not Definite “The foregoing are simply the results of the opera- tion of this particular furnace rather hastily presented 1783 e : ; : omen > - a . NARS RIE era aN ae + 2a ae ae ee rem te ll ve aye oF aT apg ye 1 acacia EIR ‘att eS wer een Le ag a AE PN ee “ 7 ot ere oe rates Spice aatcteenagite PRY eet thet os - REESE TE ER PR. op Cr n, 1784 THE IRON AGE to you. The writer regrets that he has not more time to devote to the preparation of this paper so that it could have been presented in a more concise form. The data are rather unsatisfactory as a basis to draw any very definite conclusions. We have learned, however, at this plant that it is possible to produce pig iron using 100 per cent nut coke. Since May 1, a large percentage of our coke charge has been chestnut size, probably 60 per cent, with 40 per cent walnut, and at times 100 per cent chestnut. The walnut size coke passes over a l-in. and through a 1%%-in. screen, while’ the chestnut passes over a %-in. and through a %-in. mesh. “So long: as the nut coke is clean and necessarily dry, with no dust adhering to it, it gives no trouble in the furnace. On the other hand, when it is wet and contains coke dust and breeze, even when clinging to the larger pieces of coke, it has invariably caused slight hanging and slipping of the furnace, but so far at our plant it has not been more serious than to necessitate an occasional checking of the furnace. “T wish to emphasize the fact that during this cam- paign of using nut coke, it has been made on an old furnace. This furnace was blown in on Sept. 9, 1915, and has run continuously with the exception of a period SULPHUR SEGREGATION Aluminum Additions as a Preventive—Effect of Titanium BY GEORGE F. COMSTOCK’ HE article in THE IRON AGE, May 20, on “Alumi- num Additions and Sulphur Segregation,” though probably correct in its facts as far as they are stated, does not go into the subject deeply enough to avoid giving an erroneous impression as to the effects of aluminum additions. The authcr of the article in ques- tion brings out the fact that by killing soft steel with aiuminum, segregation may be prevented, and also con- Photomicrograph. 200 Dia., of an Unetched Section of Soft Steel Killed in the Mold with Aluminum cludes that it is better to add the aluminum all through teeming of the ingot, rather than on‘y at the top. The photomicrograph is one of a piece of soft steel which was killed in the mold with aluminum. It shows an unetched section, magnified 200 diameters. The black specks are alumina particles, which were found in practically the same abundance in every specimen examined from this ingot of steel. Streaks of alumina like this have been known to cause serious failures of steel, and they nearly always appear in steel killed with aluminum. In ingots treated only at the top with aluminum there is less danger of forming such bad streaks of alumina, and this difference is a much more important reason for confining the addition to the top *Metallurgist, Titanium Alloy Mfg. Co Niagara Falle, N. Y June 24, 192 of six months from Jan. 9, 1919, to July 1, 1919. has produced something over 340,000 tons of pig to date. “The bosh was very thin when the furnace blown in on July 1 last, the bosh plates being exp from 10 to 14 in. in places. It has been necessa; build up the bosh by using smaller openings jn tuyeres than would be used on a new lining. It be hoped for the good of the fraternity that son, may carry on the experiment of using nut coke normally working furnace with a proper lining. | lieve the results obtained will be satisfactory and haps startling. “In closing, I wish to state that there is one which seems to stand out from among all the among blast furnace managers, and that is that observance of precedents deters us all from often tempting many things in the operation of a blast nace that might prove to be of practical ‘benefit to 1 industry at large. Personally, had I been given choice between furnace coke and nut coke, I do think I need to voice the answer here, but when it wa a question of nut coke or quit, I believe you have th answer in the few facts I have endeavored to vive you.” than is any reason which the author gives for making the addition throughout the teeming. It is quite well known that killing steel with any deoxidizer, either aluminum, silicon or titanium, will prevent segregation, but if either of the ftirst two is used, the steel is always contaminated with alumina or silicates, and the result is a dirty product. Ferro- carbon-titanium can be used for this purpose without making the steel dirty, and it is unique in being the only deoxidizer which can give this result. It should not be added in the molds, however, but in the ladle about 10 min. before the ingots are teemed. Different quantities are used in different kinds of steel according to the results desired, but usually in soft steels on-y from 2.5 to 5 lb. per ton are used, which is not suf- ficient to kill the steel. Makers of the highest quality of soft steel for sheets, plates, etc., usually prefer to allow the gases to escape from the steel in the molds rather than to completely kill it. When titanium is used this can be done without any serious segregation of sulphur, as is shown by the following figures, taken from tests at several different mills: Structural steel, about 0.25 per cent carbon, sampled after 5 per cent discard: Per Cent Titanium treated, sulphur at edge ..... 0.026 Titanium treated, sulphur at center 0.029 Aluminum treated, sulphur at edge. ...... 0.024 Aluminum treated, sulphur at center . Facnin eee Sheet-bar steel, about 0.12 per cent carbon, sulphur as follows: Treatment Location in Ingot Edge of Bar Center of Ba { Top 024 .046 Plain ... ieee Middle .027 .030 | Bottom .022 021 Top 025 .036 Titanium-Treated.. Middle 021 .039 Bottom 024 .023 { Top .040 .050 Plain . nies Middle .029 .029 | Bottom 030 029 { Top .030 .040 Titanium-Treated.. { Middle 029 .029 | Bottom .026 .027 Top .036 .070 PRO. cc das Keane Seas Middle .038 .043 Bottom .038 040 { Top .050 056 Titanium-Treated.. Middle .043 041 | Bottom 041 .045 The Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad is spending more than $1,000,000 for new rolling stock and rails. Fifteen locomotives have been added to the equipment, and the first consignments of an order for 300 box cars have been received. Four thousand tons of new 100-1b. rails is being laid at Lima, O.- During the last eight months the D. T. & I., it is announced, handled the greatest traffic in its history, without placing a single embargo where the road was able to obtain prompt acceptance, either with connections or consignees. June 24, 1920 STEEL PILED HIGH Slow Progress at Youngstown in Improving Con- ditions—Lower Steel Prices Expected YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, June 22.—At the close of the week, approximately 500,000 tons of finished steel glutted mill yards and warehouses, indicating that rail- roads are making little headway against production. This piled tonnage included plants throughout the Youngstown district. Coal shipments continue ade- quate for operating requirements. Belief prevails that output in the last half of the year will be greater than in the first half, but managers expect many difficulties, due to the straitened transportation situation. Stee! demand is brisk and promises to keep up, but the in- dustry faces an indefinite period of delayed and belated shipment of product, in the opinion of leading execu- tives. Sheet production in the Mahoning Valley is at the average rate of 80 per cent of normal. New uses for sheet steel are constantly being devised, and there seems to be no limit to the demand, declare makers, who have no apprehensions that capacity has been overreached due to extensions in the past three years. Additional sheet productive capacity is being planned by Valley interests, while the Republic Iron & Steel Co. is engaged in a comprehensive extension program at its DeForest works at Niles, whose capacity is to be doubled. The construction program at the DeForest plant involves four or five years of activity and the expenditure of several million dollars. In view of the difficulties attendant upon deliveries, makers of sheets are concentrating their energies upon the regular trade. Deliveries are now being made at prices much below current quotations, the business hav- ing been booked several months ago. There is a marked easing up in demand for blue annealed and it is likely several makers will be in position to entertain new business shortly. Some price recessions in all grades of sheets are expected. The spread on galvanized is from 8.50c. to 9.50c., on black. 8c. to 9c. and on blue annealed 6.50c. to 7c. It is believed makers will be in much better position by the end of the quarter to con- sider new specifications. Heavier Movement of Pipe The Youngstown district is a large producer of pipe and output is now on a more satisfactory basis than a month ago. Large tonnages are going to the mid- continent and southwestern oil fields for oil casing, and the demand from this source is unabated. The most satisfactory shipments have been made in trainload consignments. Makers of both wrought iron and steel pipe are heavily oversold. The leading maker will start a large unit this quarter which will be devoted solely to the larger sizes of lapweld. Output was considerably checked during the last three months and for that rea- son large orders still remain on the books of the prin- cipal producers. Some mills are booked for the re- mainder of the year on both lapweld and buttweld. The Carnegie Steel Co. has placed its recently com- pleted 18-in. band mill at the McDonald works in com- mission. The unit was completed June 1 and has un- dergone thorough trial tests. Five mills are now active at this works and four others are to be installed. Blast furnace schedules are unchanged, with 20 active stacks out of 25 in the Mahoning Valley. Fur- naces which are not supported by by-product coke oven units and must depend for their coke supply upon outside sources are encountering serious operating dif- ficulties. Coal supply for by-product batteries is as- sured by reason of a priority ruling, but coke is not thus favored. Furnaces of the Carnegie Steel Co., A. M. Byers Co., Struthers Furnace Co, and Sharon Steel Hoop Co. are in this category and managers re- port output is affected. Steel Mill Operations No. 1 blooming mill of the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co., which has been operating on one turn, was put on double turn this week. The rod mill suspended THE IRON AGE 1785 owing to the fact that the wire mill has supplies for the time being. Republic Iron & Steel Co. is operating on an 80 per cent basis, and this week added No. 2 10-in. mill to the operating units. Trumbull Steel Co. added 10 sheet and tin mills te the active list this week and is operating as closely to normal as fuel and transportation will permit. Brier Hil! Steel Co., the largest district sheet and plate producer, is operating these units on an 80 per cent basis. Upon request of committees of employees, the Sha- ron Steel Hoop Co. has returned to the old basis of starting its Haselton hot mills at 6 o’clock Monday morning. About three months ago, the first shift was changed to start at 11:45 Sunday evening, as is the practice in a number of other mills. The men com- plained, though, that they were unable to rest during the hot weather after completing the first shift at 8 a.m. on Menday, and asked for a return to the old plan. Failure of the manufacturers to reach an agree- ment with employees in the sheet mills is holding up some contracts for sheet bars. Consumers as a rule prefer to know the outcome of the yearly conference before placing their contracts. Most of the second quarter rollings are now being completed. Much of the output is being stocked, though nearby consumers are having their requirements filled. The price of open- hearth sheet bars is unchanged at $75. A large dealer in plate ends is finding a ready mar- ket for his commodity and is sending much material abroad, to China and Japan. In the Shenango Valley, the Fannie furnace at West Middlesex has been blown out and will be overhauled. No. 2 furnace of the Carnegie Steel Co. at Farrell has suspended and will be rebuilt, its capacity to be en- larged from 350 to 500 tons. Failed to Prevent Meeting of Dominion Steel Corporation At the annual meeting of the shareholders of the Dominion Steel Corporation, held in Montreal, June 18, the directors who, the day before, tried to secure a legal injunction to postpone the meeting on the ground that they wanted more information about the proposed Brit- ish Empire Steel Corporation, were not re-elected to the board. The directors who opposed the holding of the meeting were: J. H. Plummer and E. R. Wood, To- ronto, Ont.; William McMaster, George Caverhill and John Raoul Dandurand of Montreal, Que. The new board elected consists of Viscount Furness, Sir Clifford Sifton, Sir Henry Pellatt, Sir William Mackenzie, Sir William D. Reid, Hon. Frederick Nicholls, Stanley El- kins, M. P., Hon. Charles Beaubien, H. B. Smith, Ed- mund Bristol, J. W. Norcross, Sir Newton Moore, Ben- jamin Talbot, J. F. Stewart and Roy M. Wolvin. A special meeting of the stockholders of the Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Co., New Glasgow, N. S., will be held June 25, for the purpose of considering and ap- proving an agreement entered into between the com- pany and the British Empire Steel Corporation on May 26 last. Slow Shipment to Sweden WASHINGTON, June 22.—Consul Walter H. Sholes reports from Goteborg, Sweden, that consumers of iron and steel in that country are eager for American prod- ucts, but with the rise in prices and the high rate of exchange, serious obstacles are being encountered in their importation. Besides this must be added the un- certainty of delivery, which is another feature which will prove a bar to future business, if not remedied. It was stated that deals closed in August for delivery in November had not been executed at the end of Febru- ary of this year. In the meantime the rate of exchange had advanced, causing heavy losses to the Swedish buyers. American firms, Mr. Sholes says, seem to insist on money being deposited long before the goods are shipped, whereas the Swedish importer in trading with England and Germany has been accustomed to 30 days, with one and two per cent discount for cash. IE 0 oe — Ess om cng Der paver A Re ee PPA RE A I 1786 THE IRON AGE New Sizes of Small Pneumatic Tools Several new sizes of small portable pneumatic tools have recently been added to the line of Little David pneumatic tools, manufactured by the Ingersoll-Rand Co., 11 Broadway, New York. The new tools include a small size of close quarter drill to be known as No. 8, a small high speed pneumatic grinder in two types, Nos. 601 and 602, and a lightweight drill furnished in two styles, Nos. 6 and 600. These new tools have been de- veloped to satisfy the demands for a light weight, high speed machine for certain classes of work, for which the heavier tools were not entirely adapted. The No. 8 close quarter drill is for use where the ordinary machine is not suitable, as close to a wall or corner. It runs at 250 r.p.m. without load, but will handle drilling, reaming or tapping up to 1% in. diam- eter. The spindle which turns the drill, reamer or tap is operated by three rocking levers connected directly to the pistons through connecting rods. The motor is June 24, 1929 Business Conditions at Detroit DETROIT, June 21.—A recent questionnaire sent oy: to Detroit manufacturers and machine tool dealers }) a local publication indicated that the feeling was de cidedly optimistic. The general opinion may be outlined as follows: Business is satisfactory, although there has bee, some falling off in purchases during recent weeks. Th, transportation and labor situations are improving Business is doing just as much as possible under th, circumstances—probably better than might be expected The Federal Reserve system is able to weather an storm. The public is retrenching in buying, and th: result is likely to be a softening of prices about th, first of next year. The demand for Detroit automobiles is not so strong as it was 60 days ago. Machine tool manufacturers and dealers think that rumors that have been spread recently have caused the New Ingerso!!-Rand Pneumatic Tools Designed for Light Weight and High Speed. Reading from left to right, the tools are the No. 8 close quarter drill, No, 601 grinder, No. 600 drill, No. 6 drill and No. 602 grinder of the three cylinder type with pistons acting at right angles to the levers. A steady, continuous movement of the spindle is obtained, as one ratchet pawl is al ways in contact with a tooth of the spindle. The No. 601 and No. 602 grinders with a free speed of 4200 r.p.m. are suitable for grinding, buffing or pol- ishing work of a varied nature. Both machines have the same motor, but are equipped with different throt- tle and handle, the No. 601 having the closed type of inside trigger handle, while the No. 602 is fitted with the rolling type of throttle handle. A special feature of these tools is the three cylinder motor—different from that of the No. 8 drill described above—which runs constantly in a bath of oil. The valve is made integral with the crankshaft, simplifying the design, and the piston and connecting rods are of special construction. Ball and roller bearings are used throughout. The removal of a few screws enables the handle to be lifted off and exposes the entire mechanism for inspection. The No. 6 and No. 600 drills are designed for drill- ing small holes without breakage of drills. They will handle twist drills from the smallest size up to % in. diameter. The free speed at 90 lb. air pressure is about 2000 r.p.m. The two machines differ essentially in the handle construction, the motors being the same. The No. 6 has the pistol grip type of handle, while No. 600 is furnished with breast plate and rolling throttle han- dle. Aluminum, reinforced with steel bushings, is used wherever possible, the No. 6 machine weighing only 9 lb. The motor is a three cylinder type, somewhat similar to that used in the grinders described above. The cyl- inders are separate iron castings, explained as access- ible, renewable and interchangeable. A sensitive throt- tle control and freedom from vibration are emphasized as features. The bearings are all either ball or roller type. small concerns to hold off in placing their orders, but the larger companies are not doing so. They all say that business is good, considering the conditions, and will get better before autumn. Freight Rate Hearing WASHINGTON, June 22.—Views of shippers have been heard in the hearing of the Interstate Commerce Commission during the past week on proposed increased freight rates. As a general proposition the shippers have not opposed such increases as may be considered proper by the commission. In some instances, however, objections have been made to specific increases pro- posed, as, for instance, to freight rates on sand and gravel, which it has been claimed would mean an in- crease of $1,000 per mile in the cost of road building. Maintenance of existing equalizations and relation- ships of rates has been the chief consideration of many of the different classes of shippers. Coal operators were among those appearing before the commission during the week. It was the opinion of most of them that they were content to leave the measure of increase to the commission. Somewhat sim- ilar statements were made by the grain interests. Directors of the Providence Gas Co., Providence, R. I., are considering the installation of a new hoist having an oven feeding capacity of 800 tons, which would bring the company’s coking unit up to a forced normal output basis. The company’s hoisting capacity is about 700 tons daily. The coke output averages about 560 tons daily, but with the new hoist it would easily reach 625 tons. In connection with the proposed new hoist, the directors are considering the installation of a new battery of coke ovens. Drop Forgers Meet at Atlantic City Pulverized Coal, Accident Prevention, Standard- ization, the Company Store, Up-setters and Forg- ing Machines—Topics at Annual Convention interest in the drop forging industry were dis- cussed at the seventh annual convention of the American Drop Forge Association, held at the Marl- borough-Blenheim Hotel, Atlantic City, N. J., June 17, 18 and 19. An attendance of 340 members and guests was recorded, 190 of these registering with the drop forge association and 150 with the supply association. Three sessions were held, Thursday afternoon and Friday morning and afternoon. The opening session scheduled for Thursday morning was omitted owing to the absence of many members due to arrive on a mid- day train. This necessitated the omission also of the address of welcome by the mayor of Atlantic City planned for this session. At the closing session on Fri- day afternoon, resolutions of respect and sympathy on the death of David M. Motherwell, a member of the association and a pioneer in the drop forge industry, were adopted. At this session also officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: New Officers President, Ferdinand Barnickel, Indianapolis Drop Forging Co., Indianapolis. Vice-president, J. P. Hopkins, Co., Lansing, Mich. Treasurer, T. W. Siemon, Union Switch & Signal Co., Swissvale, Pa. Secretary (To be elected and announced at a later date). Directors, William E. Crocombe, Ajax Forge Co., Chicago, chairman; R. T. Herdegen, Dominion Forge & Stamping Co., Walkerville, Ont., (re-elected); H. D. Stoddard, Wyman & Gordon Co., Worcester, Mass., (re-elected); F. A. Ingalls, Ingalls-Shepard Forge Co., Chicago, (re-elected); J. F. Connolly, Champion Ma- chine & Forge Co., Cleveland; F. W. Trabold, J. H. Williams & Co., Brooklyn, (re-elected); C. A. Brauch- ler, Canton Drop Forge Co., Canton, Ohio; E. J. Frost, Frost Gear & Forge Co., Jackson, Mich.; T. W. Siemon, Union Switch & Signal Co., Swissvale, Pa. The Drop Forge Supply Association re-elected its officers as follows: President, H. N. Taylor, N. & G. Taylor Co., Phila- delphia. Vice-president, Charles Harmon, National Machin- ery Co., Tiffin, Ohio. Secretary-treasurer, A. W. Wurster, Philadelphia representative Heppenstall Forge & Knife Co., Pitts- burgh. The membership of the executive committee was changed, Paul J. Driscoll, Tacony Steel Co., Philadel- phia, and J. A. Murray, Ajax Mfg. Co., Cleveland, be- ing elected. New members were elected on the entertainment committee as follows: Stuart Hazlewood, Midvale Steel & Ordnance Co., Philadelphia; Floyd Rose, Hep- penstall Forge & Knife Co., Pittsburgh; Guy A. Hagan, Lackawanna Steel Co., Buffalo, (re-elected). The chairman and one additional member will be added to this committee when the place of holding the next annual meeting is decided upon, these two to be local members. Jules Dierckx, Keller Mechanical Engraving Co., Brooklyn, was re-elected chairman of the membership committee. The other members are D. J. Crowley, National Machinery Co., Detroit, and J. E. Williams, forge engineer, Philadelphia. (TV interes in and commercial problems of live Atlas Drop Forge Forge Shop Lubricating System E. J. Frost, of the Frost Gear & Forge Co., Jack- son, Mich., president of the association, in opening the convention, explained that owing to the omission of the 1787 morning session, the customary addresses would be omitted, and then announced the first paper. The main points of the papers and the discussions follow. The problem of supplying the proper amount of lubricant to the steam drop hammer in actual practice was discussed by Harry Johnson, Ingalls-Shepard Forging Co., Harvey, Il. “This can be gotten at best,” he said, “through a series of tests conducted on one or more hammers. Inasmuch as the quality of steam supplied the hammer has considerable bearing on its successful lubrication, it is better to select one hammer for test at the extreme end of the steam line from the boiler plant, as a greater per cent cf moisture will be found in the steam at this point. Should this water be allowed to go over into the hammer with the steam, the oil would be washed off the wearing surfaces faster than the lubri- cator could supply it. “This moisture can be separated from the steam in a measure by placing a suitable cross in the steam main, taking the steam supply for the hammer off the top of the cross and draining the main through the lower opening of the cross with a suitable drip pocket and steam trap. “In fact, the success attained with any lubricating system in connection with steam cylinders depends on the layout of the steam line and the method employed in draining.” The speaker then gave details of a test on a 12,000 lb. steam drop hammer, made with the object of secur- ing an oil that would lubricate the hammers econcmi- cally, leaving the exhaust steam comparatively clean for heating purposes. This result, it was explained, was obtained with a product composed of a full filtered cylinder stock compounded with an acidless tallow oil. The oil was 22 Baumé at 60 deg. Fahr. and cost $0.55 per gal. delivered. The arrangement of a 2-quart 4-feed motor driven mechanical lubricator with its distributing system used to supply this oil was described in detail. The lubri- cator was centrally located in relation to the four ham- mers and 4 ft. from the floor in a steel cabinet, con- venient to the oiler. An electric heater was located di- rectly under the heater case, and the oil was discharged into the steam through a siphon atomizer. A variation in the quantity of oil supplied to any one hammer from one quart in 7% hr. to one quart in 45 hr. was found ample to lubricate any one of the hammers ranging from 1000 Ib. to 14,000 lb. in weight, one drop of oil per minute being supplied for each 2 sq. ft. of wearing surface involved in the circular area of the cylinder and that portion of the piston rod that passed through the piston rod packing. Cost figures on this lubricating system were given by the speaker. Originally the 12,000 lb. hammer was supplied with oil by a one quart steam lubricator lo- cated up on the steam line feeding the hammer, at a cost for labor and oil of $1.47 per 24 hr. This was contrasted with a total cost for oil, maintenance and power charge for the heater when the mechanical] lubri- cator was installed, of $0.41 per 24 hr., representing a saving for the mechanical lubricator of $1.06 per day. Due to the constant shock the steam lubricator is subjected to when located upon the steam supply pipe, feeding the hammer, it was found next to impossible to adjust the amount of oil supplied the hammer to any degree of accuracy. This was especially true on the larger hammer during the winter months. Forge Shop Finances A paper of particular interest to forge shop execu- tives was that presented by C. Oliver Wellington, Scovell-Wellington Co., Boston, giving the details of a , ‘ b AY BRON PITT v 2 Oa en eR re — oa" Reo sain lr Ras einai ne ee re eae arrow, lil ptt aE Re Ha eg a A AP ON tree Fp nen ean ppteanetaaey Rg) ty : : f f £ Y : ’ ; 4 : tee y . ' pn ; : { Yen, Yao ' ¥ . - AP i agp eres jee Og ee A wT. 7 « - rn ge ang aS a te ep ene ee ee Sa ue 1788 THE IRON AGE cost system for forge shops. “A cost system is of no value,” he said, “unless the information it gives is used as a basis for executive action.’”” The speaker emphasized the need for holding conferences of the executives, superintendents and foremen to discuss cost figures thus to stop leaks and attain better co-opera- tion. In a discussion of the paper, Edgar E. Adams em- phasized the need for keeping records cf individual units, “score cards,” and then letting the men in the shop know the “scores” that were being made, thus to bring the individual performance into prominence and promote interest and a spirit of rivalry, a method sim- ilar to that used to such good advantage in giving pub- licity to the players’ performance in baseball. The Company Store Interesting information as to the operation of a company store was given in a paper by Edgar E. Adams, Cleveland Hardware Co., Cleveland. He said in part: “The most prevalent in industrial, establishments are the small peddlers who sell a particular item in which they get interested. In some cases the heads of the institutions know and sanction these departments and in other institutions they are entirely ignorant of them, and in others they are absolutely against them end they are forbidden. Nevertheless, like the pub- lications in our prisons, they are there, and as far as I can find, there is no way of getting away from them.” The speaker then outtined how the stores depart- ment is operated by the Cleveland Hardware Co. They took their best office man, put him into the shop supply room and told every employee that the company “would buy anything from a yeast cake to a house and lot, giving them full advantage of the buying power and credit of the institution, but we would not put them under obligation to us, because we would add enough to cover all of our overhead. “This man almost immediately showed that our fac- tory superintendents had very little idea of the cost cf the supplies they were using and immediately gathered up from the tool room