The Iron Age 1920-11-18: Vol 106 Iss 21

STABLISHED 1855 ua THE IRON AGE New York, November 18, 1920 VOL. 106: No. 21 J Carbonizing So As to Insure a Tough Core A New Method Contrasted with One Regarded as Standard Present Prac- tice—Advantages of the Former BY EARL W. PIERCE* AND JOHN W. ANDERSON straight low carbon steel with a carbon content varying from 0.15 to 0.25 per cent as a means of producing material with a satisfactorily hardened case without sacrificing the quality of toughness in the core. Carbonizing, in the regular way, as adopted by the majority of heat treaters, is supposed to produce a tough core; but does it? The usual method for carbon- izing steel of this character and the subsequent pro- cedure for case hardening is as follows: Carbonizing heat of 1700 to 1800 deg. Fahr. with a general average 1750 deg. Fahr.; the length of time for carbonizing depending on depth of case desired, also on the physi- cal properties required of the part for which it is to be used. The first hardening heat or core refining ieat is around 1600 deg. Fahr., followed by the second r case refining heat of 1400 deg. Fahr. This treat- nent is usually followed by a low tempering heat of 300 deg. Fahr. to relieve excessive strains due to ardening. The object, of course, of the above treatment is to produce material with a hard wearing surface or case th a tough core. The hard case is produced very tisfactorily but at the expense of the core. The irdening heats may be carried out in an open fur- ice or may be made from a lead bath. In eithe ise the part in question receives a rapid hardening peration, which is necessary for three causes. First, apid heat is necessary for the core refining in order at decarbonization may not take place in the case i to prevent excessive scaling. Second, the case fining heat must be as rapid as possible and yet duce a product well hardened and free from soft ‘ts, and at a temperature which will insure a fine ‘ained structure. It is obvious that if the furnace nperature exceeds the critical point of the case and allowed to remain at that temperature, a crystalline wth takes place in the case which may later be ne cause of flaking and the pealing off of the case. hird, high speed production requirements demand rt and rapid heats It is therefore necéssary to prescribe a treatment will not* sacrifice the quality of toughness in the re. The secret of this treatment lies in the necessity keeping the carbonizing temperature as near the st hardening heat as possible or vice versa. The ethod requires a lowering of the carbonizing tempera- re, close to the core refining heat, as it would not practical to raise the hardening heat to the carbon- *Metallurgist and foreman of heat treating, Maxwell Motor , Inc., Newcastle, Ind. 7 HE following article deals with the carbonizing of izing temperature without danger of ruining the part. This method makes a longer carbonizing time necessary to produce the necessary depth of case, but this in- creased time is made up in the subsequent hardening heats which will respond to the rapid heats, with the desired physical qualities. This method of treatment is explained as follows: In carbonizing at an average temperature of 1750 deg. Fahr., the steel is held at a point which permits of rapid and deep penetration of the carbon, which is the only advantage of a high temperature. This high temperature at the same time permits a growth of the crystalline structure, as it is then considerably above the upper critical point. As it is held for several hours at this high temperature, the grain growth is established to such an extent that it is not recovered by the comparatively short duration of the high or core-refining heat. The result of such treatment is that the coarse grain structure established in carbon izing has not been overcome in the hardening operation and a coarse crystalline structure is noted in the fractured part after hardening. As pointed out above, the high hardening heat can not be maintained at a sufficiently high temperature, nor for a sufficient length of time, to refine the grain produced at the carbon- izing heat of 1750 deg. Fahr. It follows then that the quality of the core has been lost and the quality of toughness has been neglected. By lowering the carbonizing temperature to that of the core-refining heat, namely to 1600 deg. Fahr., it is obvious that the grain structure developed in carbonizing is perpetuated in the following heat treat- ment. In this case the carbonizing is carried on well within the carbonizing zone to permit of sufficient case, in depth as well as carbon content, and at the same time at a temperature approximating the upper critical range of the steel, and insuring as fine a grain as practical and possible. When the work has become heated through at this temperature, it is quenched and the fine structure produced in the carbonizing operation is trapped. It is well to hold the heat at the hardening temperature a few minutes to recover any crystalline growth which may have occurred in cooling after carbonizing, between that temperature and the upper critical point for this kind of steel, which is about 1550 deg. Fahr. This further allows for the full absorption and diffusion of excess ferrite. A tough core is thus insured and the remaining low heat for case refining and hardening can be carried out with satisfactory results. A further advantage of this method comes in the formerly 1315 te An tanta aati ade a 1316 ease with which the work, distorted to some extent in hardening, can be straightened with practically no THE IRON AGE November 18, 1929 breakage loss nor cracking of the case hardened face. Refractories for Bottom Connected Electric Furnaces How to Apply the Electric Current—Role of Dolo- mite, Magnesite and Tar—Burning In the Bottom BY FRANK W. BROOKE GOOD deal of misunderstanding exists among elec- tric furnace users concerning refractory linings of bottom connected electric furnaces. ‘There is no mys- tery attached to this, and the only points essential to success for furnaces thus connected are: Correct application of electric current Good commercial double burnt dolomite Good commercial magnesite. Good commercial pitch or tar. Good furnace operators Proper Application of the Electric Current As this article is written only for furnaces where the bottom is a true metallurgical hearth, no reference will be made to those furnaces where metallic studs or water-cooled steel plugs are inserted and carried through the hearth, as in the case of such furnaces as the single-phase Snyder furnace or the Girod furnace. There are furnaces on the market which claim to have conductive bottoms, which they undoubtedly have, but this electrical equipment is such that only out-of- phase currents are applied to the bottom, and these same furnaces claim to have at least a working bal- anced load on the three phases, otherwise they would be a serious drawback to the power company. This places such a furnace in an embarrassing position. If it maintains a reasonable balance, its conductive bottom is of no use, and if there is sufficient current applied at the bottom to be of any commercial value to the steel in the hearth, then there will be such an unbal- ancing of the load as to serious trouble with the power company. A conductive bottom, in fact, only becomes valuable when, as in the case of the Greaves-Etchells furnace, one of the three transformers is connected directly to the bottom, and when this transformer is itself so de- signed that it will carry a heavy current, a current even higher than that carried by each of the electrodes. This further necessitates the bottom transformer hav- ing a kilowatt-ampere capacity and a secondary volt- age so designed that when the top electrodes carry equal currents there is a perfect balance on the primary side. In a furnace having such features, there is no fear of the bottom’s being able to carry all the current given to it, neither is there any fear that even the deep holes which form during melting practice of any furnace will cause any electrical trouble. The bottom heat in this type of furnace, where one of the three phases is attached to the whole of the fur- nace hearth, is generated by the resistance the top layer of refractory lining offers to the natural flow of current. This top surface layer, being in contact with the steel charge, gives up its heat as rapidly as it is formed to the colder charge. The effect of the currents flowing through such a refractory lining seems to prolong the life of the lining, and in a large number of cases, where proper care is taken, linings have been in constant operation for thousands of heats. This may in a measure be due to the fact that the bottom heat causes the charge to come clean without sculling and contamination. cause Good Commercial Dolomite and Tar We have always had better results from the natural dolomite crushed to a uniform size of about pea size. or a little larger, which has been given a real double *Vice-president Electric Furnace Construction Co., del hia, Phila- burning. The failure of so many dolomites during period was undoubtediy the rushing practice adopt meet the sudden demand) in grading the size, but particularly in the doube burning and the lack of formity, probably more than anything else, introd the many built-up doiomites now on the market. While Austrian magnesite is still the best, we } had excellent resuits from the materials supplied our customers by two of the largest producers of domestic magnesite. Many fancy specifications have been written for the correct type of tar supposed to be essential to g conductivity to a bottom. It has been our experience that a good pitch is all that is necessary, and our int pretation of a good pitch is the residue from coal-tar distillation up to about 250 deg. C. A good coal-ta: roofing pitch usually fulfills this specification. A point which, however, is very essential to the quick “coming on” of the conductivity is to design the furnace and put in the bottom in such a way that all the excess tar will freely and quickly drain away. We have known furnaces where this feature was neglected and the bottom in starting up remained non-conductive for 6 to 10 heats, and when the proper attention was given the tar would drain away, or its products burn away and the current would at once come on to the bottom, at- taining full current in less than an hour. Furnace Operator A number of operators have developed their own methods of burning in a bottom and sometimes their own ideas, which may be very excellent on an ope! hearth, will not suit this type of furnace. All that is required is to follow the simple methods required in the stamping-in of any tar bottom, use the materials speci- fied and to keep out any other special stunts. Sintering in a bottom in layers by means of the electrodes playing on carbon is not correct for con ductive bottoms and, even for other electric furnaces, has many serious objections. It is easier and probably more pleasant, but the danger of forming thin films of reduced refractory or thin films of dust or dirt is great, and will only cause flaking later on. Every part of a rammed-in bottom can be watched for uni- formity and cleanliness, and it is only slackness or departure from details that causes failures. To Promote Freight Movement The Lakewood Engineering Co., Cleveland, is start- ing a campaign, the idea of which might be applied to many lines of industry, for the transporting to and storing of road building materials at the point of con- sumption during the fall, winter and early spring months It is pointed out that a great deal of relief would there- by be afforded to the railroads in the movement of open-top cars during the summer months, which ar always a peak load season for the railroads. Letters are being addressed to bankers, business men, ¢ tractors, railroad general freight agents, chief execu tives, state and county engineers and chambers of commerce, urging such procedure. Because of unsettled conditions in the iron and steel trade the Harrisburg Pipe & Pipe Bending ©o.. Harrisburg, Pa., has temporarily suspended 400 em ployees, the greater part of the plant’s working fore: Keen Interest in Tax Revision Plans Congressional Leaders Considering What Will Be Substituted for Excess Profits Tax—Revision of the Tariff Will Be Important Feature of Legislation BY OSWALD I WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.—Next year’s Federal taxes will go a long way toward determining profits in 1921. Congress is setting up the machinery to determine next vear’s taxes. Is it any wonder that every industry— and little, steel and otherwise—is vitally interested in the congressional plans? Comment by the slowly vathering clans of the present Congress only empha- the wide divergence of opinion among the Re- publican leaders. On one thing they are agreed—the xcess profits tax must go. But—and it is still a large it’—what will take its place? For the excess profits is scheduled to yield the modest little amount of :1.300,000,000 in the present year. -As taxes go, this a sizable sum. During the last fiscal year all the special Government taxes, outside the income and profits axes, totaled only $1,450,000,000. Taxes on transpor- 1 and industries brought $308,000,000; on tobacco, 5.000.000; manufacturers’ excise tax, $268,000,000; tax on all kinds of beverages, $197,000,000; the rporation capital stock and other special taxes netted $105.000,000; estate taxes, $104,000,000; stamp taxes locuments, $84,000,000; and taxes on admissions dues, $82,000,000. So it is easy to see that the task of finding a new tax that will produce the $1,- 300,000,000 estimate excess profits tax is a large and tatesmanlike undertaking. This is why the congressional leaders are so slow n promulgating a definite program. They are pledged tbandon the excess profits tax, but they are unwill- ing to carry out that pledge until they can find an- er way of circumventing the inevitable deficit. Proposed Tariff Revision The situation is complicated by the fact that the tariff revision which is to be one of the first tasks of e Sixty-seventh Congress may take months of study nd work. Until the tariff has been revised, it will be mpossible to estimate the probable customs receipts of Government. They are expected to take care of msiderable share of the deficit to result from the peal of the excess profits tax. The most feasible sug- tion that has been made by way of a program for ix revision places the repeal of the excess profits tax at the head of the list. Under this schedule the first t of the special session of the Sixty-seventh Congress \pril, if it is called then, will be the formal repeal ‘excess profits tax. This would enable the indus- of the country to keep their books—and their accordingly. It would give to these industries otice to which they are entitled of the actual taxes will have to pay at the end of the year. lhe second act on this program would be the fram- of the tariff law. When that has been determined the congressional leaders will know just what r taxes are necessary to keep the Treasury afloat, vill be able to itemize the details of further Fed- taxation. Will Consult Business Organizations ntrary to the policy pursued by the present ad- stration, the Republican leaders in Congress are ng to ask the ‘advice of the industrial and busi- organizations of the country on this whole pro- f Federal taxation. The Chamber of Commerce United States and the American Bankers’ Asso- n have already arranged to sound their members ese problems. The tax committee of the National strial Conference Board has also made recom- lations. Other national organizations will probably eard from, particularly when the public hearings Ways and means committee of the House and finance committee of the Senate are begun. SC .LUETT2 hese hearings will be held on the general problem of domestic taxation as well as upon the tariff. On the latter question the experts of the ways and means committee have compiled their “Summary of Tax In- formation” which is to be the basis of the Fordney bill. This document covers 1004 pages of elaborate detail of the Aldrich-Payne and Underwood-Simmons tariff laws. The corresponding paragraphs of these acts are printed in parallel columns with a statement of produc- tion, import and export figures, as well as a description of the articles involved and their varied uses. This document will form the basis for the proposed tariff legislation, and it is important that all representatives of industry who are planning to testify before the com- mittee should study it before they present their own views. The document, however, has so far been printed in a limited edition for the committee’s use. As a companion volume “The Statistics of Imports and Duties” has been printed, but both volumes cover sta- tistics only down to June 30, 1918. Efforts are now being made by the committee experts to obtain the im- port statistics for the fiscal years of 1919 and 1920. It is expected that they will be ready by the time the new Congress meets in April, Special Tariff Acts There is still a likelihood that the special tariff acts pending in Congress to levy special duties on man- ganese, tungsten and similar imports will receive at- tention during the short winter session. An effort, however, is being made to revive interest in anti-dump- ing legislation. The Senate finance committee has be- fore it a bill passed by the House of Representatives to stop foreign “dumping,” and a Senate substitute has been prepared. Both the bills seek to impose a special duty upon wares imported into the United States at less than their foreign selling value. The high tariff leaders of the House and Senate claim that unless such a bill is passed, foreign exporters will flood the Amer- ican market with their wares in anticipation of the passage of a high tariff bill next summer. For that reason they will attempt to induce the two houses ro agree upon an anti-dumping bill at the winter session. Republican lcaders in both houses have not been able to agree in their views on the sales tax as a sub- stitute for the excess profits tax. Because a 1 per cent tax on all sales would easily net $3,000,000,000 a year, it is believed that such a tax would win considerable favor in both houses. Representative Fess of Ohio has announced that he favors the sales tax. Representative McFadden of Pennsylvania, the new chairman of the committee on banking and currency, opposes the tax and suggests as an offset that Government plans to pay off $3,000,000,000 in floating indebtedness and $5,000,000,000 of Victory notes due in 1923 be post- poned for 15 years. Cutting Appropriations In the meantime the downward revision of Govern- ment appropriations is also under way. That is one way of helping to lighten the tax burdens of the coun- try. The special subcommittee of the House Appropria- tions Committee begins work on the !egislative, execu- tive and judicial appropriation bill this week. Its chief task will be to prune departmental estimates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1922. Last year the Con- gressional committees cut $1,500,000,000 from the Gov- ernment estimates. The revised estimates for the vari- ous departments are not yet available, but the appro- priations committee leaders in both houses promise that they will cut as deeply as possible into the estimates of the department heads. 1317 . American Rolling Mill Furnaces Remodel: d East and West Units Entirely Recon- structed and Reset and Volume Increased —Hot Stoves Raised and Re-equipped NUMBER of improvements recently made in the A two Columbus furnaces of the American Rolling Mill Co., including increases in the volumetric sizes of both the West and East furnaces, as they are called, and the entire remodeling of the hot stoves, have brought about recoid production totals at these furnaces. In the installation of the changes many prob- lems, of course, presented themselves, and the manner in which they were attacked, particularly that of jacking up the furnace and stoves to put in new founda- tions and resetting the furnace shells, deserves particu- lar mention. Reconstruction was begun May 15, 1919, at West furnace after the lining was removed and top disman- tled. On this furnace, the entire bosh, tuyere breast and hearth steel work was removed and an 11-ft. sala- mander blasted and removed. The furnace shell and mantle were supported by means of two heavy bridge girders carried on blocking, and base plates and col- umns removed. The old column base brick ring was entirely removed down to the concrete foundation. A new reinforced concrete foundation was then set in place, base plate ring set, and columns renewed. Si- multaneously the mantle was leveled and the furnace jacked into level and center by means of two cribbed-up bridge girders. The new columns were hung from the mantle and the base plates were grouted in correct location and elevation beneath the columns, thus estab- lishing the furnace shell perpendicular on center line dropped from skip hoist head and with the mantle level at the right elevation. In doing this work the furnace shell had to be cut loose from the downcomer and skip incline to insure getting it back into correct level and location. The bottom six rings of shell were reinforced on all vertical seams with butt straps and there were several sheets renewed. In redesigning the lines of the furnace, the height was held at 75 ft., but the volumetric capacity was materially increased. The angle of the bosh was also steepened and the height of the bosh lowered; the inwall batter was increased and in general the lines of the furn:zce were considerably changed. A new steel tuyere breast and a new hearth jacket were put in place and a strongly reinforced bosh was built. Stock line protection was afforded by the use of cast iron wearing plates of special analysis. The top was left with the existing single offtake and minor alterations. The major alterations consisted in the incorporation of means of adjustment of the location of both bell levers so as to maintain the bells centered in furnace, and the provision of bell beam heads and bell rod hangers to insure parallel motion of the bell rods in lowering and closing the bells. The small bell lever was relocated. The McKee revolving distributor, which was one of the earliest designs, was rebuilt to afford a straight neck and to conform more closely to the pres- ent design. Minor alterations were made in the dump- ing cylinders and links. The East furnace was blown out on Nov. 15, 1919, and dismantling started on Nov. 16. The furnace was rebuilt with exactly the same lines as the West fur- nace, and the details of reconstruction were the same below the mantle as at the West furnace. An entirely new shell, including mantle, was designed and installed. In removing the lining the old shell had to be indepen- dently supported to keep the weight of skip, downcomer and shell itself from telescoping the old shell. The new shell installation afforded the opportunity for the incorporation of a dome top with double uptakes. These uptakes were provided with Baer explosion valves, and from the uptakes, downtakes were led to a single down- comer of a standpipe type, which in turn discharged into the existing dust catcher. The East furnace was provided with a Brassert stationary double be top, the bell operating mechanism was remod: get the steam cylinders off the top of the furn new top platform was provided and movable be! features with new heads incorporated. A new pipe was installed together with circle pipe, goose-necks and penstocks, The hot blast stoves, eight in number, w: tirely remodeled. Except for the chimney valy\ stoves were completely equipped with new trim: inclusive of hot blast valves, gas burners and tional top cleaning doors. The entire stove were removed. To obtain increased hot blast stove capa was decided to increase the height of the old shells and to install new linings. With the exc of certain bottom rings on some stoves, the were in good shape. This work, similar to th of resetting the furnace shells, required most ing care, thorough preparation of work plan special appliances designed and built by the Mt. \ non Bridge Co. The manner of handling the consisted in bolting four cast steel saddles ont second course of the stove. These saddles were b to a built-up girder frame square, enclosing the stove. This girder or frame was hung from four cross-braced steel columns by means of 40-ton chain blocks, one at each corner. The stove shell being in this manner supported, the bottom course was removed. The stove bottoms were raised and re-grouted, 1 pairs and reinforcements being made when required. A new bottom ring was then riveted to the re-set and reinforced stove bottom. The shell was then jacked up and additional new rings were in sequence rivete into place and the stove shell riveted to the new built-up courses, making a 90x18-ft. stove. A reinforcing band was placed at the top of the shell behind the dome skew-back immediately ben: the dome. The new linings are of the Brassert-Jones combustion design. The checkers have 6-in. openings and 2% in. thick checker brick; all names and marks were left off the checker brick so as to lessen the ices for lodgement of dirt. The firebrick for all eight stoves were furnished by the Ashland Fire Brick | Ashland, Ky. The brick for both furnace linings we! from the Olive Hill (Kentucky) Works of the Harbison- Walker Refractories Co. A total of 33,000 ft. heating surface is afforded per stove. The stove shells wert insulated with Sil-O-Cel powder and brick. Pro’ is made for blowing the checkers with compressed The old underground gas mains were filled i: an entirely new overhead gas system installed. 5 ing at the original dust catcher, there was plac water seal valve, then a 12 ft. 6 in. and a 10 ft. | Brassert whirler in series. These delivered gas to bot boilers and stoves through the new gas main, provided with V dust pockets and goggle valves. At the b: the main connects with the burners by positive off valves used in conjunction with regulating v: Butterfly regulating valves are provided at the burners. The cold blast main was entirely re! beyond the snort valve, new by-pass installed, and ¢ hot blast main was thoroughly gone over and paired, the relief valves being removed. A new 600-hp. Rust boiler was installed, tog with new stack, and the steam pressure was raise to 150 lb, gage. Both cast houses were rebuilt steep roofs and changes made at the pig cas'i"e machines. The reconstruction work on the West furnace, ' blowing-out to blowing-in, lasted from May 15, |" to Dec. 29, 1919; and on the East furnace, ‘rom ved 1318 THE \. vember 18, 1920 Dome Top, Doubls Svysten Furnace Shell Erected, Showing } Uptakes and Gas Cleaning New Old Elevation of Method of Raising Stoves Hot Blast Stoves and (below ) and 1919, ing-out to blowing-in, lasted from Nov. 16, june 3, 1920. freyn, Brassert & Co. were consulting and super- ng engineers in the above work. In cooperation the management of the Columbus works, J. C. er, general manager; R. H. Sweetser, works man- and J. E. Thropp, Jr., superintendent, a con- iction force was organized and put under the charge R. W. Clark, resident engineer, Freyn, Brassert & as superintendent of construction. The Mt. Ver- IRON AGE 1319 Remodeled Furnaces and Stoves at American Rolling Mill Co. Plant Improvements in two Columbus furnaces and eight hot stoves include increasing volumetr sizes of East and West furnac:s while keepin heights at 75 ft and raising entir« delir of eig hot stoves While new were being put in, the fur were held up by bridge girders as shown Method of Jacking Up and Leveling West Furnace Method of Jacking Up and Leveling West Furnace, and Preparation Work for Set ting of New Foundation, Base Plates and Columns non Bridge Co. had in charge both the actual shell repairs and renewals at both furnaces and stoves, the placing of new columns, hearth and tuyere jackets, bands and bustle pipes, the installation of the new gas cleaning and gas main system, ete. The Rust Engineering Co. placed all linings at both furnaces and stoves; Charles D. Schlundt blasted and removed the salamanders; J. D. Lyon, consulting engineer, Cin- cinnati, also cooperated as consultant in reference to the new steam installations. 1320 UNDERSELLING BY EXCHANGE Continental Steel Makers Competing in England —Laws Against Dumping Advocated The extent to which the high value of the pound sterling as compared with German and Belgian ex- change is affecting the British steel market is com- mented on by the London Jronmonger in its issue of- Oct. 30, as follows: inental steel products in this country at those quoted by British legislation The sales of Cont which are often pounds below prices makers have led to a revival of the demand for against dumping The high value of sterling in exchangé with the Continental producing countries enables the Conti- nental makers to cut prices, and our government some time ago gave a half promise to introduce legislation to pro- manufacturers from the effects of underselling foreign exchange; but the situation is so complicated and unstable that it will be difficult a method acceptable to all the interests concerned tect British on a depreciated to discover Facts scarcely bear out the assumption that the cheap offers received from the Continent are entirely due to the exchange The Belgian quotations for iron and steel are the Belgian the German been for other although so bad in have countries, relation well below those of to the £ as have which exchange is not Such comparatively tive compared now understood German offers as been received small quantities, and at prices wert with the fairly well off not attrac Belgian. This is probably Belgium being for home-produce« had to buy co the mark has facilitates a ce! due to coal, while Germany is to have in America, where the low exchange value of told against her A tain form of so-called dumping, increases the cost of to the “dumping” country It is interesting, however, to note that low exchange, while it fore raw materials the present German home prices for iron and steel when translated into sterling ire preposterously low The home price for shapes, for instance 2340m. per ton, which equivalent at the pres- ent rate of exchange to about £9 15s. The export of iron and steel material from Germany is regulated by the govern- ment, and an export duty is levied; but, even allowing for this, the price of German sections is well below the British price of about £24 per ton So far we have not heard of German offers of this material, but the quotation serves to illustrate the argument upon which the call for legislation nails have quotation The coun- the recently s based Pairly wire offered 36s. basis per cwt. c.if was not Continental cwt., large quantities of foreign this week we United Kingdom port but it was obvious that British British been here, and have seen a specified, The and the anxiety try of origin material was price was reduced to 44s. wire-nail rmmaker have per cause for therefore Record Making in Tractor Production Durirg the four months from June, 1920, to Octo- ber, 1920, the Ford tractor plant in Dearborn, Mich., and the assembly plants at Des Moines, Ia., St. Louis, Kearney, N. J., and Cork, Ireland, established records for tractor production. The combined out- put for June was 9,149 tractors, for July, 9,776, and for August, 10,248. The September output was 10,200. The September output is regarded as a record, owing to the fact that Labor Day was a holiday, cutting the production by about 400 machines. On August 18, Ford- son tractor No. 150,000 was turned out, while No. 100,000 was turned out on Feb. 18 preceding. Thus 50.000 tractors were turned out in six months. Welding Patents Association At a meeting of the Welding Patents Investigating Committee, composed of nearly 500 members, held at the Hollenden Hotel, Cleveland, Nov. 9, it was decided to form a permanent organization which will be known as the Welding Patents Association. The committee was originally formed in 1917 to conduct litigation testing the validity of patents on the process of spot welding. Henry C. Milligan, president Re- public Stamping & Enameling Co., Canton, Ohio, who has been chairman of the committee, was elected as chairman of the association. Henry Ford has announced that he will start opera- tion immediately of the Imperial mine in Baraga County, Michigan, which was included in his recent purchase of Upper Peninsula timber and ore lands. THE IRON AGE November 18, }' 2 Gasoline or Electric Operated Porta’.|. Crane A light portable crane, operated by gasoline o tric motor and designed for mounting on a motor -aterpillar truck, a steel-wheel industrial truck, railroad flat car, portal pier or ground foundatio been brought out by the Universal Crane (Co.. land Building, Cleveland, This crane is design: service similar to that performed by locomotive and is an unusually flexible handling device, various mountings permit it to be put to num uses around industrial plants, for railroad maint work, storeyards and contractors. The crane has a capacity of from 3 to 4 tons ; designed for ordinary lifting, for which it is with a hoist block and hook, for handling a %- clam shell bucket and an electric lifting magne: is equipped with a 14 to 28-ft. boom, depending 0; requirements. Its standard capacity rating wit 20-ft. boom is 3 tons at a 12-ft. radius, and loads of tons may be handled at any radius up to 20 ft. Power for all operations is supplied by a 4: gasoline engine or by an electric motor of sx u capacity, the latter being provided if desired, u when the crane is to be used in a location conve: The gasoline motor is a heavy to a power line. Portable Crane Operated by Gasoline or Electric Motor for Mounting on Truck, Car, Pier or Foundation t-cylinder slow speed engine, designed for severe servi The crane has a full circle swing and is operat by one man on the platform with all operating levers in easy reach. In case a lifting magnet is used a gasoline motor driven crane, a plug connectior an electric line can be made, or electric equipment ca! be placed on the crane to supply the current. Th crane, without mounting or boom, is approximately 8 ft. 6 in. in length, 7 ft. in width and 8 ft. in he from the mounting line to the top of the cab. The company is also bringing out a special typ truck to be used as a mounting for the crane and w! will be propelled from the crane motor. This driv: designed particularly for short distance travel spotting the crane and will permit traveling at nary locomotive crane speed. The truck frame is co! structed of channel steel and it has steé] wheels wit 9% in. tread, of the dual type, part of the wheel being turned and flanged to run on a railroad track, and part wide faced for road or yard travel. For th latter it is fitted with a steering gear. The truck has a 7-ft. wheel base, and this length and the wide whee! spread make it stable under a crane load. The truck body is mounted on springs above the axles, but the spring yield is limited to avoid excessive roll of the crane when it is swinging a load. It is stated that when operating on reasonably level ground, the crane will travel with its full rated load suspended. The Crucible Steel Co., Pittsburgh, through che man of the board, Horace S. Wilkinson, has announced that its Midland, Pa., plant is in full operation, deny- ing the report that this works has been closed dow: Sentiment Opposes Price Reductions National Machine Tool Builders’ Association Consid- ers Business Conditions—Cancellation of Contracts Discussed and Paper on Legal Phases Presented DDRESSING the nineteenth annual convention [ of the National Machine Tool Builders’ Asso- i ciation at the Hotel Astor, New York, last week, President Albert E. Newton, after reviewing the busi- ss situation, said that “any reduction in prices on machine tools will not stimulate demand, and is more ely to work to the contrary.” This, in fact, seemed e the general sentiment among members of the asso- ciation, and the prediction was freely made that there ild be no general reduction in machine tool prices, least while present high labor costs continue. Next to the question of prices, the matter of can- ations was uppermost in the minds of the machine- manufacturers, as was evidenced by a lively dis- ion which took place following the reading of a per on the legal aspects of cancellations by W. Ran- nh Montgomery, counsel for the National Association ‘ Credit Men. The trend of this discussion was that ellations cannot be wholly prevented, but that they be minimized by sellers taking a more decided stand rainst them and also by educating the buyer to feel a ‘h larger share of responsibility when he places an yraer. August H. Tuechter, of the Cincinnati-Bickford Tool Co., Cincinnati, was elected president, succeeding Albert E. Newton. Mr. Newton continues as a member of the executive committee. Other officers elected were: First vice-president, E. J. Kearney, Kearney & Trecker Co., Milwaukee, Wis.; second vice-president, C. Wood Walter, Cincinnati Milling Machine Co., Cincinnati; ecretary, Carl E. Dietz, Norton Co., Worcester, Mass.; easurer, Winslow Blanchard, Blanchard Machine Co., imbridge, Mass. President Newton on Business Conditions lhe convention opened Thursday morning, Nov. 11, ifter the usual preliminaries, listened to the annual ess of the president, which was in part as follows: “For the past few months business in general has on a down grade, attaining greater velocity as the went on, so that now, even if the brakes were set 1, we could not expect to stop the downward trend at Therefore, let us face the situation as it is, and that we are face to face with a real depression, 1at the orders for machine tools are few and far Let us ask what are we going to do about it? Car any act of ours better the situation? The answer: Most of us know from experience that the de or lack of demand, for machine tools is entirely 1 the control of the machine tool builders. We now that any reduction in prices on machine tools not stimulate the demand, and is more likely t to the contrary. We should realize that the present condition of our try requires us to be calm and courageous, think and deliberately, and deal in facts and not ‘During the past five years the machine tool indus- is a whole, has not increased its prices as much costs have increased, and to-day our margin of is not on as high a plane as it should be. Bear nd that we must continue to improve our product, that experimental and development work is a neces- part of the cost of machine tools. Also, that to ‘e a high-grade machine we must have high- gtaie workmen, and to secure and keep high-grade workmen, we must grant comparatively high wages. “There is only one cause that I know of that should either increase or decrease the price of a machine tool, and that is cost, and I submit that our costs are to-day higher than ever before. It has been stated, and 1 believe it to be true, that the recent increase in freight rates will add 5 per cent to this cost. “We know that decreased production means higher overhead cost, so that even if our raw materials may cost us less in the near future (and I am not so sure that this will happen), this possible saving will be more than offset by the increased overhead cost due to reduced output. “The depression with which we are now contending is no new experience for us, and is not a surprise, as we have been expecting it for some time; in 1913-'14 we experienced a situation in the machine tool industry very similar, if not worse than that which we are now passing through; that experience taught us the real value of our association, a value that has never, and can never, be too highly rated. “T believe that most of our members fully realize that the values which accrue to them from the fruits of our association are proportionate to the time and mutual support given by them, and that our collective future as members of the National Machine Tool Build ers’ Association is dependent upon the unselfish and friendly co-operation of each individual. Cancellations of Orders ‘There is another important subject which always appears in times such as we have with us at present; that is, the cancellation of orders. “Tt certainly would seem reasonable that an industry such as ours, which of necessity must purchase in ad- vance its materials and supplies, sufficient to last for months, should be protected from indiscriminate can ellation of the orders on which it has based its plans. “T hope that we may some time solve this condition and adopt some method that will raise the order for a machine tool to the dignity of a real contract, rather than a mere option that may be given up at will by the purchaser. “It is an old saying, ‘If you want a short war, pre pare for a long one.’ Let us attack this depression as though we thought it would last for some time; let us conserve our energies (meaning cash) so that what- ever comes we shall be able to meet conditions in a usiness-like manner. Then we shall be ready to re sume our full productive capacity when the demand for our product comes back to us, as it surely will in the not very distant future.” Export Catalog Going Ahead Stanley H. Bullard, chairman of the committee having in charge the publication of an association machine- tool export catalog, reported that 150 members have signed contracts for space and that 325 pages have been set in English type. He also said that Charles B. Hayward, secretary of the committee, is now abroad obtaining translations of matter into foreign languages and collecting lists of names of those to whom the catalogs are to be sent. Reports of committees on standardization of engi- neering data and safety codes indicated progress. At the close of the open session Thursday morning an illustrated address was given by D. R. Weedon, of the Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co., on the standardiza- 1321 = see eeeow 1322 THE IRON tion of electrical equipment as applied to machine-tool operation. His paper is given immediately below. Frank H. Foster, a machinery dealer from China, AGE November 18, 1: delivered an interesting illustrated lecture on th. of machine tools in that country. His lantern showed Chinese railroad and manufacturing shops Standardization of Electrical Equipment on Machine Tox |s 66Q’TANDARDIZATION of electrical equipment cannot mean duplicate motors, control, gene- rating apparatus, etc., but can mean_ standard- ization of design for installation or application type of drive, style of control and ratings. A great deal of benefit can be derived by putting the same general types of electrical apparatus on the same general types of machine tools. Available Types of Motors There are available many types of motors and con- trol, open, semi-enclosed and enclosed, and with various degrees of protection for the motor and tool. For ex- ample, we have: “A constant speed motor which can be used say for saws, screw machines, lathes, and general service. “An adjustable speed motor which can be used for planers, milling machines, drills, lathes, etc. “Constant horsepower which can be used on the general line of machine tools. “Varying horsepower which would be applied to fans, pumps and similar apparatus. “Motors with high starting torque which should be used for punches, shears, elevators, or any machine where a heavy flywheel is used, “Motors with low starting torque which can be used on drills, lathes, shapers or any machine where light starting duty is satisfactory. “Motors with high pull-out torque more particularly adapted to grinders. “High frequency motors which so far have been ap- plied to woodworking machines where very high cutter speeds are desired. Possibly also grinder applications will be worked out along this line. Meaning of Motor Drive “Then, too, ‘motor drive’ means to different people different things. For example: On the same line of tools some manufacturers will apply a high torque motor, others a low torque motor, some constant speed —others adjustable speed, some equip their machines completely, including a line switch, other manufac- turers have even omitted starters where starters are necessery. A motor-driven tool might mean to one a motor belted to the tool from floor or ceiling, while to others it means a motor built into the machine. “With this great diversity of ideas as to motor- driven tools, you can see that confusion and dissatis- faction occur. If the machine tool manufacturer would only take the electrical manufacturer’s engineer into his confidence at the time of design, money will often be saved and worry eliminated. Very frequently a bet- ter appearing and more satisfactorily operating tool will result. Many times the machine tool builder will call in an electrical engineer after the tool is built and ask him to help apply a motor, which often makes it diffi- cult to work out a good application. If the electrical drive would be looked upon more as a mechanical item— that is, a necessary part of the tool, instead of an after- thought, the results will be surprising. “After a tool has been completed, it is usually neces- sary to make a special bracket to support the motor and sometimes a request is made that a special motor be built. Both of these plans are unsatisfactory and an earlier attention to this point would usually provide a suitable mounting without difficulty. Some manufac- turers have provided a space in the bed of the ma- chine, this entirely protecting the electric drive and saving floor space, a valuable item to-day. Others have found that a motor built into the machine works out very nicely, being economical of materials and space, beside saving gears or other driving medium. “Some manufacturers purchase only the stationary and rotating parts of motors and build the mechanical parts in their own shops. This is indeed treatin; motor in a most mechanical way. You can see tha reduces bearings, and ofttimes expensive speed levers, and other machine parts, making a simp compact drive, increasing the efficiency of the to: not decreasing the efficiency of the motor. Motor’s Horsepower and Speed “Another important item is to apply a mot proper horsepower and speed to the tool. On! actual tests can this be done and the electrical eng can easily and quickly determine the exact horse; r to be applied. Very often a large size tool is purc! to machine bulky parts with light cuts. A closer y of work to be performed will result in greater sat tion all around. “Of course in connection with the proper power, should be taken into consideration the range of speeds of motors. It should also be borne in mind that a var speed motor might be either A.C. or D.C., but an ad justable speed motor is D.C. only. By ‘adjustable,’ | mean a motor, whose speed-setting can be definitel determined and maintained regardless of load being carried. Then, too, many operators will fail to shift gears to a higher speed if that particular geared step is large, fearing tool damage, while with an adjustable speed motor giving many small speed gradations, he will often reach and pass the speed point he feared. “Proper cutting speeds of the tool means, of course, greater output and decreased expense. Without multi- plying examples, an actual test on two machines, on exactly the same work showed a power saving of 40 per cent with direct connected motors. A planer by actual test showed an increased production during a period of 30 days of 30 per cent over a similarly oper- ated belted machine. In another case a company hav- ing changed a tool from belt drive to motor dr showed an actual profit in one year of $420 due to creased output. “Of course, in installation of motor driven there is a decided saving because of the omissio! counter shafts with bearings, necessary millwright work, etc. In reversing service, such as planer or other shock service, the direct connected motor absorbs this stress with its inherent cushioning effect, instead throwing the strain on hangers, shafts and belts. “Then, too, belts slip more at heavy loads, whic! just the time the most power is needed. The d drive eliminates these belts, gives better locatio1 machines for production schedule, saves expens« belts and belt guards, avoids the loss due to fr likewise the decreased output due to the increased page of belts. “Of course, there are tools where it is practical! imperative that belt drive be used. Many times can be arranged by placing the motor on an extens of machine bedplate or even mounting it on the fi This, you see, will not interfere with crane opera! and interferes with the lighting effect very little. ! a certain shop the lighting bill was cut 40 per t where overhead shafting and belts were eliminated The Kind of Mounting “When designing a tool for using a standard mo' the mounting should be of a type that will accon date more than one make of motor. If at all poss the design should take either A.C. or D.C. motors at least two makes. f i “With either A.C. or D.C. motors two types 0! trol can be used—automatic and manual. with automatic, the control can be placed at a r location with the pilot switch within easy access operator’s hand. Espec en With manual control or starter \ovember 18, 1920 cara 3 al Ye 4 / Association THE IRON AGE 132: Officers of the National Machine Tool Builders’ Elected at Convention Held in New York Last Week Top Row, Left to Right: C. Wood Walter, Cincinnati Milling Machine Co., Cincinnati, Second Vice-President \. H. Tuechter, Cincinnati-Bickford Tool Co., Cincinnati, President, ar Cc. E. Hildreth, General Manager Bottom Row: E. J. Kearney, Kearney & Trecker Co.