The Iron Age 1920-11-25: Vol 106 Iss 22

LISHED 1855 THE IRON AGE New York, November 25, 1920 VOL. 106: No. 22 Core Baking in Electrically Heated Ovens Results of Comparative Tests of Elec- tric and Fuel Heated Core Ovens— New Westinghouse Thermostat Control HE core department of most foundries has received too little attention in the past. This is especially true of the ovens used for baking The average oven that is fired by gas, oil, coal or coke has neither insulation nor tempera- ture control. Hence, it is wasteful of fuel and con- siderable losses are incurred from overbaked or underbaked cores and from inability to speed up production without endangering the quality of the product. The purpose of this article is not to discuss in detail either the various methods of electrically heated core ovens or of automatically controlling them, but to give a brief description of a new ther- mostat that is reliable and comparatively inexpen- the cores. sive. The control element consists of a porous <o il and Experimental Laboratory Westinghouse & Mfg. Co., East Pittsburgh, Pa. ally Heated Core Oven Equipped with New Westinghouse connected the last three naméd being assembled in one self-contained unit Baking Conditions. The control element is ———— BY J. L. JONES* — refractory strip impregnated with a material that is non-conducting up to a given temperature and conducting above that temperature. The porous strip is supported by silver terminals and connected with a suitable relay, motor-driven switch and small transformer, the last-named three pieces of appa- ratus being assembled in one self-contained unit. The impregnating mafgerial will not only regulate at the temperature required for core oven work but is capable of controlling any temperature from 150 deg. Fahr. to 1450 deg. Fahr., with possibilities above and below these points. The following tests were made to determine what would be satisfactory baking conditions for the electric core oven and to ascertain some of the advantages of this oven over fuel heated ovens. It was not intended to deal specifically with any par- ticular type of oven, but to investigate some of the Thermostat, Used in Making Tests to Determine Sat with a relay, motor-driven switch and small trans- The oven is of a draw shelf, commercial type 1385 1386 advantages of electric heat in an oven where venti- lation is carefully regulated, the temperature accu- rately controlled and the heaters so placed as to give a uniform temperature in all parts of the oven. The oven used was of a draw shelf, commercial type. It was 5 ft. 8 in. wide, 6 ft. 8 in. deep and 7 ft. 6 in. high, of sheet steel construction, with walls about 4 in. thick, fairly well insulated except on the bottom where the concrete floor allowed the escape of considerable heat. The oven was equipped with a fan driven by a variable speed motor and so arranged that the air could be exhausted or re- circulated or a portion could be exhausted and the rest recirculated. Accurate thermostatic control was provided. Accompanying illustrations show views of the oven, and a chart of a representative day’s run is reproduced. Three core mixtures follows: were experimented with, as No 4 No { No Molding Machine Heavy Bench Splicer Cores Work Work Only Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent Silica sand 63.9 16.03 97.30 Molding sand 21.35 ss Sand blast dust 11.88 19.60 Old core sand 64.14 Oil 1.7% 2.03 Dextrin 1.04 00.23 0.67 As it was desired to ascertain the conditions under which cores of the very best quality could be produced, a number of runs were made on each of the above mixtures, varying the temperature and time of baking. Test cores of two kinds were used to judge thoroughness of the baking; tensile, using the regulation brass molds designed for making specimens for cement testing and compression, using a 2-in. tube. A compression and a tensile test piece was placed on the top, middle and bottom shelf with each lot of cores. Prior to making the tests, a number of runs were made to determine what would be a satisfac- tory ventilation of the oven. It was run at a con- stant temperature of 400 deg. Fahr. and loaded with weighed charges of production cores, test pieces being placed on the top, middle and bottom shelves. The rate of change of the air in the oven was controlled by the dampers and the speed of the motor, the air pressure being registered with pitot tubes. The changes of air were obtained by calcu- lation from the volume of the oven, pressure tem- perature of the air exhausted and recirculated. Re- circulating the air 30 times per hour was the rate decided upon and used in the tests. The average results on the three core mixtures were as given in the accompanying tables. Comparative Tests in THE IRON AGE Elec November 1920 The results obtained on the compa tact made show that the electrically heate; duces cores having from 50 to 200 pe, strength than the fuel fired ovens. In baking large cores containing oi tomary to heat at a low temperature allow the moisture to escape before the . The first tests on No. 3 core mixture sh ever, that this is unnecessary on small! The excessive moisture (26.70 per ce was found on run No, 2 for the core sand crack the cores or injure them in any \ It ATG ¥ ee me : oe eH A owen ee tas coh Saath es 5S < “5PM Chart Obtained from Test of Electrically Heated | Equipped with New Westinghouse Thermosta undesirable, however, as energy is wasted in ex pelling it. An inspection of the results obtained indicates that baking at 450 deg. Fahr. for somewhat less than one hour gives the best results. The dextrin: binder seems to be weakened by prolonged baki1 above 400 deg. Fahr.; however, over baking 50 p cent or more does little harm. One lot of oil cores baked over night by neglect to turn off the current were found to be of good quality. When forcing an oven at a high temperature, : alarm clock is useful to indicate when the co! should be removed to prevent over-baking an waste of heat. It was found that the weight of the cast-iro! core plates was almost equal to the weight o! ’ trically Heated Oven Run Temp. Deg. Fahr Time Crushing Tensile Per Ce 3 : ( : ens ’ nt Moisture in N Initial Final Hours Load, Lb Strength, Lb Core Sand Baked Cores Power Kw.-H No. 3 Core Mixture 1 300 800 3 253 21 5.74 0.18 +) 800 350 2% 600 50 26.70 0.12 a0 300 400 114 1,712 192 5.44 0.13 30 4 300 450 11% 1,739 187 544 0.13 10 300 00 1% 1,244 166 5.44 0.12 50 8 454 450 YM 1,965 121 5.44 0.16 20) 9 00 200 l 1,516 143 5.44 0.11 -0 No 1 Core Miature 10 450 150 1 1,171 87 6.38 0.18 20) 13 350 350 1% 776 46 6.38 20 14 450 150 1% 1,550 142 6.38 0.14 30 1 ) 300 300 1% 675 66 6.47 0.13 20 16 350 350 . 802 95 6.47 0.16 10) 17 400 400 1 906 SS 6.47 0.14 20 18 $00 400 1% 1,206 105 6.47 0.16 20 No. 7 Core Mixture 19 300 00 1 815 97 20 26 400 100 1 1.856 1k? S a0 37 400 400 1% 2,209 194 40 28 400 400 > ~ 3,854 345 oe 50 29 350 350 i 754 66 6.13 20 0 350 350 11% 1,313 118 6.13 30 350 350 292 2 690 180 6.13 0 mber 25, 1920 res. It is desirable to reduce the weight of the re plates to the minimum consistent with stiff- However, the current loss due to heating plates is only about 20 per cent of the radia- ss of the oven. ie oil used in the test was a compound oil ning mineral oil. Stronger cores would have \btained with pure linseed oil. here core ovens are fired with gas, oil, coal or large volumes of carbon dioxide gas are pro- even where combustion is perfect. This gas, wl not poisonous in itself, vitiates the air of the re room, making it an unhealthful place in which rk. Combustion in fuel fired ovens, however, er perfect, and instead of the waste gases con- sting of carbon dioxide, they generally contail. arge amounts of the highly poisonous carbon mon- while acrolein and other compounds irritat- Comparative Tests in a Contin Temp. Deg. Fahri Time Cru Initial Final d injurious to the eyes and nose are also pres- With imperfect combustion we also find soot deposited on the walls of the core ovens and cores themselves. In many foundries the om force consists of young girls. This class or is especially susceptible to fumes, and electrically heated core ovens are not only de- e in such situations but absolutely necessary labor is to be kept efficient. following conclusions are drawn from the this electrically heated core oven: A practi- ( parat Tes ( Tremp. Deg. Fah lime Cru ] Initial Final Hou Load, LI S Vo ( (2 mi ) S 21 F ; No ( 1 f No ( ° 1.16 iniform temperature can be obtained in all of the oven; the temperature can be held to 5 deg. Fahr. plus or minus of any desired rature; the only gases given off by the elec- re oven come from the core compounds used these are not excessive in amount or dan- is in character; small oil, dextrine or oil and ne cores can be satisfactorily baked in less ne hour at 450 deg. Fahr.; the cores when in the electric oven are from 50 to 200 per stronger than when baked in the fuel fired a greater input of heat units is possible in lectric core oven’ without injury to the cores s possible in fuel fired core ovens; while no pt was made to obtain a very accurate read- the power consumed in making the tests, it timated that about 12 lb. of green cores were d for each kilowatt hour. |. R. McClain supervised the tests described and Demmler designed the demonstration outfit trating the new thermostat, of which he is the THE IRON Hours Load, Lb Strengtl 1387 AGE inventor. stallation were attended to by O. M. R. Armstrong. The engineering details of the oven in- A. Colby and FABRICATORS MEET Taxation, Readjustment of Wages and General Business Conditions Considered PITTSBURGH, Nov. 20.—Adoption of a favoring the abolishing of the excess profits tax, a re- vision of the income tax and the substitution of more equitable taxation laws and the appointment of a com- mittee to consider methods of stimulating the use of fabricated material were the outstanding developments of a meeting of the National Steel Fabricators’ Asso- ciation at the William Penn hotel here yesterday. There was a full and free discussion of the labor situation and of the necessity of reducing costs and the effecting of resolution economies wherever possible. ISile I ( t M ture ir th, Li Sal Baked Core Power Kw.-Hr Vigt H. ( V 0.14 M Walter Drew, counsel for the National Erectors’ As- sociation, who addressed the meeting by invitation of the association, laid special stress upon the necessity of maintaining the open shop; also that while employ ers should treat workmen with entire fairness, the lat ter should be acquainted with the critical situation in industry and with the need of greater efficiency and of the greatest possible production. G, H. Blakeley, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, also addressed the meeting and urged that the fabricators get their “houses in order” and to as far as: possible en- deavor to reduce costs. In effecting economies, how- r J th G ‘ io . Per Cent Moisture ir eth. Lb Core Sand Baked Co Power Kw.-H: V } 14 16 M V ever, he asserted that a reduction in wages should be the last thing to be considered, and that before this was attempted, the workmen be urged to become more ef- ficient. Discussion of the business situation brought out that generally the present dullness was not likely to be of long duration. Lack of business was attributed by speakers to the credit situation, the unstable steel market and the inequitable prices of other materials. It was the general opinion that these conditions were likely to be corrected at an early date and that then would follow a revival of business. Means of stimulat- ing the use of fabricated products were freely discussed and this matter as well as the more general use of pressed steel was consigned to a committee appointed to investigate and make recommendations. To provide for future expansion, the Falcon Steel Co., Niles, Ohio, has purchased 92 acres adjoining its present location, giving it a site of approximately 200 acres. President Lloyd Booth states it is unlikely addi- tions will be made next summer. eS ee ep se ee eee ed ~~ 1 a egy nag OA Pe enes i388 Multiple Spindle Milling Machine with Transfer Table A recent modification of the Coulter automatic mul- tiple spindle profile milling machine has been brought out by the Automatic Machine Co., Bridgeport, Conn The accompanying illustration shows a 3-spindle and a 4-spindle machine, each equipped with a transfer table. This table carries one jig in the cutting position, while i the other jig is in position for unloading and loading, Three-Spindle Milling Machine with Transfer Table. This table carries one jig in the cutting position while the other jig is in position for unloading and loading. The insert shows a 4-spindle machine thus giving practically continuous milling. Further- more, there is the additional saving in production time due to the use of multiple spindles cutting at once. The machines shown are for milling the face and under side of manifold bosses. A completed manifold is turned out in the time it takes a single cutter to cross the shortest dimension of a single boss. By cam action, the work is automatically fed into the cutters and with- drawn. The camming is arranged to give a quick ad- vance, normal] while cutting, and quick return, with an automatic that the minimum time is consumed in non-productive motion. Each spindle has adjustment for depth, and the whole is raised and lowered by the hand wheel above it, or moved horizontally by the wheel at the right. An adjustment on the transverse position of the table is provided, and the table is moved longitudi- nally from the cutting position for one jig to the cut- ting position for the turn of the hand wheel on the left. This is a single purpose production ma- chine, but its adaptability for a wide range of work is apparent, as the position and number of spindles, and the arrangement of cams can be made to suit the opera- tion. Automatic stops can be provided, to be used or feed Stop, So an independent spindle carrier other, by one essentially THE IRON AGE November 2: J20 not according to the nature of the work and < of the operator. The spindles are driven direct bevel or spiral gears, as may be deemed each case. This type of machine, it is pointed out, sho emy in production time and cutter wear compa single cutter types of continuous millers, and tical spindles give opportunity to reach could not be touched by slab milling. Wo! Clapper-Type Controllers A new line of mill, crane and hoist contr supplant their types Q, R and S controllers same service has been developed by the Allen- Co., -Milwaukee. The new controller, made ranging from 1 hp. to 150 hp., is known as the « type controller, primarily because all switchi contact-making is done with the clapper-swit tactor. The controller is further simplified by the use of the company’s graphite compression resistor, mounted within the controller, avoiding the use of grids or wire- wound resistors and the need of step contacts. Al] speed control is obtained by pressure variatio: the resistor column applied by the control leve: Other features of the new line of controllers, for either direct current or alternating current, ar lined as follows: Clapper contactors of copper- copper, rolling type are used; clapper switches, mounted inside the controller, are mechanically operated, and perform all switching up to 100 hp.; larger controllers use external magnetic clapper switches actuated from a pilot switch within the controller; graphite compres- sion resistors simplify wiring and inspection, and can be removed as readily as a cartridge fuse; a single lever gives full control in either direction without steps Controller Made in Sizes from 1 Hp. to for Mill, Crane and Hoist Service Clapper Type or jumps, and also actuates the clapper contact steel frame construction is used with pressed stee closing covers, reducing the controller weight; sw cams, positively open and close the switch clapper either direction. Optional features are offered, such as under-! control gear, limit switch or brake connections closing covers for the resistor compartment. The Godfrey Conveyor Co., Elkhart, Ind., ann a contest extending until Nev. 30, with prizes rangine from $50 to $10 to be awarded for the best time dur! the period of the contest in unloading a car of coal ¥ a Godfrey conveyor. 2 99 Founders Cheerfully Face Readjustment National Association Considers Post War Prob- lems Progress of the Open-Shop Movement — Importance of Education of Foremen Emphasized USINESS depression and the high cost of travelling do not interfere with attendance at the convention of an association when it ally a live organization and the members are interested in its work. This fact was demon- strated at the twenty-fourth annual convention of National Founders’ Association held at the Hote! Astor, New York, last Wednesday and Thursday, vhich a new record of attendance was made. [he prevailing sentiment was one of cheerful eptance of present business conditions. The talk n the lobbies of the hotel indicated that the mem- ers realize that a period of readjustment has set in and that it will be necessary for business men to realize that their profits will be greatly reduced. There was also a feeling that while some business litions will be less favorable, there will be fewer or troubles next year than for several years. [here was not, however, any expression of intention get even with labor for taking advantage of war es to promote the closed shop, but rather a de- termination to readjust labor conditions on the basis of fairness to all concerned. The year has been one of prosperity for the as- The work of the committee on member- ship under the direction of H. J. Boggis, chairman, has resulted in a considerable strengthening of the association, not only in the net gain of 49 members, but in the importance of the new membership. Out- standing features of the meeting were the address of James A. Emery on “The Progress of the Open Shop” and a paper on “Modern Foundry Equip- ment” by Joseph J. Wilson, published in full else- where in this issue. One feature of the meeting was the setting forth of the efforts of the leading moving picture companies to assist in Americaniza- tion, particularly in the advocacy of sound economic principles. Relaxation from the serious dinner pro- grams of the war period found expression in the entertainment in lighter vein at the convention din- ner Wednesday night, at which there were no speeches. sociation. An Eventful Year Reviewed ee BARR’S address was an interesting re- view of the labor situation during the past year. icts from this address were published on page 1372 e Nov. 18 issue of THE IRON AGE. ymmissioner A. E. McClintock read his annual re- which was in part as follows: \t the time of our last annual meeting, the asso- nN was assisting in combatting strikes in the shops i6 members, located in 25 towns, from which 1788 rs were on strike. During the year, the Admin- e Council authorized that support be given to . tional members, located in 23 towns, from which iiders were on strike, making a total of 74 shops i this year. Of the above number, 54 shops a normal basis, and 20 shops are being given 1 assistance, which could be much further de- f we had need for the association molders else _ \ll the strikes in which the association has giver past year, have been, or are being, combatted iccessful conclusion, and the open shop policy established. Condition of International Molders’ Union receipts and disbursements of the nationa of the molders’ union for the 12 months ended 1920, given in round figures are as follows: $1.1 if tional treasury embership for 1920 61,000 iin, I would like to emphasize the growing f all around high-grade molders, and the ne- f giving organized instruction in the shops by are employed solely for that purpose. Many foundries which are glad to use good molders, too few are the number which are doing any- ’ produce them. Instead of making an intensive develop the unskilled and inexperienced worker, m to the job, there is a too general tendency lutside to engage molders with the necessary juired elsewhere. “Continued competition for the more highly skilled molders is most unsatisfactory, and is an important element in increasing labor turnover and unrest. The old apprenticeship training for molders is the exception instead of the general practice, and comparatively little is being offered as a substitute. This is a subject which has been referred to in many previous reports and while there is a pretty general consensus of opinion that the problem is a serious one, it has not received the attention from executives that it should, or which eventually they will be compelled to give. The foundry industry is not training men to become skilled molders in anything like the numbers necessary to carry on the trade, and the necessity for some system of organized instruction for the inexperienced worker is each year becoming more pressing. An Fducational Problem “Employers are so-called labor problem is very largely an educationa problem. The labor unions preach and practice a false ‘h reduced to its final analysis, is that to the advantage of the individual worker to do as ttle work as possible and exact the highest possibl pn ysophy, wh wage. On this theory the molders’ union favors the miting of production, opposes molding machines and labor-saving machinery, advocates shorter hours, op poses premium, bonus and piece work systems, which stimulate production. The unions are working on the ineconomic theory that by producing less they can livide more. The great mass of the workmen do not mprehend that all wages, both to labor and to capital, must be paid out of production. “Wher usually be found that some outside agitator has gained the confidence of the men to the extent that they are led to believe 1 labor troubles occur, it will their interests lie in allegiance to the union as opposed to the company by which they are employed. All em- p] yyers are aware of these thing = how to get the employer’s side of the employment rela- the men in a way that they will understand. How can he best meet the specious arguments of the , s, but the problem is “It is my observation that one of the most effective, not the most effective, method of establishing direct pretty generally agreed that our f : q ; 1390 contact between the management and men is through the foremen. To a great majority of workers, the fore- man is the company, the employer. It is he who very largely decides whether the individual employee stays or whether he goes. The worker’s opinion of an em- ployer is almost entirely founded on his opinion of the foreman from whom he takes orders. Unless the fore- man is in close enough contact with the management to understand the company policies, the spirit of the management, how can it be expected that the men under him will understand? “The point I wish to make is that the foreman is the direct and personal representative of the manage- ment in daily contact with the men. If a better under- standing between management and men is to come, if a spirit of company loyalty, morale, co-operation and the oldtime joy of achievement and enthusiasm in getting the job done is to be brought about, I believe too much stress cannot be laid on the importance of developing the foreman for constructive leadership. The foreman equipped with sound arguments and logical statements of fact can stimulate thought among his men and do much to lessen the influence of the labor agitator. “The open shop, or American plan of employment, s steadily gaining ground in this country, and it will ventually triumph just and right. We have already traveled too far toward industrial freedom and the right of the individual to work where he pleases, back. Collective bargaining through trades had its day and has found wanting. The open shop is succeeding because it is being made because it is to ever turn unions has been i better place to work than a union shop. “By the use of labor saving equipment and modern methods, which in union shops are bitterly opposed, the worker can greatly increase his production and oppor- tunity for advancement. He is enabled to have lis pay measured according to production and not ac ‘ording to time. also ‘Tne general public is coming to have a much learer understanding of the evils of unionism, with ts unwise and vicious leadership, and I believe we are rapidly approaching a bette the relationship day in etween employe and employee. Growth of Membership H. J. Boggis, chairman of the membership commit- tee, reported that the association now numbers 673 members, the largest in its history, and a net gain for the year of 49. Mr. Boggis also reported for the safety which the has sold appliances to members. 1is annual report, referred to ommittee, auring past year close to $60,000 worth of safety Secretary Taylor, n tne publicity for the ypen shop movement bdelng ObD- tained through widespread circulation of the associa yn’s publication, “The Open Shop Review.” In addi- yn t he membership, this paper goes to teachers, ide and mini ! The Wednesday morning session was concluded by the introduction of the association’s new general coun sel, James A. Emery, appointed to succeed the late George F. Monaghan. J. Edward Meeker of the New York Stock Exchang* elivered an instruct address on “The Relationshi; of the Stock Exchange to Industry,” explaining in de tail the way in which the security market functions and lustrating its importance in affording a means by ‘ompanies may readily dispose of thei d that $60,000,000.000 worth of «ks and bonds are listed on the New York Exchange. State Labor During the World’s War The address by James A. Emery, the newly elected counsel of the National Founders’ Association, who is the National Industrial Council. Wash “The Progress of the Open Shop,” and it masterly review of the history of labor in the United States during the war. Mr. Emery was greeted with enthusiastic applause as he concluded. The address will be published in a later issue of THE IRON AGE Col. T. C. Dickson, commanding officer Watertown Arsenal, Watertown, Mass., spoke on “Industrial Rela- tions in Arsenals of the Ordnance Department, United also counsel of ington, was on was a THE IRON November 25 AGE 1920 States Army.” He read at length from the erning employees of the Government, and dy ticularly upon the leaves of absence, days off, sation for disability, and the payment of a $250 a year to each employee. He regarded ber of days for which employees are paid w do not work as excessive. He gave figures that Government employees at arsenals receiv, cent more than employees in private plants. of the good pay, however, the Civil Service Co had trouble in keeping enough eligibles on its |i nel Dickson referred to the shop committees vliet and the works organization at Rock Island and expressed the opinion that the latter is defective. He said that the labor unions had their opposition to the plan in force at Rock | C. C. Pettijohn, vice-president of the Selz: New York, gave an interesting account efforts of moving picture companies to promot canization. He expressed his belief in the suggestion rather than direct preaching, and the aim of leading moving picture concern Americanism into every picture. He ularly of the work of the patriotic committee, Franklin K. Lane is chairman, which is worki this line. Moving pictures illustrating false ideas are being opposed and sound doctrine are thrown upon the screen. ests, Spoke } The Open Shop in the Southwest The talk on the open shop movement in thx west by W. S. Mosher, manager Mosher Mfg. ( las, Tex., was of particular interest because th is usually thought of as a farming and oil regi with few industrial problems; also because of ness of the open shop organizations and becaus: geographical remoteness from the more distinctly trial sections of the United States. In introduc speaker, Mr. Barr said that Texas had gone than New York with the open shop movement Mosher remarked that it was appropriate that t open shop movement started in San Antonio, T: the exploits of Travis, Bowie, Crock« Gen. Sam Houston against the Mexicans. The conquered obstacles then; the industries are ove them now. On May 1, 1919, the Kline Cream: had completed 90 per cent of its new factory when Mr. Kline sent a non-union man to string wires. The union men threw down their too union decreed that Mr. Kline pay a $300 fine and all union labor. Then the employers and men the Chamber of Commerce of San Antonio h« dignation meeting and formed the open shop as which has operated successfully since. In Beaumont at that time many ships w built for the Government. Nearly everything city was organized. The climax was reach a retail store was picketed by negro women. A shop association followed which bought out many and shops and operated them as non-union. An open shop association was formed in Da Nov. 17, 1919. Since then $50,000 has been conducting it. Seventy-five per cent of the bu lis city is being done by non-union labor. W are imported from as far away as New York fornia, Mr. Mosher stated that he had been with pany for 30 years. It was made an open sho} Previous to this there had been so many strikes t remark was frequently made by a customer whe! an order: “Will you be having another strike?” 1907 only two employees have left this company of grievances. Nineteen cities are members Southwest Open Shop Association. “The time of the most confidence in an 0} organization is the time of greatest weakness, opposition never rests,” enjoined the speaker. corporations spend $100,000 yearly in advertisi! products to the public, but never give considera selling the company to the employees. I often ga my white employees together and gave them t economic conditions. I explained to them that scene of a a company, had no money—we did have credit; November 25, 1920 yressive company, if forced to liquidate in 60 yuld go bankrupt. Several of the men told me e talk that I had given them something to think ind had opened their eyes. An employer to-day be liberal, broad-minded, considerate and con- Mr. White’s Talk h J. Wilson, plants manager Saginaw Products tral Foundry plant, division of General Motors yn, Saginaw, Mich., read a paper on “Modern Equipment,” published elsewhere in this issue IRON AGE. He dwelt at length on the new in his plant, which was started Sept. 9, 1919, ch took over $2,000,000 to build and equip lson started work as a molder 50 years ago and considered an authority on up-to-date foundry nt. He exhibited some photographs of his plant. lle P. White, Canadian Allis-Chalmers, Ltd., Can., and president of the Canadian Founders’ tion, gave an outline of the work of his asso- It is a year and two months old and has over nbers. He said: “We have plenty of material with; there are over 300 foundries in Ontario We are planning to organize the metal trades la and combine with our founders’ organization. r situation is much improved in Canada after ing many difficulties. Last year the foundries nto were shut down for four months because es. The Minister of Labor is an ex-union man not sympathetic with the activities of the Mr. White made favorable mention of C. W. and Thomas Kennedy, both of whom are now Canadian Founders’ Association and formerly | to the executive forces of the National Foun \ssociation. College Men as Molders \. E. Wells, Sibley College, Cornell University, N. Y., made a plea for the co-operation of foun in giving summer employment to students in courses in his university. Last summer 17 students were so placed and returned to college ill. Each made a report of plans for improving iry in which he was employed. Among the bad s found were: Dinginess, dustiness, unsanitary ns; need of more space, cranes and co-operation An attempt will be made to influence more to enter the foundries. A system of prizes will 1 for the best reports made by students of immer’s findings and suggestions, the grand be $50, and a prize of $20 for the best report y school furnishing 10 or more students for summer work. finance committee reported that no special as- would be demanded this year unless an un- number of strikes develop. Election of Officers im H. Barr, Lumen Bearing Co., Buffalo, was 1 president, the election being accompanied by demonstration of approval. officers elected were: Vice-president, J. Goslin, & Goslin Machinery & Foundry Co., Birmingham, retary, J. M. Taylor, 29 South La Salle Street, treasurer, Chicago Trust Co., Chicago; honor- ber of the administrative council, O. P. Briggs, polis, Minn. new personnel of the administrative council fol- trict Cc. C. Chesney, chairman, General Electri field, Mass.: Charles L. Taylor, vice-chairman, Tay n Co., Hartford, Conn H B. Johnson, Genera! nguisher Co., Providence, R. I F. M. Weymouth Mfg. Co., Boston: Charles Berger, the Eastern Iron Co., Naugatuck, Conn district—Louis P. Willsea, chairman, the Willsea Rochester, N. Y¥.; George C. Forgeot, vice-chairman gton Pump & Machinery Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y Mastwood, Benjamin Eastwood Co., Paterson, N. J Thomas, Straight-Line Engine Co., Syracuse, N. Y S. Smith, E. W. Bliss Co., Brooklyn, N. Y. district—Alex, Jarecki, chairman, Jarecki Mfg. Co., a J. P. Allen, vice-chairman, Union Steel Casting ttsburgh, Pa.; H. E. Asbury, Enterprise Mfg. Co. of THE IRON AGE 1391 Pa Philadelphia Nelson J. Darling, Erie Works, General Electric Co Brie Pa O. R. Read, Read Machinery Co York, I I ‘ W. Russe chairman, Russell Wheel & | ( Detroit, Mich William M. Taylor, \ Chat er & Taylor Co Indianapolis, Ind J. M Star Dr ng Machine Co Akro1 Ohi H \ Be Found: & Machine C Muskego Mic? Ne ( I W Works Worthingtor hum) \ M ( | ‘ ‘ I \. H. He hai Wate ; ( VW 0, Iowa: ¢ H. \ hair i { Works, Inc., Kansas Cit M r Ss. Hammond, Whiting Found & Equip t ¢ H Hor I ( Cat delet Found: ( St. Lou Mo mW Ed M I v ( M« | Six ( be é M ‘ ( I W I Ba : Wor W 1» ‘ ‘ ( Hoi & D ] ( S M I \ ‘ M \1 W VW | \ Wor! t W S W \ ( Via Mi ) “wT I Fort ; ‘ H. ¢ I I i i ! W S NI : \ . lex \V 1) é Hla I I \ J Bl I W { l ] lex M \ ‘ I M i. 3 ! ‘ | "oe Mfe. ¢ ra Chatta 1 I ere Va t il registratic? f 364 r mol na ) pe ( y ) The Death of Mr. Monaghan The announcement of the death of George F. Monag han, general counsel for the National Founders’ Asso ciation, came as a surprise to many present \ppro priate resolutions relating to his death were adopted He 1 at his home in Detroit of heart trouble early in July, at the age of 45. He had been counse! for the association since 1904, at the same time carrying on h general law practice with his cousin, Peter Monaghan, in Detroit He was remarkably successful, having secured injun ns against the molders’ unions fo picketing in instances where the local lawyers main tained such injunctions could not be obtained. He was graduated from Detroit University, College of Law, and ] } sed ar examinations before the age of 21, and had to wait a few months to attain the minimum a allowed by law for practicing. At the age of 22 he wa nly Democrat in the Michigan House, where racted attention because of his youth and polit He was a specialist in litigation involving labor dis putes. He was always broad-minded and had great sympathy for the opposing forces. At the meetings of the Founders’ Association he was one of the most popu ir attendants He belonged to the Knights of Colum bus, the Detroit Athletic Club and the Detroit Club The board of directors of the Empire Tube & Steel Co., College Point, N. Y., has decided the business of the company requires more room for expansion, and as its present location on high-priced land and in a thickly congested section makes extension undesirable as at present situated, it was decided to open negotiations leading to its early removal to a more suitable site The questions of proximity to markets and sources of raw materials also make removal imperative. John Fraser, consulting engineer, 30 Church Street, New York, has been retained to prepare plans for a complete plant that will enable the company to enlarge its pres- ent production and will also permit of future exten sion at any time without interference with operation. The plant will be of the most modern type, the buildings to be of steel and glass and the machinery of the most efficient design. The Modern Steel Castings Co., Milwaukee, advises THE IRON AGE that the report recently published in some trade papers that the company’s plant was destroyed by fire, is not true, as the fire caused very little damage and the plant is running at normal capacity. fi Foundry Equipment in Modern Plants Flexibility Needed in Plant Layout, Machinery and Conveyors—Most Prog- ress Made by the Corporation Foundries BY JOSEPH f P\HE foundry industry may be divided into two gen- eral classes: Heavy and light jobbing and heavy and light production foundries. The majority of tne foundries of to-day are engaged in the making of heavy and light jobbing castings, which may vary from a lathe bed to a toy pistol, and whose production from a given pattern would, on the average, not exceed 30 castings per year. The buildings and equipment of these foundries must be general in scope and adaptable to a wide range of usefulness. Special stress should be laid on the lay ing out of the plant. The buildings should be well lighted, heated and easily ventilated. The material yard should be laid out so as to reduce the handling of material to a minimum, and if possible should be served by a switch and traveling crane. The lay-out of the foundry, core room and cleaning room, must be flexible so as to permit the handling of a great variety of jobs without making changes. For the heavier class ling crane in the foundry, as well as the wall jib crane, with either electric or air of work the over-head trave hoists, has become indispensable. The molding machines must necessarily be confined to the most general types, *A pape read before the twenty-fourth annual convention the National Founders Association at New York, o1 Nov. 1s The author is plants manager, Saginaw Products Co., Central Foundry plant, Division of General Motors Co) poration, Saginaw, Mich Two Monorails, on Which the Ladle Carrying Cranes Operate, Pass the Cupolas, Facilitating Speed in Tap- ping and in Handling the Metal WILSON on which no mouna.i.uig of patterns is necessary plain jolts and plain hand or power-jolt squi the standard type also. The core room should have electric air h rolling heavy core boxes and handling large « plain jolt machine of the proper size would in almost any jobbing core room. The cleaning room of a modern jobbing should have a sand blast for cleaning the cast hammers for chipping, and cranes and hoi handling the heavier castings; tumbling mi | grinders for the smaller work. Three Classes of Production Foundries The production foundry can be sub-divid to three classes: The specialty foundry, which itself to one, or a very small variety of castings, and is A Movable Extension, Operating on Hinges, Makes It Possible to Tap Into a Ladle Sus- pended from Either Monorail 1392 vember 25, 1920 Sand Handling Equipment, Using » Buckets, Bins, Chutes, Conveyors, Makes for the Efficiency of This Departm«s nt ‘herefore in a position to build its equipment around a gle product, making the molding and cleaning op- ‘tlons as well as the sand handling almost automatic. in extreme type of this class is the Enterprise indry Co., Kewanee Boiler Co., Kelsey Wheel Co., rench & Hecht Foundry; James B. Clow & Sons, cast 1 pipes, and the Crane Co. lhe next class I have in mind is the jobbing produc- n shop, which is wholly dependent on outside work will accept only orders insuring a steady produc- n for a given period. The pattern equipment may nsist of gated patterns, match plates, stripping plates, split pattern plates, rigged and furnished according to the specifications ot tne roundry; this has to be gov- THE IRON AGE 1593 L In order to get the benefit of the latest developments in molding and core machines some manufacturers have adopted the policy of buying the machines, mounting the patterns, building the flasks, and then turning the whole equipment over to a foundry. This relieves the foundry of a great initial expense, and is in most cases erned somewhat by the available machine equipment. quite desirable, For the third class I have in mind the so-called corporation foundry, which is connected with a manu- facturing institution which turns out a standard prod- uct, the size and weight of which will remain within close limits from one season to another, such as agri- cultural implements, radiators, valves and fittings, and automobiles. Corporation Foundries Have Been Most Progressive The foundry industry owes its rapid development in the equipment line of the last few years to these foun- dries. They have encouraged and adopted new develop- ments in building and equipment construction on a scale, that, from a financial standpoint alone, would be out of question in an independent jobbing shop. The developments of the past few years have given us the multiple story foundry, such as the Buick Foun- dry, Deere & Co.’s harvester plant foundry, the French & Hecht Foundry, Crane & Co. foundry, and the semi- automatic foundry, where elaborate conveyers form a predominant part of the permanent equipment and building construction, such as the foundries of Dodge Bros., Ford Motor Co., Sampson Tractor Co., and the new plant of the Aluminum Castings Co. We still have the modern foundry in wnich conveyors are practically eli- minated, and where the molds are shaken out and the sand tempered on the floor. Since, from the standpoint f investment and operating expense, neither of the ( ee eee 1394 above types has established any marked superiority, all these types must be accepted as modern. My personal choice is the one-story foundry with limited, or no, per- manent conveyor equipment, on account of its great flexibility and absence of vibration. What is true of the buildings of a foundry is also true of machine equipment. A machine may be up-to- date for one job and wholly out-of-date for another. For example: A plain jolt may comprise the latest thing for a modern jobbing shop, but would be out-of- date and indicate antiquated methods if applied to a cylinder block for an automobile motor. While some of our modern equipment is designed for the purpose of improving the quality of the product manufactured, we find that the necessity of saving labor outweighs all other considerations. The handling of material plays a big roll in the foundry, and should therefore receive considerable at- tention in designing and equipping a plant. At the Buick foundry we found that for every ton of castings —_—___\ :* produced we had to handle 64 tons of material, in spite of the fact that the layout of the plant made a con- tinuous flow of material possible. The Magnet a Great Labor Saver A great deal of labor can be saved in the properly arranged yard, equipped with an overhead traveling crane with electric magnet and grab bucket. - With a magnet, one operator and one laborer can unload a car of pig iron in the average time of 45 min.; this takes into consideration every type of car and takes care of an average distance of 50 ft. To do the same job with- out a magnet, even on a piece work basis, would re- quire at least 15 men. If the yard is so laid out that a car can be spotted opposite the pile, 25 min. is a good average time. If space permits, the yard should be laid out so that the same crane can also supply the cupola charging platform with iron, limestone and coke. The coke may be stored in the yard and handled with a grab bucket, or to avoid the crushing of coke, a stor- THE IRON AGE November 25 20 age room holding from 20 to 30 cars, accordin; size of the plant, may be provided adjacen charging platform and on the same level. A at the level of the track receives the coke, a) it by means of a bucket elevator up to th room. A monorail system in connection with ; tor also gives excellent service, The modern equipment for handling the and core sand differs considerably and is larg trolled by local conditions. Where the found) cated on high ground a basement can be provi the sand unloaded by gravity directly into t In a multiple story foundry where the sand stored on the first or ground floor a belt ¢ running from hoppers located near the railroad is a good means to distribute the sand into the d bins. A unique and novel installation can be f the Central Foundry. It consists of a series of bins, open at the top and under one roof, which tends over the car tracks. The bins are locate Ground Pla Central Found sr ae of the Saginaw $ + ucts Co., Ge i » Motors Cor) 2. oa“ Saginaw, M . z . FUTURE < PATTERMA BLDG prormacg, | I BOILER ] e 120 8 4 200M end of the core room and adjacent to the facing room. Overhead bridge cranes equipped with buckets, unload the cars; these same buckets also t the sand from the bins and feed it into hoppers w extend through the core room walls. The outlet the hoppers are about six feet above the floor and ar equipped with clam shells. By locating these hoppe! directly over the sand mixers, the mixers can be loaced by simply opening the clam shells. To accommodat types of cars a shallow pit is provided under the track, extending far enough on each side to permit ‘ dropping of the grab bucket between the track and the pit wall. With this arrangement one crane operat and two laborers who guide the bucket into the car pit as the case may be, and who also trim the corner of the car, can unload an open car of sand in the aver- age time of 45 min. During the summer when core s®! comes in daily, the sand is unloaded directly into ‘he hoppers leading to the core room. Since the outlets ° these hoppers are directly over the sand mixers, about nd November 25, 1920 THE IRON AGE of the Core Department Where Heavy Work Is Made Li the special type o cent of the co1e sand is hand!led only once before mixed and ready for the core maker. he Electric Furnace, the Main Melting Innovation e melting equipment has not undergone any radi inges; the recent developments are practically all <d to the electric furnace. Some cupolas are pro with charging machines which tip the charge trom truck into the cupola; another charging system ts of a bottom-dump monorail car, in which the res are placed and run into the furnace. While f these are being operated successfully by foun making fairly heavy work, the foundries making ‘astings which require uniformly hot iron ars to replace hand charging. handling and rehandling of the n the foundry and on the charging floor is quite rge item, and in order to reduce this handling a second charging floor can be constructed above regular charging floor. The sprues are collected igh the foundry in steel dump buggies which hold ibout enough for one charge. The buggies are ted through the shop by a tractor and taken to the r leading to the charging platform. Here the are weighed and the charges corrected. The ve is now run up to the upper platform and tipped e cupola, the distance between the two doors be ifficient to spread the scrap evenly. (he modern equipment used for distributing and ng iron covers a long range. It may consist of pushed or electrically-driven ladle buggies run- on a track or on the bare floor; it may be a heavy lead traveling crane, a pouring bridge, a ladle pended from a trolléy and moving along a mono- rr an electrically operated monorail crane of the sprues and ght for Core Girl Operators At the left center can be seen ver machine Delpher system. The monorail car with electric drive and hoist is perhaps one of the latest developments. his equipment gives excellent service in continuously- operating foundries, especially where long hauls are necessary. These cars travel at a speed of 480 ft. per min., and in order to run the cars at the maximum switches should be eliminated as far as possible Where it is necessary to have a double track system in front of the cupola it is more satisfactory to use a ball-bearing extension spout to reach the car on the out side track than to run on the inside track by means of a switch. This spout should be so constructed that it can be swung out of the way by the tapper when a car on the inside track is to be loaded. Carrying the Molds to the Iron Pouring devices of the Brillian type work well if used in conjunction with the electric car. Conveyor systems which carry the molds to the iron have also received onsiderable attention of late, but since these installa- tions also require in connection a return system for the sand, they must remain a part of the specialty foundry. The mixing of core sand and facing, the handling ind conditioning of the molding sand, are items of great rtance in the modern foundry, and have therefore eceived considerable attention during the last few years For mixing the bulk of core sand my preference is for the conbination of a riddle and a paddle mixer while for an oil sand mixture, such as is used in a cylinder jacket core, I have found the crusher type to give excellent service. A modern installation for mixing facing may vary from a plain power riddle to a combination of a riddle, a crusher, and a centrifugal machine. A combination A Part of the Cafeteria of the Foundry Where Employees Obtain Their Luncheons a omy ea ts 1396 of the last type is in operation at the Central Foundry and is giving splendid results. It consists of a cylindri- cal riddle located on the floor level, a Simpson mill and a Sellers centrifugal mixer on an elevated platform. The batch is made up in front of the riddle and shov- eled into it by hand; a short bucket elevator raises the sand from the riddle to the Simpson mill, where the mixture is thoroughly ground. Another short elevator raises the facing to the top of the Seller