The Iron Age 1923-02-22: Vol 111 Iss 8

b) 0 uC lee, Mee. 4c. ye. (lee. 99¢. ecord- ) 30th Hands are Free for nel the Piece and the Tools 7 3) 26¢. € Pee . bs CRED ds hip z Be Bagh, oF ere s i} > f » F pen a oe Be é im oe . 2 5 4 4 2 a ey pit . “a me onto > 4 a 2 Ca , i: 2 es . ¥ _ aes aie’ “a maw i > oka —~ + - e 7 $ New York, February 22, 1923 i ae ES SHED 1855 NOBLE” PON % GL OMI tear Ps ek a re Se | lmprovements in Light Metal Machining Use of Both Hands and Both Feet of Operator to Increase Production—Multiple Tooth Gear Cutter Effect Large Savings METERS which print a ticket or receipt for ye manufactured with accuracy and yet at a cost that taxicab fare have become an article of manu- will keep the total machine cost not so high as to check ire calling for mass production. One com-_ its adoption by the taxicab owner, to whom they are ng this type of taxicab meter is the Ohmer leased by the maker. ster Co., Dayton, Ohio. As there are about One 2000 parts in these meters contained in a shell or cover operation calling for great accuracy is the figure wheel. This is a die casting with the figures cast on the periphery. The wheel is provided with a bronze bushing, the hole in which must be x 6 x 12 in., it is necessary that the parts ~~ absolutely concentric with the periphery, so that the printing may be done correctly, with uniform impressions. These wheels were formerly reamed by hand and a bronze plug inserted under an arbor press. The wheel would then be transferred to a drill press and the hole drilled in the plug. It would then be placed in a fixture and the bushing faced, reamed and spun on the edge to lock it in place. The present method of handling this work saves $6 per hundred. The machine in which the work is handled is a precision bench lathe with special attachments. In the spindle is a single step chuck of proper diameter to grasp the periphery of the Operations on a Wheel Are 1 Precision Bench Lathe th Treadles for Use of Both . Use of a Drill Press for MALLE imped Gear to an Accurate ind to Secure a Desired earing Surface Ste: ti it : oa * : 530 T E ; rT HE IRON AGE February 22. }99 lee bi Making Four CC Bi in Forming Gear . Drun aoe * . Sin at ey ts Wi re Aone rege . + 4} ~ at ‘ <9 : > Bh - series of The treadle, although This collet is operated through a levers by the foot not necessary operator’s right foot on a treadle. ho eft countershaft ontrols the to stop the machine to chuck work, as s can be done while the Work is spindle is running. and inserted into the chuck taken from A special block clearly shown in of the Yroove i and. 1 : the flat top at the heigh illustration has a this block is a half ised are t . spindle center. In round the spindle. The drill a depth gage, consisting of a in line with tools shown. These consist of lengths of rod on the rear end ‘ of screw collar with for holding which is adjustment and having a set screw t i On the front end is the particular bit to in the operation being performed. sequence of operations is: Chucking, chamfer- in place, facing to length, ream- > , a8 a ’ fe used ae The * p ing, forcing bushing the rest is the +. one fo} front ° end an arbor over which the bushing fits. At the reat a push knob for forcing the bushing stop, standing by the bas ee ng, and spinning. The tool shown on inserting the bushing. This has in its ais he end of this tool in to depth against the while the work revolves. *> . 1 1 Other tools are shown lathe. Tools fed to the work, sliding in the groove in the block, Tee by the operator’s right hand, until the stop is reached. Fe BS + Another operation on these wheels is rather unique. 1 be This is one of milling a stamped gear to bring it within an accuracy of 0.002 in. This gear is shown in illus- tration. It is interrupted at every third tooth. It is Riess a8 riveted to the side of the printing wheel by means of it “4 lugs whch are die cast on the wheel. The riveting bao = operation causes the gear to swell slightly, which fault Fed must be ecerrected, as on this gear depend two. functions : in the proper operation of the meter. ‘' One function is the transfer of motion to the print is actuated by a_one gear. ine wheel, when it tooth The other function is to act as a bearing for the cam > portion of the one tooth. gear, which operates it. The , cam portion of this one tooth gear, riding in the inte rupted Space 6f the riveted gear, serves to hold ft, and z consequentiiy the printing wheel, in proper alinement for prittiig: The milling of the bearing surface for this.camads performed under a drill press Spindle. The wheel i8 mounted in a fixture, with or without a spacer, es as may bé required by the thickness of the wheel to which the gea¥ is attathed: A Spteial end mill of the same diameter as*tht éam is then f@d.d6Wn on a pilot ‘ to a depth stop théfeby finishing thea = bearing : accurately. ” a une In the construction of meter, there are emp bronze clock spring d meter. It was forme) tice to cut the gear flange of this drum w cutter at the rate of day and a cost of $22.: The the drum on a) dred. present . me mount arbor in the gear cutt and to cut four gash: each time the ma This development pro at the of 126 p the same type of machine at a cost of $2 dred. considering that n each meter built. rate It can readily be seen what a saving there are three of thes: Reunion and Testimonial to John S$. Oursler in Pittsburgh A reunion of those men who had charge of Neville Island ordnance plant, which was p! ted the Government and construction of which was begu during the war by the Steel Corporation, was held the William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, Friday evening Feb. 16. It took the form of a testimonia er t John S. Oursler, general superintendent H works, Carnegie Steel Co., who was in gene! of the projected ordnance plant. This was t! union, which now is to become an annua! brought together F. W. Waterman, now in charge of the construction of the new Gary works, National Tube Co.; I. Lamont Hugh« superintendent Youngstown, Ohio, plants, Carneg Steel Co.; L. E. L. Thomas, now chief engineer ! Steel Co., Chicago; R. C. Cochran, auditing de} American Sheet & Tin Plate Co., Pittsburgh Wooldridge, superintendent Carnegie Land (© burgh; Fred Hubbard, consulting engineer Bb Steel Co., Youngstown, Ohio; T. D. Davi Tube Co., Pittsburgh; F. L. Collins, Gary, I! Illinois Steel Co.; L. N. Ralph, now with Stockman and Farmer; George W. Brow! chasing agent United States Steel Corpora burgh; J. C. Kimes, now with the Baltin Railroad; Charles L. Phillips, New Castle, | Carnegie Steel Co.; A. F. Mitchell, now face Combustion Co., New York, and J superintendent school buildings, Board Pittsburgh. To Reduce Number of Sizes of St e] Locker: Manufactu week WASHINGTON, Feb. 20. lockers, at a here vision of Simplified Practice, Departmen! Tie conference last merce, agreed to conduct a survey 1n ing to the elimination of surplus sizes lockers. The survey is to be made mittee consisting of C. S. Berger, tne T} Co., Canton, Ohio, chairman; M. C. Millet Mfg. Co., New York; M. S. Hart, Hart & Co., New -Britain, Conn., and W. G. B Steel Locker Co., Chicago. \lr. Baackes Gives Interesting Testimony Days of Uncertainty as to Railroad Rates Recalled in Basing Point Hearing at Chicago—Important Changes in 11cAGO, Feb. 19.—At the hearing of the Pittsburgh point case last week before Examiner Bennett Federal Trade Commission, Frank Baackes, vice- ent and general sales agent, American Steel & i o., gave very interesting testimony. He testified ; company had 34 different plants scattered over intry, serving 70,000 customers, with over 25,000 f wire products. The manufacture of wire prod- explained, calls for considerable skill, and for ison the various plants have been permitted to to specialize in the products which they made they were taken over by the American Steel & \ He asserted that it is unwise to split up de- and that it is practically impossible to trans- from one plant to another. As a result, products are made in different plants, and the turing capacity of the company is regarded as serving the trade. By way of illustration, he » ties, which are largely made at the Waukegan, From this works bale ties are distributed all United States. ympany’s first consideration, he stated, is to ustomers, and for that reason, shipments ar¢ m various plants according to mill conditions products specified in orders. Assume, for in- hat an order for an assembled car of common such as wire nails, barbed wire, woven fence, re or bale ties, was received from a customer igo territory. If the assortment specified in r contained some materials not made in the West, then the entire shipment would be made from n plant. Otherwise shipment would be made cago district plants, provided the mills were rowded. Daily reports of mills’ conditions en ales department to distribute orders properly e various plants of the country. Why Prices Varied ew of this practice, the net prices at the dif- ls vary considerably. No matter from what shipment is made, goods are billed at a Pitts ise price, plus the freight to destination. This gh base price is established by his company on of costs, competition and whatever market may be. They are sometimes higher than urgh base prices charged by competitors and lower. Sometimes, he said, it was necessary .e competition-in almost every transaction, business was desired, his company would cut ufficiently to get it. Only matters of general declared, were decided in the offices of the ) rporation in New York. In other words, the 1 at New York represent maxima which may S is market conditions warrant. On the other ices should generally grow so weak that a luction would appear advisable, recommenda effect would be forwarded to New York. Capacity of Various Districts kes has been identified with the wire busi years, and for the last 22 years with the teel & Wire Co. He asserted that at no productive capacity west of the Indiana- line been able to take care of the con- common products in the Western States, he Pacific Coast. He estimated the annual r Mie the Chicago district plants of the American Meda Co. to be 450,000 tons of plain wire against nso! ately equal tonnage for the Cleveland dis- and 575,000 tons for the Pittsburgh dis- The remaining 10 per cent of the com- luctive capacity, he said, was at Worcester, Trade Customs Explained Mass., and other points scattered about the country. The new Duluth wire plant of the Minnesota Steel Co., the products of which are sold by the American Steel & Wire Co., will probably manufacture about 100,000 tons of plain wire per year, he said. This would increase the productive capacity of the Chicago. district to 550,- 000 tons per year. These estimates were given as rep- resenting what could be done under praetical conditions as contrasted with the theoretical capacities as given in the Iron and Steel Works Directory, which was referred to by commission’s counsel in the cross-examination. To illustrate the deficiency in capacity in the Chi- cago district, he asserted that the tonnage shipped from plants west of the Indiana-Illinois State line to points east was equal to only 15 per cent of the tonnage shipped by the company’s Eastern plants to points west of that line. At this point the attorneys for the commission called attention to a statement which had been prepared for the commission by the American Steel & Wire Co., which showed that Western mills in 1919 shipped a total of 136,353 tons to Eastern and Southern States and the Pacific Coast, including Alaska, whereas Eastern mills shipped to Western points 138,- 168 tons. Of the shipments by Western plants, 28,310 tons went to Michigan, 17,726 tons to Indiana, 12,781 tons to States farther east, 47,388 tons to Southern and Southwestern States, and 7448 tons to the Pacific Coast, including Alaska. Excluding the shipments to the States of Arkansas, Arizona, and New Mexico, which had been included in the total, the shipments from Western mills outside of their logical territory amounted to 129,593 tons. In commenting on these fig- ures, Mr. Baackes stated that it was impossible for him to keep in his head the specific figures for each year, and that there may have been special conditions sur rounding the situation in 1919, but drawing upon his experience of 40 years in the business, he could verify his previous estimate of the preponderance of ship- ments West over shipments from Western plants to the East. Prices Explained When asked by the commission’s counsel to account for the difference in the spread between wire mails and wire rods in 1916 and 1919, the spread being only 83c. a ton in the former year, and $22:29 in 1919, he replied that there was no logical relationship between the mar ket prices of the two commodities. Every manufac- turer of wire nails, he asserted, makes its own wire rods. The sale of wire rods on the open market, he as- serted, is confined to manufacturers of entirely different commodities, such as chain and bolts. When cross examined regarding price’ conditions in the earlier years, Mr. Baackes pointed out that freight rates were not the factor then that they are now. The freight on each shipment was the subject of negotia- tions with the railroads. He recalled one instance in which he shipped nails from Salem, Ohio, to Chicago at 5c. per keg. Silas J. Llewellyn, president, Interstate Iron & Steel Co., Chicago, also touched upon the subject of freight rates and the relation of rebates to net prices realized at the mills. He stated that before the enactment of the Hepburn law in 1906, rebates were common, and the published tariffs of the railroads were largely dis- regarded. The net prices which sellers obtained at their mills depended first on what the customers were willing to pay, and second upon their success in. bar- gaining with the railroads for a low rate. One could never definitely ascertain what rates competitors paid on their shipments, and for that reason it was difficult to determine exactly what base prices were charged. 531 5 RR en A aie ay "BEC RR i a yam SO Je? se i “} ¢ é ’ 532 THE IRON AGE He recalled one instance in which he obtained a rate of 10c. per keg on a shipment of nails to St. Paul, which enabled him to make large sales to the great discomfiture of his competitors. Mr. Llewellyn’s experience in the steel business in the Chicago district probably dates back as far as, if not farther than, that of any other executive active today. In 1879 he became identified with the North Chicago Rolling Mills, Milwaukee, which was taken over by the Illinois Steel Co. about ten years later. Originally, the principal product of the Milwaukee plant was iron rails. Bar iron and iron angle bars were also manufactured, and later tie plates were added, as well as some cut iron nails. Iron exclusively was rolled until the company was taken over by the Illinois Steel Co., when the rolling of steel was gradually introduced. By 1897 which, incidentally, was the year that Mr. Llewellyn severed his connections with the company, the rolling of iron had been entirely abandoned, and the plant was entirely on steel. An interesting fact was brought to light when Mr. Llewellyn stated that for a time following the aban- donment of the manufacture of rolled iron products the company made steel cut nails. Uncertainty as to Freight Rates Mr. Llewellyn was in charge of sales during the 90’s, and outlined his experience in connection with prices. He stated that these were determined by ascer- taining the competition and calculating so far as pos- sible the freight rates of competitors to points of con- sumption. The territory served was largely west of Chicago, but the net prices on material sold east of the Milwaukee plant netted the mills less than sales at Milwaukee or west, because the freight of the competi- tors diminished as one went east. Owing to the uncertainty of the freight element and other factors, it was difficult to secure an accurate check on the actual prices charged by the various mills. In his own words, “in the early days it was more or less a leap in the dark” as to what ruling prices were. As time went on, prices of all classes of goods tended to become standardized, and the trade papers which make a business of gathering and disseminating infor- mation on prices, succeeded in reflecting actual condi- tions more accurately, until today the various markets are on a basis which generally shows a very narrow range of going prices. Under cross examination, Mr. Llewellyn stated that in the earlier period, as for example, the 90’s and pos- sibly the first few years of this century, there were at times price pools and gentleman’s agreements, but he asserted that even when prices were fixed in this man- ner, the agreements were promptly broken when the mills found themselves in need of business. Mr. Llewellyn became president of the Interstate Iron & Steel Co. at the time of its organization in 1905. He traced the growth of his company since that time, stating that two mills had been added to the orig- inal bar iron plant at East Chicago, and that in the latter part of 1916, the Grand Crossing Tack Co. had been acquired, including a wire and tack plant at Grand Crossing and a steel works in South Chicago. Since that time, the capacity of the Grand Crossing plant has been increased, and at the South Chicago works, four open-hearth furnaces have been added to the original two furnaces, and a Morgan continuous bar mill has been constructed. This expansion, he said, was undertaken because of the desirability of Chicago as the selling and distributing point and the advantage of location at that city. Disparity in Prices The witness stated that there is a great disparity between the prices of competing mills practically at all times. They are more nearly on a parity, he stated, in a slack market. Because of better delivery, better service, or better quality, he asserted, his company is sometimes able to secure a delivered price which is higher than the ruling Pittsburgh base prices, plus the freight. Prices, he testified, are constantly varying up and down, depending entirely on market conditions. Generally prices at Chicago are higher than those f.o.b. February. 22, Pittsburgh, although within the last few year: has not always been true. The base prices quot salesmen of the company vary, sometimes being basis of f.o.b. mill, sometimes delivered cust, plant, and sometimes f.o.b. Pittsburgh. When t} tation is f.o.b. mill, or f.o.b. customer’s plant, tha: narily equals the Pittsburgh base price plus the f Sales of wire products have been largely on a burgh base market, although within the last tw a number of competitors have quoted an Ironto: base. F. F, Corby, vice-president in charge of sales Steel & Tube Co. of America, asserted that hi was able to take care of about 25 per cent of t mal demand for lap-weld and butt-weld type territory west of the Indiana-Illinois State lin, Frank T. Bentley, traffic manager of the F Steel Co., explained more fully the conditions obtained during the days of rebates. Railroa he said, published tariffs and then promptly disr ed them, and shippers bargained and haggled over ht rates. In all of the references to rebating, it was nitely brought out whether the rebates were give customers lower delivered prices or whether buyers paid the full tariff rate and the rebate rved to increase the net prices at the mills. If cust rs got the benefit of rebates, it is obvious that Pittsburgh base prices did not have the same significance a ey do now. In other words, they did not feel the disad- vantage of distance from Pittsburgh to the extent that they do today, because the full tariff rate for t! tance was not charged. Testimony as to Scrap Joseph Michaels, vice-president Hyman-Michaels Co., Chicago, testified that approximately two-thirds of the iron and steel scrap produced in this country emanates from the territory including and west of Chicago. Approximately 75 per cent of the scrap of the country—formerly 90 per cent—is consumed in the Pittsburgh district. Until about 15 years ago the prices paid for scrap at Pittsburgh were usually equal to the Chicago price, plus the freight. Today the dif- ference between prices at the two centers is ordinarily about one-half the freight. On cross-examination it was brought out that on borings and turnings the Chicago seller frequently gets no more than the Pitts- burgh district price, minus the full freight from Chi- cago. In previous testimony in the case, manufacturers of screw machine products had pointed out that in addition to buying steel at the Pittsburgh base price, plus the freight from Pittsburgh, they were forced sell their scrap at the Pittsburgh price, minus th freight, thereby suffering a double handicap in meeting competition from the Pittsburgh district. The im portance of this fact is realized when one considers that in the manufacture of these products from 5" t 60 per cent of the metal used is waste and must b disposed of on the scrap market. On March 1, 1923, the Bethlehem Shipbuilding \or poration, Ltd., will consolidate its shipbuilding and ship repairing interests in the Baltimore district under 0™ local management, with headquarters at Sparrows Point. J. M. Willis, at present general manager of the Baltimore Dry Docks Plant, will be general manage? of these consolidated plants, which will be known 4s the Baltimore Dry Docks Works and Sparrows Point of the Baltimore Plant, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Cor?’ ration, Ltd. Works “Effective Management for the Moderate-Size Plant” will be the principal topic at the nationa’ ©" vention of the Society of Industrial Engineers, al held in Cincinnati, April 18 to 20. The sessions "™ be held at the Hotel Gibson. has The United Gas & Fuel Co., Hamilton, eee awarded a contract for coke ovens to the Semet-So eo Co. W. H. Blauvelt, 120 Broadway, New York, 's “ sulting engineer and in charge of purchases. Pig [ron Costs in Continental Europe’ Pre-War and Post-War Conditions Throw Light on Today’s Competitive Relation with the United States y in Foreign Trade BY PAUL M. TYLER producing areas on the continent of Europe, the only regions that have attained any con- : prominence in foreign trade are those tribu- he Lorraine ore fields, which, except for a com- V YHILE there are several different iron and steel ely small portion which extends over into burg and Belgium, are now included within the ries of France. Since the Treaty of Versailles, has owned almost 50 per cent of the iron ore es of continental Europe. Throughout this re- vhich includes northern France, Luxemburg, Bel- {1 many of the most important producing areas iany, the situation has been much disturbed war. Nevertheless, despite the constant to obtain adequate fuel supplies and the sun- ilties attending the transition in part of the from German to French political domination, aine area has been able to furnish a very con- output of ore and of pig iron. | these countries, conditions are still too chaotic any definite predictions as to what costs may ‘onsidered normal. Neither France nor Ger- hope to arrive at any sort of stability until tisfactory arrangement is made for the ex- of French ore for Westphalian coal or coke. however, the only progress toward such an ement seems to be that its necessity has become d more apparent and more widely recognized. France has coal of her own and imports fuel gland and Belgium, the one and only econom- for her blast furnaces is that carried back e Ruhr in the same cars that carry French ore iny’s blast furnace plants. While Belgium haps put her industry on a self-supporting th respect to coke, it is very doubtful if she satisfy all of Luxemburg’s needs and cer- rance could expect little help from Belgium in that deliveries of German fuel, whether on account or by private purchase, were dis- for more than a very short time. French Ore Lower Than Before War ore containing an average of approximately of iron was quoted at between 11 and 12 tric ton throughout 1922. Some of the better ores have fetched as much as 15 fr., while is ores of Longwy have sold at 9 fr. and less. open market prices and are therefore in he cost of ore to furnace operators who have mines. Actual costs are doubtless 8 fr. or Even on the basis of purchased ore, how- s at furnaces in northern France are low. first of this year, the average price of, say, r ton at the mines was equivalent to only it of iron content delivered at the furnaces situated practically on top of the ore bod- to the drop in exchange during January, prices are now less than they were before \ctual costs in 1913 ranged from 3.50 to metric ton in Briey and from 2.60 to 4 fr. the Longwy district, the average cost for eld being something like 3.80 fr. or 73c. + + irt of an article to show the disadvantageous United States in respect to the costs of making $3 country, in Great Britain and in Europe. = per ton as compared with a selling price of 4.75 to 5 fr. or more than 90c. per ton. The unstable feature of the French industry is the fuel situation which ever since the war has caused oper- ators in Lorraine ceaseless anxiety. Coke prices have been regulated by an association known as the Société des Cokes des Hauts-Fourneaux or, more familiarly, as the “Scof.” In the early part of 1922, coke was priced at 65 fr. per metric ton but rose to 97 fr. in August where it remained, except for a slight reduc- tion in the fall, into the early part of this year. Even before the invasion of the Ruhr, however, it was pro- posed to increase the price of coke to 110 fr. on Feb. 1 and, later, when it was found that it would be unable to obtain enough fuel from Westphalia—at least dur- ing the first few weeks of the occupation— the 110 fr. price was continued for reparations coke and for French production but the price of English and Belgian coke was established at 155 fr. In the case of export business, there is a bounty in the shape of a 20-fr. reduction in the price of coke which is to be used in the manufacture of iron or steel for export. At the moment that this is being written, the effect of the French invasion of Westphalia has not been demonstrated and it is impossible to predict whether it will result in French fuel costs going up or going down. In an effort to arrive at a fairly stable basis for com- paring French costs with those in other countries, how- ever, it will serve for our purpose to take the February price of 110 fr. and convert it into American currency on the basis of the exchange rate of 7c., which obtained at the first of the year; this makes the price of coke $7.70 per metric ton or $7 per ton of 2000 lb. delivered at the furnaces of northern France. As 1% tons of coke are ordinarily needed to make a ton of pig iron from Lorraine ores, the indi- cated fuel cost in this region is now $9.65 per ton of pig iron. The present price is by no means the mini- mum since the war for, in the latter part of 1921 (Octo- ber), France enjoyed the advantage of the cheapest coke in Europe, the price being 65 fr., which was equiv- alent at that time to $4.75 per 1000 kg.; on the other hand, coke cost 260 fr. per metric ton in June, 1920, this maximum price being then equivalent to over $20. Despite the fact that France used to import much of her coal from England and Belgium before the war, her steel industry was mainly dependent upon German coke, and German deliveries still determine the rate of iron output in France, although the proportion of Ger- man coke dropped during 1922 from 70 per cent to 60 per cent of her total consumption. Production from the Saar and imports from Belgium and Great Britain may displace some portion of Westphalian coke imports but only at considerable extra cost. As regards the Saar basin, it has not yet been demonstrated that the coal from that region will yield a coke which will give sat- isfactory service in blast furnaces. Lorraine Ore Vital to German Industry German furnaces located in Westphalia used to im- port ore from French Lorraine, a distance of about 150 miles at an additional cost of 8% to 9 fr. per metric ton, which represented the freight rates from Homé- court in the Briey district. There are two routes, either 533 at at A RNB AR : . A AA EAE! OLLI I Pe DE. Te. TE He a =A q 3 ; Rit} 5 = et. age F pighe tah 5 Se ee ares, +r, shy ¥ . *%, + pit + , ‘gst ¥ learns ay antl Denes "7 > " £ Se v Soe ss Tee ere 2 nz fox . . aijibist * ee THE IRON AGE February 22, 1609 all rail or part rail and part water (river and canal) from Pagny-sur-Moselle. Owing to transfer charges, the part water route was actually a crifle more costly than the rail journey so all but about 20 per cent of the ore went the entire distance by ral. In addition to ore from Lorraine (including Lothringen or Lorraine Annexée), blast furnaces located in the Rhineland and in the Ruhr basin used a considerabie tonnage of local ores as well as a fair amount of Spanish and Swedish ores before the war. Since the war there has been a tendency to avoid so far as possible the use of French ore—partly as a result of the greater difficulties, political and indus- trial, attending the supply of minette and partly due to the stimulus given the use of higher grade ore be- cause of the high cost and restricted supply of fuel. One post-war development has been the importation of Wabana ore from Newfoundland. The continued use of Lorraine ore in the Ruhr valley, however, is of vital importance to both regions, owing to the economic benefits resulting from exchange of ore and fuel and the lower freight rates on both when one constitutes a back haul for the other. Coke prices throughout Germany have fluctuated so tremendously since 1918 that it is impossible to estab- lish any reasonable basis for estimating average post- war production costs. While there have been intervals of comparative plenty, the period since the armistice has been a succession of one fuel famine after another. Chronic fuel shortage complicated by the uncertainties of exchange and of labor costs has helped to demora- lize German production to an even greater extent than French operations have suffered from somewhat similar causes. While both France and Germany have been able to maintain some production, the real recovery has not been even as satisfactory as the production statistics would seem to indicate. Huge accumulations of scrap have been melted in the blast furnaces, which have been operated more like cupolas than smelting furnaces. Often only sufficient ore is used to make a satisfactory slag and as much scrap as possible is crowded in with- out too seriously impairing the quality of the iron. While the writer does not wish to imply that this is not good economics, he does wish to call attention to the fact that the extensive use of scrap gives a false idea as to the extent of actual normal smelting from ore \ 1 and especially so in regions where the typical ores are low grade. The cost of producing basic pig iron in Lorraine and in Westphalia, before the war, ranged from about $9.50 to $13.50 per ton. In general costs in Westphalia were somewhat higher than on either side of the old border between French and German Lorraine. On the average, the costs in Luxemburg were the lowest of all the countries dependent upon the minette ore fields. While fuel was considerably cheaper in Westphalia and even in the vicinities of Cologne and Aix-la-Chapelle, this advantage was more than offset by the fact that ore cost much more there than it did at furnaces situ- ated in the mining districts of France, Luxemburg, and German Lorraine (Lothringen). The distribution of costs at typical plants in two of these regions in 1911 was as follows: Prewar Cost of P cing Thomas Iron Lorrain¢ Westphalia Iron ore $2.70 38.01 Coke . ‘ % ; 5.50 3.75 Labor 0.7! 0.75 Other co 0.75 0.7 0 $13.2 Total per ton... i« : : $9.7 Belgium’s Industry More Stable No other Continental country has registered so com- plete a recovery from war conditions as Belgium, al- though Belgium, like France, suffers from the high cost of coke and from the disturbances due to the ficial economic conditions that result from her pa dependence upon deliveries of reparations fuel. De the almost incredible destruction of her facilitix plants during the war, she has made admirable ress in rebuilding and bettering her productive ment, and the extent to which she has been able : duce her costs is indicated by the simple fact that and again, Belgian works have been able to wu: all other countries on large orders for iron a; in almost every form. Belgium is essentially a coal producing count much of her importance in international trade attributed to the large deposits of coal within h ders. Anyone who has traveled through this bus: country, however, must recognize that one of it valuable assets is the remarkable industry of its who work energetically and cheerfully for long at a stretch. In fact, the character of the labo is probably as important a factor in Belgium’s bution to export trade in iron and steel as are } reserves. Like England, she is fortunate in having sh road hauls to local markets and export cent: while she is forced to import the bulk of her o: Lorraine, the freights over the State-subsid ways are extremely low when compared wit commonly charged for similar distances elsew Europe. The location of her works within ea of the sea is of special importance to Belgiun to the fact that her export trade is all out of pr to her rank among the nations of the world a ducer of iron and steel. Although, prior to the blast furnace output was insufficient and B had to import pig iron, she exported around 80 px of her output of steel. In amount her exports exceed those of France despite the fact that the Frer put was almost twice as large as that of Belgium. B gium’s importance in export trade has been f enhanced as a result of the customs union wit burg, which was entered into in the spring of While Belgium also imports German coke, though the percentage of Westphalian coal used coke ovens was increasing rapidly before the w can be self-supporting in a pinch and a cons amount of Belgian coke is normally used in F is inferior in quality to German coke but cheap: velopments in the newly exploited coal area: Campine are satisfactory from the viewpoint tional self sufficiency but it is doubtful if coal extracted from these deep, and not so very thic cheaply enough to check the use of German fu the free play of economic forces. Before the war, coke prices were slowly ri average value of Belgian coke at the ovens in 1915 W $27.28 fr. per metric ton or about $4.75 per net whereas, in 1910, the average price was only a more than 21 fr. per metric ton. As the coke ove! in most cases adjacent to the blast furnac the prices at the ovens are practically the prices ered at the furnaces. Under the influence of fuel deliveries on reparations account, Belgia: prices since the war have been about the same 4 in northern France—though differing slightly owing to inequalities in exchange. In January, the price was increased to 120 fr. per metr! about $7 per net ton at the furnaces. Ty Ore Costs in Belgium rves W Belgium has only negligible iron ore resé! in her own borders and is absolutely depende Lorraine or Luxemburg for the bulk of her ore © although she also uses a certain amount of Spanis! Swedish ores, the latter principally for regulating phosphorus in foundry irons. In 1913, almost February 22, 1923 the ore imported came from French Lorraine er cent from Luxemburg. The Belgian output rmally amounted to only 2 per cent of the con- of the country and, since about half of this ed (due to geographical conditions), less than nt of Belgium’s iron production is from native While many Belgian firms own mines in Lor- Luxemburg, the cost of ore for the Belgian try should probably be calculated on the basis prices plus the freight rates to Charleroi or chief producing centers. Prior to the war, was between 4.50 and 5 fr., varying slightly to the route but averaging about 90c. per after the armistice, the freight rate from to Charleroi had increased to 22 fr. but this educed to 16.30 fr. by way of Lamerteau and er ton by way of Givet on shipments of 180 re (full train loads). At present the freight \Ia\ es to Liege can be taken at a trifle less per ton on the average. the freight rates to the ore prices, we pre-war cost of ore of 10 fr. per ton (aver- 13) and a post-war cost of about 22 fr. per 1 il “ ~~ + at Belgian furnaces in early January, this is a nominal increase, the actual cost ning of this year was less than it was be- because of the depreciation in exchange. change in the cost of ore as expressed in currency, the exchange value of the Bel- uld have to increase to 8.75c. before the would be equivalent to the pre-war aver- per ton. When exchange was 6%%c., as it rst of this year, the ore price was a trifle ) per ton and at the end of January, with oc., it was only $1.20 or about 62 per War cost. ting the cost of ore per ton of pig iron assumed that 3 tons of Lorraine or are required to make one ton of While this allowance is frequently exces- he fact that much of this ore contains , it is perhaps a fair average for a self- such as is usually made up. The ore asis, therefore, figures out to $5.75 per THE IRON AGE 535 ton of pig iron before the war and to a considerably lower amount at present but an amount which varies according to which exchange value is put upon the prices in local currency. Whereas, before the war, only about 1 metric ton of coke was required to smelt such a mixture, around 114 tons are now needed, owing to the poorer quality of the fuel. Hence the fuel cost per ton of iron had increased from $5.25 in 1913 to more than $10 in the early part of January of this year. Since no limestone is used with these ores, the total raw material costs have increased from about $11 per ton of iron in 1913 to about $15 per ton at the beginning of this year. The writer has few data from which to estimate the other items in the cost of production at Belgian furnaces but from his observations at some of the plants is inclined to think that they did not amount to more than $1.50 per ton in 1913 and are now under $2 per ton. While these allowances, like those for Lor- raine, may seem ridiculously low when compared with American works, the differences in construction costs, in relining and repair charges, and in cost of supplies must be taken into account. Most of these charges, in the last analysis, go back to labor and Belgian labor is cheap, efficient, and industrious; hourly wages are less in Belgium than in most other civilized countries and the men do more work. Much of the price data presented is summarized in the accompanying table, which gives the figures both in terms of local currencies and as translated into Ameri- can currency at current rates of exchange. In the accompanying table the prices of ore and coke are delivered at the furnaces and thus include an estimate as to average transportation rates from the ovens or mines to the blast furnace plants. It will be noted that no recent data are presented for Germany because, owing to the uncertain political situation and the kaleidoscopic attempts to adjust prices to the un- certain index of mark exchange, the choice of any def- inite figures would suggest a stability of conditions that does not exist. With coke quoted as high as $28 per ton one week and down to under $3 the next—which actually happened last December—it is obvious that a tabulation not only is difficult to make but also would SRE Saat: F Ast —_———— aad ee ee hei « Mu, ee ca Saat Sn. Ss - £2 oe pp te Mgr nes Os « z mies hye ed er as * + ut . - <é ame « 536 THE IRON AGE prove worse than useless. Even in France and Belgium the situation in January was not so very much better as the exchange of both these countries depreciated to the extent of %c., or more than 7 per cent, in about three weeks. At the first of the year and before the invasion of the Ruhr, however, a fair balance had been struck and conditions were the result of a gradual transition period during which exchanges were reason- ably steady. For this reason, the costs and prices in the table may be of some value in diagnosing the ex- tent of Belgian and French progress toward recovery. Another factor which is almost impossible to pre- sent in tabular form is the effect of scrap upon the Simplifies Construction of Dial Gage A No. 55 dial gage, which has been simplified to incorporate only 39 parts as against 55 parts in its No. 5 gage, has been brought out by the B. C. Ames Co., Waltham, Mass. Simplicity has been obtained by putting both the rack wheel and take-up wheel with spring on one large staff, and so using only one bridge to support these parts and the center pinion. The new bezel design in- corporated eliminates other parts, such as lugs and lug Ames Simplified Dial Gage screws, the bezel being held onto the case by one piece of spring brass wire. With the elimination of parts, the new gage is said to be more durable and accurate. There are fewer parts to wear and the gage is more easily disassembled. As an example of its durability, it is claimed that the gage can be dropped 5 ft. so that contact is applied to the plunger, hit with a hammer on the end of the plunger, etc., and yet it will function properly. This durability is ascribed to having a wheel staff twice as large as usual, and also to the design of the spindle, the shoulder of which comes in contact with the inside top of the case to receive the shock. A new type of guide for the spindle has been incorporated also, and is provided with a stop to check the spindle. Tolerance of only 0.0005 in. plus or minus, is allowed in the spindle travel. Each tooth on the wheels is machine cut, and pivots on the staff are hardened and burnished to assure smooth bearings. All parts are made to gigs and standards and are interchangeable. Among other parts, screws are larger than formerly. The outstanding feature of the new design is the wheel assembly. The rack wheel consists of a large staff steel wheel and a large brass wheel, securely attached. The take-up wheel is fitted to a brass collar with a take-up spring, the collar being loosely fitted onto the rack staff. Both the brass rack wheel and take-up wheel mesh with the center pinion, but the rack wheel pushes the center pinion and the take-up wheel drags against it, taking up backlash in the gears. Two teeth are always in mesh with the center pinion, which prevents jumping of the dial hand. A new shape February 22, | 28 costs of producing pig iron as well as steel p) Scrap prices are stiffening in Europe, and Fra; England have both deemed it wise to obstruct port of scrap to Germany, which country ha even greater advantage of this method of in furnace capacities than has either France or RP In England, increased consumption of scrap | more largely confined to the production of si scrap does not seem to have constituted so an addition to blast furnace charges as it ha Continent. (To be concluded) of tooth is said to have been generated for ¢ wheels which give smoother action. The wh bly is one unit, and with the spindle and cent: makes up all of the working parts of the ga; The guide block is of solid brass and of design. The case is of the same constructio No. 5 gage, and the back is of cast iron, and held by three screws, the removal of whi all of the working parts of the gage. The di of white enamel on zinc, with black figures an tions. The readings are from zero to 50 or z each way. Special markings are available. Cast Iron Pipe Shipments to the Pacific Coast BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 20.—Including th heavy tonnage of cast iron pipe moving to th Coast via Mobile, movements of Birmingham i steel products through that port are making a record. Two Japanese steamers and an Engli are there now to load rails, plates, etc., as well as ammonium sulphate for Japanese ports, and a vess has just left with 3000 tons of rails for Seward, Alaska, and other steel products for Portland and Seattl Experts, while declaring the recent decisio! Interstate Commerce Commission on divisiona tween the rail carriers and the Warrior Riv line to have straddled the fence, also say that tl ciples laid down have paved the way for specific divisions of through rates fair to line and that this will be undertaken at onc St. Louis Terminal Plan St. Louris, Feb. 20.—The Terminal Railro ciation has accepted the proposed plan subn the Terminal Committee of the St. Louis Chan Commerce for the unification of the termina of the city. The plan must be approved by) Twenty-six railroads comprise the associatio! The plan includes the exchange of the us bridge, owned by the association, for the us Municipal bridge. New approaches and othe would have to be built by the association at a more than $15,000,000. In addition, a rearrang of the terminal facilities is contemplated, th scheme to cost between $100,000,000 and $150.0! The railroads agree to remove the existing sheds at Union Station and build modern tra!! of the “umbrella” type and to erect a new u! ger station in East St. Louis. Portland Cement Production January output of Portland cement, 4 figures of the United States Geologica amounted to 7,704,000 bbl., compared wit bbl. in January, 1922. The increase is in substantial gains which have prevailed f year in the ottput of cement, although the the lowest since those of last March. The) ever, far above the seasona] normal and | continuance of the building construction pros has been so active during the past year. r r.»ruary 22, 1923 Sander and Grinder for Horizontal or Vertical Operation new belt sander and grinder which, among other s, is adjustable for use in a vertical or hori- position, making the machine adaptable to a » of work and facilitating the operation, has been to the line of the Porter-Cable Machine Co., ise, N. Y., successor to the Syracuse Sander 0. machine, designated as type B-1, is intended for ng and finishing parts that require straight finish and sharp edges, and in addition to its use ‘tern shops the machine may be employed to ad- e in the manufacture of instruments, stampings, os and other parts. e drive is direct by a special ball-bearing, totally d motor of ( 11 Electric ( gn, which inted as in the il- ion. The edestal and bed are iron and itely ma- Moving are equip- vith ball rs and the ting roll is ded with ning SKF earings. table may ed 45 deg. ind 15 deg. ip by means of ind wheel, and easily re- n {| when it is to use the The Machine Is Shown in Vertical and Horizontal Position at Left and Right Respectively y — g g bed ina ta posi- this case it is replaced by a stop rod which acts p when grinding or sanding small pieces. An age and core gage incorporated operate in a he table and may be set to any angle up to 45 t or left. Adjusting screws are provided to sitive parallel running of the belt and are used ing the required tension or in changing belts. f abrasive belt is 10 x 64% in. and the speed m.; it may be quickly changed. Moving parts ’ protected and a special detachable guard is to cover the upper part of the belt when used rtical position. grinding bed is 10% x 25 in. The table is 9 x 16 36 in. from the floor. The height of the in the vertical position is 5 ft. 7 in. A switch, plug, and a No. 1% garnet belt and No. 70 belt are included in the equipment. “anadian Pig Iron Influenced by Conditions in United States ro, Ont., Feb. 20.—The Canadian pig iron now passing through a comparatively quiet Notwithstanding that producers have opened s for second quarter business very little book- account has so far been done by consumers. ty of melters are holding back, but no tangi- for this delay in placing contracts is given. t furnace representatives say that the market trong and in some quarters higher prices t be altogether unexpected. The activity in n market of the United States as a general me bearing on the Canadian market, but so ian foundry interests do not think the time to come forward and make known their re- , although in some districts of the American rices are advancing, and it is the opinion that THE IRON AGE 537 as soon as advances go into effect in the Buffalo market they will be immediately reflected in higher quotations here. The greater part of the present demand is for spot delivery and orders on this account seldom exceed 100 to 200 tons. The British Empire Steel Corporation has been making shipments of offgrade basic and some foundry iron to American consumers, but recent labor trouble at the Sydney plant may have some effect on further shipments from this source. At the present time very little American pig iron is making its appear- ance in the Ontario market, the majority of melters be- ing taken care of by Ontario furnaces. Electrically Sintered Magnesite Now Available The Carborundum Co., Niagara Falls, N. Y., an- nounces that it is now in a position to supply electric- ally sintered magnesite to the metallurgical industry. This material has without question the highest melting point of any refractory material that is produced com- mercially. The product made by this company is manufactured from the best possible grade of care- fully selected California magnesite and is thoroughly fused in an electric furnace. It contains about 95 per cent MgO and less than 1 per cent of iron oxide. It has a melting point of about 2600 deg. C. and can be supplied in the form of large lumps, grain, or powder to suit the conditions of the user. Electrically sintered magnesite is especially resis- tant, at high temperatures, to iron or iron oxide. This makes it a valuable refractory material for the lining of metallurgical furnaces. It can also be used in the form of brick for open-hearth furnaces and in loca- tions where corrosion and temperature conditions are unusually sev