The Iron Age 1923-03-15: Vol 111 Iss 11

ESTABLISHED 1855 VOL. Ill, No. 11 SS oS eS Ay Story of Wire in Picture and Product The Industrial Museum of the American Steel & Wire Co. at Worcester—Could Serve as Branch of Proposed American National Museum BY JOHN HE project for r tne establish- ment of an A-uerican National Museum of Engi- neering and Indus- try, which is now taking de finite form, has as one of the features in the plans of its pro- moters the crea- tion of local branches in differ- ent sections of the country, with inter- change facilities. In the Industrial Museum of the American Steel & Wire Co. at Wor- cester,Mass., where the wire industry had its greatest development in America, there has been established what could be made an important NELSON view in 1908, he appointed for tne purpose a commit- tee of eight men, selected from the several districts, with the late Fred H. Daniels, chief engineer and director of the com- pany, as chairman, and Arthur G. Warren, a veteran Worcester em- ployee, as secre- tary. Mr. Warren has been from the first the curator of the Museum, and the active execu- tive in getting to- gether and arrang- ing the exhibits. The personne! of the present indus- trial museum com- mittee is asfollows: Chairman, C. L. a Miller, vice-presi- branch of the pro- dent and general posed national mu- superintendent, seum. In the 15 Pittsburgh; secre- years since its be- tary, A. G. War- ginning a collection ren, Worcester; approaching com- C. S. Marshall, dis- pleteness has been trict manager, brought together; Downstairs Room Near Entrance, Showing Ancient Bake Oven and Fireplace Worcester: S. W. it tells the story of Fitted With Mantel and Grate From the Old Ichabod Washburn Mansion Tener. manager ac- the wire business cident and pension from its earliest days in the United States, in department, Cleveland; E. Boley, assistant to vice- the equipment of its mills, its products, its manu- president and general superintendent, Cleveland; B. B. script and printed records, its personnel, by por- Ayers, advertising manager, Chicago; H. A. Barren, trait and biography, and its traditions in peace and general superintendent blast furnaces and steel works, war It was in 1907 that William P. Palmer, president the company, who is deeply interested in the preser- vation of American antiquities, and who is a member f the American Antiquarian Society and president of ne Western Reserve Historical Society of Cleveland, mpressed by the rapid disappearance of those things which relate to the early days of the steel and wire i dustry, conceived the idea of establishing a museum. rhis, in the form of a tangible collection, systematically assembled, would preserve for all time a record of the development of wire manufacture. With this end in rr929 vo Cleveland and Pittsburgh; and H. G. Baldwin, super- intendent order and war couse department, Cleveland. Museum in Building of Historic Interest The museum building itself has appropriate his- torical interest. It was one of a row of brick houses, erected some 90 years ago, as homes for factory em- ployees, and stands opposite the Worces:er district offices on Grove Street. Stoutly constructed through- out, as was the fashion in the old days, it lent itself well to its new uses, and has been made safe against fire by a sprinkler system. The great central chimney THE IRON AGE March 15, 19 NR | tree aie ag Ae, i Po a Corner of One of the Upstairs Rooms in the Addition, Containing a Model of Freighter “William P. Palmer” and M Significant Portraits served two families when the building was occupied time preserving the architectural character of as a dwelling, and at either side was a wide fireplace building. A fireproof vault protects manuscripts and ais: 8 wich a masonry bake-oven built in beside it. Fire- other irreplaceable records against possible los Bai’ places and ovens had been bricked up for many years; fire or theft. ‘ the existence of the ovens was not suspected until they In the beginning of the collecting the district offices ; were discovered in the course of opening up the fire- and the three works at Worcester were carefully MY : places in 1920. One of the latter has been fitted with searched for historical material, with gratifying re- : a the marble mantel and facings and the grate from one sults. Then the other plants of the company began Pe of the rooms in the old Ichabod Washburn mansion, to contribute. Exhibits from the various nationa)] and oe and one of the bake-ovens is electrically illuminated international expositions were acquired, and persistent sf , that visitors may see how wiredrawers’ wives and search was made for souvenirs of the industry. Every- mothers did their baking a century ago. thing was grist for this mill, and all material found ai These are shown in Fig. 1, and above them may to be worth while has been preserved. As knowledge be distinguished a medallion of Ichabod Washburn and of the museum spread, occasional gifts and loar y) portraits of Joseph F. Glidden and Jacob Haish, pioneer historic objec.s and pictures have been made Ta inventors of barbed wire. Mr. Glidden lived to be ninety- some of these by men and women who have never a. , three, and at present writing (February, 1923) Mr. associated with the industry but who were glad a) Haish has almost completed his ninety-seventh year. place cherished possessions where they would bé ~~ The collection grew apace and the original house manently preserved for a useful purpose. It is but “+ : s proved inadequate. A large addition was built on at natural that the greater part of the exhibits are a s. the rear, affording much new space and at the same lated to the activities of the American Steel & Wire 2 ea) ~ os ~ / i i ae PS -_ First Floor of New Part of Museum, Devoted to Old Machinery and Recent Products March 15, 1923 Co. and its predecessors, but there is no thought of xclusiveness in the museum plan. Contributions are rratefully welcomed from outside, and due credit and ecognition are cordially given to all donors. Many Traditions Preserved It was early recognized that tradition has an. im- ortant place in an old and great industry and must » given prominence in a museum which aims to pre- erve the early records of that industry. There are MTT The Bronze Memorial Tablets n the Military with the Bronze Eagle of the Company’s Exposition Exhibit on guard over them. The ex- bits include the harbor de- fence net and barbed wire. In his room is a framed record of he American Steel & Wire Co.'s mtribution of products to the toom, Paris ‘nited States and the Allied itions for purposes of the vorld war, The figures are very impres- ve. They include 650,000 tons f military barbed wire, of which 3,000 tons was of the Iroquois rand; 180,000 tons of plain annealed, galvanized, hard, of which went to France; 75,000 ons of rods; 1,900,000 kegs of which 500,000 kegs government buildings, Allies and for in- wires, oft, medium, 165,000 iils, of went to canton- ments and 1,000,000 egs to the display many things beside machines and their prod- ts. Pieces of furniture associated with life in the ants, ancient clocks, the long lashed whip carried ut rarely used) by the veteran teamster who, for ars, tooled the famous four-horse team of splendid ray horses which did hauling for Washburn & Moen; old mill bells, pictured scenes in mill yards when ere were horse-drawn drays and tip carts instead ' motor trucks; groups of employees of long ago— ese and other similar exhibits lend character to the nuseum. A typical souvenir is a pair of rolling-mill rougher’s poon-tongs, made to order in 1852 for George W. Reeves, expert rod roller, in charge of Washburn & Moen rolling mills 42 years from 1854. The tongs THE IRON 1 om vw wt AGE were lent by him from time to time as pattern to rolling mills in various parts of the country. One room is filled with material portraying the beginnings and development of the barb wire industry. In another room are displayed specimens of early and later types of wire bale-ties and a special exhibit showing the method of making wooden bale-ties which antedated the wire ties. Among contributions from the Pacific Coast are framed photographs of the first cable street railway direct government work, and 400,000 kegs of cement ccated, principally for boxing and asing and 110,000 kegs of horse- shoes, of which 35,000 went to the Allies and 75,000 to the United States Government In addition there was 20,000 tons of miscellaneous’ wire products, 2400 tons of cartridge clip steel, 500 tons of music spring wire. The South Works at Worcester furnished 24 dif ferent kinds of insulated and cables; Worcester and New wires Haven contributed 60 varieties of rope; the North Works, Worcester, 52 different varieties of stocks and tempers in vari ous wires, and the South Works 63 kinds of springs. The his torian of future years will take pause when he reads this record of war achievement. It will help him to realize how impor tant a part manufacturing in dustry played in this world struggle HOUNEET COE ITUE EC UOEOCSFPRROOTN ONE ERRORREEE ERE OTEEEE C0) RNR in the world, invented by Andrew S. Hallidie and in- stalled on Clay Street Hill, San Francisco, in 1873. Here may be seen the first desk used by Ichabod Washburn in the ’30s and ’40s; so small, that he could easily have carried it to and from the office under one arm. Subsequent growth of the business is indicated by the following framed agreement in the handwriting of the late H. B. Cragin: Memorandum of agreement entered into this day, be- tween The Washburn & Moen Mfg. Co. of Worcester, Mass., and H. B. Cragin, of Chicago, Ill. The Washburn & Moen Mfg. Co. proposes establishing an agency in Chicago. H. B. Cragin is to receive $125 per month for taking charge of such agency. He is authorized to engage the loft at No. 215 Lake Street at a rental of $40 per month, and desk room with the Corrugated Elbow Co., at the same number, at $10 per month; also to pay one THE IRON AGE ba thi. i. i ot it ume R it rt. es “ . ¥ , : > 3° +7 The Biographical Room, Containing Records of Men Who Have Helped to Make the American Wire Industry What “« ; half the water tax for elevator purposes, and to pay for ployees of the works, successors to those of Civil W PA necessary porterage. This agreement is to be terminated > ae . sa ae a ba . L 4 at the will of either party upon giving 30 days previous notic days, in a great parade which formed part of W ,. of such intention. cester’s celebration. That night it resumed its p “*hicago, J a 6, S77 . . eas ; Chicago, Aug , in the museum, enriched by a new tradition. This mad plunge of Washburn & Moen affords an The military room of the museum is a colort ¥ 1} . . . ai ° . pe illuminating contrast to the monthly charges of the place, thanks chiefly to splendid war posters of American Steel & Wire Co.’s present Chicago quarters allied nations, with a touch here and there of the a " at 208 South La Salle Street and its present Lake flags. Another contributing cause is an illuminating " Street warehouse. and decorative collection of 20 large pictures in oil and water color, painted for the company, each illustrating a) James A. Farrell, Wiredrawer a use made of its products in the world war, and : ‘ Of the group pictures none is shown with greater mounted in a swinging frame. In fact, the war i! r pride than that taken in 1881 at the plant of the New’ the natural course of events, has been given a plac« ; Haven Wire Co., now the New Haven Works of the of much prominence in the museum, this room bei st American Steel & Wire Co. On its margin is an arrow’ wholly given up to military exhibits. Here are the ee’! pointing to a young man in hat and overalls, James A. 43 separate honor rolls of 43 company organizations Be. Farrell, then a wiredrawer, now president of one of together with the military record of each of the 4580 ee the world’s greatest industrial enterprises, the United men who went to the war. A very important part of States Steel Corporation. the museum assembly of products, especially of mode: + at Suspended near the ceiling of a first floor room is products, is the collection of materials furnished th¢ are the flag pole which employees of the South Worcester American and the allied governments for purposes of ig works of I. Washburn & Moen cut and erected in April, the war. oak 1865, that the flag might be raised to its peak when On the walls of other rooms hang numerous po! ' e : the news came of Lee’s surrender to Grant; and fly, it traits of men who have had a part in the foundir ee did. This was not the last public appearance of the and conduct of the industry, as executives, inventors, er, flag pole. On the morning of armistice day, 1918, it or workmen. In addition to groups of early employees mm fs, was removed from its resting place in the museum, to are those of recent years. Here may be seen panoramic Aer be borne through the streets of the city by sturdy em- photographs taken at the outings of the workers a! i Z ay pa » 1 ¢* * Typical Museum Room. The old bell is from the Trenton W orks. In the center are the remains of an ancient rod fra which saw many years of active service in Worcester. At the right is a working model of an aerial tramway March 15, 1928 ieir families in all districts when hundreds and more, ften thousands, of self-respecting men and their wives nd children have got together for a field day. In ars to come these pictures will assume an important ace in tracing the evolution of industrial conditions. cluded with these are many groups of retired em- loyees or pensioners, a class unknown to the industry generation ago. in an upper room in the new part of the museum a model of the 12,000-ton steel Lake freighter William P. Palmer,” sister ship of the “Elbert H. iry,” both of the United States Steel Corporation’s eet. The model is faithful in detail and portrays an vch in Lake transportation of ore from mine to irnace, In this room, not shown in the accompanying cuts, in oil painting of the diminutive stern-wheel steamer luniata,” approaching The Point at Pittsburgh, con- ying a load of coal from the mines to the Shoen- rger Works. This pioneer boat was built for John Shoenberger and put into commission in 1841. There also a paint- g of the Henry Chis- lm,” the first it to carry a irgo of ore to Central Furnace *k, Cleveland. This vessel was recked_= on cock of Ages, e Royal, Lake Superior, Oct. 1, There so shown the teamer Sprague,’ ned by the nongahela r Consoli- Coal & Co., pass- Memphis, 1904, . « ) coal ROR. is May 17, 56 the E rele contain Typical E 1,400,000 bu. val, Pict- ind model with accompanying descriptive trate the marvelous growth of coal and ore carry- rn labels, ng facilities during the brief span of 70 years, or m 1840 to 1910. On the wall at the left in the view of this room gs a portrait of Henry Roberts, a prominent figure the wire industry of his day, and the smaller picture eside it is George T. Oliver, with whom he was long ssociated in the Oliver & Roberts Wire Co., Ltd., of Pittsburgh. The next picture beyond, at the right of window, is a series of portraits of Sir Henry Bessemer, showing him at various ages. This is a rift to the museum of President Farrell of the Steel Corporation. Hanging at the extreme right is the ikeness of Philip L. Moen, partner from 1850 with Ichabod Washburn, and who, for many years prior to his death in 1891, was the dominant figure in direct- ng the Washburn & Moen interests. Here also is a portrait of George Bedson, famed the inventor of the continuous system of galvaniz- ng and of the continuous mill for rolling wire rods, e first mill of this type in America being installed Washburn & Moen in Worcester in 1869. Nearby a recent portrait of his son, Joseph Phillips Bedson ' Manchester, England, also prominent and still active n the industry, a worthy successor of his distinguished ither, A section of first floor room of the addition is given up to old time machinery, and to products, both and new. The machine at the left in the illustra- n of the room was the first of its kind ever built. was designed and constructed at South Works, to evelop the original idea of Clinton S. Marshall, now inager of the Worcester district, that the size of THE IRON 4VOl AGE 737 a spring helix can be determined by fixing the angle at which the wire is forced between the guides. This machine manufactured the first helical spring formed without the use of an arbor. Beside it is an old type cold-rolling machine. The exhibit of horseshoes at the right is from the Shoenberger Works, Pitisburgh, and illustrates the processes through which the steel passes from a 2%-in. billet to the finished shoe. This exhibit also illustrates what a high grade basic steel horseshoe will stand in the way of bending, twisting and hammering when cold, specimen shoes of various types having been given treatment, all but destructive in the attempt to demonstrate their quality. The Military Room On the wall, imperfectly shown in the photographic reproduction, are two beautiful bronze tablets memoral- izing those employees of the American Steel & Wire Co. who entered military in the world war. One contains the names of those who gave their lives, the other gives the quota con- tributed by each plant or organ- ization of the company. The tabletsare works of art done by the Gorham Mfg. Co. of New York and Provi- dence. The bronze eagle which stands guard above them presided over the com pany’s exhibir at the World’s Fair in Paris in 1900. The cabinet below the right hand tablet the military service con tains indi vidual history of em ployees in the service, eat lor and marine having a card on which his record. It was hoped to have each man’s photograph attached to the back of his ecard. In this has been done, but it is a matter ¢ gret that in many more cases no photo- graph has been received. At the right of the tablets is a stirring Pennell poster, showing the side-launch- ing of one of the war-time merchant ships. In one of the on the floor are sembled the military honor rolls. Swinging frames contain the rolls of each of the 43 organizations. Each roll has its patriotic emblem at the top, with the names of the men inscribed below, punctuated here and there with gold stars. By these various means the company has sought to express appreciation of the patriotism of its employees who responded to the bugle call in time of need. Of all the means employed the tablets are the most enduring, being practically imperishable. In an adjoining room is a photograph of William Kelly’s first tilting converter, used in his experiments at Johnstown in 1857 and later. This unique and invalu- able souvenir is preserved in the office building of the Cambria Steel Co. in Johnstown, through whose courtesy the photograph was obtained. A pair of fluted cast iron columns in the doorway, between these rooms, together with two others, were used for some 90 years, or from about 1825 to 1916, te support the iron stack of a small furnace at the Juniata. Iron Works, Pittsburgh, latterly known as the Shoenberger Works of the American Steel #& Wire Co. Close by the honor rolls Bnd tablets is the com- pany’s remarkable exhibit of war products. Those con- from the Nail ution W ire soidier, sa inscribed many instances - re rooms second as tained in the cabinet are in wide variety of many kinds specially fashioned for purposes of war, offensive and t% Pt repay Eagar ata “Ee et 4 fn fe, Sty defensive, as they entered into the mechanism of small arms and cannon, airplanes and submarines, mines and torpedoes, etc. The exhibit of springs alone is of unusual interest. To specify one only among the springs for military use in which the company justly takes pride, mention may be made of the vaive spring, in three sizes, for the Liberty motor used in aircraft service. There are shown two of these springs which withstood a test of 178 hr. on a motor in the air. The motor had a speed of 1700 r.pm. During the test, therefore, the springs closed and opened 18,156,000 times and are still intact. The test was reported October, 1918, by the Aircraft Division of the Ford Motor Co. The success- ful production in large quantity at Waukegan Works of this very special spring was a signal triumph of the spring-making art. On the top of the cabinet are reels of the terrible barb wire for entanglements, of which the company furnished the Allied Governments and the United States War Department during the war no less than 650,000 tons, a deadly protection 2,800,000 miles in length. The harbor defense net suspended below a row of strikingly colored war posters is a miniature of this product in size of mesh, but on a full scale in dimensions of material. A special feature of this net is the in- geniously designed flexible joint which maintains the fabric form, while permitting absolute pliability of the net. The mesh of the éxhibited section is 12 in. square; that of the nets furnished the Government for the defense of the Atlantic seaboard was i2 ft. square, giving a total width or height of net in the water of 36 ft. The rope is galvanized plow steel, ys in. in diameter, made up of six strands of 19 wires each. Each completed section as shipped from the South Works, Worcester, was 1500 ft. long. It may be noted in passing that the wainscot sheathing, the shelves, picture molding, and window casings in this room are made from cold-rolled strip steel, one of the company’s special products. The seat in the foreground of the picture of the room and sev- eral others like it placed elsewhere have their history. They are sections of what was originally a long mas- sive oak settee which stood in a corridor leading to the superintendent’s office across the street from the Museum, 40 years ago and until recently. Upon it in the old days sat applicants for employment waiting their turns. It might well have been called the “anxious seat.” Hundreds of old Washburn & Moen employees, including Secretary Warren, remember it well in association with their first day in the works. The Biographical Room The corner of one of the upper rooms has a door- way with flanking pillars taken from the Ichabod Washburn mansion when it was razed a few years ago. The frame of the side entrance to the building was also obtained from the venerable mansion and is 94 years old. Upon the book-rest at the right of the picture may be seen two of four albums which will have a constantly increasing interest and value as the years pass, for they contain the photographs of men who have achieved prominence by the share they have taken and are taking in the development of the wire industry. The list comprises some 400 individuals, living and dead, and is slowly but steadily increasing. It should constitute an ever-growing book of honor. There are filed corresponding biographical sketches for upwards of 300 of these men. It is aimed to have a biographical sketch for each portrait and to keep it up to date. In many cases, of course, the record is a closed chapter. At the extreme left of the picture hangs a portrait of President Farrell. A typical museum room contains the old bell for- merly hung in the belfry at the works of the Trenton Iron Co., now the company’s Trenton works, and sum- moned the workmen to their labor. In another room is a similar bell which served the same purvose at North Works, Worcester, from 1834 to 1846. The working model of the aerial tramway seen at the right of the illustration of this room, shows a special product of Trenton Works for use in conveying materials in THE IRON AGE March 15, 19° mountainous country, over distances practically limited. This exhibit appeals to many visitors to Museum. The pressing of an electric button ca) the buckets to travel on their journey exactly as do on a full size tramway operating in the mount. of the West or Mexico or in South America. One is reminded of the transition period when } ness mergers were barely beyond the experimen stage by a collection of 22 corporate seals of ¢ panies which, in 1899, were merged into the Ame Steel & Wire Co. of New Jersey. An accompanying reproduction of a _photogr: shows one of the many small exhibits in the muse and illustrates the neatness and care with which collection has been arranged and labeled. At the are wire nails and cut nails which were driven the wood 40 years ago when the wire people y striving to establish their contention of the superior of the new wire nail over the common cut nail. the right, in further contrast to both wire nail a cut nail are old-time hand-wrought nails taken f: a New England colonial dwelling after a cent and a half of service. Other exhibits on display a: a variety of historic material in the museum files t: the interesting story of wire nail manufacture America from its inception in 1851 in the factory Morton & Bremner, New York, predecessors of present well known firm of John Hassall, Inc., Brooklyn. It is impossible within available space limits convey a complete idea of the contents of this indu trial museum. Nothing short of repeated visits and careful browsing around at one’s leisure will suffic: But enough has been told to make evident the nature and purpose of the enterprise. Whatever may be ¢ future of the Museum, the company officials feel t! the care and expense incident to its foundation and maintenance have been amply justified by the timel; discovery and preservation for the pleasure and educa- tion of visitors and for the use of the future historia: of the industry, of much valuable material which othe: wise would have been forever lost. Problems of Moderate-Size Plant to Be Con- vention Feature Effective management for the moderate-size plant will be the major subject of the convention of the S ciety of Industrial Engineers, to be held in Cincinnat April 18 to 20. How and to what extent workers can participat: management has been selected as a topic. John P Frey, editor International Molders’ Journal, will dis cuss the subject from the workers’ viewpoint; Charles R. Hook, vice-president American Rolling Mill © Middletown, Ohio, will present the employers’ view point, and John Calder, consulting engineer and autho: of “Capital’s Duty to the Wage Earner,” will presen! the matter from the engineering side. An innovation will be a “practical demonstration of hiring, examining and protecting employees,” to be given by Dr. Carey P. McCord, industrial medical specialist, Cincinnati. The demonstrations will be made on a succession of persons, submitting themselves as quasi-applicants for the jobs. The procedure and method of recording the physical condition and aptitude for various employment will be displayed in detail. How by organizing community groups the moderate- size plant can adapt its facilities to the six depart- ments involved: Personnel, medical, education, first ai, visiting nurses and safety, to obtain service equal with that of the large plant, will also be discussed. Production control systems for the special order shop; the interdependence of personnel department and foremen, and a business barometer, the monthly state- ment, will be discussed at three sectional meetings, occurring simultaneously. “Scientific Administration, the Determination of a Business Policy,” will be the subject of an address by C. U. Carpenter, Dayton, Ohio. At a dinner meeting of the education group, Prof. H. M. Gano, University of Cincinnati, will reac 4 paper on the “Cooperative Educational Method.” Plant inspection trips will be a feature. How Railroad Shopmen’s Strike was Fought General Manager Bardo of the New Haven Addresses Boston Branch. National Metal Trades Association, Which Is Urged to Support Labor Board BosToN, March 10.—Among the speakers at the ighteenth annual meeting of the Boston branch Na- mal Metal Trades Association, Wednesday evening, March 7, at Young’s Hotel, Boston, was C. L. Bardo, reneral manager New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. His remarks were of special significance in ew of the fact that the New Haven road is one of he comparatively few carriers that has not signed an creement with the railroad shop craftsmen since they vent on strike last July. Mr. Bardo talked at some length, first going into tails regarding the development of the railroads in is country. Next to the agriculture, the railroad in- istry is the largest in the country, employing as it loes 2,000,000. The labor situation, he said, shows gens of becoming troublesome, and the existing short- ve of labor on railroads is the real factor in the ansportation situation today. Railroads, he declared, ire regulated by the Government as is no other indus- try in the country and he feels it extremely doubtful iether any other industry could exist under such gulation. Reasonable Regulation A reasonable form of Government regulation is nec- ary, but in Mr. Bardo’s opinion it is greatly over- ne. The first real constructive regulation was the actment of the 1920 transportation act, which made ssible the Railroad Labor Board, a_ reduction in freight rates and in wages of railroad employees. The railroads went into the war with six labor organiza- ms to contend with, and came out with 16 as well the development of the radical element. Mr. Bardo ieves, however, the danger of another strike from radical element has been removed for many years ie to a closer cooperation between railroad executives d the conservative labor element. When, during the second quarter of 1922, it became parent that railroad shopmen would go on strike in Mr. Bardo spent considerable time and effort at shops and roundhouses endeavoring to make the see an adjustment in wages had been necessary. men, he declared, had become so accustomed to tting what they wanted during Government manage- ment, nothing he could say or do carried weight. When strike was called, 5400 went out of the Readville, iss., shops, and other shops suffered in proportion. the end of July the New Haven had recruited 2000 rkmen, and at the end of three months and 27 days back to practically a 5400 basis. Previous to July, the road preparing for possible or trouble, made arrangements with the Baldwin 1 American locomotive interests to recondition 75 motives. The New Haven road at that time did not vn that number of locomotives, but took the added ecaution. Up to Jan. 1, according to Mr. Bardo, ' locomotives were delivered to these companies, of hich 42 were returned. Some engines delivered last \ugust to these companies have not been returned. Metal Industry Helped \7 The New England metal working industry came to e fore and assisted in every possible way the New laven road. The greatest difficulty encountered was securing boiler repair work, it being as late as No- ember, last, before the carrier could make satisfactory rrangements. The New Haven management expects ‘s power equipment will be in as good condition on ‘une 1 as it was on July 1, 1922. In the passenger ervice the percentage of late trains has dropped from ‘0 to 25, and within 30 days is expected to be normal. The physical and financial condition of the road, said Mr. Bardo, is as good as at any period during the past 10 years, while the personnel is as good as on any road in the country. In the mechanical depart- ments, 6500 employees have pledged themselves not to affiliate with any labor organization, and 45 per cent of the New Haven employees have no outside labor affiliation. Interesting figures were given to show what can be accomplished in railroad shops with practically green men under strike conditions. At the Readville, Mass., locomotive shops, 34 locomotives were over- hauled in 234,460 man hours during May and June, 1922, while in December and January, 94 were over- hauled on 304,200 man hours. In the shop handling heavy electrical locomotive equipment, 72 locomotives were reconditioned in 71,004 man hours during May and June, while in December and January 85 were turned out of the shops in 73,545 man hours. At the New Haven, Conn., locomotive shops during May and June, 30 locomotives were reconditioned in 122,175 man hours, while in December and January 47 were recon- ditioned in 99,919 man hours. At the Readville, Mass., passenger car shops in May and June, 161 cars were reconditioned in 171,132 man hours, while in December and January 180 were recon- ditioned in 212,472 man hours. At other shops of the company, there has been a proportionate improvement in the efficiency of operations, but the burden of in- creased labor costs is even greater. It is felt by the management, however, that in the long run the New Haven road will gain by the stand it took in the shop- men’s controversy. Efforts of Labor Unions Mr. Bardo urged the National Metal Trades Asso- ciation to stand back of the Railroad Labor Board. Labor organizations are making every effort to have the board abolished. The president of one of the most powerful railroad labor unions went so far as to assure Mr. Bardo that if influence was brought to bear on railroad officials which would result in the abolition of this Government board, he, the labor union president, would guarantee the Adamson law would be repealed. Homer D. Sayre, commissioner National Metal Trades Association, Chicago, and Charles R. Gow, pres- ident Associated Industries of Massachusetts, were the other speakers of the evening. Previous to the annual dinner, there was a busi- ness meeting at which George P. Aborn, Worthington Pump & Machinery Corporation, Cambridge, Mass., was re-elected president of the Boston branch, and Wolcott Remington, vice-president Thomson Electric Welding Co., Lynn, Mass., was re-elected vice-presi- dent. Winslow Blanchard, treasurer Blanchard Ma- chine Co., Cambridge, was succeeded as treasurer by William S. Kemp, Holtzer-Cabot Electrical Co., Bos- ton. Mr. Blanchard is in the South because of ill health. S. B. Condit, Jr., Condit Electric Co., succeeds Mr. Kemp, and J. H. Lannon, Grant Gear Works, Boston, succeeds I. C. Decatur, Cummings Machine Works, Bos- ton, as members of the executive committee, which other- wise remains as heretofore. Mr. Blanchard was made an honorary member of the Boston branch. The other two honorary members are Fred F. Stockwell, Bar- bour-Stockwell Co., Cambridge, who served as toast- master at the annual dinner, and M. B. McLauthlin- George T. McLauthlin Co., Boston. Workers at the various Massachusetts mills of the Wickwire-Spencer Steel Corporation recently had their wages increased 10 per cent. 739 sk nihil Tia I a dee Aiea natalia 2 EX romay ~~ a ag tea Sm ae at Tr » ah petal atinena ai TE tN ig a cal tie ae Oe ee EMO gpa Sg ERs: > ~e ‘'. - ~ ee eee tas ed ™ 740 THE IRON New Too! for Center Reaming A new tool, known as an inserted blade, combined drill, center reamer and countersink tool, and con- structed as illustrated, will be placed on the market shortly by the Frederick A. Wagner Co., Inc., Roches- ter, N. Y. It has been designed to do center reaming in one operation, which on larger work usually requires three operations, drilling, centering and countersinking. The body or holder of the tool is of mild steel, case hardened, and is slotted to receive the blade. The lat- ter is centered in the holder by means of two 30 deg. beveled edges on the bottom of the blade and clamped by the hardened binding screw, the beve'ed edges and the hole in the center of the b'ade being intended to make a three-point bearing and _ assure centering of the blade in the holder. The blade is of a tungsten alloy steel. It is blanked out with dies and the cutting lip and drill point are hot forged in a form- ing die. The blade is hardened and_ tem- pered, the flat sides are then ground on a magnetic surface erinder, after which the radial relief cut- ting edges and the Inserted Blade Tool ] Reaming I One erill point are ground. On a quantity basis it is expected that the blade will be produced at about the same cost as a drill of the same relative size, which is in common use for the first oper- ation in center reaming on cylindrical work over 2 in. in diameter. Four blades will be used, the No. 1 being employed for centering shafts from 5% to 1% in. and the No. 4 for shafts 6% in. to 10 in. Truscon Steel Co. Buys Steel Joist Business of Central Steel Co. The Truscon Steel Co., Youngstown, has purchased from the Central Steel Co., Massillon, that portion of its business known as the National Steel Joist Division. The Truscon company has assumed possession of the department, which will be managed under its super- vision for several months until the machinery and other equipment are removed to Youngstown. Two additional factory buildings are being erected at the Truscon plant on Albert Street in Youngstown, to house the new department. Output of the steel joist division of the Massillon company was similar in many respects to certain products of the Truscon company, for which the latter interest has had a heavy demand. It was to meet these additional requirements that the purchase was made. Production of the department by the Central Steel Co., under normal conditions, averaged 36,000 tons per year. The business was not directly in line with the major portion of the Central Steel Company’s operations, and for that reason it was willing to sell. Gustave Kahn, vice-president of the Truscon com- pany, states that orders are now double the volume of a year ago, and from present indications 1923 will be the most active in the company’s experience, from the standpoint of gross business and volume of production. The Marshall Furnace Co., Marshall, Mich., has re- sumed production after its disastrous fire of Feb. 2. President F. K. Berry has announced that work is progressing on the erection of a new sheet metal shop 125 x 240 ft. AGE March 15, 192 Disposing of Government Surplus WASHINGTON, March 13.—Evacuation of 12 est lishments by the Ordnance Department, according a report made to the Assistant Secretary of War Maj. Gen. Clarence C, Williams, chief of ordnance, y be made by June 30, 1923, and the annual operati; expenses of the Ordnance Department will be redu by a minimum of $685,480, which was the total op ating cost of these estabtishments during the fis: year 1922. This evacuaticn has been made possible an item of $1,642,351, in the second deficiency app: priation for 1922, transferring war reserve sto) from these establishments to strategically locat, depots which are more permanent in construction. T present return from sales of surplus from these stations totals $6,668,422, while the estimated ret from future sales is $1,743,283. The value of the su plus transfers to other Government departments placed at $12,121,383. Among the establishments bei: abandoned are the storage depot at Chicago, howitzer plant at Erie, Pa., and the gun plant Rochester, N. Y. a Small Compressors with Direct Drive A line of small high-speed air compressors design for direct connection to electric motors or interna combustion engines by means of flexible couplings, has been placed on the market by the Chicago Pneumat Tool Co., 6 East Forty-fourth Street, New York. The compressors are designated as class P2-SBI and are of the vertical, duplex, single acting wate. cooled type, fitted with Simplate flat disk inlet and d charge valves. Straight and uniform lift of the valv: is claimed to permit maximum effective valve area, - oy Gite = ‘ The Compressor May Be Direct Connected to Electric Motor, as Shown, or to Gasoline Engine. Automatic control is a feature which in turn permits of the high speed operation of the machines. Three sizes are available, having piston displace ments of 128, 160 and 210 cu. ft. per min. and the machines are designed for working pressures of 150 |b. per sq. in. The speed is 600 r.p.m. Standard equip ment includes a hand starter for the motor and an inlet valve unloader for the compressor. For intermittent operation, the motor can be equipped with an auto matic starter, which stops and starts the unit within predetermined pressure limits. When the automatic starter is used, the compressor is provided with 4 centrifugal unloader, which automatically relieves t! compressor of its load while the motor is starting uP or shutting down. A water control valve is also pro- vided which is operated by air pressure governed by 4 centrifugal unloader. The lubrication is by means a combination pump and splash system. The unit is automatic in the control of the electric current, the air delivered, the circulating water and the lubrication. Cleveland Investigates Pittsburgh Basing Chamber of Commerce Disapproves the Principle of Present Plan, but Fails to Find a Satisfactory Substitute —State Legislatures Act CLEVELAND, March 12.—The Pittsburgh basing plan is wrong in principle because of the assessment of fic- titious freight charges, according to a report just issued by a special committee of the Cleveland Cham- ber of Commerce, but the committee, after reviewing the subject at some length, arrived at the conclusion that “it has not been able to evolve any set plan where- by the situation can, with any reasonable certainty, be remedied.” Originally a committee of manufacturers and con- sumers was appointed to consider this subject, but such divergent views developed that no agreement could be reached, and a year ago the committee was replaced by another committee composed of men who were en- tirely outside of the steel making and consuming in- dustries. F. S. Borton, a broker, was chairman of this committee which secured the riews of many manufac- turers, consumers and jobbers of steel. “In the course of the discussions before the com- mittee,” the report says, “opinions were expressed both for and against the use of Pittsburgh as a basing point. Large consumers of steel generally oppose the custom, claiming that it destroys any incentive on their part to buy in Cleveland, subjects them to the payment of fic- titious freight charges amounting to considerable sums and seriously restricts competition. Some consumers said that it was contrary to their interests to purchase steel in Cleveland, as they may better secure steel in Pittsburgh and give business to the railroads than pur- chase here and pay freight charges for transportation services not rendered. “On the other hand, certain manufacturers favor the quotation of prices on the Pittsburgh base on the ground that it stabilizes quotations and enables them to compete on an even footing with concerns located anywhere. Thus if a Cleveland manufacturer sells steel products in St. Louis and a Pittsburgh base price is quoted by all mills, the geographic advantages and disadvantages are said to be equalized. It is also urged that whether or not the method of price quoting is artificial, the price itself is simply the result of the operation of the law of supply and demand. It is pointed out that no steel consuming center in the coun- try except Pittsburgh is also enough of a producing point to fill all of its own requirements and hence some steel must be shipped from Pittsburgh. Under such circumstances it is contended that the price quoted at consuming points other than Pittsburgh will be ap- proximately the same as the delivered price on steel actually produced in Pittsburgh. It seems that the proponents of the Pittsburgh plus plan recognize that if and when any other point develops a surplus produc- tion, the present method of price quoting must be abandoned.” Getting the Facts In order to secure facts on which to base its report, the committee sent out questionnaires to manufactur- ers, fabricators and jobbers and from these were com- piled data regarding iron and steel shipments to Cleve- land during the period of low consumption from July 2 to Dec. 30, 1920. The data cover about one-third of the steel consumed in Cleveland during that period in bars, rods, wire, plates, sheet bars, billets and struc- tural shapes. During that period there was delivered to the Cleveland manufacturers and jobbers whose fig- ures were obtained, 47,808 tons of steel from Cleveland plants, 64,252 tons from the Pittsburgh district, includ- ing Johnstown, 27,117 tons from the Mahoning and Shenango Valley districts and 22,767 tons from plants located elsewhere. The committee’s report states that if all this steel had been sold f.o.b. Pittsburgh with the 741 prevailing freight rates, a total of $257,739 fictitious freight charges would have been paid on that originat- ing in Cleveland and the Mahoning and Shenango Val- leys. As these figures represent approximately one- third of the consumption in Cleveland, the total excess freight during the six months would have been $773,- 217. The committee says it appears that at least $1,500,000 of fictitious freight charges are involved annually to Cleveland concerns by a strict maintenance of the Pittsburgh base. It says, however, that the Pittsburgh base is doubtless not strictly applied in all cases and moreover it is certain that part of the total is rebilled to ultimate consumers where semi-finished products are manufactured and re-shipped. While the committee was unable to ascertain the amount by which the fictitious freight figures should be reduced in order to show the net cost to Cleveland consumers, it was certain that on a great deal of steel used in Cleveland the ultimate consumer pays a freight charge which is not represented by actual transportation. ~iai@. In the opinion of the committee, the quotation of prices on any basis which result in an assessment of fictitious freight charges is wrong in principle and prices should be quoted either f.o.b. mill or destination, depending on the facts of transportation and whether or not it is the custom of the trade to sell goods de- livered. Whether or not the abolition of the Pittsburgh basing plan would be a commercial advantage to Cleve- land was open to question. However, it was certain Wrong in Principle that its abolition would not, of itself, reduce steel prices to the extent of the fictitious freight now charged. However, it would tend to encourage the buying of steel in Cleveland for Cleveland consumption to the extent that Cleveland mills can produce it. In this connection the suggestion had been made that no solution of the difficulty could be reached until some one willing to sell f.o.b. Cleveland constructs and oper- ates a continuous bar mil] in Cleveland. In this con- nection, the committee submitted figures on transporta- tion costs of raw materials used in making pig iron indicating that these transportation charges are lower for Cleveland than either Pittsburgh or Youngstown. Appropriations to Fight Pittsburgh Basing CuHIcaGo, March 12.—Pending legislation in four States calls for the appropriation of a total of $65,000 to promote the campaign against Pittsburgh “plus.” Bills introduced in the Illinois, Wisconsin and Minne- sota legislatures provide for appropriations of $25,000, $15,000, and $10,000 respectively. A measure about to be introduced in the Iowa legislature calls for $15,000. The Illinois bill, which is typical of all these intro- duced, directs that a commission be created consisting of five members—a State senator, a State representa- tive, a member of the Illinois Agricultural Association, a representative of the Western Association of Rolled Steel Consumers, and an Illinois manufacturer who buys rolled steel. The commission will publish and disseminate literature, supply speakers, intervene in court or commission proceedings, and cooperate with other organizations for the abolition of the Pittsburgh basing point practice as followed by Western mills in the sale of rolled steel. In the four States mentioned, the Western Association of Rolled Steel Consumers draws fully 75 per cent of its membership. These States likewise have a total of 825,545 farms which, according to the steel consumers’ association, pay an : 742 annual toll of $10 per farm to the Pittsburgh “plus” practice. It is notable that farm organizations in those States are active in their support of the pending legislation. The legislatures of Indiana and South Dakota recently adopted resolutions condemning Pitts- burgh “plus,” but have taken no steps to finance the campaign against the practice. Basing Points Hearings Again Postponed ' CuHIcaGo, March 12.—Hearings in Pittsburgh basing point case which were scheduled to be resumed the teal j before the Federal Trade Commission here today, have bar: been postponed another week in compliance with a re- oar quest by counsel for the respondents. 4 i. Blank Holder a Feature of New Toggle Draw- 7 . a, ing Press q \ new toggle drawing press, the most important 3 improvement of which is the blank holder mechanism incorporated, has been placed on the market by the J. M. Robinson Mfg. Co., Cincinnati. $ A large percentage of the waste of the tearing of i 4 the metal in drawing has been found to be due, the . makers emphasize, to variation of the pressure of the 2 The drawing advantages of Press. type of claimed New both Toggle Drawing toggle and cam press are ie blank holder during the dwell period. This condition is said to be unavoidable with a blank holder controlled entirely with toggle movements, there being necessarily a slight fluctuation of the blank holder as the toggles pass over their centers and return. The new press has been designed to eliminate this condition, the dwell remaining constant during the full working period of the stroke of the press. The advantages of both the toggle and the cam type of drawing press are said to be obtained, and the disadvantages of both types over- come. In this design roller crankpins on the left-hand ends of the rocker arms, which raise and lower the blank holder, are guided in steel lined cam paths in a cross head. The latter in turn receives its motion from the main crankshaft through a connecting rod. During ¥ the full working per