The Iron Age 1923-08-30: Vol 112 Iss 9

THE IRON AGE New York, August 30, 1923 ESTABLISHED 1855 ANUFACTURING methods that have proved M themselves are always worth knowing. When most of them are adaptable to the average metal goods manufacturing plant, they have an intensely practical value. When back of them is the record for signal success such as belongs to the internationally known National Cash Register Co., the practices have a special appeal. The giving up for publication of details of metal working procedure at the National cash register works is at once a stamp of dependability and of the bigness of the company. It is not uncom- monly characteristic of the successful manufacturing institution to find it a free contributor to helps in solving industrial problems, establishing thus a reputation for initiative, originality and resourceful- ness which reputation is not dimmed nor commercial advantage injured by any necessarily delayed adoption by close competitors of its broadly useful methods. Naturally references to this great industrial develop- ment are bound to reflect the evidences of the leader- ship, far-sightedness, enterprise and genius of the late John H. Patterson, to whom Dayton, Ohio, the home of the company, as well as the cause of industrial and civic improvement, owe so much. The present purpose is to describe in a general way the processes of manufacture of a cash register as carried on by the N. C. R.; as the company builds some five hundred sizes and models, it is manifestly impossible to go into full detail in an article of this nature. Emphasis will be laid on a number of the $s. LOVE VOL. 112, No. 9 Manufacturing Methods in Making the National Cash Register BY L. S what labor-saving or high production features and the company has found necessary to do to hold its equipment sufficiently flexible to cover the range of work and still maintain large production. The National is a machine not merely for use in retail stores. It is made not only for cash registering, but also for time and record keeping, suitable for a wide variety of business uses. The company’s latest product, the National accounting machine, for banks and other business institutions, keeps a completely bal- anced record of the business at every moment of the day. The company manufactures also a telephone sys- tem for credit department use in stores where charge accounts are carried and also charge account record files which keep charge accounts posted to the minute. The idea of the cash register was first conceived by James Ritty in 1879, from his study of a dial record- ing the revolutions of an ocean liner’s propeller. The first cash register, patented by Mr. Ritty, had a dial type of indication. In 1881 all patent rights in the cash register were sold to the National Mfg. Co. About this time John H. Patterson was a stockholder in the Southern Ohio Coal & Iron Co., and manager for the company at Coalton, Ohio. In connection with the mines the company operated a general store, which did a good business but made no money. Mr. Patter- son heard about a cash register being made in Dayton and purchased two. The store soon showed a profit. Later two registers were installed in the retail coal offices in Dayton, operated by Mr. Patterson and his ANUFACTURING on a high production basis and at the same time maintain- ing a flexibility of equipment to accommodate changes to some five hundred models and sizes is the achievement of the National Cash Register Co. How this is accomplished in tool designing and making, and what has been done in developing the manufacturing methods and in the employment of special machines as well as adaptations of standard machine tools are told in the latter parts of the accompany- ing article. A rather unique material handling system and an outline of the wel- fare and employee education methods, with which are closely linked the name of the late John H. Patterson, are among features of the article calculated to have a wide appeal to the metal goods manufacturing industry, owing to the general adaptability of the information. 53] ‘ . : i . 3 ‘ xi 5 532 brother, and these uncovered a leak that had cost $1,200 in two years. These experiences showed Mr. *atterson the value of a cash register, and in 1884 he purchased a controlling interest in the National Mfg. Co., which name was changed later that year to that of National Cash Register Co. From the modest shop in a single second story room with two employees, the business has grown in about forty years to occupy a plant of some 44 acres of floor space and some 10,000 employees, with ramifications to every quarter of the globe. In the scheme of management the pyramid plan is employed, with the general manager at the head. To him report the manufacturing superintendent, the chief engineer, the research engineer, and the head of the future demands department. The superintendent controls the machine division, including tool design and tool making, the assembly, stock, transportation, wood shop, rate making and the efficiency engineering division. Under the chief engineer are not only the invention and model departments, but also the tool supply and making of petty tools. But most important is the in- spection, which, being under the engineer, is entirely separated from the manufacturing divisions and there- by calculated to insure quite impartial inspection. This inspection covers incoming materials, manufactured parts, and final assembly. One of the first impressions received by the visitor is that the institution is essentially an organization of young men. A second impression is the Droadminded attitude of the management in sharing its manu- facturing methods with the world, so to speak, and its willingness to show the visitor just what they are doing and how they do it. In fact, many tools, jigs and fixtures, and special machines originated by this company are illustrated and described in text books, or in some cases are a part of the regular line of ma- chine builders. Noteworthy is the number of men sent out into other lines of business from this in- stitution, who because of the training received have become prominent figures in the world’s work. Out- standing is an evidence of esprit de corps, which can be defined by three words: Loyalty, cooperation and pride—loyalty to the company; cooperation with the rest of the organization and pride in the estaDdlishment. In a description of the manufacturing processes, it is desirable to understand the company’s policy with regard to machinery. Naturally on a highly specialized product, in many cases, it is not possible to use standard commercial equipment. It is the aim of the company wherever possible to adapt to its uses such equipment as can be purchased in the market, and the bulk of its equipment of some 5000 machines is of this nature. Many machines required to give greatest pro- duction cannot be bought outside, and for this purpose a special engineering department, headed by an efficiency engineer, reporting to the superintendent, has as a part of its duties that of the selection of proper equipment and the design of such special machines as cannot be purchased. These machines are built outside or in the company’s own shop, a general machine shop teing maintained for the purpose. A special machine must show that it can pay for itself in one year in saving of cost over old method. Or it must produce greatly improved quality. Otherwise it is not con- sidered a profitable investment. Before arranging to buy or design and make new tools or fixtures the “future demands” department will report to the factory on a probable future demand and the turn it will take when these reports show sufficient leaning on the part of the public toward requiring a certain function, the engineering division is in- structed to design a machine or changes in an existing model to accomplish the ends desired. For this pur- pose a corps of inventors and designers is maintained. After a new design has been perfected and ap- proved, a model is constructed and tested for proper working. For this work there are maintained three separate machine rooms. One a school for model makers, whence men are graduated into the department which manufactures models and their parts or into the department where the models are assembled and tested. After passing the test, drawings of the new models, THE IRON AGE August 30, 1923 improvements or changes in existing models, are sent to what is known as the tool supply department with the improvement or change@#mber to be made in an existing pattern or with a new number to classify a new design. The tool supply department, which is under the chief inspector, calls together a processing committee, consisting mainly of the head of the tool supply de- partment, the supervisor, foreman and job foreman of the department in charge of that particular type of register, the head of the tool making department and the head of the tool designing division, and the man in the tool supply department in charge of tools, models and blueprints for the particular type of register under consideration. This committee lists the proper tools and sequence of operations through the factory for the improvement or new part. As a result of this committee meeting the tool supply department issues an order known as a tool list, on the stock ordering department, with copies to all other departments interested. This is the stock ordering department’s nectification to arrange for new or changed usages of raw materials. Individual tool orders are also written from this too! list for the designing and making of the new tools or the changing of present tools to produce the new and changed parts required. As soon as the changed tools are completed, a second list, called the approved tool list, is issued by the tool supply department to the stock ordering department, with copies to all other departments interested. This new list takes care of any changes in operation, methods of manufacture, or other corrections which might have developed dur- ing the process of tooling up the job. From the ap- proved tool list the stock ordering department issues orders on the various production starting departments for the quantities of the various kinds of register parts required, depending on their usage. When tools are completed they are returned to the tool supply depart- ment to be inspected and checked against the print of the tool and the print of the part. The tool supply department also issues orders for the maintenance of all tools and machinery in the pro- duction division. It maintains 23 tool supply rooms throughout the factory. It stores and indexes all patterns; carries all models and blueprints. It fur- nishes from the stock room all material for making tools on orders through the material section. The duties of the tool design department are clearly defined. On receipt of orders from the tool supply department to design tools for the production of a certain part they receive the list of machines on which the tools are to be used. They may recommend changes in machines contemplated if such changes seem desir- able. One important consideration to be borne in mind by the tool design department is that frequent changes, due to comparatively small lets, are made in the tools, consequently simple set-ups are essential. There are 30 employees in this department who are divided into sections and specialize on jigs and fixtures, punches and dies, screw machine tools, and small tools, re- spectively. This department designs every class of tool for use in the production departments, even to form cutters, special cutters, reamers, etc. The method of procedure referred to in describing the duties of the tool supply division is as follows: Upon receipt of order accompanied by blue prints of parts and list of machines to be used in production, these are turned over to the particular tool designer delegated to design the tools for the job. He makes a sketch of the tools he proposes and submits it to the job foreman for suggestions before proceeding with a completed drawing. When the latter is completed it is submitted for approval to the head of tool design, the head of tool making, production department supervisor on the class of work covered, the foreman of the de- partment and the job foreman, before working draw- ings are made. With all of this checking mistakes are avoided and useless tools are not made before any possible mistake in design is discovered. The original is filed in the usual manner and prints are sent to the tool room. (To be continued) August 30, 1923 THE PRESIDENT AND BUSINESS Attitude of Administration Toward Economic Questions Suggested by Chamber of Commerce WASHINGTON, Aug. 28.—American business as represented by a committee of the Chamber of Com- merce of the United States, made its first call upon President Coolidge at the White House last week and announced its position regarding a number of im- portant economic questions. One policy advocated by the business representatives for administering the flexible provisions and definitely opposed by the ad- ministration concerns the advocacy by the chamter of the creation of a separate tariff adjustment board “so that the tariff commission may continue uninfluenced, its functions as a research and reporting body.” -It was made clear at the White House that President Coolidge feels that the tariff commission itself is capable of and best qualified to handle this new departure in tariff making. A Flexible Tariff While it already is proving to be a complicated matter, and apparently will be more so _ for some time, it is maintained that the task of _in- vestigation and conducting hearings under these provisions is so closely related to the general work of the commission, that it would not be wise to set up a new board. To do so, it is contended, would in fact produce more or less complication and duplication of effort, and would add to the already great num- ber of government bureaus and boards. It also was pointed out that the tariff commission is a bipartisan body and that it certainly is not supposed to be in- fluenced from any source and is as free from influence as would be any additional board that might be set up. Present indications seem to be that President Coolidge will follow the Harding policy concerning the flexible provisions, although it remains to be seen whether he has as great faith in their efficacy as Mr. Harding did. The representatives of the chamber in their conference with President Coolidge took occasion to advocate the principal of a flexible tariff, their only point being that there should be a change in the pro- cedure of administering it. Merchant Marine Concerning the merchant marine, the chamber repre- sentatives told the President that they are opposed to the government engaging in commercial business and urged further efforts to evolve a plan of private opera- tion before entering upon direct government operation. The chamber, the committee told the President, is in favor of a ship subsidy, in an attempt to equalize operation disadvantages of American ships. The pro- posal of the chamber on this subject, it is believed, has the sympathy of the President. It is well known, that like the chamber, he is op- posed to the government’s engaging in commercial business. At the same time, it has been explained, the government finds itself with a merchant marine and so far has been unable to dispose of it on a satisfactory basis to private citizens. President Coolidge was in favor of the ship subsidy bill sponsored by the late President Harding, but with the failure of the Senate to act upon the measure, the Shipping Board had to turn to other alternatives. It did make an effort to sell ships to private owners but offers submitted were not satisfactory and while it has not definitely foregone this idea, it apparently is not hopeful of its successful execution in the near future. Meanwhile the board is trying to develop a policy with the approval of the President of readjusting regular trade routes for American ships, looking to the highest possible efficiency under the government ownership in the carrying of exports and imports and the best possible service to American shippers. Briefly, a subsidiary corporation under the Shipping Board is suggested to have charge of the operation of the dif- ferent units of an American merchant fleet, which would be concentrated on given ocean lines. There has been some question as to the legality of this pro- THE IRON AGE 533 posal and it is understood that President Coolidge is seriously considering the appointment of a committee not only to study this program but also to investigate other plans with a view to determining a merhcant marine policy. The committee to study such a policy, it is stated, would be made up of the Chairman of the Shipping Board, the Secretary of Commerce, the Sec- retary of the Treasury, the chairman of the House Com- mittee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries and the chair- man of the Senate Committee on Commerce and the Attorney General. Some government officials are strong- ly of the opinion that the best possi le service Amevican business could render to the merchant marine would te a campaign urging shipping in American vessels. Tax reforms urged by the chamber likely will not eventuate at the next Congress. While it seems alto- gether likely that these reforms or at least a large portion of them, meet with the approval of the Presi- dent and the Secretary of Treasury Mellon, it is seri- ously doubted that the proposals would stand a chance of being adopted by Congress. Selective Immigration Concerning immigration, the committee told the President that the chamber believes in restriction and that the principle of selection should be a controlling factor in immigration legislation. At the White House it has already been indicated that the only immigration legislation which President Coolidge will urge at the next session of Congress will be in favor of the plan of Secretary of Labor Davis for the selection abroad through American consulates of immigrants coming to the United States. Wright Machine Co. to Manufacture Screw Machine Products The plant of the R. B. Phillips Mfg. Co., Worcester, Mass., with its equipment for the manufacture of screw machine products on a large scale, has been pur- chased from the owner, the American Steam Gauge & Valve Mfg. Co., Boston, by a new corporation, con- trolled by Worcester men, to be known as the Wright Machine Co. At its head is George M. Wright, who was president of the Wright Wire Co. until its absorp- tion in the Wickwire-Spencer Steel Corporation. It is proposed to start up the factory, which has been idle for three years, under the management of A. R. Lemieux, formerly with the Reed & Curtis Co., Worcester, later head of the Hampden Mfg. Co., Springfield, Mass., and, when that business was bought by the Ansonia Mfg. Co., head of its screw machine products department. Recently Mr. Lemieux has been receiver of the A. R. Moseler Co., New York. The Phillips plant, operating at capacity, employs about 400 people. The company proposes later to add a standard product of its own. The Worcester Machine Co. will be capitalized for $1,000,000, of which $400,000 is in bonds, $250,000 in preferred stock, and $350,000 in common stock. The officers will be: President, George M. Wright; treas- urer, George B. Cunningham, long associated with Mr. Wright in his business; directors, the above officers and Mr. Lemieux, George F. Wright, head of the George F. Wright Steel & Wire Co., Worcester, and J. Verner Critchley, president of the Reed-Prentice Co. and Walden-Worcester, Inc., who as head of the Critchley Machine Screw Co. built the Phillips plant. Complaint Against Freight Rates to St. Louis WASHINGTON, Aug. 28.—Complaint has been filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission by the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation, against rates on manufactured iron and steel products from the Pitts- burgh district to St. Louis and points in Illinois and Indiana. It is contended that these rates are unrea- sonable and discriminatory. The fall meeting of the Electric Power Club will be held at the French Lick Springs Hotel, French Lick Ind., Nov. 19 to 22. S. N. Clarkson, 900 Keith Build. ing, Cleveland, is executive secretary. >. ie eared . wee ae salle“ pias al iia aca ale. cine DM inna ‘ itis “ee oc > re eee ivi Sekt ive AR a tg A er > eather kisah sill Sip As Aine cog? ae a, - oe Lungyen Blast Furnace Plant Near Peking First Unit of the Mining Administration’s Plans Is of 250 Tons Capacity Per Day and Is the First Modern Furnace in North China Proper BY K. E. N the initial Lungyen project is included one 250-ton I per day blast furnace, capable of being enlarged to 300 tons by relining, with raw material handling equipment and storage, boiler plant, power house and water supply development. The arrangement provides for future installation of additional blast furnaces, by- product coke oven plant, steel plant and rolling mills for producing a diversified line of products. The plan of the new plant and a typical cross section through the plant are shown. The furnace stock system is of the tunnel type and comprises a two-track concrete trestle and a larry tun- nel extending the length of this tresle. The concrete tunnel 14 x 14 ft., the roof provided with a series of bin bottoms, each with a segmental type of gate, operated from the scale car platforms. The discharge chutes of the coke bin have screens for the removal of braize. Two scale cars, furnished by the Atlas Car & Mfg. Co., Cleveland, Ohio, are the side dump type, of 120 cu. ft. capacity each. Storage capacity is provided for six weeks’ supply of ore and one week’s supply of limestone. The steel coke bin is located on the center line of the furnace, ore and limestone being stored on either The bin 70 ft. long, with capacity for one day’s operation. The coke bin is covered, ore and stone storage being in the open. is side. 1S The skip incline is double tracked for two 110 cu. ft. skip cars of the bucket type, also provided by the Atlas company. It is placed at an angle of 60 deg. to the horizontal. The skips are operated by an Otis Elevator Co. double-drum steam-engine-driven hoist. The drums are 72 in. in diameter, grooved for 1% in. diameter hoist ropes. The hoist has a rope speed of 375 ft. per *With Perin & Marshall, consulting engineers, New York This article is the second portion of that on “Modern Iron and Steel Works in China begun on page 461 of our Aug issue SS YECTION (Looking North) Through Ss the Lungyen Furnace Plant, Show- ing Logical Sequence of the Several Elements. The hot metal track is the one nearest the cast house, between the furnace and the boiler house The furnace is of 250 tons daily capacity, but has a lining so thick that it can be changed, on relining, to 300 tons. Plans for the future call for a second blast furnace, by-product coke ovens, a steel mill and rolling mills ur ° HU MBERT* min. and is designed for an unbalanced load of 10,000 lb. An automatic steam brake is provided. The hoist is located in a steel frame, corrugated steel covered building, utilizing in part the extended coke bin columns. Here are also housed the steam operated bell cylin- and the indicators for the furnace stock testers. A 5-ton trolley hoist provides for repairs or for lifting from the ground. The operator from his position can see both the furnace top and the skip pit. Stairways lead from the hoist house along the skip bridge to the furnace top, or down to the trestle level, and thence to the ground. ders, The furnace top is of the standard double bell de- sign. The gas is taken off the furnaces by four up- takes, leading to four bleeders, surmounted with explo- sion valves. There is a cross connection for each pair of bleeders, about 15 ft. above the furnace top plat- form. From each cross connection a downcomer leads off. The four uptakes are spaced to equalize the flow of gas over the entire top area and reduce the gas velocity, with a resultant decrease in the dust carried off by the gas. In addition, the height of the cross- pipe connection retards the dust from getting into the downcomer, so that with this type of top a decreased amount of dust is made, compared to the design of top where the downcomers are taken off practically at the top platform level. These bleeders also serve to carry the bell beam platform, eliminating the separate structure required for this on some tops. The top platform is made large enough to allow ample working space for making re- pairs. Platforms are provided at all essential points, with substantial guard rails. A 5-ton jib crane pro- vides for raising material to the top platform. Access is had to the top platform by interrupted flight stairs on the skip bridge, or by stairs leading from the ground to the stove top platforms and thence to the furnace. POWER HOUSE 5 } | Re ey Sit 2 tt =, 4 | Fa : 4 Ly 7 PPI I TIT TIP DOO DPTIVTTIT] flak | 4 August 30, 1923 FTL [LLAMAS ILA AA LLL ALLL LLL LLL UL Ee, - STORE SS OS he Se ee HOUSE hie _ : ; a LABORATORY PLANT - ~ - — OFFICE ———————————— career ee CONSTRUCTION BLD¢ IRON AGE LIMESTONE __STORAGE _ ORE STORAGE Track Scales =—— _ ai) | 1 | | ' | AL ano cO7KnR— ———_—— — SS a ee TFOUNDRY | CRANE fuacy SHO reese a4 WHAT +-e—o 0-0 4 This Plan of the Lungyen Plant of the Lungyen Mining Administration, at Shiechinshan, 11 Miles From Peking, Shows the Arrangement for Later Development is afforded by means of the 20-in. pipe line from the into a Two-Furnace Plant Ample water supply west, drawing by gravity from a_ 606,000,000-gal reservoir in the side of a hill alongside the Yung Tirg River The furnace is 85 ft. high, its bosh diameter is 18 ft., and the capacity is 14,000 cu. ft. It is set on a sub-base of rock, much of which had to be excavated, as it extended above the required level. There are eight structural columns placed on a 27-ft. diameter circle, al- lowing for enlarging of the hearth and bosh in the future. Brackets on the columns support the bustle pipe, circle pipe and waste water trough. The bustle pipe is 42 in. diameter, of % in. plate, with 9 in. brick lining, and is carried on cast iron saddles free to move on the col- umn brackets, thus providing for expansion. An ample number of manholes facilitates relining. The bustle- pipe walkway continues on the hot blast main to the end of the cast house, where a ladder leads to the floor level. The hearth jacket is of 1%-in. steel plate, with 3-in. BOILER HOUSE thick cast iron water cooled circular plates between it and the furnace brickwork. The tuyere breast is of l-in. steel plate, with openings for the eight tuyeres and two rows of bronze cooling plates. The bosh jacket is of the solid plate type, %-in. plate being used here. There are six rows of bronze cooling plates in the bosh. The mantle is built up of 1-in. plate and heavy angles, and has a trough for collecting shell spray water. Bottom and top rings of the furnace shell are of butt strap construction, and the intermediate rings have triple lap-riveted vertical and double lap-riveted hori- zontal seams. Brackets on the shell bottom ring at each column, inside and outside, help distribute the shell load and reinforce this ring. There is one row of cast iron cooling plates above the mantle. The shell top ring has outside structural brackets carrying the CAST HOUSE 536 THE IRON August 30. 1923 AGE Furnace Plant at struction building lies Lungyen Shiechinshan, in Chili which will be farther to the right Two more boiler The water tower top platform and inside cast steel brackets supporting the large bell hopper. Four steel plate gas uptakes also lead from the top ring. The furnace brick lining is of the Harbison-Walker “Woodland” brand. Stock line protection consists of small unit cast steel wearing plates, laid integral with the lining. In addition to the regular iron notch, an auxiliary notch, 22% in. higher, is provided. The working cinder notch is 90 deg. from the iron notch. There is also an auxiliary cinder notch. The cast house labor required for producing and handling such a large tonnage of sand cast foundry iron has been greatly reduced by the installation of a Shutts-Goodwin pig bed molding machine, which is cylindrical in shape, with four offsets on which the patterns are placed. It is mounted on a shaft with a bail attached, by which it is drawn over the sand, the cast house crane being utilized for pulling it. Beds are made up this way in about 15 minutes in compari- son to 2 or 3 hr. required for hand molding. Cinder will be run into Pennsylvania Engineering Works side dump cinder ladles of 300 cu. ft. capacity, air operated. The cast house is 63 ft. span, 218 ft. long from the * Province, viewed from the North-West. between the observer and the cast hot-blast stoves is designed to serve also the four additional house stacks will hold 110,000 gal The long, low con- right of the four furnace, now up house (left center) The stack at stoves, to be erected for the then will be added to the three second center of the furnace, has corrugated steel siding, %-in. plate roof, and a monitor throughout its length. A 10-ton crane is installed to handle cast house materials, and for the operation of the pig bed molding machine. Water lines with hose connections extend along both sides. A Berg-Brosius safety mud gun is provided. Gas from the furnace top is led through two 4-ft. diameter downcomers, each of which enters the top of a 20-ft. diameter barrel type dust catcher, with capacity exceptionally large for a furnace of this size. It is expected that this, in conjunction with the furnace top design, will result in a gas with comparatively low dust content. Further gas cleaners may be installed should they be desired later. From the dust-catchers the gas enters a common 5-ft. 9-in. diameter main lead- ing a short distance to a large downleg, from which are taken the branches leading to the stoves and the boilers. The four stoves are of the two-pass, side combus- tion type, 20 ft. in diameter by 85 ft. high, and have 36,200 sq. ft. of heating surface each. Brick linings for the stoves and all mains were made in China by the Kailan Mining Administration. Fittings include 24-in. cold blast, 27-in. hot blast, 24-in. gas burner, 36- in. chimney and 12-in. air relief valves and three 21-in. Beeduse of Doubts Regarding the Stability of the Soil at Lungyen, Foundations for the Furnace and Stoves Were Carried Down Through the Solid Rock of a Stone Quarry August 30, 1923 Lungyen Furnace Plant from the North-East. The ore storage is between the cast house (left center) and the “high-line” fill in foreground, which takes the place of the usual trestle cleaning doors, all in the bottom ring, and three 30-in. cleaning doors in the top ring. All mains and flues are overhead. The hot blast main is 4 ft. diameter with 9-in. brick lining. The gas main is also 4 ft. diameter, with 4%-in. lining, and 3-ft. downlegs at each stove. A 5-ft. 9-in. diameter chimney flue, with 4%-in. lining, leads to a 7-ft. inside diameter x 175-ft. high self-supporting brick lined stee] stack. The cold blast main is 24 in. in diameter. A NITROGEN IN STEEL Distillation and Combustion Method of Analysis Compared Starting with the assumption that no conclusions concerning the effects of nitrogen on the physical prop- erties of steel can be more reliable than the methods used for determining the quantity of nitrogen present, C. Baldwin Sawyer, the Brush Laboratories Co., Cleve- land, in a paper entitled “Nitrogen in Steel,” prepared for the annual summer meeting of the American Insti- tute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers at Montreal, Aug. 30, describes the work undertaken to establish some additional conditions required by the customary distillation method for reliable and accurate determi- nations. Results by a combustion method of analysis for total nitrogen content are presented. These indi- cate that all of the nitrogen in steel, exclusive of that contained in blow-holes, may be determined by the dis- tillation method. Results have been obtained which bear on the following divisions of the general subject, based on these more sound and more reliable analyses: Nitrification of steel by melting in nitrogen, nitrifica- tion of steel by heating in ammonia, decomposition of nitrified steel by heating, and thermal analysis of nitri- fied steel. Ingots of pure iron melted under various pressures of nitrogen, when examined for nitrogen content using only the distillation method, were found to contain nitrogen which varied as the square root of the pressure applied. Thin disks of sheet iron, when nitrified in ammonia only until they contained up to 4 per cent nitrogen, when reheated were found to contain a re- duced amount of nitrogen equal to an amount def- initely related to the reheating temperature and expres- sible by a curve. A summary of the author’s results is as follows: Summary For obtaining the most accurate results with the distilla- tion method for determining nitrogen in steel, a Kjeldahl trap and a glass-wool strainer should be inserted between ondenser and distillation flask. The condenser tube should be of some material other than glass, which yields alkalis to the distillate. A 2.42-per cent cain in weight by thin sheet iron, because f cyanide hardening, is 97.5 per cent accounted for by results of analyses for carbon and nitrogen, indicating the recovery by the distillation method of all nitrogen intro- duced into steel by case-hardening processes. The combustion method for carbon is adapted to total THE IRON AGE 10-in. equalizer line leads from the cold blast to the hot blast main, around the stove farthest from the furnace. A counter weighted relief valve and the usual snort valve are provided. The complete system of platforms around the stove tops is reached from the furnace top platform, or by means of stairs extending alongside of the stove and supported by them. (To be concluded) nitrogen determinations Results so far obtained by this method indicate complete recovery by the distillation method of all nitrogen introduced into steel by any method A specially designed phosphorus pipette can absorb from 3 to 4 liters of oxygen at a rate of from 15 to 20 cubic centi- meters per min. Iron melted under an atmosphere of nitrogen absorbs it in accord with the formula: “%N kVPn, where %N per cent of nitrogen in cooled ingoi; k = a constant having value of 0.020; Pn pressure in atmospheres of nitrogen during melting and solidification Microscopic examination of ingots melted under nitrogen discovers no trace of nitrogen up to approximately 0.03 per cent, and indicates a solid solution of nitrogen in ferrite. Above 0.03 per cent, many needles were found. Iron catalyzes the dissociation of ammonia at elevated temperatures and is denitrified by hydrogen so formed; it is therefore difficult to produce uniformly nitrified steel by passing ammonia over it. Uniformly nitrified thin steel disks, containing up to 1.70 per cent nitrogen, can be preduced by heating non-uniformly nitrified disks containing from 3 to 4 per cent nitrogen to different temperatures for different degrees of decomposi- tion. Decomposition so produced can be represented by a curve of per cent nitrogen against temperature; its general shape is that corresponding to similar curves for volatile solutes in nonvolatile solvents. Transformation points obtained from sets of these disks clearly indicate an iron-nitrogen diagram of appearance similar to the iron-carbon diagram tesults of photomicrographic examination of the disks are in accord with general findings of transformation-point determinations, and place the eutectoid point at 1.70 per cent of nitrogen No nitrogen constituent was visible in ferrite up to a content of 0.030 per cent. tesults of bend tests on disks show a great ioss in ductility for nitrogen contents above 0.015 to 0.030 per cent, confirming statements in the literature In non-uniformly nitrified disks containing 3 to 4 per cent nitrogen, the existence of a second eutectoid is indi- eated both microscopically and by thermal analysis. The report of the Ohio State Foundrymen’s Asso- ciation for July shows an increase over operations for the preceding month, as the industry operated at 85.32 per cent of normal in July compared with 81.27 per cent in June. The normal melt figure of the foundries reporting is 29,504 tons and the production of castings was 25,183 tons. Total stocks on hand show a decline in June figures, the figure for July being 37 per cent of normal. Non-ferrous operations show a very slight decline as compared with June, the July figure being 77.22 compared with 77.25 in June. * f } } at | oP : ’ Further Decline in Iron and Steel Exports Imports for July Also Are Less, Though Ferroalloys Are the Second Highest of the Year—Exports of Semi- Finished Lowest in 18 Months WASHINGTON, Aug. 28.—Exports of iron and steel products in July totaled 168,558 gross tons, valued at $21,582,626, as against 171,183 tons, valued at $21,242,- 193, in June; while imports amounted to 53,464 tons, Machinery Exports By Vaiuve Seven Months Ended July July July July 1922 1923 1922 1923 Locomotives $289 , 250 $867,443 $5,471,714 $2,693,218 Other Steam Engines 193,519 91,733 1,431,407 727, 650 Boilers : 133,565 216,752 560,701 621,627 Accessories and parts 101,454 162,654 637 ,472 622, 103 Automobile Engines 551,189 275,969 3,773,086 3,566,018 Other Internal Combustion Engines 333 , 669 682,057 2,448,708 3,828,476 Accessories and Parts for 194, 653 265 , 502 1,537,006 1,920,219 Electric Locomotives 23,085 287, 234 456, 997 2,464,012 Other Electric Machinery and Apparatus 444,901 742, 258 5,479,097 4,830,488 Excavating Machinery 89,834 117,019 850, 290 928,344 Concrete Mixers 93,702 55,041 338,346 325,956 Road Making Machinery 45,640 114, 139 189,523 719,025 Elevators and Elevator Ma- chinery 381,714 424,936 2,342,842 2,314, 279 Mining and Quarrying Ma- chinery 500,710 850, 289 3,587,713 5,294, 274 Oil Well Machinery 445, 806 696,523 2,718,997 3,582,798 Pumps 474,452 572,955 3,270,705 4,155,515 Lathes 61,443 96,780 463 , 935 461,065 Boring and Drilling Machines 28,059 67,505 363 , 087 387 , 347 Planers, Shapers and Slotters 33,881 32,538 181, 861 130,512 Bending and Power Presses 7,351 19,030 246,676 115,673 Gear Cutters 25,791 20,371 63,094 94,878 Milling Machines 27,597 17,913 186, 242 240,580 Thread Cutting and Screw Machines 16,756 27,913 103,591 268, 109 Punching and Shearing Ma- chines 9,581 16, 666 106, 130 103, 449 Power Hammers 8,973 20,005 64,771 82,721 Rolling Machines 129,881 6,010 154,385 17,749 Sharpening and Grinding Ma- chines ; 54,483 7,102 439,979 562,849 Other Metal Working Ma- chinery and Parts of 493 , 410 392, 209 3,162,418 2,644, 242 Textile Machinery 1,471,016 650,165 10,314,101 5,416,426 Sewing Machines 640,470 916,922 3,468,550 4,790,367 Shoe Machinery 127, 087 112,427 584,114 833, 249 Flour-Mill and Gristmill Ma- chinery 7 181, 233 107 , 622 821, 691 574,244 Sugar-Mill Machinery 365, 755 431,561 1,543, 890 1,522,967 Paper and Pulp Mill Ma- cninery 130, 335 141,300 1,220,553 1,396, 466 Sawmill Machinery 25,575 41,734 341, 752 312, 893 Other Woodworking Ma- chinery 161,386 71,974 736,052 625, 251 Refrigerating and Ice Making Machinery 101, 256 157,689 1,214,420 1,411,805 Air Compressors. . . 166,475 158,746 1, 180,899 1,411, 889 Typewriters. . ‘ 879, 527 1,112,923 6,807,701 8,340,639 Power Laundry Machinery 74,524 82,078 354,518 576,344 Typesetting Machines. . 207,176 231,947 2,249,822 1,974,240 Printing Presses 218,062 342,330 2, 253,640 2,455, 264 Agricultural Machinery and Implements 2,429,149 5,609,825 13,003,517 28,154,335 All Other Machinery and 7,466,898 9,074,211 50,611,187 57,501,235 Parts Total $19,810,273 $26,469,980 $137,337, 180 $161,000, 790 valued at $2,147,112, as compared with 68,019 tons, valued at $2,597,159. For the seven months ended with July of this year exports were 1,141,569 tons and im- ports aggregated 569,287 tons. While the exports for July were greater than those for the same month of last year, when they amounted to 157,169 tons, they were less for the seven months of the current year, when compared with the 1,345,129 tons of the corresponding period of last year. Imports for July of this year showed a _ sharp revunssomonnneeneannenente Imports of Iron Ore by Countries (In Gross Tons) Seven Months July Ended July -—— aes ————$$ $< spray. 1922 1923 1922 1923 IE isc icb natin keene 4,891 56,291 20,869 184,000 I: aco a5 cane awe 54,878 145,508 124,648 546,559 CEE -vceirivsaseee 367 9,472 1,321 23,010 EN ee tre ee 56,275 96,500 133,572 430,351 Other countries ...... 50,300 131,596 93,997 583,938 qassvene teteneanene enone decrease under imports for the same month of last year, when they were 71,971 tons, but for the seven months ended with July of this year, the total of 569,287 tons was a heavy increase over the correspond- ing period of last year, when the total was 187,648 tons. Imports of manganese ore in July of this year Imports of Pig Iron by Countries (In Gross Tons) Seven Months Ended July, 1923 July, 1923 SOE Ore a aie alain d pire We 9,554 158,428 ENN ado sw nlacn he wren etal 3,524 12,817 INL» Sie a cedeiel win ms a Re he 2,400 16,671 DED: \ casein e¥seda seed 1,804 56,009 TS Pern ere Cree 1,262 38,483 CIE. 0! ao 5 e's) Ga hb othe we 750 20,740 SME soci svecweees 215 8,918 IY iss a,b. ce 6th ic cd en Bd 200 950 IE <-aus @ Gra aie er he are 51 585 PIR. 4.64 bs ees ‘4 299 DE steve taddtedevwes 19,760 313,900 totaled 23,824 tons, while iron ore imports were 439,367 tons. Exports of machinery with a value of $26,469,980 represented an increase of almost $3,000,000 over ma- chinery exports in June with a total of $26,631,349. Imports of machinery in July were valued at $796,596 ” Exports of Iron and Steel (In Gross Tons) Seven Months July Ended July paint acacniie satipiiapinnat 1922 1923 1922 1923 2. 2 Rereorer ee 1,943 2,966 15,773 17,811 Ferromanganese ...... 179 4 908 3,220 DORTOMMAOON oc caccccas ar i 82 249 573 NE ng pith a och ataie, aie 3,939 4,598 49,298 25,871 Ingots, blooms, billets, sheet bar, skelp..... 10,149 6,480 111,710 69,917 ROU TINE. owes Cosas es eae 716 oes 9,918 BOOOk WARE. 2. accccwee *12,927 14,531 114,428 98,499 Alloy steel bars....... 146 635 2,781 1,549 EE EE ig nica Ge he aie 1,844 1,877 34,135 18,127 Plates, iron and steel.. 6,932 8,599 65,903 75,266 Sheets, galvanized - 9,245 9,454 73,312 76,949 Sheets, black steel.... 12,830 7,471 182,368 63,407 Sheets, black iron..... 923 1,274 7,562 8,876 Hoops, bands, strip steel 3,237 2,695 19,855 23,391 Tin plate, terne plate, as Sica a wits oie ase 4,038 13,029 49,452 65,335 Structural shapes, plain SII x ois ya's te cosa 8,676 10,861 63,636 76,861 Structural material, CROOROOE as os pinees 3,221 7,014 24,443 42,351 ONE: PEED - «oe tinieses s 29,919 24,521 184,363 142,332 Rail fastenings, switches, frogs, etc.. 3,500 4,836 21,995 22,986 3oiler tubes, welded pipe and fittings.... 11,879 17,671 105,904 108,609 Cast iron pipe and fit- Ps: utube ent ace 2,948 2,317 15,203 15,411 Pe WO. ccna ns weniswe 9,529 7,117 78,394 57,516 Barbed wire and woven wire fencing .....«.:. 10,250 8,384 42,187 49,878 Wire cloth and screen- RN Sonn aie awe Wah his 154 188 776 863 Wire rope and cable... 620 550 2,601 4,037 . i... eee 2,881 3,780 42,160 22,870 All other nails and RR eae och cas aunun 760 619 5,421 5,354 Ce eer 145 83 485 547 Bolts, nuts, rivets and washers, except track 1,725 719 ~*~ 10,436 11,953 Car wheels and axles... 1,524 2,815 10,453 11,464 Tron castings ........ 749 1,000 5,982 6,033 Steel castings ........ 108 426 1,358 2,829 ls 238 246 1,500 1,866 Machine screws ...... 11 er 98 ie ... Qererrater cr 157,169 168,558 1,345,129 1,141,569 *Includes both iron and steel bars. COV AHHEEELANADEO UNDO AAEOAOERELUAODADERLCYOEDETONLGOATLONNGLOUERADENNODERGLLUDUCUAOLIAODOOOENSDANLDOONEOONOODODAAAOGODAASTEOAAEAOUEESUADCLOOUOELOUOELL NADOGSEEUOOEDDONAEUROREDE ORENND as against $911,901 in June. Machine tool exports in July totaled 5176 in number with a value of $503,283, as against 7567, with a value of $443,645 in June. Steel rails constituted the greatest export movement 538 August 30, 1923 tianerens cvneuecennannnnaneny Iron and Steel Exports by Countries (In Gross Tons) Seven Seven Months Months July, Ended July, Ended 1923 July, 1923 1923 July, 1923 Plates: Galvanized Sheets: Canada .... 6,999 64,408 Canada .... 3,643 23.738 CURE. sisestivs 122 620 Ce on 4 nt 1,229 8,461 S. America.. 119 815 Philippine Mexico 87 464 Islands ... 653 4,246 Philippine Mexico ..... 560 3,837 Islands .. 45 167 Argentina .. 429 3,346 Black Steet Sheets Colombia oss 341 3,552 Canada .... 4,007 35,972 Tin Plate: Japan ...... 2,868 18,837 Canada .... 2,980 17,098 Argentina .. 275 1,639 British India 2,923 2,931 COR Sse vec 166 1,135 COE cee 00s 1,873 5,797 Philippine EE chia a slave 1,205 16,143 Islands ... 54 160 eee es 933 aes tae el Rin’ Cuba .. 769 3,197 Galvanized Wire: Hong Kong. 683 1,944 JSOROR 6000s 1,864 13,467 Uruguay ... 483 1,956 VG (ic sce 1,282 5,589 Mexico ..... 224 1,260 CanaGs sic. 954 9,299 oO ee 213 1,190 Aeron .h 659 ease TN mS 2.264 Cae gawnns 615 3,524 ~~ ee Australia ... 346 3,882 Steel Rails: \ CWOe .scess 294 1,609 Cuba ...... 8,202 27,250 Mexico ..... 248 2,071 Canada .... 6,776 27,159 : eee , ee 3,961 44,781 Barbed Wire: Kwang Tung eee ee 1,495 6,481 (leased Australia .. 1,053 5,134 territory). 1,960 11,143 nes 1,011 6,303 Colombia 861 2,109 British South Philippine Africa ... 844 4,030 Islands .. 382 2,625 Colombia ... 630 3,068 Argentina .. 325 834 Censtra i Mexico ‘ 216 2,571 America .. 570 2,172 Honduras 139 7,332 Mexico ..« ++ 567 2,047 Cee nkkewes 2,116 Canada .... 25 4,416 Chosen West Indies 6,153 (Korea)... er 8,754 Argentina 6,410 New Zealand bata 400 in July, with a total of 24,521 tons, and also for the seven months ended with July, with a total of 142,332 tons. Cuba was the leading export market in July for steel rails, taking 8202 tons, while Canada came second Machine Tool Exports, by Number and Value —June, 1923— -—July, 1923 Quantity Value Quantity Value I asi is 6 kn ae 64 $96,385 70 $96,789 Boring and drilling machines 307 44,710 204 67,505 Planers, shapers and slotters 17 26,855 16 32,538 Bending and power presses. . 21 10,703 14 19,030 ol el eae 89 9,971 7 20,371 Milling machines .......... 29 34,830 13 17,913 Thread-cutting and screw DD oc 06a 8 0.65%6 40% 54 36,384 27 27,913 Punching and shearing ma- CE ein dis ed's dd Bh eeiere e's 300 14,890 28 16.666 Power DAMMETS 2.256 ccecss 9 7,158 74 20,005 Rolling machines .......... 2 485 13 6,019 Sharpening and grinding rere ee 1,824 72,034 1,452 87,102 Chucks, centering, lathe, drill and other metal-working GORE: 2 <ckiwMe cackeeeseres 3,818 24,344 2,271 36,504 Pneumatic portable tools.... 1,033 64,896 987 54,946 EE plac Sie hs eds eee te 7,567 $443,645 5, 176 $503. 283 with 6776 tons. The second largest export movement of July consisted of boiler tubes and welded pipe, the total for the month being 17,671 tons, while steel bars with a total of 14,531 tons ranked third, and tin plate, 13,029 tons, fourth. Beginning with July the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce has separated iron and steel bars instead of consolidating them as was done previously. Of the imports, the heaviest item was, as usual, pig ” ' HUVCLOCLE CNET E CEE UPEROECEREDNEENEATON NCEE CORTEENELELERSEUEETeTeReDNESDTONMeDERENDONTLOEE TY Imports of Iron and Steel in Gross Tons (Monthly Averages) Manganese Total Pig Ferro- Oreand Imports Iron alloys Oxide* 1909 to 1913, incl..... 26,505 14,132 ‘ piace 1914 to 1918, inel..... 23.351 4,645 3,281 $47,155 1919 to 1921, incl..... 23,901 5,708 3,710 37,115 BOGE. cunetdete tees weet 59,545 31,954 9,117 31,204 SOMUETY, TEAS ccc ccase 120,078 83,935 5,120 829 ot ee eee 67,704 35,793 9,234 4,636 EE as ewediethenwan 106,197 72,344 9,030 12,799 EE waxtavenswaein oe tines 36,371 7,221 14,071 BD. cts enk aside cade 75,885 39,764 10,482 12,734 GE tate snk o.4.8 an eae 68,019 30,033 12,794 36,138 Six months’ average... 85,964 49,706 8,980 13,535 CORE: ixidwinscumenees 53,464 19,760 12,381 23,824 *Not included in “total imports.” +Includes ferroalloys. tAverage for three years, 1916 to 1918, only. CT THE IRON AGE 539 Imports of Machinery (By Value) Seven Months July Ended July sities anal - 922 1923 1922 1923 Metal-working machine tools and parts..... Agricultural machinery $14,757 $28,549 $127,589 250,583 and implements.... 199,275 198,387 1,644,179 1,893,261 Electrical machinery Oe GE bacs 6 esese oe Pe ee 351,161 Other power gener- ating machinery ... ...... GR Bee casnsces 1,410,841 Other machinery .... 271,154 221,488 1,605,983 1,475,803 Vehicles, except agri- cultural hd eee 130,118 279,198 857,510 1,757,190 WOR own tweenued $605, 304 $796, 596 $4,235, 261 $7,138, 839 iron, with a total of 19,760 tons. For the seven months ended with July the total imports of pig iron aggre- gated 313,900 tons. Previously the Bureau had credited an import movement of 4100 tons of pig iron to Cuba Exports, January, 1922, to July, 1923, Inclusive (Gross Tons) All Iron Pig Semi-finished and Steel Iron Material *Average, 1912 to 1914... 2,406,218 221,582 145,720 *Average, 1915 to 1918... 5,295,333 438,462 1,468,026 Calendar year 1919.. 4 2: 39,837 309,682 258,907 Fiscal year 1920.... 4,212,732 248,126 288,766 Calendar year 1920 4,961,851 217,958 216,873 Fiscal year 1921 4,168,619 129,541 $2,549 Calendar year 1921.. 2,213,042 28,305 10,363 January, 1922 woud 160,920 1,043 4,683 February . 133,975 1,430 6,627 March .. iS Sak 208,843 2,724 10,002 April ... i awe 198,830 2,750 9,376 Bee acs ; 230,062 3,897 13,091 June . ‘ : 212,295 1,996 13,178 Fiscal year 1922......... 1,7