The Iron Age 1923-12-27: Vol 112 Iss 26

N AGE New York, December 27, 1923 ESTABLISHED 1855 VOL. 112, No. 26 High-Speed Steel for Cast Tools Electric Melting Practice —Proportioning and Handling the Charge—Molds and Heat Treatment BY J. M. QUINN* HE literature on high-speed steel gives few details concerning the actual making of the steel in the electric furnace and very little has been written regarding high-speed steel cast into semi-finished tools. The writer believes this is a subject in which many are interested. A description of the process follows: A patent was granted not long ago from which sections are here quoted and it is enlightening to note that actual furnace practice closely follows the specifi- cations of the letters patent except for certain details. The purpose of this invention is the production of a high-speed or other steel tool directly from the molten alloy by casting in the general form in which it is to be used without the preliminary casting in the ingot and the forging to form. In the manufacture of alloy steel tools, especially high-speed tools, it has been necessary to first cast the molten metal composition as an ingot and then mechanically work the metal to the desired tool form. The metal bas not been cast directly in the form in which it is to be used, as when first cast the metal has such an internal structure as to be mechanically defective. This defective structure has been over- come, to a certain extent, by forging or other mechan- ical treatment and various annealing and heat treat- ments. The defective structure of the ingot casting is *6506 Kenwood Avenue, Chicago. Formerly superintend- ent of electric furnaces, United States High-Speed Steel & Tool Corporation, Albany, N. Y. Fig. 1—Photomicrograph of Rolled High-Speed Steel in diameters. Extreme case of fibrous or “woody” structure. tool in annealed condition, furnace cooled, magnification 100 diamete 1711 believed to be due to the presence of various impuri- ties in the melt such as phosphorus and sulphur but even more to gaseous substances, occluded or other- wise associated with the metal. This invention consists in eliminating the causes which produce the defective structure in the ingot by producing a molten composition of such purity before casting that the operation may be effected directly in the general form of the tool desired, whereby the expensive forging and similar operations may be obviated. This is effected by selecting constituents of such purity and also so purifying and scavenging the melt prior to casting as to greatly reduce or eliminate these disturbing influences in the cast material. A specific example of a mode of applying the invention will now be given. <A graphite crucible is charged with 20 parts of iron, preferably refined iron This iron is in small fragments and to it is added 25% parts of ferrotungsten (80 per cent or eighteen parts being tungsten), 7% parts of ferrochromium (60 per cent or 4% parts being chromium) and 5 parts ferro- vanadium (30 per cent or 1% parts being vanadium). With a charge to total 100 Ib., 8 oz. of ferromanganese is now added together with 8 oz. of SA M Lion Brand metal. Upon this mass in the crucible is dumped 40 parts more of the iron for the charge. The crucible is then intensely heated to bring the contents up to a uniform thin liquid in consistency. As this liquefying stage is approached, and about 20 minutes before the mass is thoroughly molten for the pouring, 16 oz. of Annealed Condition, Longitudinal Section. Magnification 100 Fig. 2 (right) Photomicrograph of cast high-speed steel rs, showing cellular structure or carbide envelopes Re ame tp AEE DAY TAR tag TAR ION. King ferrotitanium is added This time interval should b« such after the addition of this titanium, that the : titanium may have’ just sufficient time for thoroughly throughout the no wise to be dissolving metal. This example is in limiting the invention Th invention is not limitea to-any particular composition held as but has as its essential feature the production of a : nelt of such a character that the material can be ‘ jirectly cast. 3 ti The various ingredients incorporated with the iron tay may be considered to have various functions in im- Bt proving the material. In this connection, the alloy substancés selected for the particular~-character of ; tool may be pure or in some combination as with iron + It is desirable that none of the ingredients have dele- terious quantities of substances, as sulphur or phos- phorus. The less of these volatile impurities the quicker the purification takes effect. The SAM metal may be ynsidered the regular « " # « . THE IRON AGE December 27, 1923 with eleetricity, oil, gas, or other means. With a hot furnace the melting down time is reduced to a minimum and the metal and also the first slag contain less oxide: than when starting with a cold furnace. Extreme car is taken by those making quality steel to see that onl) clean scrap is charged. It was the practice at the plant with which the writer was identified to rumble ."! scra; which had accumulated rust or foreign matter. This i one of the reasons why the heats melted “dead” and usually under a reducing slag without the addition o: reducing agents. Proportioning the Initial Charge It is desirable that the initial charge be so propo: tioned that the preliminary carbon, silicon, manganese and vanadium contents are lower than the low limits of the specifications, while the chrome and tungsten ai! Fig Photomicrograph of Cast High-Speed Steel Tool Same specimen as Fig. 2, but magnified 500 dia. Shows up ' double carbides (white). Fig. 4 (Right) Photomicrograph of cast high-speed steel tool. Annealed and furnace . cooled, then quenched in a special medium from a high temperature. The structure is martensitic (dark) and f iustenitic (white) with unabsorbed double carbide eutectic trade alloy on the market, including iren, manganese, should be well within the limits. Some opinions for aluminum and _ silicon The use of this scavenging this practice are given: lloy may be described as a de-oxidizer in the melt i . ie . ue a h it n aa further a *s i by th Carbon in the course of furnace operations can « rein, rnicn lay ye rine assiste¢ 1 e : a : d dia un in tl ferromangan while tl easily, through minor accidents such as electrode added nanganese he é ymanganese rile I ; ' also has : fic functi ssisting breakage or other causes, be increased beyond the de- se titanium also has a purification function helt sired limits rhic 3 y afte ° a in the production of blow-hole free casts as in th it imits (which is apparent only after the pre arivir off of nitrogen. T! carta at t refor liminary analysis has been made) and that means a driving > oO ore ne p cation, the fore ; conducted hereunder liminat ras fr t} melt delay caused through necessary additions of « both as . € sunaer, e le eS 4 S Troin ne lé Ss rodin a 5 5 ae aa : 7 ‘ in the production of the uniform interna! structurs wedish iron and alloys required to lower the carbon of the cast within the specification. On the other hand, i? the car- i M lds si for instan nd molds, a rided of bon is lower than the specification, it is an easy matter DLO S as or SUs ce sana noiads, are providet o ‘ - 4 *\ : ar . in to adjust this element by the addition of broken elec- the contour for the finished product These molds ; : ; : trodes or other means. | may be provided with chills, as found desirable, es- Silicon centunt iene & 1 a tble in the pecially for assisting in such uniformity of cooling as aie charge oan ta ix taaeiie, ta Se ve <* ay es — : j ‘ stresses j AS o The = : “Ne se; 1 er 1e , may best minimize internal stress 8 in casting Th maximum amount of ferrosilicon at the tine of deox!- ; high speed tool steel melt is poured directly into molds, dation and the castings therefrom, on cooling, are at once ; Sitihiienin aaa ai desired 1 pee » finis r high-spee Ss Mange se and vanadium are desir n sma P= pe oe at - en Sie ie —— , centages in the original charge. It is preferable to cimuar vo ab gn-g ns - selection 0 make all additions of these commodities in the form good basic materials is essential for excellent products. of ferroalloys after the preliminary analysis, when a In this particular process the best commodities available good reducing slag is obtained and when the tem- were purchased. This has reference not only to metals perature of the bath is raised considerably above the and alloys, but also to the refractories and other sup- pouring temperature. This not only decreases the plies used. While analysis is an important factor in alloy losses but also permits these alloys to have their se: the selection of materials, the dominant factor should page eer deoxidizing mediums in the steel. be their metallurgical characteristics which is partially eismeiehace: aceeaan Pe usually mixed with a. —ne . . . , en and adde s . ever a gained by practical experience. In plants where there NGced at the ane ae, (a eer is no technical department it is a good plan to purchase brands of raw materials, so-called, from reputable con- cerns. In all cases care should be taken to insure a constant supply of the same grade material, as much time and thought are given to obtaining a “mix” for rt certain definite results. Before charging a heat of high-speed steel, a hot furnace is required, the ideal condition being to attain at . ; ii gt this heat from the tapping out of a previous heat. ae | However, a hot furnace is also secured by preheating % 4 g tte, 53 sa | ns by some operators that even the mechanical mixing of alloys lowers the solubility point of each alloy and this appears to be true in practice as the chrome tungsten mix seemingly goes into solution in the meta! quicker than either alloys added separately. Ferro tungsten should be added with the original scrap charge and placed almost central near the top of the charge, but being covered with a thin layer of iron or scrap to prevent the oxidation and subsequent DUEELHHTUEYOUENTULN NOLL UTELULUTULLUEDENELEEUIOOUIU EDO UAUTUERPREREREDODEDENANBONON TOOT TENDORHEREDENEOUREBRENEOEUEROREDLELOD GeDOONONONOOGOEA ronnnunOEsEsIONET ooenonnnnennesunenanen et (Continued on page 1755) New Source of High-Grade Coking Coal Discovery Calculated to Make Available Large Reserves of Low Ash Coal from Practically Every Coking Coal District BY H. M. large quantities of coking coal of higher grade than any heretofore available for making low ash metallurgical coke. This high-grade coal contains less than 5 per cent ash, frequently less than 4 per cent ash, and in some cases possibly less than 3 per cent ash. It is not phenomenally low in sulphur, but will often contain a smaller percentage of sulphur than coals now used for making metallurgical coke. Its Piesee oante every coking coal district contains a Fe Se i Pe Le KOENe, « low ash makes a lower percentage of phosphorous probable. This high-grade low ash coal exists in coal-beds of good, bad and: indifferent quality, scattered through the coal in masses % in., % in., % in., 1 in. or 2, 3 or 4 in. in diameter. There are no visible lines of demarca- tion separating these masses of pure coal from the impure coal. Many coalbeds normally furnishing coal averaging, say, 10 to 14 per cent ash, which by the complete re- moval of slate, fireclay, etc., cannot be reduced below 8 or 10 per cent ash, consist of a mixture of perhaps 50 per cent of coal averaging less than 5 per cent ash and 50 per cent of coal averaging 11 to 15 per cent ash. Coalbeds normally furnishing coal having 8 to 10 per cent ash, which by the removal of slate, fireclay, ete., can be reduced to about 6 or 7 per cent ash, con- sist of a mixture of perhaps 50 per cent of coal aver- aging less than 4 per cent ash and 50 per cent of coal averaging 8 or 10 per cent ash. *H. M. Chance & Co., consulting mining engineers, Philadelphia. CHANCE These examples serve to illustrate the important fact already stated, that coal is not: a homogeneous substance, that the ash is almost always scattered throught it irregularly, and consequently that nearly all coalbeds producing merchantable coal contain an important and material percentage of low-ash coal. Fortunately the specific gravity of each piece of coal depends upon the quantity of ash present in that piece, and this difference in specific gravity furnishes A Plant for the Sand Flotation Method of Sepa- rating Low Ash from High Ash Coal Would Doubtless Be Similar to a Plant Using the Same Process for Removing Slate, Rock and Other Impurities from Anthracite Coal. The an- thracite washery here shown is at Winton, six miles from Scranton, It has one 15-ft. sepa rating cone, whereas the dif- ferential sepa- ration required under the au- thor’s scheme would call for two a ready means for separating the low-ash coal from that of higher ash content. The specific gravity in- creases about 0.01 for each per cent of ash present in the coal. Thus if coal with 3 per cent ash has a specifie gravity of 1.35, the same coal with 4 per cent ash will have a specific gravity of about 1.36; with 5 per cent ash, 1.37; with 6 per cent, 1.38; with 8 per cent, 1.40; with 13 per cent, 1.45, and so on. Hence, if a separation be made by a “float and sink” method by introducing the coal into a liquid of the desired specific gravity, as for example 1.38, all the coal having a specific gravity less than 1.38 will float and all the coal having a specific gravity greater than 1.38 will sink, and an exact separation will thus be made, dividing the coal into two definite grades, the low ash grade having less than 6 per cent ash. Chemical solutions or high gravity liquids could be used for making such a separation experimentally, but could not be used commercially. Fortunately the sand flotation process supplies a liquid of any desired specific gravity by which such separations are easily made. This process consists in 1713 > A ne te PA SEG UE COE AOE LOE i: ae is ’ ps 1714 THE IRON AGE the production of a heavy gravity liquid, termed a “fluid mass,” by agitating a definite mixture of any suitable comminuted solid, such as sand, and water, the sand being kept in suspension in the water by suit- able means for providing agitation and the mix readily maintained at any desired specific gravity. The specific gravity is under close control and can be varied accurately at will. This process was introduced in the anthracite dis- tricts of Pennsylvania by the building of a plant two years ago. There are now six plants in daily opera- tion and another shortly to be completed. These seven plants are owned by seven different companies, are widely separated and no two of them are treating coal of exactly the same kind. The process is used not to make differential separation of coal into two or more grades, but to prepare the coal for market by the re- moval of slate, rock, pyrite, and heavy bony coal, one machine doing the work of a large number of jigs, spirals and other slate removers. At these plants the coal is fed unsized (from egg to No. 4 buckwheat) into the separating fluid mass and the floated coal is sized for market after separation of the impurities has been effected. These plants have a combined capacity to treat over 1,000,000 tons annually and represent investments aggregating about $1,000,000. The sand flotation method is especially adapted to the flotation of pieces of low-ash coal, whether these pieces be large or small. Therefore, in carrying out the process in the washing of bituminous coals for the purpose of separating the low-ash coal as an espe- cially high grade material, crushing should be reduced to a minimum, that is, in many cases the separation should be made without crushing the coal smaller than 3 or 4-in. size. In other cases crushing to perhaps 1% or 2-in. size may be necessary, but usually and ordinarily crushing to 3 or 4-in. size will be sufficient to separate a large part of the low-ash coal from coal containing a larger percentage of ash. To avoid the difficulties which follow the wetting of the very fine coal, coal smaller than %-in. mesh or perhaps smaller than %-in. mesh can be screened out and ordinarily will not require washing, because in many cases this fine material will not contain an excessive percentage of ash and, owing to the fact that the coal has not been finely crushed, the percentage of this fine material will be relatively small. This dry material usually can be added to the washed coal without appre- ciably raising the ash percentage in the finished prod- uct. If, however, this finer material does carry a large percentage of ash, it should be disposed of otherwise, because it would not then be permissible to add it to the high grade low-ash washed coal. We shall assume that the machine is fed with run of mines coal, the larger lumps of which have been Titanium and Silicon for Rail Steel An investigation of some of the properties of steel rails deoxidized by the addition of titanium and silicon has been carried out by the Bureau of Standards. The tests showed that the steel treated with titanium was sounder and more homogeneous than the silicon treated steel, there being much less evidence of segregation in sulphur prints of the titanium treated steel and prac- tically no streaks of impurities after etching. The de- creased segregation brought about by the titanium treatment resulted in greater toughness and somewhat greater uniformity of mechanical properties in the por- tion of the rail from the top of the ingot. At the bot- tom end of the rail, however, the titanium treatment did not improve the steel appreciably more than the silicon treatment did. The greatest value of titanium treatment lies in its control of segregation and the elimination of the hard and brittle portions which the first rails from the ingot sometimes contain. These tests form a continuation of previous studies of the various processes of steel rail manufacture with a view to establishing the best practice for insuring sound rails. The work was carried out in cooperation with the Titanium Alloy Mfg. Co., the Illinois Steel Co., December 27, 1923 crushed to 3 or 4-in. size, and material smaller than % or % in. has been removed prior to the coal’s being fed into the machine. The separating fluid mass in the machine will be kept at a specific gravity high enough to float all of the coal. good, bad and indifferent, but low enough to permit all of the slate, pyrite and rock to sink, thus effecting a preliminary cleaning of the coal by the removal of these heavy impurities. The coal floating in this first machine (or in the first compartment of a two-compartment machine) will overflow into a second machine (or into the second compartment) in which the specific gravity will be just sufficient to float the grade of low-ash product which it is desired to separate,and to permit all of the heavier coal to sink, thus effecting a differential separation, dividing the coal into two products, the first a very low-ash preduct and the second a higher ash product; and this separation has been accomplished without fine crushing of the coal. In many cases it may be desirable to utilize the higher ash product directly as a steam fuel, or to mar- ket it as such, but if the larger lumps of this higher ash coal contain low-ash coal which can be separated by crushing, and if it be desired to increase the per- centage of low-ash coal recovered, these larger pieces can be crushed to somewhat smaller size, which will be a size, learned by experience with the particular coal, at which most of the low-ash coal is freed from ad- herence to pieces of higher ash coal. The crushed product will then be returned for re-treatment to the first machine. The object in returning this crushed product to the first machine is to remove from it any pieces of slate, rock, or layers or nodules of pyrite which have been freed from the larger pieces by crush- ing to smaller size. The process carried out in this way is sufficiently simple and will eliminate most of the troubles in coal washing plants caused by the fine coal or sludge, be- cause very little sludge will be made and but little will be permitted to enter the machine. The separating fluid mass produces practically no attrition upon the coal and the only sludge producing agent in the plant is the fine screen over which the coal is passed for the removal of the sand, after the coal leaves the separator, and this screen, fine enough to permit the sand to pass but not fine enough to permit coal to pass, pro- duces a very small percentage of sludge. Whatever sludge is produced, and that which the preliminary screens fail to remove, will of course be recovered and the water clarified for re-use by methods usually em- ployed for this purpose. The adaption of the process to the treatment of bituminous, coals promises to be of especial value to the iron and steel industries in supplying for blast fur- nace operation a means of producing coke that is purer and better than any heretofore available. the Illinois Central -Railroad, and the R. W. Hunt Co., and consisted of a survey for homogeneity, soundness, and uniformity of mechanical properties of sections from the top and bottom ends of the first rail of a series of heats, some of which were deoxidised with titanium and some with silicon. The results are given and the tests described in Technologic Paper No. 241 of the bureau entitled “A Comparison of the Deoxidation Effects of Titanium and Silicon on the Properties of Rail Steel.” William Monroe White, chief engineer and manager, hydraulic department, Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Co., Mil- waukee, gave an illustrated talk on hydro-electric de- velopment with special reference to the hydraulic equip- ment at a meeting on Wednesday evening, Dec. 19, of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers and members of the Boston Section A. S. M. E. and A. I. E. E., in Chip- man Hall, Tremont Temple, Boston. Mr. White has had direct supervision of design and construction of many of the units now in operation on large hydro- electric developments throughout this country and Canada. Japan’s Probable Machinery Requirements Needs of Reconstructing Damaged Areas and Industries Expected to Produce a Demand for Wide Variety of Equipment Over Long Period BY W. H. RASTALL* Domestic Commerce show that for 1922 Japan ranked second among the markets of the world for American machinery, being exceeded only by Canada in taking more of our equipment than was absorbed by any other single country in the world. In K IGURES collected by the Bureau of Foreign and | | | bef | ‘ 1915 919 192! $24,252,351 B Yes, STS 284 678 786 208,798,201 49,117,620 Total Value, dollars (00 Per Cent EUROPE CANADA OTHER. §s AUSTRALAS/ Aare AFRICA LATIN AMERICA ASIA 190 This Chart of the Distribution of American Machinery to Various Parts of the World Shows That, While the Percent- age Sent to European Countries Is Diminishing, That Sent to Asia Is Rapidly Increasing. The upper half of the chart shows change in destination in money value and the lower half change in destination in percentages 1921 Japan ranked fourth, being outclassed by Canada, Mexico and Cuba. In 1919 Japan also ranked fourth. In 1913 she ranked eighth, and in 1910 tenth. While the percentage of American machinery sent to European countries is diminishing, that sent to Asia is rapidly increasing, for while prior to 1915 these Asiatic countries absorbed say 5 per cent of our ma- chinery exports, for 1921 and 1922 this volume had risen to more than 25 per cent, and this in spite of the fact that the volume of machinery exported in these later years was greatly in excess of the volume ex- ported during the pre-war years. It is one of the fundamentals of sales policy that effort can be spent most effectively in markets that are expanding. So that apart from all other considerations, the Japanese market has proved itself probably to be the most im- portant export market we have and one in which the fundamental conditions of expansion justify the ex- penditure of real sales effort as contrasted to the situa- *The author is Chief of the Machinery Division, Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Washington. This article is extracted from a paper he read at the recent Foreign Trade Convention in Cleveland. 1715 tion that has been experienced in Europe during recent years. Since 1915 there has keen a marked expansion in the machinery import trade of Japan and an especially gratifying increase in the volume of such imports from this country. Consider for a moment the position oc- cupied by Germany and the volume of the machinery business secured by German interests during the vari- ous years. Although some of our newspapers and trade periodicals have at times published articles regarding the position of Germany in the machinery trade of the world, you will note that the German interests have never really been a really important factor in the Jap- anese market, although in certain pre-war years they did secure a larger volume of the machinery business than did American manufacturers. Expressed as a percentage, the machinery trade in the United States shows an expansion from 18.2 per cent in 1910, or 16.7 per cent in 1914, to a maximum of 78.8 per cent in 1918, but has since GREAT BRITAIN ~ OTHER ~ | | ‘Sie oF a a1 , ory 197" TTS 4699962 TTTTTGID SANS000 94587000 S4RROND NGS SIQORO 14 571085 S497 797 Yen 90 | 2 | |S G4! 19S5}4N TL505 68 290354 21287429 7802 00 Per Cent GREAT BRITAIN GEPMUNY AND OEP COTES UNITED STATES 192! So 86H Since 1915 There Has Been a Marked Expansion in the Machinery Import Trade of Japan and an Especially Grati- fying Increase in the Volume of Such Imports from the United States. The upper half of the chart shows change in origin of machinery imports by Japan, in money value (yen), and the lower half shows the change in origin ex- pressed in percentages been reduced to 50 per cent for 1922 and 42 per cent for the first five months of 1923. Conditions have now reached a point where the competition for this business lies between British and American manufacturers, and the two years following the war had a tendency to throttle these British exports, after which there was a revival, and by 1921 the British had worked up to 40 per cent of the total. For 1922 the showing was less gant inet SS | POST ha —_ OO Ses Ea ee. vegaeher Poe Zz ite - shotsoons Sago 1716 favorable and for the five months of 1923 they were still behind the 1921 record. It is, of course, impossible to say whether any position of stability has been reached or whether there ever will be a real basis for comparison between the volume of this business se- cured by the British and our own manufacturers. All of this, however, provides a general picture of the situation existing in the Japanese market. Japanese Exchange Fluctuations In considering Japan as a market, a word should also be said regarding the exchange situation. During recent years a great deal has been said about the ex- change fluctuations of Europe and, to a greater or less extent, in Latin America and elsewhere. It is recog- nized that these fluctuations seriously interfere with the conduct of normal business and in some instances the exchange problem alone has been sufficient to dis- courage American trade. ‘However, with regard to Japan, in addition to being perhaps our best foreign market for machinery, it should be remembered that during the last decade exchange has probably fluctu- ated less than 5 per cent. Japan is one of the few countries that have managed to approximate the gold standard. This factor alone would justify sales effort in the Japanese market when such might not be the case elsewhere. All things considered, as a machinery market Japan ranks very high both on the score of the volume of business that has been done, the soundness of the fundamental conditions upon which this busi- ness is based, and the prospects for an important future trade. Earlier speakers have referred to the earthquake and the fact that 40 per cent of Tokio and 80 per cent of Yokohama were completely wiped out, and in each instance this destruction affected practically all of the business districts in both of these cities. During the early weeks of September there were no business or- ganizations in either of those cities, although in some instances the managers of these companies showed a remarkable resourcefulness in arranging new premises, and by early October a number of the machinery dealers in Japan had cabled to their American corre- spondents that business had been resumed in the old cities. Many of these companies have suffered severe financial losses and in some instances the members of their staffs have been lost, but with a remarkable spirit the situation has been met and business resumed. Reconstruction Plans for Destroyed Cities The reconstruction of Tokio and Yokohama has been placed in the hands of the so-called “Capital Restoration Board,” which might perhaps be more ap- propriately translated ‘Metropolitan Restoration Board,” as it will have charge of rebuilding the devas- tated area from Tokio to Yokohama. One of their first efforts has been to study the wrecked buildings from the engineering or architectural side in order that a building code might be developed and the new cities provided with structures best suited to resist earth- quakes and fire. It will be clear that this alone is a very large and difficult task. It should also be remembered that both Tokio and Yokohama had outgrown the original plans on which these cities were built. Tokio particu- larly was originally a city of old Japan, surrounded by walls, composed of small buildings of frame type, with tortuous and narrow streets, lacking in all of the con- veniences of a modern city, and typically Oriental in every aspect, while during recent decades it has be- come a modern city with an abundance of Occidental business, and has felt the need for all manner of modern improvements. This need has been so keenly felt that American experts were invited to Japan be- fore the earthquake to develop city plans for both THE IRON December 27, 1923 AGE Tokio and Yokohama providing for the growth of these cities. It was recognized that the redesigning of these cities would be a very difficult and extensive undertaking, notwithstanding which very substantia! appropriations had been made and plans developed under which the cities would be gradually reconstructed over a long period of years. Now that so much of the area has been swept by fire and the buildings obliter- ated, it will be comparatively easy to arrange for the necessary improvements in these city plans, but it will be entirely impossible for the authorities in the metro politan district to. grant any permits for permanent buildings or other structures until the city plans have been worked out and provision made that streets are not blocked by these new permanent buildings. Pro- vision must also be made for adequate sewerage, more adequate water supply, better transportation, and in a thousand directions the Metropolitan Reconstruction Board must perfect its plans before real reconstruction must begin. Immediate Needs of Japan With regard to the immediate needs of Japan it should be remembered that in the first five months of this year Japan imported over $27,000,000 worth of industrial machinery, and by industrial machinery is meant only those classes that are used in factories, mines and engineering constructions. Automotive equipment, electrical, and figures covering piping, wiring, engineering supplies and the wide range that is often included under engineering equipment are ex cluded from these totals. It would appear that the imports for 1923 will approximate or exceed those for 1922 and the market for such supplies, even under pre- earthquake conditions, was expanding. The immediate result of the earthquake has de- veloped an important demand for lumber, corrugated iron, wire nails, and general building supplies. In addition, there is a demand for surveying instruments and such equipment as is needed in developing the new building code, and the new city plans and such wiring and electrical equipment as has been necessary to re- habilitate the electric systems, both power and tele- phone, in the devastated area. From a_ thousand sources similar demands are developing, and while financial consideration may restrict such purchases to a minimum, it is also probable that the total repre- sented by items of this character will be important. Looking beyond the present month to the period when permanent construction will be possible, the in- dications are that reinforced concrete buildings and steel buildings will be the approved types for the more important structures in the metropolitan area, and manufacturers of machinery suitable for such work may expect a demand in these directions. Manufac- turers of pneumatic tools, air compressors, concrete mixers, hoists, rock crushers, etc., should take steps to strengthen their representation in this market as may be necessary to meet the situation arising as a result of this disaster. It is impossible to state exactly how much business will develop in any given direction, as altogether too many factors are involved in the prob- lem. But every indication suggests that new Tokio will be vastly superior to old Tokio and new Yoko- hama likewise, and the contrast between these will probably be far more marked than the contrast be- tween new San Francisco and old San Francisco, or new Baltimore and old Baltimore. Another most important work will be in perfecting means of communication. Millions will probably be spent in the harbors of Yokohama and Tokio and manufacturers of dredges and construction machinery of the types used for such work may expect a certain demand to develop in this connection. Cranes and cargo-handling equipment will also be in demand. ‘December 27, 1928 There should also be a big improvement in highways and motor transportation, and although the Japanese authorities have not yet completed their investigations as to the types of paving most suited to the needs of the country and the Japanese Treasury, it seems prob- able that greatly improved roads will be built more or less throughout the metropolitan area. - An important number of motor trucks has already been ordered for the reconstruction of these cities. The industries demolished in the devastated area were of comparatively small importance, as Osaka was the great industrial area of Japan and it has been stated that the total number of employees in the factories of 45 40 ra) “1910 B13 1915 “ie 1919 1920 192) Ger eS ee Value of Exports of Machinery from the United States to Countries of Latin America, 1910 to 1922, Inclusive Tokio were only about 5 per cent of those in the Osaka district. Less than 10 per cent of the cotton spindles of Japan were in the devastated area and many of these spindles were either not damaged or can be sal- vaged so that, although the cotton spinning industry Activities of New England Industries The Bath Iron Works, Bath, Me., primarily a ship- building proposition, but for some time engaged in loco- motive repair work, is now manufacturing magazine wood pulp grinders for the Great Northern Paper Co. The machines are designed for wood in four foot lengths, and are of heavy construction, each unit weighing 95,000 Ib. The American Steel & Wire Co., Worcester, Mass., is running full, some departments day and night, with more than 5000 on the payroll. The cable units, South Works, are the hardest pushed for deliveries. The Worcester, Clinton, Spencer and Palmer, Mass., works of the Wickwire Spencer Steel Corporation are either on full or double time. The C. F. Wright Steel & Wire Co. and the Worcester Wire Works, Inc., are building plant additions to care for increased business. The Osgood Bradley Car Co., the Morgan Construction Co. and the Curtis & Marble Machine Co., Worcester, are ex- tremely busy. Otherwise business in Worcester’s metal working industries is slowing down, as is usual at this time. New England automobile manufacturers generally are not sharing in the prosperity enjoyed by Middle West makers. One manufacturer has just been forced into an unfavorable position through forced bankruptcy proceedings against its backer; the receiver of the Stanley Motor Carriage Co., Newton, Mass., has pro- posals acceptable to the principal creditors, whigh may result in an early reorganization of the company; the Stevens Duryea, Chicopee, Mass., plant recently was sold by receivers; the Northway Motors Co. is about to pass into new hands, having assumed financial diffi- culties. THE IRON AGE 1717 is probably the most important in Japan, this disaster will not call for any important volume of new spindles. The same general remarks can apply in a number of other directions. The machinery losses of the industries that were in the devastated region are shown in the following statement issued by the-Commercial Attaché of the Japanese Government in this country: Yen 2 et ar ee er 44,000,000 Electrical, including telephohe, telegraph 18,000,000 Muectricel, “appliances... eo. ke te 4,000,000 Amtomobile, biegotle 2... 2 os oo See rest 4,000,000 Surgical equipment.............. 1,500,000 Rubber WwoGuGe. ois. Os. 4. we Peeks 10,000,000 rent 4+. hs atte Aes. hd bad 1,000,000 Giesewere. enansele. ovis o's. 60a eka «oe 2,500,000 NS ov csuntss wh 6 end atls Dek xk aeaee 1,000,000 EEG wletstitale-~ ss. chnai ki, wit a cele 200,000 Beas was 250,000 FRTOMRNE iia os We THE CSR TSC ERA TTR 450,000 eee? as. . od Wi oe Chantel 400,000 DY Gigi Case uit ot nislva nas 2 ba wr ae es 150,000 SEINE Fd « Wine vc «vs bck on bare wee ee Ok 200,000 COIBOIUTA ii. x w:0bs co Oc cc ee wee 250,000 . Government Bureau Offers Aid The kinds and classes of machinery regularly im- ported in Japan are shown quite clearly in the customs returns published by that government, and it is to be expected that a reasonable demand for such equip- ment will continue indefinitely, and to a certain extent will be increased as the result of this disaster; but it should be emphasized that successful foreign trade depends, not upon a spasmodic effort following a dis- aster of this kind, but upon the application of con- secutive and constructive salesmanship at all times. In the machinery industry, the average American fac- tory exports perhaps 20 per cent of its production. The average English shop exports perhaps 60 per cent of its production and the prosperity of these companies depends in greater or less degree upon this export ratio. The Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce will be very glad to cooperate in the solution of export problems arising, and going after such business. The New England textile machinery business, which only a few months back was hard pressed for deliveries, has experienced a setback. The heater and radiator industries, on the other hand, are operating in full. Increased Melt of Ohio Foundries The Ohio State Foundrymen’s Association, Cleve- land, reports that operations of Ohio foundries for No- vember were on a more satisfactory basis than in Octo- ber. November figures indicate the industry operated at 70.29 per cent of normal or capacity, an increase of 2 per cent as compared with October. November, 1922, was on the basis of 64 per cent of normal. Stocks on hand show an increase of about 5 per cent. Stocks re- ceived declined 4 per cent. Non-ferrous operations show an increase of 5 per cent over October. During November the industry operated at exactly 60 per cent of capacity; October figure stood at 55 per cent. November justified the anticipations of non-ferrous operators expressed some weeks ago in that conditions were improving. Pros- pects in this department are reported as being en- couraging. Organized by the city of Brussels and the Belgian Government, the Fifth Commercial and International Brussels Fair will be held from April 1 to 16, 1924. The Brussels Samples Fair is entirely devoted to in- dustry and commerce and is not a commercial enter- prise. Full particulars about regulations, advertising and applications may be obtained from the Executive Committee, 19 Grand Place, Brussels, or at the Belgian Consulate, 25 Madison Avenue, New York. ee a ee Rees. 249... vy I See) ; e RE AOR NR Ee a we moeeett ee oye 1718 THE IRON AGE December 27, 1923 Special Machine for Axle Drilling An increase from 20 to 40 an hour in the drilling and reaming of automobile front axles is claimed for the machine illustrated, which was developed by the Barnes Drili Co., Rockford, Ill. The increase in production is attributed largely to the employment of a turnover jig which permits of reaming simultaneously with the drilling and also reloading while the axle is being drilled. The machine itself is a four-spindle, adjustable-head all geared gang drill, equipped with two radial heads added, as shown. The radial heads are of jointed con- struction so that they will swing into the reaming posi- tion without interfering with the main spindles which drill the king pin holes. While one axle is being drilled under the main spindles of the gang, using auxiliary heads for the spring pad holes, the king pin holes are Special 24-In. Adjustable Head Gang Drill for Front Axle swing in to ream king pin holes of the drilled axle holes and spring pad holes in another axle in the jig reamed in the outer or upside-down position of the turnover jig. Thus the drill bushing is out of the way of the reamer. The finished axle is then removed and a new forging chucked in the jig, the reaming and re- loading being accomplished during the drilling opera- tion in the opposite position. A foot pedal operating an air cylinder is used to push the jig to the outer position so that the jig will clear the table when turned over, the air cylinder then drawing the jig back to the working position. It said to take less than 10 sec. to index the jig. The jig has quick lateral adjustment to bring the bushing guides to the center of the boss on the axle forging, which has a slight variation because of shrink- age in the overall length of the forging. The outer spindles of the machine itself may be brought quickly to the center of the bushing by movement of the lever shown at the center of the gang. The company’s adjustable-head, all geared gang drills are so called because they have lateral spindle adjustment. The spindle at the left end is fixed. the other heads being adjustable by means of rack and pinion, giving a range in center distances from 17 in. between any two adjacent spindles to 80 in. between the two outside spindles on the 24-in. four-spindle ma- chine. Each spindle has eight geared speeds and Scie is Structural Steel Bookings Better in November WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.—The Department of Com merce announces November sales of fabricated struc tural steel, based on figures received from the principa! fabricators of the country. Total sales of 120,858 tons were reported for November by firms with a capacity of 223,472 tons per month, or 54 per cent of capacity. Shipments of firms reporting this item represented 65 per cent of capacity, as against 78 per cent in October. A survey of the present capacity of the industry indicates that the capacity normally used for struc- tural work is about 250,000 tons per month for 1923, the same as reported for 1922. Reports received from 170 identical firms show a capacity of 231,682 tons in 1923 as against 228,280 tons in 1922, six of the firms in- cluded in the 1922 total being now out of business. Tonnage booked each month by 177 identical firms Drilling and Reaming. The radial heads at each end in one station of the jig, while the machine is drilling king pin The end view shows the jig in outer position ready to turn over Aof which six are now out of business), with a capacity for 1923 of 234,057 tons per month, is shown below, together with the per cent of shop capacity represented by these bookings. For comparative purposes the fig- ures are also prorated to obtain an estimated total for the United States on a capacity of 250,000 tons per month. The percentage of shop capacity for the months of 1923 has been slightly changed by use of the revised 1923 capacity figures in the calculation. mA a Actual Per Cent Computed 1922 ronnage Booked of Capacity Total Bookings Getober .5..5+<04) 198087 58 145,000 November ....... 112,367 49 122,500 December . ce | SOTO 60 150,000 1923 January jocsevess RO 74 185,000 POOTMOTY no ccacs 184,887 79 197,500 March .. : . 220,400 94 235,000 pet oe -- 266229 80 200,000 May ss sees e esse, 131,875 56 140,000 PONG oes ccccccess Seay 50 125,000 GOED nesOn ce mata 117,563 50 125,000 August ...... .. 184.431° 58 145,000 September ....... 121,096%* 52 130,000 CINE, 5 ton nas ae 111,692*** 48 120,000 November ....... 120, 858%*** 54 135,000 . Reported by 176 firms with a capacity of 232,857 tons o2neported by 174 firms with a capacity of 232,107 tons. een. ePported by 169 firms with a capacity of 231,257 tons. Reported by 153 firms with a capacity of 223,472 tons. as 2 December 27, 1923 Three-Spindle Duplex Horizontal Drill The three-spindle, duplex horizontal drilling ma- chine illustrated, developed primarily for drilling, bor- ing and reaming automobile steering knuckles but adaptable also to the machining of other parts, has been placed on the market by the Garvin Machine Co., New York. The machine, which is designated as the No. 1-S, is of the company’s standard design, having as added features the three spindles in each ‘head and the squirrel-cage type of fixture. The work is held in this fixture and three different pieces are operated on at the same time, one piece being drilied with a %-in. Machine for Drill- ing, Boring and Reaming Automo- bile Steering Knuckles, The three spindles in_ each head and the squirrel cage type of fixture are fea- tures. Each head is driven independ- ently by a motor at the rear and heads feed into the work automatically. Three different pieces are operated on at the same time. One piece fs finished every 40 sec. drill, another piece bored to 27/32-in. size, and the third piece finished reamed to %-in. The heads feed into the work automatically and are returned by the pilot wheel shown at the front of the machine. The fixture is then indexed to the next piece and the feed thrown in. The machine is said to finish a steering knuckle every 40 seconds. Each head is driven independently by a 7'4-hp. motor bolted to the rear of the bed of the machine, making a compact direct drive. The power is trans- mitted through spur gears to the main driving shaft in the heads. All gears are protected by guards, and the work is flooded by lubricant from the pump shown at the right hand in the illustration. Stop Motion Device for Forging Machine A new stop motion device called the rocker type drop lock has been adopted as a standard equipment for the new model bolt heading upsetting forging ma- chines of the Ajax Mfg. Co., Cleveland. The operation of a stop motion forging machine is Stop Motion Mechanism of Ajax New Model Forging Machines somewhat similar to a press, in that the slides remain at rest until the hot stock is located in the impression in the stationary die and the machine is tripped. In such operator-controlled machines, the almost universal method of bringing the slides into action is by a hub clutch in a revolving gear or flywheel engaging direct THE. IRON AGE : 1719 into the end of the crankshaft, which is at rest. As this requires the sudden picking-up of the crankshaft to full speed there is usually a resultant shock, particu- larly evidenced when heavy parts are involved. With the drop lock device illustrated the crankshaft with pitman attached is in idle rotation when the slides are at rest as with the old type drop lock, but the wrist pin end of the pitman is carried by an oscillating rocker fulerumed at the bottom of the header slide instead of by reciprocating slide blocks, as formerly. While the machine is idle this rocker swings free under the-drop lock. When the treadle is depressed. tne lock drops onto the upper surface of the rocker and rides on this surface until the rocker reaches its extreme back travel, Ce ane at oe allel deal where the lock falls inte engagement. As this occurs just as the crankshaft passes over its back dead center, the velocity of the reciprocating and oscillating parts is practically zero when. engaged. and the slides are thrown into motion with a natural acceleration without shock, for as many. strokes as desired. Upon removing the foot from the treadle, the lock is disengaged and the slides come to rest at their extreme back travel. This device is similar in principle to the slide block type of drop lock, which it replaces. . However, it is claimed to be a decided improvement over the old design, due to the extreme shortness of the lock, the increased engaging area and smooth action. Its rela- tively light weight eliminates the necessity of a counter- weight and timing lock employed formerly. The new device is protected by patent granted recently to its inventor J. R. Blakeslee, president of the Ajax Mfg. Co. Steel Furniture November Shipments November shipments of steel-furniture stock goods, based on reports received from 22 manufacturers by the Department of Commerce, amounted to $1,339,425 against $1,365,600 in October and $1,204,310 in Novem- ber, 1922. The totals for the first eleven months of 1923 and 1922 are $15,378,193 and $11,551,874, respec- tively. Economy in the use of fuel is the subject of a meet- ing to be held at the Engineers’ Club, Philadelphia, 1317 Spruce Street, Jan. 15. Sessions are scheduled for morning, afternoon and evening, and are expected to cover railroads, public utilities, manufacturing uses, metallurgical uses and domestic uses. A complete pro- gram will short