The Iron Age 1926-12-30: Vol 118 Iss 27

THE IRON AGE New York, December 30, 1926 ESTABLISHED 1855 VOL. 118, No. 27 Shears with Two Movable Knives Steel Mill Unit Designed for Cutting Upward Clean Cut Ends Among Advantages —Avoids Depressing Table BY JOHANN “ HEARS with movable top and bottom knife, while S in use in Europe in a number of different designs, have not, to the knowledge of the writer, been built in the United States. The principal working process is not new, but it has great advantages and may be con- sidered a step ahead in auxiliary machinery for rolling mills. Before explaining the action of “shears with movable top and bottom knife,” the usual process of cutting a hot bloom or bar may be considered. After the bloom has been brought between the knives (Fig. 1) the top knife is lowered and shifts the part of the bloom under it downward a. distance a little greater than the height of the bloom. The part of the bloom (at left) in contact with the fixed bottom knife cannot follow this motion. Therefore a separation of the bloom takes place which is called shearing (Fig. 2). It is obvious that the rollers supporting the down- ward-moving section of the bloom have to yield to this motion. This has led to the design of the so-called *1268 Bender Avenue, Cleveland. Zz <4 * aie sole ; cy _— x Front of Shear as Installed in a Steel Mill in Europe, This type of shear is said to avoid the bent bloom ends commonly seen 1811 Out in the Article. HAHN* “shear depressing tables.” These tables, usually on the delivery side of the shear, are pivoted on or near their end farthest from the shear. The other end, near the shear, is counter-balanced by weights, hydraulic cylin- ders, etc. At each cut this balanced end of the table tilts down, giving way to the motion of the bloom. Such a shear depressing table is a comparatively com- plicated device and, due to the rough service to which it is exposed, it is difficult and in certain cases im- possible to keep it in good working condition. Rolling mill men will agree with the writer in say- ing: “Shear depressing tables are a nuisance and their replacement by stationary roller tables would save much trouble and delay.” A shearing process has been developed which makes a stationary table possible, in- stead of a depressing table. as follows: It operates in five phases 1.—The bloom is brought between the knives and rests on support A. (Fig. 3.) 2.—The top knife moves down into contact with the v ty re iy = v. os Which Embodies the Up-Cutting Feature Brought 1812 THE IRON AGE December 30, 1926 Fig. 1 Is of the Customary Type of Down-Cutting Shear, Showing the Bloom in Position to Be Cut, But the Knife Still Stationary Above It Fig. 2 Shows the Cut Made, the Receiving Table Depressed and the Upper Knife Ready for With- dra wal Upward AW Fig. 3 Is of a Shear with rs Cc. 5 Stationary Table, the FIG. 3 FIG. 4 jloom Resting Between the Knives on Support A Fig. 4 Is the Same Shear with Upper Knife Brought Into Contact and Pressing the Bloom Firmly on the Support FIG. 6 FIG. 7 Fig. 5 Indicates the Way the Cut I Made by an l pward otroke oj the Lower Knife, While the Bloon / Gripped Betweer the Upper Knife and the Support Fig. 6 Depicts the Situation Afte? the Cut, When the Lower Knife Has Been Withdrawn Fully Fig. 7 Shows the Upper Knife Removed U} vard, Leaving the Severed Bloom Free to Move Ov ror the Next (laut ¥e ba ORS B i s ar Sais . £ ~ Erection Photograph of the Shear Shown on Page 1811. One feature stressed is that all parts are easily accessible for imspection and ad- justment. This shear is shown in diagram in Figs. 16 and 17 + MMT TT 9 FIG. 8 FIG. 9 FIG. 10 FIG. 11 Fig. s Mechanisn for Procuri g Working Cyc e Show) n F gs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Two hydraulic cylinders, one for each knife, operate them Fig. v End View of a She ar ¢ Th 8 Principle, with S IC? CCRRI Figs. 10 and 11 Bloon G is acted upon by knives Cc slide vertically in frame C. The ? e Positions of Knives Shown in Side Views, urried on knife holders A and B, both of which may main gear E, on eccentric shaft D, follows the sliding motion of upper WVITé carrie ," RB December 30, 1926 bloom and presses it firmly on the support. (Fig. 4.) 3.—The bottom knife rises, thus cutting the bloom, until its upper edge travels a small distance over the lower edge of the top knife. This distance (the over lapping of knives) should be constant or about constant at different heights of blooms. (Fig. 5.) 4.—The bottom knife descends to its lowest position. (Fig. 6.) 5.—The top knife rises and leaves the bloom free to pass on. (Fig. 7.) It is obvious that this working cytle can be obtained easily by a hydraulic shear, where top knife and bot- tom knife are operated by a separate cylinder each (Fig. 8.) As electric power is preferred to hydrauli power, mechanical shears using electric motors hav been designed for this working process. The illustra tions show the working principles plainly, in a dia grammatic way. In each mechanical shear having the above working cycle it must be possible to raise and lower the kniv while they are oscillating one against the other. h other words, the knives are free to move up and down while counter-acting. The reader will see that this is the case with each type of shear described hereafter. On the shear shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, bottom knife holder @ and top knife holder b can slide up and down in the shear housing c. The eccentric shaft d, which carries the main gear e, is held in the top knife earrier and follows this sliding motion. The main pinion f rests with its shaft in a stationary bearing on the shear housing. The cutting process is as fol- lows: After the bloom g has been entered, the main gear rotates in the direction of the arrow. The eccentric shaft, supported by the two connecting rods, moves down and with it the main gear e, the top knife and its carrier b. This motion is stopped when the top knife is in firm contact with the bloom and presses it on the support. By continuing the rotation, the eccen- trics, by means of rod h, raise the bottom knife carrier and bottom knife, which results in severing the bloom, as shown in Fig 11. Then the bottom knife and holder are lowered again until the latter rests on the shear FIG. 16 FIG. 17 Simpler Operating Conditions Are Obtained in Two THE IRON AGE 1813 Fig. 12 is a Shear with the Working Cycle of Figs. 3 to 7, But with Stationary Eccentric Shaft and Main Gear. Several shears of this type have been built in Europe. Figs. 13, 14 and 15 represent a shear with movable knives de- signed by the author. This shear fulfils the condition of permitting the knives to move up and down while counte r-acting } housing, whereupon the eccentric shaft with main gear and top knife holder lift into the initial position, thus leaving the bloom free for moving ahead. This shear has been built a number of times. A disadvantage is that the eccentric shaft and the main drive gear are not stationary, but move up and down at each cut. The shear shown in Fig 12, patented in the United States, gives the working cycle required above. It has a stationary eccentric shaft or crank shaft and there- fore a stationary main gear. Its action is as follows: The bottom knife rests in the shear housing and holds levers, connecting rods and top knife carrier in place as shown. When the crank k rotates (in any direction), the upper lever turns around point / and the top knife carrier lowers until it rests on the bloom. Then the lever turns around point n, point I lifts and means of rod o, lever p and link q, the bottom knife carrier and bottom knife rise and cut the bloom. Lever is pivoted in the shear housing in point s. As the crank continues to turn, the bottom knife carrier lowers until it rests in the shear housing; the point 1 becomes stationary, the top knife lifts off the bloom and allows to move 01 Several shears of this kind have been t u An advantage of this shear is that it has a stationary crank shaft. A disadvantage is that one lever is below the knives and therefore ex- scale and water and not readily accessible. some time the writer has been facing the prob- em of designing a shear with movable knives, and has developed a number of improved and new designs Patent rights in the United States have been obtained. The three principal ones are shown in Fig. 18 to Fig. 19. Improved Shears with Movable Knives The shear represented in Figs. 13, 14 and 15 shows two levers u and ft, linked together in point v. Lever for reasons of design, consisting of two parts on either side of the crank—is pivoted on the crankshaft, and lever ¢t is connected to the crank pin by rod w. By tension rods 2, lever t is connected with the bottom knife carrier y, which rests on the shear housing, and by compression rods z, the lever u is connected with top knife carrier a;. When the crank turns, the knives FIG. 19 Types of Shear Shown, Respectively, in Figs. 16, 17, 18 and 19. Two shears, built as in Figs. 16 and 17, are at work in a European steel plant. The design of Figs. 18 and 19 is an improvement in detail, resulting in what the author considers “the simplest and best design of a shear of this type” ea A AO SON 1814 THE IRON oscillate against each other, and at the same time point and consequently the knives may be raised and low- ered. This means that the shear answers the above- given condition: the knives are free to move up and down, while counter-acting. In detail the working cycle of this she: Before the cl 13 and 14. The knives are open, bottom knife carrier means Bloom 6; is entered and the main drive gear rotated in the direction of the arrow. Lever rocks around point c, point v lowers and with it ever u, rods z, top knife carrier a:, and the top knife intil the latter is in firm contact with the bloom (and presses it on its support). This stops the downward Further turning of the crank causes the rising of point co, rod x, the bottom knife carrier ris as follows: t its position is as shown in Figs. y resting on the shear housing, supported by motion of point and the bottom knife. The latter thus effects the ng of the bloom, Fig. 15. The crank has made about one-half turn. In the other half the bottom knife lescends to its lowest position, the top knife lifts and f p initial position, Fig. 13. Although this shear answers all conditions regard + rs the shear back to ng working cycle and accessibility of the parts, th ter has been able to find mors imp! One-Lever Shears ‘ rie Fig 7 W ne l e! 5 1! oOlnt ad ne rank pl | ! » Tne » | fe carrier in point e, t ne cran shaft and tom knife carrie When the crank turns in the rectio1 hown, the lever rocks around point « Point f:, compression rod g;, top knife carrier and top lower until the contact between the latter and bloom Ah; stops this motion. Then, as the crank irther, point e; rises and with it tension rod ttom knife carrier and the bottom knife. This ‘ ms the cutting of the bloom. The position at the i of the cut is shown in Fig. 17. It will be noticed n this figure the points e:, f: and k, are about in iight line. This is necessary, to obtain about the e overlapping of the knife edges at the end of the tor any height of bloom Large Ingot Mold - he illustration is shown an unusually large o tagonal fluted ingot mold made by the Brightsid Foundry & Engineering Co., Ltd., Sheffield, England. The photograph was received from John Shaw of that company, who was one of the visiting foundrymen at the thirtieth annual convention of the American Foun December 30, 1926 AGE During the second half revolution of the crank the motion of the knives is reversed; the bottom knife lowers and the top knife lifts, thus completing the working cycle. Two shears of this type, designed by the writer, have been built for a European steel plant and are working satisfactorily. Photographs of one of them, at erection and after installation, are shown. Besides giving the desired working process these shears, Figs. 16 and 17, are simple in principle and have all parts easily accessible. Nevertheless, a number of difficulties had to be overcome in their construction; for instance, the arrangement of a tension rod i; on either side of the lever, so that the compression rod g: could swing in between them. This led the writer to the arrange- ment shown in Figs. 18 and 19. It is in principle the same as shown in the two preceding figures, only that tension rods i, (Figs. 16 and 17), are replaced by a compression rod. There- fore the bottom knife carrier has been extended up- wardly, the lever p, brought in the space above the top knife carrier and the compression rods l, and m transmit the shearing forces to the top and bottom knife carriers respectively. This arrangement makes it possible to place compression rods /; and m: in one plane with lever p,, which is the most desirable condi- tion for the transmission of the shearing forces. The working process of this latest type of one-lever shear may be readily seen by following up one turn of the crank. In my opinion this is the simplest and best design of a shear of this type. An important feature of the above described “up- cutting shears” should not be left unmentioned. It is generally known that in ordinary bloom shears the bloom ends are more or less bent by the cut, which is often disagreeable and hard to remedy. On the “up- cutting shears” (especially those of Figs. 13 to 19) the top knife, holding one end of the bloom down on the support with a heavy pressure, prevents it from bend- ing and at the same time effects a straight cut. In addition, this design makes it possible to replace the shear-depressing tables by stationary tables. The Mackintosh-Hemphill Co., Pittsburgh, has acquired the United States patent rights for this type of shear. Cast in England drymen’s Association held September last in Detroit. This mold is designed to take an ingot weighing 110 gross tons and measuring 12 ft. 11 in. long, 7 ft. i in. across the flutes and 8 ft. 7 in. across the corners. The mold was cast in 5 min., and the metal had settled down 2% hr. later. rene TOCHEEEERIETCOTUETTEECUETE ETTORE THELEN DYED OTRO EPEETUEROTETEEPTEDDERENEEDEDENEPDY Rog EHTTEPOCEDEEEDUEDIRSUUERETTSEDEEYTEPVTOREE SDETRENEDOETEROOT Fixing Costs for Gray Iron Castings Comparison of Figuring Methods of Five Foundries —Derivation of Estimating Formula for Pricing BY H. P. 1681 in our issue of Dec. 16, the elements of cost in a jobbing foundry were analyzed, with regard to varying production. This concluding section compares five foundries of different characteristics and locations and derives estimating formulas. Fig. 2 shows the high and low costs of five foun- dries combined, including that of the present analysis, the curves being extended to correspond to a molder- day of 1000 lb. While the light foundries would have only occasional jobs which would run at the latter speed, the heavy shops would approach this output reg- ularly. The curves are based on the estimating for- mulas in use in the various shops and on the ratio for labor and material used in the examples given below. The features which distinguish one foundry from the other are briefly as follows: Foundry A.—That of the analysis; a light to medium shop in eastern Massachusetts. Sand blasts practically all its castings; de- livers within a 25-mile radius by a regulated trucking service. Yearly output rating, 6000 tons, LU the first section of this article, published at page Foundry B.—A heavy foundry in eastern Ohio making rolling mill and steel-plant cast- ings, and heavy mill machinery on contract— shears, rolling mills, lathes, etc. It makes many heavy castings in the floor, does not sand blast, and does not make any deliveries except for local carload lots. It adheres close- ly to its established line of work and refuses light and complicated work. Yearly output, about 7500 tons. Foundry C.—A light to medium shop in the Boston area. Sand blasts practically all work, delivers about 25 per cent of its product. Yearly rating, 7500 tons. Foundry D.—A medium to heavy foundry in western New York. It makes a miscella- neous line of castings, has a small sand-blast equipment for “special” work, but brushes most of its product. It makes local and freight house deliveries only. Yearly rating, 5000 tons. *Engineer, 64 Francis Street, Brookline, Mass Fig. 2—High and Low Low ie Points of Costs as Estab- , lished by Analyses of Sev- eA eral Foundries Operating (5 e on Different Varieties of e Castings Cl Cents per Pound oS PARROCK* Foundry E.—A light to medium fast-work- ing shop in western New York. It sand blasts or tumbles all castings at customers’ option, work permitting, and makes local and freight house deliveries. It is strictly a piece-work shop. Yearly output, 7500 tons. Table VI shows the estimated cost figures of these foundries, based on formulas which follow. Sale prices are not compared, because the profits are not regulated to any plan such as that proposed in the analysis of Foundry A. The table furnishes the points on the curves in Fig. 2. The following are the formulas in use, “Direct Labor” meaning molder core-maker labor: Foundry A. Metal in ladle (see above) taken here for 50 per cent yield. Molding expense (see above): molding labor times a varying factor, extended beyond 500 lb. per molder-day pro- portionately. Core-making expense: core-making labor times 2% Cleaning expense: cleaning labor times 2% Foundry B. Metal in ladle 1.50c. Expense: direct labor times 2% Foundry C. Metal in ladle and cleaning 2.50c. Molding expense: molding labor times 1% Core-making expense: core-making labor times 2¥ Foundry D. Metal in ladle 1.60c. Molding expense: molding labor times 2% Core-making expense: core-making labor times 3 Foundry E. Metal in ladle and cleaning 2.40c. Molding expense: molding labortimes 2 Core-making expense: core-making labor times 3 In this table it is assumed that the work calls for one core-maker for four molders, although the class of work actually made demands other proportions, par- ticularly in the case of Foundry B. Estimated costs approach a common figure at about 500 Ib. per molder-day. Foundries A and E begin to go out of their field at about 500 lb. per molder-day, except as they may get this production from medium- sized molding machines. Foundry B, on strictly heavy castings made by hand, can underbid them on this class of work, but not on molding machine work of equal production. Foundries B and D begin to reach their field at 500 lb. per molder-day; they generally avoid low-speed, High Taking the costs as a whole, 9 | EET the different cases examined |Low came nearest to uniformity 01 : a | at an output of about 470 Ib. Wo mo 300 400 500 000 100 800 900 1000 per molder per day Pounds per Molder-Day ; 1815 whee 1816 THE IRON AGE December 30, 1926 light wor Foundry C uses a consistent simple for- expense) is a variable, not a constant factor. a, suitable to its trad Foundry A is low up to It increases as the pounds per molder-day in- 0 Ib. and h from 700 Ib. up. It is believed to uss crease: it is not the same for all foundries. rmula consistent with the demands of its market 29. It is a safer plan, a more accurate pro- Boston), its delivery service and its implied range of cedure, to use three factors—molding, core- - light to medium weight castings of good qualit making and cleaning—in determining general Ther ! ‘ marked difference of opinion expense. so of profit: or rather, the local markets Melting expense varies for any given melting equipment—increasing as pounds per molder-day, and yield in per cent of metal poured, decrease. Metal in ladle is not a fixed figure for any prevailing prices of labor and material. ‘ 1. Profit in per cent of cost, or sale price, 4 sufficient to provide adequate return on invest- . ent is a variable. It increases as the pounds 3-] molder-day decrease. A . For any jobbing foundry, the cost in- ; reases rapidly as the pounds per molder-day fall below 500 lb. The increase in cost, Foun- ry A, from 500 lb. to 300 Ib. per molder-day 5 per cent; from 300 Ib. to 100 lb., 135 per ent. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate this fact. 0 , 2 6. The variation between all the formula y a ng in oO re At 100 lb. per molder-day .29.35 per cent {} m At 500 lb. per molder-day 6.0 per cent max- Four I e} \ 000 lb. per molder-day 20.0 per cent I I ppe Ss to mean two tnings In (a) The intention to exclude either vei nN I very heavy work, for several reaso! narkets, equipment, labor and so on: « (b) Failure to appreciate the value of a ess within the limits of the investme? Strict adherence to any rigid formu y appraising production is assumed) : results in a settled line of work. Ina ted market this means a limited availabl Conclusion \ flexible formula, or one having a ratio, widens the market. Or, greate1 as n estimating metal in ! re-making, cleaning—or go- ’ f ( a results it irs By-Product Coke Near Daily Record in tandard factory-type building and a rein- H reed concrete office building, which provides ample November , ( } it} (ict ? rdaing’ | ’ reé t y ’ ra ou ] r¢ é tT! } Z Z @ ¢ he highest y ? I ( tor Nx vel i ! vith 3,812 {) | Y 7 CLIVE nt tne ’ y () nese pial re iCe ; De I ec ° Output r November remained } iY ¢ eing a aecre é tT SVUUU ? r ie D < vine Ipare A th t} receding n I I ili coKe fT led 4 602 U I ne ft pr ( pia riputing @ per cent f I e |} I 19 I I Canadian Wire Manufacturer Expands & Wire Co., Ltd., Hamilton, Ont., wire fencing and kindred products, has purchased the property formerly used by the Petrie Mfg. Co. on the Canadian National Railways and Lott- ridge Street from the R. A. Lister Co., Ltd., and will immediately adapt the buildings to its use. The prop- erty bought comprises eight acres of land, on which are The Frost Steel maker of wire, uuse the staffs of both the Frost company ibsidiary, the Peerless Wire Fence Co. Among nstallations for wire and fence manufacturing to he new property is a large furnace and ettle, which will be used to give steel fencing a heavy ng of pure zine after it is fabricated. The plant operation shortly after the first of the year. October Immigration at Rate of Over 400,000 Yearly In October a total of 56,587 people entered the United States, of which number 34,526 were immi- grants or new arrivals for permanent residence in this ‘ountry, says the Bureau of Immigration. During the ame month 19,180 aliens departed from the United States, but only 5377 of these were residents of this country leaving for .a permanent stay abroad. Immigrants in October included 269 iron and steel workers, 50 metal workers and 203 machinists. From July to October the number of steel workers admitted was 675; metal workers, 191, and machinists, 685. In October eight iron and steel workers, eight metal work- ers and 24 machinists left the United States; while during the period from July to October the number of departing iron and steel workers was 62, metal work- ers, 17, and machinists, 205. Will Labor Aid in Management? Federation Officer Urges That Worker Have the Chance of “Creative Expression”—How Unions and Industrial Leaders Can Cooperate in “Improvement of the Job” PPRENTICE education and the further self-devel- opment of the worker through the opportunity for creative expression in his work—in both of which the need for cooperation of management with trade unions was stressed—were dealt with by Matthew Woll, presi- dent of the International Photo-Engravers Union and a vice-president of the American Federation of Labor, in a paper prepared for the annual meeting of the Amer- ican Society of Mechanical Engineers, held in New York, Dec. 6 to 9. Because of Mr. Woll’s absence his paper, on “Edu- cational Training for Industry,” was presented in brief by R. L. Sackett, dean of the school of engineering Pennsylvania State College, chairman of the session, which was held Dec. 8 under the auspices of the so- ciety’s committee on education and training for the in- dustries. E. F. DuBrul, general manager of the Na- tional Machine Tool Builders’ Association, Cincinnati; Luther D. Burlingame, industrial superintendent of the grown & Sharpe Mfg. Co., Providence; and R. E. New- comb, superintendent of the Deane works of the Worth- ington Pump & Machinery Corporation, Holyoke, Mass., were among those discussing the paper. “Organized labor’s interest in education for industry is rooted in one-of its most fundamental purposes, the conservation of craftsmanship,” said Mr. Woll. “It is this idea which underlies the whole structure of Amer ican unionism. Bricklayers, machinists, electricians printing pressmen are on a trade basis; it is their com- mon craft interest which binds them together.” Workman’s Urgent Need for Creative Expression Creative expression in work was held to be a strong motive with all men who do work of any kind, and a chance to use one’s intelligence to develop an ever- greater excellence of workmanship was stressed as re- deeming work from pure drudgery. “In the workman’s nearness to drudgery, the need for creative expression is very urgent,” said Mr. Woll. “To fill this need the men naturally turn to their union, since it is the embodiment of their common craft interest,” he continued. “The union, which is th custodian of trade skill and past experiences, become their means of contact with an agency which makes possible sustained development of craftsmanship. Through magazine articles, lectures by experts and workers’ education classes the unions are keeping their members abreast of the latest craft developments, new inventions and trade processes, information on indus- trial problems, which will enable them to apply their minds effectively to their jobs. Further than this, the union maintains standards of craftsmanship for the ad- mission of new members. It also takes the responsibil- ity of disciplining those who do not maintain a high quality of workmanship. This goes even to the point of expelling members who do not live up to union stand- ards. Thus it has come about that the union sets and holds standards of craftsmanship in an industry. It is the only standard-setting agency in the industrial field which exercises this function.” Technical knowledge of the trade, held to be neces- sary for the boy who wants to be a carpenter, ma- chinist, etc., should, it was said, include mathematics, architecture, physics, English and other subjects which will contribute to a true understanding and mastery of his craft. It includes also a thorough knowledge of trade processes. The apprentice must also have trade experience under expert guidance and he must know the economic and business problems of his trade. This trade education, when carried on through public schools, should be under the joint control of employers, the unions and the public school, said Mr. Woll. The spe- cial contribution made by each group was outlined in the paper, and it was stated that no one group with- out the others could give a fully rounded education. Creative Expression Attained Through Job Improve- ment “When the worker has had this first preparation, he is ready for the second part of his education, that which goes on continually through his daily work,” said Mr. Woll. “The development of skill in work grows out of the work itself. It is a process by which the worker masters the job details, gains understanding of its problems, and finally reaches the point where he turns his energies to improving the job itself. It is this lat- ter—the improvement of the job—which gives him scope for continued self-education and development for creative expression in work. “To provide conditions such that this creative ex- pression through job improvement can go on and can be the means for increasing industrial efficiency is by no means an impossible task. The average workman develops a technical knowledge of his job and thinks of ways his work might be better done, waste elimi- nated and time and energy saved. Because of his inti- mate contact with job details and his specialized knowl- edge he can suggest improvements which are outside the experience of management and so make a special- red contribution. When he has no channels through which to voice his ideas they are lost to industry. But f the means can be found to make these ideals available for practical use, a working force of men intent upon increasing efficiency can be developed and a chance for all to find creative expression in their work will be pro- vided. Workers Interested in Increased Production ‘This means must come through cooperation be- tween management and men to increase production efficiency. The welfare of the industry is a real interest with the workers. Their livelihood depends upon it, and the means for increasing their wages must come from its prosperity and efficiency. Therefore it can well be the basis of cooperation between the two groups, bringing them together in the common work of indus- trial improvement. But in order that workers may join with management in wholehearted cooperation, certain conditions are necessary. They must have confidence and they must feel responsible for their share in the common enterprise; they must know that management will give them a chance to put ideas into practice when they are worth while, since management is the con- trolling force. Especially they must know that when profits result from their efforts they will receive their full share. Only under such conditions can the work- ers’ full mental energy be liberated for their work. “This condition can be brought about through the trade union. The union is the agency for mobilizing the human factor in industry. Through it progress in human engineering can keep pace with progress in the mechanical sciences. It is the organization which has the men’s complete confidence; it calls out their in- itiative, enables them to take responsibility and to dis- cipline their own members; it provides the machinery necessary for contact between management and the in- dividual men. And, above all, it trains leaders—men with the initiative and intelligence that come from working out their own problems; and with the under- standing of industry and the knowledge of human na- ture that come from guiding their fellows through the human difficulties that continually arise in their daily work. The unions are ready to cooperate with manage- ment in the task of raising industry to the highest possible degree of efficiency.” Some industries in which trade unionists are now cooperating were mentioned, one of them being the re- 1817 | - | | | ; 1818 pair shops of the B. & O. Railroad, in which joint shop committees and union representatives meet every two weeks to discuss production efficiency. It was said that in the last three years over 14,000 suggestions for improvements were submitted by the workmen, 80 per cent of these suggestions being accepted. “This chance for intellectual expression in work is the logical next step in industrial progress,” said Mr. Woll in concluding his paper. It provides for continued improvement in efficiency without making the indi- vidual worker a mere cog in the industrial machine. It makes full use of the human qualities that are now so often wasted, and at the same time gives the worker a chance to employ creative expression in his work. Such a condition is a fitting goal for education in mod- ern industry.” Union Practice Not in Line with Mr. Woll’s Proposal All labor unions do not practice the very excellent principles set forth in Mr. Woll’s paper, it was pointed yuut by E. F. DuBrul in discussing it. “Good manage- ment,” he said, “is glad ® learn from forward-look- ig union leaders that the unions are ready to cooper- ate in the task of raising industry to the highest pos- sible degree of efficiency. I am perfectly willing to believe that the paper expresses the sentiments of the select few—the best informed, and the clearest thinking among union leaders. But the practice of the many, who are ill informed, and whose thought processes are ar from logical, does not as yet conform to these prin- ciples to such a degree as seems to be taken for granted Mr. Woll. “Much remains to be done by forward-looking union leaders to win the rank and file, and especially the of- ficials of local unions, to that same way of thinking. Forward-looking management will not disparage the difficulty that these leaders will have to overcome in inging about this result. s not well + In doing so, however, it to idealize the union nor to think it is now doing all that one hopes it may do at some distant date. If the author of the paper had made it plain that he has expressed ideals rather than quite exceptional realities, his paper would have a more constructive effect than it can have in its present form before the present audience.” “Some of the author’s statements take in too much territory and are too sweeping in their generalizations,” said Mr. DuBrul in another part of his comment. “For example, he states that all workmen feel an urgent need for creative expression. Now it is a stubborn fact that this is not the case. He then says that to fill Further Effort to Correct Trade Abuses and Unethical Practices To correct trade abuses and unethical practices in relations among manufacturers, wholesalers, and re- tailers, inter-group committees are being organized by the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. A tentative manual describing in detail the organization and functions of these joint trade relations committees S In preparation as a guide for trade groups contem- plating their formation. Some of the practices to be dealt with by the com- mittees are: Unjust return of merchandise, failures to deliver at appointed time, misrepresentation of mer- chandise by salesmen, unreasonable cancellations, dis- regard of shipping instructions, failures to confirm or- ders, salesmen promising things employers cannot ful- fill, selling competitors when line is stated to be exclusive, taking discounts not earned, and delivering more than was ordered. The natural development of the work of a joint trade relations committee is out- lined as “(1) collection of instances of such trade abuses, (2) development of code of standard practice, (5) correction of violations of approved trade practices through correspondence with those who are stated to have made the violations.” A joint committee has been formed in the hardware trade. THE IRON AGE December 30, 1926 this need the men naturally turn to their union. This is true, of course, in some cases, but having known many cases in which union membership was held mere- ly because the workmen were coerced into doing so, many of us know that the realities are far from the author’s idealizations.” Responsibility of Management Cannot Be Transferred “Mr. Woll says: ‘The union sets and holds standards of craftsmanship in an industry.’ Also: ‘It takes the responsibility of disciplining those who do not maintain a high quality of workmanship.’ If this expresses a belief that unions generally set worthy standards of craftsmanship, numbers of experts in management are in a position to disillusion the author. No competent manager would be willing to transfer the disciplinary responsibility for slack workmanship to a union. Expe- rience shows that that is a responsibility of manage- ment that cannot be transferred successfully. “The author is in grave error in making the broad statement that the union is the only agency in the in- dustrial field exercising the standard-setting function in respect to craftsmanship. Any experienced man- ager can show many cases to the contrary. In fact, it would be a quite exceptional union that could function as the only agency in @ very narrow industrial field for setting standards of craftsmanship that can reasonably be exacted. If the author’s statement were true even to a very limited extent it is not likely that industrial engineer’s production men, rate setters, time-study men, inspectors and all such personnel would be draw- ing the pay that tight-fisted controllers of industry deem it advisable to hand over to them.” In referring to the example of union and manage- ment cooperation in the Baltimore & Ohio repair shops Mr. DuBrul said: “If the author were better informed as to the con- ditions in the B. & O. Railroad shops that existed prior to the B. & O. machinist union’s agreement for co- operation, he would not cite this as a convincing proof of the reality of his idealizations. He accepts what others have said, but without analyzing their state- ments. To get an idea of what the B. & O. shop man- agement was before the agreement one need only read statements made in addresses by officials of the ma- chinists’ union. These disclose conditions to have been so exceedingly inefficient that even union management showed an improvement over the previous management. But that is no proof that the same sort of improvement would follow by turning over to the same union the management of better run shops.” To Operate Bayonne Bolt & Nut Works Independently The Bayonne Bolt Corporation, Second Street and Trask Avenue, Bayonne, N. J., has been formed to pur- chase and take over the operation of the Bayonne Bolt & Nut Works, formerly operated by the receivers of the Hoopes & Townsend Corporation and prior to that by the American Bolt Corporation. Effective Dec. 22, the new corporation will conduct all business of the Bayonne works without ties or connections with any other concern, adhering to the manufacture of the same line of products as in the past. J. Rich Steers, chairman of the new corporation, was president of the original Bayonne Bolt & Nut Works from 1914 to 1923. E. L. Rupf, the new presi- dent and treasurer, was plant manager of the old com- pany during the same period, and Arthur D. Morris, the new vice-president, was manager of sales, continu- ing in that capacity during the recent period of re- ceivership. W. H. Ackerman is secretary of the new company and James H. Berry, assistant treasurer. Total apparent consumption of Babbitt metal in November, based on reports received by the Depart- ment of Commerce from 27 firms, was 4,358,127 Ib., compared with 4,868,053 Ib. in October. Profits. By William Trufant Foster and Waddill Catch- ings. Pages, 465. Published by Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston, for the Pollak Foundation for Eco- nomic Research. Price, $4. For the best adverse comment on this book $5,000 is to be awarded. We are not competing in this contest, although its terms are very fair. The authors expose themselves to criticism, however, and will no doubt get it, and there will be ample opportunity for the prize- winning essayist. The first half of the book, dealing especially with the subject of profits is very good, very sound and very lucid. The authors have an engaging style and are rich in illustrations, analogies and imageries. So many of these are purely American that they are likely to be as meaningless to foreigners as is our slang. In- deed, it is to be feared that our own Middle West will not always be discerning and appreciative. In this part of their book the authors reveal some inconsistencies and even contradictions, but on the whole the development of their thesis is characterized by unusual intelligence and common sense. The case that they make for the legitimacy of profits and the naturalness of markets ought to shatter the belief of many socialistic thinkers that such things are deter- mined daily and arbitrarily in a council at the corner of Wall and Broad Streets. With the second part of this book we quickly be- came impatient, saturated as it is with a queer idea in respect to money, an idea that is like Henry Ford’s, but quite shocking to orthodox economists. The authors’ argument is summarized in the following: “Progress toward greater total production is re- tarded because consumer buying does not keep pace with production. Consumer buying lags behind because industry does not disburse to consumers enough money to buy the goods produced; and because consumers, under the necessity of saving, cannot spend even as much money as they receive. There is not an even flow of money from producer to consumer, and from con- sumer back to producer. Inadequacy of con- sumer income is, therefore, the main reason why we do not long continue to produce the wealth which natural resources, capital facilities, improvements in the arts, and the self-interest of employers and employees would otherwise enable us to produce. Chiefly because of shortage of consumer demand, both capital and labor restrict output, and nations engage in those struggles for outside markets and spheres of commercial influ- ence which are the chief causes of war.” The authors do not, therefore, look upon money as a medium of exchange, but rather revert to the old adage that it is what makes the mare go. If a cor- poration fails to distribute all of its earnings in divi- dends it checks the flow, impounding more or less of this thing called money; but how any corporation or anybody else can do any such thing is not explained by the authors. If the surplus earnings of a corpora- tion are distributed as dividends the stockholders spend them for the things they want. If they are retained by the corporation they are spent for the things it wants. Either way, they are spent for goods and services. What else can be done with them? One party may de- mand one sort of goods and the other party another, and diversion of the buying power may unbalance pre- vious market conditions, but the aggregate of demand is not checked. That results from other things, es- pecially a contraction of surplus of earnings. These authors are confused in their understandings of wealth, capital, credit and money. They arrive at such preposterous absurdities as decrying thrift and upholding warfare as an economic beneficence. What they are really preaching is the merit of a consuming economy as against a capital economy looking forward to the future. We shall leave it to the winner of the $5,000 prize to expose in detail the many fallacies that obsess them. W. R. INGALLs. 1819 WwW BOOK REVIEWS & Diesel Engines; Marine—Locomotive—Stationary. By David Louis Jones. Pages 565, 6 x 9 in., 341 illus- trations. New York: Norman W. Henley Publish- ing Co., 2 West Forty-fifth Street. Price $5 net. Written by a practical engineer who is a commis- sioned chief machinist, United States Navy, and is in- structor in the Diesel engine department of the Navy Submarine School, New London, Conn., this book is described as “a practical treatise on the principles, construction, operation and maintenance of the Diesel oil engine.” As it is intended for the use of the op- erating engineer, it explains in simple terms the un- derlying principles of thermodynamics and the prin- ciples of operation of all types of engines. The con- structional features of the engines and such auxiliaries as fuel pumps, injection valves, starting and reversing systems, air compressors, governors, etc., are all treated in detail. Instructions are given, not only for the operation and maintenance of Diesel engines, but also for their installation. A Diesel engine is described as “an internal com- bustion engine actuated by the gases resulting from the combustion of a liquid fuel injected in a fine state of subdivision into the engine cylinder at or about the conclusion of the compression stroke. The heat result- ing from the compression of air to a high temperature is the sole means of igniting the charge of fuel. The combustion proceeds at, or approximately at, constant pressure.” Engines of as large as 16,000 brake hp. are being built for marine use. In the last five years the number of motorships has been almost trebled, and the world’s motorship construction has grown to about 60 per cent of the construction of steamships. Locomotives with Diesel engines are now being operated in competi- tion with steam locomotives, and at a cost which is stated to be much lower. In view of these facts, the importance of the Diesel engine cannot be overesti- mated. Seventeen chapters, in addition to the introduction, are devoted to the various elements of the engine, its operation and care, and the particular uses which it has attained in special fields. Representative types of engines, practically all of them for stationary or land use, are covered in one chapter which occupies more than one-fourth the total bulk of the book. Fourteen different makes of engines are here described, some of the makers being repre- sented by two or more types of engine. The illustra- tions throughout are largely line cuts, descriptive of special features brought out in the text. Halftones are numerous, however, both in illustrating complete engines and with regard to parts or partial assemblies. Foreign Commerce in the Fiscal Year In the annual report of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce for the year ended June 30 last, it is pointed out that aggregate exports from the United States during the fiscal year amounted to $4,754,- 000,000, compared with $3,771,000,000 in the fiscal year, 1922, and an average of $2,166,000,000 in the five imme- diate pre-war years. The increase over 1922 was thus 26 per cent “and no part of this was due to the ad- vance in prices. After allowing for the diminished buying power of the dollar the increase over pre-war was in the neighborhood of 35 per cent. “Our imports have gained even more. They amounted in 1925-26 to $4,467,000,000, a figure some- what swollen by the excessive price of rubber. This total was 71 per cent more than four years before. Adjusted for the change in the price level, imports of last year were 65 or 70 per cent greater than before the war. “Notwithstanding the fact that the United States has shifted from a debtor nation to the world’s greatest creditor nation, toward which imports tend to flow in payment of interest on a vast volume of foreign invest- | —_ anal eA TE I I A LE a een a A TCC CC LC 9 0 0, 1926 December THE IRON AGE d out New Books Received Aluminum and Its Alloys. By M. G. Corson. Pages 5% x 9 in., illustrated. Published by D. Van Nos- 291, 0% trand Co., 8 Warren Street, New York. Price, $8. By Services Rendered by the Bureau Am rican Engineering Metallurgy. Bradley Stoughton. rms during ed in number to 1,768,808. 192 ae nd 578.452 trade ts were Pages 441, 5% x 9 in., illustrated. Published by is ri ite: y the district or domestic branch offices, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 370 Seventh Avenue, New : \ issistance in handling Yor Price, $4. roblen Comparative statements in Joly Techniches Auskunftsbuch. Pages, 1468, 4% mercial services rendered it x 7 in. Published by Auskunftsbuch-Verlag, Kleinwit- ‘ ears, shows | arlou tenberg A. D. Elbe, Germany. rt servi , Wage Lott. Seales and Job Evaluation. Pages 161, 5% x 8%. By Merrill R. Published by the Ronald ° ° ° das ‘ 1 ac Re > r.cly Stree lew F c Catalog Describing Industrial Ovens = ae ae A OTD SNE, SW TATE It rial namennge, sacque Tool Control. By Anker L. Christensen. Pages . re aKING v-temperature heat treating and 54, 51 81 Published by the Ronald Press Co., 15 r manufacturing processes requiring temperaturt I Twenty-sixth Street, New York. Price, $3.50. i) eg. Fahr., aré ribed and illustrated 1 oe ie : = a ae se a ae is aa le ns hes Personnel \dministration. _ By Ordway lead and ' s anae Tolle ) Ny Henry ‘ Metcalf. Pages 45, 0% x 9 in. Published by gees 9 ore McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 370 Seventh Avenue, New 1iog 1 mad ] : pages, 2 X In., . . sie oe aint 1 n at York. Price, $5. r It American Society for Testing Materials. Tentative y eature he com Standards, 1926. Pages 1100, 6 x 9 in. Published by ns. ¢ r ‘ and methods of the American Society for Testing Materials, 1315 Pe E e} page Spruce Street, Philadelphia. Price, $7.50 in paper and X Ss p0 in «¢ } r ny’s equipmer Biennial Census of Manufacturers, 1923. Pages 1454, e fir tior ealing with construction fea 6x 9 in. Published by Department of Commerce, Wash- give n the oven walls, roof and corner gton, D. C. Price $1.75. s ( rt n de gz . ire é é i issembly and ‘riptive data and tables of dimensions of | Market in South Africa for American at al le ll Hoop Iron é ( I 4 JOHAND RG, SoutH Arrica, Dec. 10.—There is g Phe . : 8 irket here for hoop iron with mushroom . re shown for n. wide in lengths of 300 ft., 20 rolls to a é hasp and in a case All such hoop iron must r 1. Ordinary blue hoop iron has hitherto nearly 2,500,000 cases of fruit ex- i iia ls Pinata hint ! fr Sou Afri annually. As each box is 2 S ; ed wit tnree strip Tt iron, large quantities are : s : rted, pr ipally from Belgium and the United , K ( rent prices, delivered Capetown, Port et urban are about £20 7s. 6d. per tor ae (4.41¢. per ) for %-in., BWG No. 28; £20 2s. 6d. per — t (4.31 per lb.) for BWG No. 26; £20 (4.33c. pe ' — for 5¢-in., BWG No. 30; £19 17s. 6d. per ton (4.30¢e . el ) for BWG No. 28; £19 5s. per ton (4.16c. pe ; ) I +-1N. BWG No. 26. The largest demand is ; BWG N S: d 5 ir ide These prices art 2 tae a mall extr being charged for smaller Thus far hoop iron of this quality has not ig Ht : the South African market by Americar hough this type and grade of material is l he United States other foreign maz eae esr yee Malleable Castings Output in November h has been published by the American Smallest in Two Years a i dict paedtenge, Feeney WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.—Production of malleable ; : 7 ; ie eae = — "a Png . November totaled 45,793 net tons, as a agers = ee eee i : 7,185 tons in October, according to reports sx S* F ~ — =a by the Department of Commerce from 139 ; : . ’ I ants, eight of which, with a monthly capac- ig en ; , ee , . ' - 1650 tons, were idle in November. This was the sii » it in more than two years. It compares 60,800 tons a year ago. } 9 V S ments in November aggregated 44,107 tons, Vi rst quarter in igainst 53,405 tons in October,