The Iron Age 1936-07-02: Vol 138 Iss 1

Owned and Published CHILTON COMPANY (Incorporated) Executive and Publication Offices, Chestnut and 56th Sts., Philadelphia, Pa. Cc. A. MUSSELMAN, President FRITZ FRANK. Executive Vice-President FREDERIC STEVENS, Vice-President JOSEPH HILDRETH, GEORGE GRIFFITHS, TERHUNE, ERNEST HASTINGS, WILLIAM BARBER, Treasurer JOHN BLAIR MOFFETT, Secretary q CHESTNUT AND STREETS, PHILADELPHIA, PA. Sales Offices 239 WEST 39TH STREET NEW YORK, FRITZ J. FRANK, President VAN DEVENTER Editor T. H. GERKEN A. I. FINDLEY Managing Editor Editor Emeritus Machinery Editor Art Editor Metallurgical Editor Washington Chicago Cleveland Pittsburgh Detroit Conten 1936 Law Breakers and Law New Continuous Mill Lackawanna. Wood Joins Steel Sheet New Line Broaching Machines............. New Equipment ............. Copyright 1936 Chilton Company (Inc.) BAUR, General Advertising Manager DIX, Manager Reader Service Member, Audit Bureau of Circulations ADVERTISING STAFF Emerson Findley, 621 Union Bldg., Cleveland B. L. Herman, 675 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, Indexed the Industrial Arts Index. Member, Associated Business Papers Published every Thursday. Subscrip- Hottenstein, 802 Otis Chicago tion Price: United States and Pos- Peirce 7310 Woodward Detroit Charles Lundberg. Chilton Bldg.. Chestnut & 56th Sts.. Philadelphia. Pa. C. H. Ober, 239 W. 39th St., New York $12.00 year. Single copy, cents. Robinson, 428 Park Pittsburgh W. C. Sweetser, 239 West 39th St., New York Cable Address, ‘‘Ironage, Warren, Box 81, Conn. sessions, Mexico, Cuba, $6.00; Can- ada, $8.50, including duty; Foreign — : a Sat 4 « > easy cut and thread, and takes the strong, clean threads important getting tight, trouble-free joints. Its use helps installation work along fast clip, results the kind job that brings profits the contractor and satisfaction his customer. Bethlehem Pipe also noted for other plus factors—its freedom from scale, its straightness, its tight, strong welds, and uniform ductility IRON AGE, July 1936 that assures good bending and flanging qualities. From the contractor’s standpoint pipe many definite, profit-bringing advantages for wide range service applications. For the dis- tributor, wins ever-increasing volume pipe sales. BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, General Offices: Bethlehem, Pa. District Offices Albany, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Bridgeport, Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Ore., Salt Lake City, San Francisco, St. Louis, St. Paul, Seattle, Syracuse, Washington, Wilkes-Barre, York. Export Distributor: Bethlehem Steel Export Corp., New York. . AMONG THE PLUS FACTORS BETHLEHEM PIPE ESTABLISHED 1855 THE IRON AGE ... JULY 1936 Vol. 137, No. Red Flag the Recovery Track economic twist, food for thought for all those who labor with mind steel goes, goes the nation. This paraphrase political aphorism, given hand the industries. When the steel business America depressed, one can expect normal measure prosperity. For steel the barometer capital goods creasing activity steel means that manufacturers and makers thousands long-lived products are facing increased demands which turn call for increasing quantities our greatest basic metal. This the reason why every important newspaper the United States carries the weekly estimate ingot production regularly featured news item. And this why thousands economists, statisticians and business forecasters use the trend steel, expressed this weekly index, looking ahead for business planning. Since the heavy hand regimentation has been removed from steel and other capital goods industries the Supreme Court, there has been steady, astonish- ing and encouraging increase the rate ingot production. Every additional ton this increase means not only additional work for some man the steel industry but multiplied least fourfold employment effect mining, transportation and the subsequent fabrication manufacture the metal into useful products. Thus, employment durable goods, where unemployment during the depres- sion has been greatest, affected multiple measure steady gains steel pro- duction. Call this cause effect, you please, the fact remains that when steel prospers, America prospers; when steel falters, America suffers. American citizens all walks life should ponder upon these facts this time. For now less than ever our economic history, should permit the incoming tide prosperity turned ebb through unwarranted and inexcusable labor warfare—a warfare promulgated not the desire right wrongs but build dominating labor dictatorship determined rule ruin. The average man, outside the industry, has too much stake steel permit personal ambition disastrously seek such ends. 4 q q q q q Pew t | | 7 | | ly ° ° LIPPERT Metallurgical Editor, Ace ° Uniqueness: Electro-De posited Tin Plate Emerges from the Laboratory, and, for the First Time, Become Commercial Product. New Producer: Crucible Steel Co. America Completes Large Midland, Pa., Addi- tion for Its Initial Venture Into the 1,800,000 Ton Tin Plate Market. ning Minimizes Porosity, Coils Are Continu- ously and Uniformly Coated, and Other Defects Are Avoided. ACCORDING Noah Webster surprise “something unexpect- ed.” Therefore, the Pittsburgh Crucible Steel Co., subsidiary Crucible Steel Co. America, may rightfully assume that about deal out wel- come surprise the tin plate con- sumer. For Midland, Pa., this company has quietly erected large plant; has installed re- versing cold mill, vertical elec- trical annealing furnace, number coilers and uncoilers, large complement plating tanks, electrical sub-station and other auxiliary machines. This building and this equipment comprise the first commercial venture for the electro-deposition tin onto strip tyro the tin plate game that will succeed operation which entrenched companies tated undertake. IRON AGE, July 1936 This week Crucible, for the first time, will fasten 5000-lb. coils 20-in. cold-reduced strip end-to- end and start the steel its jour- ney through tin plating baths and processing equipment. Ingots will reduced blooms Midland, the blooms sent nearby con- tinuous hot mill for reduction strips, and the strips returned Midland for cold rolling 26- in. reversing mill. the dis- charge end the company states will have continuous roll tin- ned strip steel with the following laboratoy attributes: (1) Continuous and uniform coat- ing, (2) dense and lustrous tin structure with almost complete free- dom from pores, (3) elimination pickling embrittlement comitant improvement drawing qualities, (4) surface layer pure tin; therefore im- proved corrosion resistance, and avoidance grease lines, mot- tle and isolated FeSn, crystallites. Initial Capacity Comparatively Small Crucible confident that broad claims will have emerged completely from the laboratory the commercial unit. Whatever the output this new plant will be, will figuratively speaking mere- drop the bucket com- pared with normal national con- sumption 35,000,000 base boxes yearly. Nevertheless, since electro- deposition fully meets the confident claims its sponsor, the initial production little significance —nor very important whether early shipments not carry price premiums. primary im- portance the fact that desir- able standard may set up. And the tin plate industry fully and little wryly aware the potent influence high standard; for has just passed through up- heaval generated the first cold reducing mill. Thus not impossible that the conventional hot-dip tin plate industry may have incipient revolution its hands—the first t ; j i | radical change product which has been familiar for centuries and today made essentially the same manner was A.D., which time Pliny the Elder mentioned hot-dip tin coatings his “Natural History.” The United States was long de- pendent the British Isles for its tin plate, inasmuch systematic development did not occur this country until 1890, ten years be- fore the birth the Crucible Steel Co. America. However, there was some tin plate produced here commercially early 1873, Wellsville, Ohio, and somehow fitting that the first potentially radical change tin plate manu- facture should take place near- Midland. The industry has generally rec- ognized the inevitability contin- uous tinning and galvanizing strip-sheets, all probably elec- 7 trical means. However, the coat- ing wide material both here and abroad has heretofore not been physically and cessful, even experimental lots. Thus only natural that great interest engendered Cruci- ble’s apparent success. The demand for specific operating data. But for obvious reasons Crucible loath reveal these data. Nachtman, well-known electro- chemist, previously with Thomas Steel Co. superintendent the plating and electro-chemical divi- sion, has similar position with Crucible, and charge the new electro-tinning plant. The fol- lowing interview with Mr. Nacht- man elicited all the obtainable in- formation regarding electro-depo- sition activities within Crucible’s closely policed plant: Operation Described After the strip leaves the re- versing four-high cold mill, what the next operation? travels through slitter which trims off the edges, giving continuous strip in. wide. Even wider strip will made the future. What the next operation? The strip coiled. Then what happens? The coils are transferred reels the end plating trough. the strip passes through this trough, fastened end-to-end obtain continuous flow steel. the plate which applied this operation the complete tin coating treatment assure proper fusion the tin with the base metal, and also, prepare the surface for the subsequent tin coating. What kind treatment it? might mentioned, however, that there are four possibilities elec- tro-chemical treatment. Which one ones are finally se- lected will depend the relative ultimate fabricating characteristics the four. That is, will let our customers tell which treat- ment gives the best results rather than give them product having treatment think they should prefer. these treatments have tin base are any them pure tin? Perhaps yes, perhaps no. Other than assure fusion and serve basis for the final coat- ing, has this treatment any other purpose? Yes. eliminates the neces- sity for pickling after annealing thereby avoiding embrittlement; the buyer thus has less scrap loss when making deep drawn products. What the next operation? After the steel treated electro-chemically, dried and again coiled. Then transferred continuous verti- cal electrical annealing furnace. passes the top and then down THE IRON AGE, July ig = — ~ - Bore 4 4 q sin through this furnace, and, leaves the furnace, skin rolled. The annealing furnace prob- ably has reducing atmosphere. Yes. Then what? The strip again coiled. Why all the coiling and un- coiling? Why not continuous travel from one operation the Some operations are faster than others. instance, the strip passes through the electro- chemical treating bath much faster than does the annealing opera- tion. practice, the annealing furnace will operate continuously, whereas the electro-chemical treat- ing will intermittent. Subse- quently, another furnace may installed give more continuous intra-plant operation. Following the annealing and skin pass, the tin probably plated Yes. this country, refrigerator parts are plated with tin and alkaline bath used. Furthermore English experiments have shown alkaline tin plating bath pre- ferable acid bath when flash coats are put over hot-dipped coat- ings order improve luster and reduce porosity. You probably use alkaline bath. No. acid bath would the only alternative. Yes. Perhaps you use chloride bath (100 gm. crystalline stannous chloride, acid, hydrochloric acid, and solution. High current density (20) generally used). No. Or, you use oxalate bath (25 gm. crystalline stannous chloride, gm. ammonium oxalate, gm. oxalic acid, 0.5 gm. gelatin per litre solution. Moderate cur- rent density (6) generally No. employ one several variations pyrophosphate bath (low current density (1.5) generally No. Would any the above solu- tions usable for your process? No! has been necessary 22—THE IRON AGE, July 1936 evolve completely new electro- lyte and processing treatment. any case, the process surface preparation much more impor- tant than the bath analysis. Surface preparation? The same applies recent method electroplating steel with aluminum. Are the two similar? Similar only that correct sur- face preparation major im- portance. What current density you intend use for plating the tin? About 150 amp. per sq. ft. Other experiments have shown that such high current densi- ties result rapid drop cur- rent efficiency. Also, high current density generally causes excess gas discharge which apparently has tendency increase porosity. Prob- ably you have found some way obviate these tendencies. That right. Have you tested your labora- tory samples for porosity? Yes. NEGLIGIBLE PORE COUNTS— you use the hot water porosity test the ferroxyl paper The ferroxyl paper has bee found satisfactory. How porous the plate? Pin point counts are very low, compared with counts representative hot-dip currently the market. not for obtain zero porosity. country the electro-deposition tin onto strip have given coatings too soft for deep drawing. Are your coatings hard? Yes, relatively very hard. The tinned steel withstands very deep draws. Other experimenters have found that their methods harden- ing electro-deposited surfaces have resulted discoloration. you have Absolutely not! The surface has high polish, and beautifully lustrous appearance even superior such this has been secured Crucible with various electro- tinned experimental specimens. stated that even further reduction porosity practicable. The original specimen measured 1134 in., but shown here one-fourth size. | | ° | | | the best hot-dip charcoal tin plate. Undoubtedly, some operation the electro-de- posited tin after leaves the plat- ing baths. This treatment impor- tant part the cycle. densifies and smooths the surface and great- decreases latent porosity. there operation? final polishing Will the electro-tinned plate sold coils usual cut sizes Either way, just buyers desire. Practically user equip- ped handle coils. Therefore, most the initial output will out sheared form. Probably. Although users may soon see big advantage coils. amine sectioned edge tin plate study the FeSn, alloy the in- terface, due the extreme attenu- ation the compound. However, selective dissolution has shown that for hot-dip coatings the tin pene- tration about 0.000003 in. and the total alloy fringe measures about 0.00002 in. Would micro- scopic examination your electro- tinned surface show line de- markation would there similar alloy fringe alloy? Alloy the interface de- sirable, and the electro-tinned plate shows narrow alloy band. The sectioned specimen, however, has one distinguishing characteristic— the outer surface 100 per cent pure tin, whereas usual hot-dip coatings have outer surface slightly poisoned other elements. You probably can vary the thickness your tin coating will. Yes. The process exceed- ingly flexible. Tin coatings can varied from per base box (0.000045 in. thick) such thickness that the product would BETTER THAN AVERAGE— hot-dip tin plate. This specimen measured 1134 in., but shown here one-fourth size. Each dot represents minute cavity extending through the tin coating the steel base. Many these dots have been enlarged secure humid atmosphere for years. You probably won’t make absolutely perfect product com- pete with hot-dip coatings. The demands consumers will the determining factor. Copper refrigerator parts are coated electrically with tin thickness 0.0005 in. guarantee against porosity. your coatings ever run this thick? English experiments have shown that takes 0.0006 in. tin electro-deposited 0.00009 in. hot-dip coating obtain zero porosity. This probably has little commercial significance. No, the tin cost alone would excessive. Your present width limit in., but you are probably point- ing toward wider strip sheets. hope eventually turn out uniform product in. wide. Are you currently ready turn out any other type coating? certain plate particularly suitable for beer cans being con- sidered. Any other coating? Probably terne and other al- loys. Electro-deposited alloys? Yes! Your tin plating procedure probably patented. Full patent coverage pend- ing and soon will issued. Function Tin Plate background material sup- plement the foregoing questions and answers, probably advis- able set forth few generaliza- tions regarding tin plate. These generalizations should suffice explain the importance attached any new method coating steel with tin, particularly the new method has commercial possibili- ties turning out product hav- ing minimum porosity. minor reason for coating steel with tin improve the appear- ance, but far the major reason for such operation pro- tect the iron steel from corro- sion. Furthermore, tin has proved itself very satisfactory metal for enclosing fruits and foods, that is, minute quantities tin have harmful influence the human (CONCLUDED PAGE 84) THE IRON AGE, July 1936—23 . Tuesday, June 30, Bethlehem Steel Co. officially its new continuous strip, sheet and plate mill Lacka- wanna, This newest Bethle- hem plant unit, involving in- vestment $20,000,000, represents the present day “last word” the coordination mechanical and electrical equipment for the pro- duction hot and cold rolled fiat steel products. The new unit located plot acres adjacent the original Bethlehem plant, which will provide the slabs for the new mill. Its location also enables the use low cost fuel the form waste gases from the Lackawanna furnaces and coke ovens. The increase em- ployment, this year, due the new mill, will approximately 2000. The mill has annual capacity 600,000 tons strip, sheet and light plate and one few continuous mills capable produc- ing extra-wide sheets such are required for the production all- metal automobile tops and other recent one-piece steel products. Sheets 60-in. width and 0.0625 thickness, 72-in. width and 0.078-in. thickness can continu- ously hot rolled one heating the hot mill department. Plates will produced %-in. thick- ness and 72-in. width. Cold-rolled strip 0.0125 gage and heavier 15/16 in. and cold-rolled sheets gage and heavier widths The buildings, which were fabri- cated and constructed the Beth- lehem Steel Co., are standard steel construction and cover area about acres. The wall construction and glass. All the cold process- ing buildings are provided with steam heating facilities preserve uniform temperature conditions. general, the new 79-in. hot strip mill comprised rough- ing train and finishing train. The roughing train includes two-high scale breaker, four-high spread- stand, and three four-high uni- versal stands with vertical rolls the entering side. Between the breaker and the spreading stand there turntable for turn- ing the slabs through deg. when cross-rolling desired, and push- 24—THE IRON AGE, July 1936 Light Plate Shipping Trimmin Line PLATE FINISHI Sheet Sheet Piler CONTID CONTINUOUS STRIP-SHEET MILL SHOWING ROUTING MATERIALS WAREHOUSE COLD Bethlehem Continuous for entering the slab squarely into the rolls. Between the spread- and the following stand there second turntable, for returning the spread slab its original di- rection, and squeezer for squar- ing the edges and insuring that all slabs are the required width. The finishing train comprises two-high scale breaker and six stands four-high rolls. Immedi- utely following the last stand the finishing train there located rotary flying shear for cutting material, hot, direct from the mill. the lower end the first trans- fer table there are two hot coilers, conjunction with which cool- ing conveyor for delivering the coils the coil storage building, Si COLD STRIP FINISH Xo oom aoQacn moO | Hot = t | — ils New $20,000,000 from which point they are deliv- ered the cold strip mill for fur- ther processing. The new cold strip mill com- prises: three-stand four-high 75- in. tandem cold strip mill followed reel, three-stand four-high 54-in. tandem cold strip mill fol- lowed reel; one single stand four-high 79-in. equipped with reel for rolling coils; one single stand four-high 93-in. tempering mill, and one single stand 75-in. tempering mill without reels for sheet lengths. addition, there single stand two-high 54-in. skin pass mill, equipped with reel, for rolling coils. All the mills were built the Mesta Machine Co., West Home- stead, Pa. Slab storage comes first the sequence operations, building 625 ft. and capable stor- ing 10,000 tons slabs being pro- vided for this. Slabs the proper chemical composition and dimen- sion are delivered, required, the three slab heating furnaces the hot rolling department. These furnaces are the re- cuperative type, three zone and triple fired. Each has effective heating length ft. and inside width ft., with 16-ft. 9-in. soaking hearth. Each fur- nace equipped with twin tile recuperators for preheating the air 700-800 deg. Individual fur- nace rating, maximum, tons per hour, total 165 gross tons per hour for the three. They are fired with mixture blast furnace and coke oven gas with heating value 285 B.t.u. per cu. ft. Consumption low 1,550,000 B.t.u. per ton has been attained. The furnaces are also equipped burn fuel oil re- quired. Heated slabs leave the furnace 2250 deg. and pass the scale breaker situated front the continuous stands. Emerging from this, the slab en- ters the four-high broadside mill which represents the first stand the roughing train. One pass through the broadside mill suffi- cient for strip sheet not over in. wide. Cross-rolling takes place where greater widths are required. Leaving the broadside mill, the slab enters slab squeezer for evening its thickness and for edge squaring. After this, roughing completed stands and ali which are equipped with verti- cal edging rolls. Water spraying 1000 per sq. in. pressure takes place after the scale-break- ing operation and between the sub- sequent roughing train strands. Steam cleaning takes place also stand No. roller table, ft. long, inter- venes between the roughing and the finishing stands the con- tinuous hot mill. Temperature control provided the finishing stands that slab heat, suitable for best results, may obtained the recuperative furnaces. Wa- ter and air-cooling devices are also available for cooling the slab approaches the finishing stands. The slab, temperature THE IRON AGE, July 1936—25 HOT STRIP MILL i} Ht od at 1900-1950 deg., now enters sec- ond scale-breaking stand and subject water spray remove oxide. Ends are cropped fly- ing shear, after which the strip passes through six four-high fin- ishing stands. Steam descalers take the place high-pressure water jets this secondary rolling proc- ess. are provided, con- trollable from the operator’s pulpit, take any slack the strip that may develop during its pass- age through the finishing stands. the production hot-rolled strip, important secure the desired grain structure. There- fore, indicate and control the temperature which the strip leaves the mill, accurate tem- perature recording Ardometer has been installed. means this, the temperature above the upper critical, that cold working will take place. This eliminates the necessity anneal further cold working ensue. The speed the strip leaves the finishing mill varies from 676 1352 ft. per min., de- pending upon width. Depending upon its use this form processing, now proceeds either flying shears and sheet pilers cooling machines. Secondary for hot-rolled sheets may include self-annealing, nor- malizing, roller-leveling, skin-pass- ing, pickling, scrubbing, oiling, etc. Plate finishing includes secondary processes such leveling, trim- ming and shearing into 100-ft. 26—THE IRON AGE, July 1936 ° ° con- hot mill de- partment the new strip- sheet mill. stock lengths. separate line course provided for the final plate-finishing operations. The Cold Mill Department Complete facilities for taking strip sheet through various cold finishing processes have been pro- vided five main cold-mill build- ings. Continuous pickling is, course, the first operation the cold finishing department. Coils are uncoiled, stitched and drawn through acid and ° ° new continu- ous Lackawanna strip-sheet mill built Bethlehem Steel Co., viewed from the air. The build- ings contain acres floor space and have cilities for both hot and cold rolling strip and sheets and for continuous pro- cessing strip and sheet material. after which the metal unstitched, oiled and recoiled for storage pre- paratory the final cold rolling. About 11,000 gal. sulphuric acid solution per cent, 180 deg. steam coils and pyrom- eter control, are carried each the eight acid tanks the two pickling lines. pickling, the coils are ready for reduction, cold roll- ing, whatever gage required. This accomplished either one two finishing trains, consisting each three stands four-high mills. One these for coils in. and the other for coils these stands driven 1250-hp. motor. From the final stand the strip sheet proceeds the coiler and may then conveniently stored await subsequent finishing oper- ations. The first these, anneal- ing, takes the strip sheet either sheet coiled form. the former form, the coils are un- coiled, trimmed, leveled and sheared length. coils are processed they are rewound, loosely, for annealing. either these recuperative type fur- naces, 165 gross tons slabs hour can heated for rolling the hot mill department. The fur- naces may fired either with mixture blast furnace and coke oven gas the use oil. ° RIGHT ILL stands No. the roughing train are shown with the finishing train mills the background. The roughing train reduces the thickness the slabs and in. case, box annealing the principal method used. The annealing equipment con- sists furnaces capable ac- commodating sheets in. wide 220 in. long coils in. wide, and four furnaces for wider sheets and coils. An- nealing furnaces are the radi- ant tube type. eliminate the tendency stretcher-strain, the sheets are next given slight reduction skin mills. The tempered cold-rolled sheets are delivered the processing building for the final operations preparatory shipping. Plain flat material given leveling pass. For more particular requirements stretcher leveled hydraulic stretching, which gives the metal permanent set. Materials handling methods have been carefully studied and applied throughout the processes from start finish. Lift trucks, gravity conveyors, overhead cranes and other appliances have been utilized develop efficiently co- ordinated system transporta- tion from sheet slab finished product. Electrical Equipment Electric power drive the plant delivered from Niagara LABS which have been elongated the roughing train mills enter this hot finishing train slow speed and emerge light gage strip form, traveling 1350 ft. per min. The rolls these mills are in. wide and wide strip in. produced. ° motors and generators for the rolling mill room located directly back the rolling mills. Twelve large motors supply total 36,000 hp., and addition 1800 small motors are used. ° ° HESE lines are sharp contrast with the laborious methods pickling sheets conventional hand mill method. each coil pulled through the picklers tached the end the previous coil, making the process continuous. The loop- ing pits the fore- ground provide slack for the stitching process. — ° x Falls 60,000 volts, being stepped down the mill 6600 volts. Power delivered mill from substation means over- head transmission system. Rough- ing mill drives are alternating current motors and finishing mills adjustable speed direct current motors. each case the drive through reduction gears. the hot mill department the first scale breaker driven 1000-hp. motor and each the four remaining roughing stands speed induction motor. the fin- ishing group the scale breaker powered 500-hp. d.c. adjust- able speed motor and 3500-hp. mo- tors are applied stands No. and Similar motors but 4500 hp. each drive No. and while No. stand has 2500-hp. motor the same type. addition these main mo- tors there are about 900 motors small size required drive the finishing department roller tables. Altogether, the hot mill department, there are 1350 individual motors and gener- ators, aggregating 111,000 hp. the cold mill, each the nine four-high stands driven 1250-hp. d.c. adjustable speed mo- tor, operating through reduction gears. Altogether the cold mill there are 450 motors and gen- erators with total horsepower 49,000. ° ° these two sets three mills, each set tandem, coils strip are cold rolled new continuous strip- sheet mill. One set mills rolls widths in. and the building new strip-sheet plant. Removable furnace tops each serve three annealing bases. These are the radiant-tube type providing accurate control the heating cycle and uniformity heat distribution. Box annealing facilities have been provided handle material both coil and sheet form. addition motorization, elec- tricity plays major part this new plant, from start finish, exercising control each oper- ation through the latest devices produced for these purposes. Automatic Lubrication ture both hot and cold finishing departments the new Lacka- wanna plant. This oper- ations was given much study Bethlehem engineers collabora- tion with the DeLaval Separator Co. result there are installed seven centralized cation systems, four these for the hot mill and three for the cold mill. All these systems are lo- cated the cellar level, below the mill trains, thus leaving overhead space clear all obstruction. System No. feeds straight mineral oil all meshing points and reduction gear bearings the hot mill roughing stands. System No. feeds (CONCLUDED PAGE 90) | HIS elevator cab has been relined with steel- wood which sheet metal which glued thin wood veneer stained and finished like any wood product. STEEL sheets are find- ing new applications when glued wood. steel sheet may glued thin wood veneer give novel, serviceable and beautiful finish. Or, plywood may used either backing for sheet steel may completely enclosed sheet metal meet many ser- vice conditions, give structural strength combined with light weight, and make use the insulating qualities the plywood. The Haskelite Mfg. Corp., Chi- cago, makes two products this character. They are known “Steelwood” and “Plymetl.” The former has facings thin wood veneer glued sheet steel; the latter has facings thin sheet steel glued plywood. The former acts much the same steel 30—THE IRON AGE, July 1936 Steel New Sheet ROGERS FISKE Western Editor, The Iron Age but has the surface beauty wood; the latter acts much the OMPETITION between materials -recognized the natural outcome legitimate urge gain hold individual markets. the past decade, steel has made considerable inroads product applications thereto- fore particularly the province wood. this article have example departure from this competition and see how steel and wood get together, litera'ly and figuratively, explore new fields service. same plywood, but has the sur- face durability steel. The facing Steelwood fin- ished ordinary processes show the actual texture wood—not imitation. When tapped with the finger, gives subdued non- metallic ring. contact with the hand, does not give the cold sensation steel. Applications ex- tend all the way from novelties architectural treatment. Trays, to- bacco humidors and the like fit the novelty premium class. Steelwood finds broad application the manufacture furniture, cabinets all types and for all uses; radiator covers and the like. Architecturally meets fire regu- lations for wall paneling and mold- ing. not affected changes temperature and humidity. line occasional tables, the ¥ i first important adaptation Steel- wood the furniture field was designed George Pike, famous Grand Rapids furniture designer, and was exhibited the May fur- niture show Chicago. Steelwood adapted forming operations which not involve much stretching along the grain the face veneer. Trays have been made large numbers, the punch press blanking and forming being done one operation. Bends can made radii about five times the thickness the steel the bending across the grain the veneer facing, but larger radii are required the grain follows the curve. Thickness Veneer Very Small order that the wood facing may withstand long periods ser- vice with little checking, the thick- ness the veneer limited 1/85 in., about gage. This thickness has important effect permitting the wood follow the steel bending sharp curves and punch press operations. The requirements for the glue are se- vere. must not stain through the veneer finishing; must waterproof stand soaking pre- liminary forming processes; must preserve the strong joint be- tween steel and wood forming. Steel surfaces must clean and character that will take the glue. Bonderized and galvannealed surfaces are excellent for this pur- pose. The glue set under high pressure moderately high temperature. TRETCHER sheets are here electri- together with resulting pro- duct which flat and which gives good gluing surface. mechanical operations must performed the sheet metal Coincident with the development gluing thin veneer steel sheets came the necessity fastening one piece this steel another way which would not detract from the beauty the wood facing either the presence nail, screw rivet heads leaving discolorations the exposed ve- neer surface. The solution this problem has been found re- finement the projection welding process. Electric welding done the exposed metal back Steel- wood such way that the in- crease temperature the face very slight. The glue joint not injured, the wood not scorched, the surface appearance changed. Fastenings are made means concealed metal clips, angles, cover plates, special forms. welder similar those being installed the plant the Liquid Corp., Chicago, shown opposite page. The welding tips are seen the right, against plywood panel background. They are mounted head attached extensible and vertically mov- able arm which counterbal- anced that welds can made any angle and any place within reach the machine. Very little effort required move the weld- ing head “gun,” called, between its extreme positions. This Haskelite developed welding proc- ess gives much promise finding extensive use body builders automobiles, busses and trucks well for general sheet steel work. has one two sheet steel faces glued panel. The product much strong- and stiffer than are its compo- nent parts. obtain some con- ception this, one may note that the rubber eraser greatly reduced gluing thin cerdboard opposite faces. For illustration, Plymetl construction 0.70 in. thick weighs per sq. ft. about per cent more electric heating elements are alternated with panels. After entire load under pressure, heat applied means these electric elements. BELOW modern design lends itself readily the use wood veneered steel. than ga. steel; for the same stress its strength bending about times that ga. steel and its stiffness about 111 times that the steel sheet. the sides fancy delivery truck, Plymetl comparatively free from the wrinkles and buckles seen similar constructions flat sheet metal. Galvannealed sheet steel special grade the material most commonly used, this surface favor- ing the adhesion glue and paint. However, great variety sheet metals have been used successfully, ABOVE trays are made steel sheets both sides which glued thin wood veneer. The trays are formed punch press after the veneer glued the steel. ° ° = 4 BELOW from press. When under pressure the load clamped by. turn buckles. Thereby pressure retained the load freeing the press for the next operation. particularly stainless steel, alumi- num, monel metal, and porcelain enamel. some cases Steelwood forms one face Plymetl. The metal faces not only contribute the strength and stiffness Ply- metl, but they make the product resistant moisture and liquids. many cases edge protection de- pends upon the seal furnished setting the panels position for use. facilitate this protection, many varieties edges have been developed, wherein the metal one both faces folded over the edges, which may securely closed soldering welding. special feature this shop electric press which heat applied panels flexible elec- tric heating elements designed and page shown element being re- moved from the stack panels into cooling rack. The panels are removed the same time the opposite direction and are sent the cutoff, where they are trimmed size. Large plywood panels are made scarfing together two more smaller panels. This means that corresponding edges are accurately cut long bevels and then glued together. Sheet steel faces proper thickness often cannot obtained the sizes demanded for large panels. Therefore, became necessary build welder which butt welds stretcher sheets. works successfully any gauge from 16; will make weld any length 122 in.; its operation almost entirely auto- matic; the welding head fol- lowed milling cutter flatten one side the weld sheets thicker than ga. The scarfing process and this welder make pos- sible Plymetl panels such sizes projection welder will fuse steel the bare side steelwood and leave mark dis- coloration the 1/85-in. thick wood veneer. are limited only transporta- tion problems. Another innovation shown above. Here stack panels being removed from press. Turn- buckle clamps hold the panels under high pressure until the glue set. Time required for setting ranges from hr., depending upon the kind glue and the kind plywood used the core. unbroken metal surface, metal veneered surface around corner. This readily accomplished cutting away part the core plywood, leaving the sheet metal. Specially shaped inserts are then laid against the metal and the panel bent form right angle. The metal follows the contour the inserts, which are left place. This forms smooth and correctly rounded corner which rigidly backed the inserts. THE IRON AGE, July 1936—33 | ‘ ; iy previous articles ican System Enter- prise has been defined Individualism, Initiative, Indus- try and Independence. has been shown that has set the highest standard living the world has ever seen. has also been shown that totally different Systems are required resourceless and dis- united Europe and resourceful and united America. From which would seem that the American Sys- tem Freedom Enterprise the one for us. not need much more proof that. are Individualists and want order our affairs and our lives suit ourselves, provide for our age and most lasting good our family, friends, and fellow- countrymen. not want take orders from anybody, least all from some jack-in-office, repre- this series the R-EXPANSION senting the R.R.E. (Regime for Regulating Everything.) are perfectly willing play our place the team and listen what the coach and the captain tell and with our might— because want it. That what the American Sys- tem Free Enterprise has always been—a few hundred farmers leav- ing their hoes and harrows the fields, stand row Lexing- ton common against the British grenadiers—a Nation waging fratricidal conflict over the enslave- ment human beings—our own generation engulfed the War All Nations put end mili- tary despotism. have always been ready fight for the right please. May ever remain so. Now many people are asking what happened our system just prior the six-year horror this The System Sees depression. Was the system, it- self, cause the depression? Was temporarily broken down the irresistible surge destruc- tive forces new it? had fallen completely into obsolescence, make way for newer and bet- ter system? quite natural that these questions should arise the popu- lar mind, unaccustomed analyze causes and only too ready blame hard times whatever handi- est—big business, the bankers the Government. This time they tried blaming the depression each these succession, then all them together and finally, when that did not seem the answer, upon the American System its entirety. The System Became the Goat has come about that very considerable number people are DEPRESSION what happened Business Volume (black) and Wholesale Commodity Prices (diagonal hatching) during and after the Civil War. Prices shoot peak and take years decline. Meanwhile the short depression right after the war nothing the long one which followed after nearly nine years. 34—THE IRON AGE, July 1936 From chart copyrighted the Century Press, Toledo, Ohio. | | COMMDOITY . 4 | Through the opinion that our system has oeen direct cause the depres- sion. Their reasons may vague but they add this: That the money lent the Allies dragged into the war protect our loans; that the money later lent recklessly bankrupt Nations and foreign corporations came out everybody’s pocket never re- turn; that the money invested their thrifty selves securities all kinds, notably real estate, was shamefully squandered. They put all into terms money misused. Then there second great number our people, possibly more thoughtful than the masses just mentioned, who hold the Amer- ican System not directly but in- directly responsible for the catas- trophe. They say that the immedi- ate cause was the collapse the insanely inflated stock market, the keystone the American System, aww . YEAR WAR. th here what happened after the World War. The cycle identical with that after the Civil ° MORGAN FARRELL Director Chilton Bureau Economic Research HIS the fifth article Mr. series the American System Enter- prise. this installment, shows that this depression, like the great post Civil War depression, was the result the profligate expenditure money, materials and manpower the World War. Having defined and de- scribed the American System this and the foregoing ar- ticles, the author will devote subsequent chapters fol- lowing issues the enemies the American System. which did nothing avert the dis- aster—in fact aggravated lending immense sums money ° ° for stock gambling. That after the crash, this and all other credit im- mediately contracted the vanish- ing point carrying all business done credit, with it. They con- tend further that the former, nor- mal amount credit business has not been restored and that, until is, recovery will continue limited direct ratio the volume credit available. Then there third class intelligent people, who not hold the American System directly indirectly responsible for the de- pression but who hold that the system failed avert the and hence must have something the matter with it, which needs reform- ing. The arguments all three classes and they have included, until recently, well over half the public opinion the United States, all amount about the same thing: ROSPERIT War but the business volume swings are more violent because the business the whole world was throwing its inertia into the moves. From chart copyrighted the Century Press, Toledo, Ohio. THE IRON AGE, July 1936—35 That have suffered intense and preventable depression caused or, least, not arrested by, our system ordering our National lives. Confusion Cause and Effect fusion the order causes and effects chain events not limited America alone but af- fecting the lives all humanity. What happening our country the breaking out upon the sur- face profound illness man’s scheme civilization upon Earth. There was four years’ war, involving all the Nations the globe. had not only arrested the normal, constructive activities the whole Earth for that length time but had released destructive forces which could not stopped even the loss millions lives and billions treasure but must until the healing power time could its work. there had never been orgy stock market gambling every- body who could scrape together enough buy stocks about which they knew nothing, the depression would have come just the same. The war had cost $26 billions; had lost some $16 billions more foreign repudiated obligations, public and private. top that, our foreign trade dropped from billions excess exports over imports $0.2 billions per year. How could that stupendous sum taken out our National wealth without complete dislocation business, without every one feeling the pinch poverty. did not feel the effects the World War all once. The van- quished nations Europe did. They joined their erstwhile Rus- sian and Italian foes revolution and anarchy. Spain the West and China the East went into revolution. India and Egypt trem- bled the verge. The victorious powers were almost badly off. They escaped revolution but that about all. Broke and demoral- ized, they could neither pay nor business with us. How could otherwise? our losses were staggering those the European nations were paralyzing. Their money losses were fatal enough but the irreplaceable losses hu- man life and usefulness were even greater. Then there destruction one-sixth the area France and the other wartorn 36—THE IRON AGE, July 1936 regions Eastern and Southeast- ern Europe; the sinking mil- lion tons commercial vessels and 1.3 million tons warships; the outbreak revolution seven countries. All that life, wealth and order are taken out the world, while American business usual! could not be; the law compensation does not work that way. Depression was Result War Therefore, while people tend blame our depression this that link the chain cause and effect, the more thoughtful econo- mists agree that was caused war losses, which, turn, caused disruption the entire struc- ture international trade and fi- nally our own internal trade. were not organized business only among ourselves and the process slowing down the indus- trial and business machine make the necessary readjustments, too much way was lost and real panic ensued. The rest the world had been going through these throes twelve years before they reacned us. thought that were going es- cape them; that, for some strange reason, whatever went would not come down. make matters worse eventually, embarked easy money spree overbuild- ing, overbuying and overspeculat- ing. Not only was credit unlimited but the sale shares the public reached the highest point ever known. Something like billion worth real estate stocks, mortgage bonds and guar- anteed certificates alone were held nearly six million people. Finally the period lag ended and were struck the full fury the financial storm which had been sweeping around the world. The fact that were bowl- ing along under the full sail prosperity spending did not cause the disaster—it only made that much worse. came pass that, when the gale subsided, strip- ped her canvas and under bare poles, our economic vessel came almost dead stop. That, believe, faithfully de- what happened. The Ameri- can System had nothing with bringing the depression. was functioning perfectly before the war, continued function with amazing flexibility under the rapid- expanding demands the con- flict and resumed peaceful opera- tions the post-war backwash efficiently ever. apparent, then, that our system doing things was not the cause, either directly indirectly, the depression. But the ques- still remains: “Could should have prevented the de- pression?” This very much like asking: “Could have prevented the World War?” Presumably could have done that, too—by cutting off the sup- plies. could the Civil War have been prevented letting the se- ceding States go. But neither these methods would have been accord with the most elementary principles the American System. the first instance the united thought America, which the life the system, approved the destruction militarism and the second, insisted upon the preservation the Union well the termination slavery. Astonishing Similarity There astonishing similari- the reactions our system the violent disruption all its peaceful workings those two great conflicts. The parallel close that may safely rest our case for the continuing vitality the American System Enter- prise upon it. have seen that our way was not the cause the great depres- sion and that could not consist- ently have prevented it. The be- lated depression was the effect; the World War was the cause. The fact that the worst depression came long after the close the con- flict puzzles many us, especially those who forget that there was quite depression immediately after the war. Nine years elapsed between the beginning the first and that the second depression. Exactly the same thing happen- after the Civil War. fact the American System, after being strained the breaking point, went through exactly the same phases alternate depression and recovery that time which have recognized the present. Let compare them and follow through see what can learn from the final post-Civil War re- covery, which might give some (CONCLUDED PAGE 90) | ; j 4 FAIRLESS, President, Steel Corp. Drawn John Frew for The Age. 4 GE aa Z . 5 ABOVE new sal" pull-type machine adaptable both internal and surface broaching. This series comes six models and and 60-in. strokes. LEFT 1G. 2—This “High Speed suited for con- tinuous surface broaching small parts. Colonial Introduces New Line Machines broaching playing present- day machine shop practice, the Colonial Broach Co., Detroit, has recently expanded its line such equipment include practically all types. the new set-up are eleven basic types models, including the well-known and widely used surface broaching ma- chines the single and dual-ram types, well the Colonial “Utility” broach machine, all which have been improved de- tails and extended range. Several new types have been added. They include group horizontal universal broaching ma- speed varieties; two new series vertical machines, one for job-lot work, the other for high produc- tion; two types presses, and two models broach sharpening ma- chines. Aside from these standard models the company a