Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1889-05-25
WELDING ~ ELECTRICITY.
A Successful Exhibition of This Novel Pro
ceaA GLYcn at HOstOn.

n Successful ENhtbittOn Of ms mover GFn-
cess Given at Boston.
In response to invitations OF Mr.. II.
A. Royce, general manager OF the
Thomson Electric Welding Company OF
this city, about fifty gentlemen assem-
P, bled at the station Of the Maiden Elec-
trio Company, in Maiden, to witness the
novel process Of welding metals by
electric current.
There were three welding machines,
one small and the other two much
larger. The first is called the inch
iron machine, for the reason that il has
a capacity OF welding from quarter to
an inch bar iron. IL will also weld
copper from one-eighth to one-half inch
in diameter, and brass OF some What
larger size. One of the larger machines is
known as the two-inch pipe machine,
as it has the capacity of welding heavy
two-inch iron pipe and smaller sizes.
The third Is called the two-inch iron
machine, and will weld solid bar Of
iron of that size, as well as smaller
sizes. These machines are supplied
with current by q dynamo having a
constant potential OF about 300 volts,
and strength from so to 80 amperes.
The exhibition of welding was begun
on the small machine, when several
pieces Of iron. brass and copper were
successfully welded. much to the sur
prise and qualification of those present,
the work on this machine being closed
by the welding of bar OF
iron an inch in diameter.
The principle of this process is SC
simple and SO direct that the wonder
is nobody thought of it before 1t is
based on the incandescence OF the car
bons in the arc light In these latter
the carbons are placed by the trimmer
so as to touch, and when the current IL
established in the circuit and goes
through them they are drawn slightly
apart by proper mechanism in the lamp
The electric current encountering grea
, resistance from the air, produces grea
heat. which, acting on the carbons
| gives a white Neutrality-suspicious. tn,
arc light. This principle is utilized II
welding. The ends of metals to b.
welded are brought in close contact
, then the current is run through them
and when it is established these end
, are separated slightly, when the cleo
, trio arc is formed between them ant
| heat ensues. which, by skillful ar
| rangement OF the machine. is gradual.
: intensified until the desired welding
, heat is obtained. At this juncture thu
r current is shut of by the operator, ant
/ the machine manipulated so as to press
I the heated ends together, when the
: weld is at once completed. The whole
4 process is clean, neat, beautiful.
l In the weddings done on the small
machine the file show the homogeneit.
o Of the metal at the point of junction
v and to show how strong this weld wa
Mr. Lemp twisted one of the joinet
bars until the metal broke, but tn
break was not at the weld.
Next an exhibition was given O
welding two-inch pipe on the machin
j., designed for that purpose This wa
9 rs readily and as easily effected as i
the case of the smaller bars in the frs
machine, the weld being perfect, an
!, leaving but little ridge on the inside
: Then on the third machine bars {
;, solid two-inch iron were welded wit
:, the greatest ease and in the most pei
feet manner The metal at first a
sumes at the junction a dull reddis
:. color. This color gradually extend
= On each side about one inch or so. b,
~ while it is spreading there Is chang
4 to white heat where the metals NEE
:, l5orax is used to prevent outside oxid
- ton only. Then there is the sudde
Il shutting off of the current, forcir
!, together Of the heated ends, with Il
"A result of u complete union OF the me
!, ais. The whole process is one of ma
u vclous simplicity and at the same tin
"a wonderful completeness. BIO ,ton He
: aid.