Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-15
A ROLL REVOLUTION.
Abram Reese Solves the Problem of
Operating Three-High Mill.
CHANGES THAT WILL BE MADE
By the Growing Effort of a long Series
of Inventions.
FEATURES OF INDUSTRIAL INTEREST

Abram Reese, Pittsburg's veteran in
ventor and iron manufacturer, has, after
many years of work, worry and anxiety,
solved the problem OF successfully operat-
ing three-high rolling mill This inven-
tion means a great saving to the manu-
facturer, and although the model has been
on exhibition only a few days, nearly all of
the prominent iron and steel men of Pitts
burg have viewed it. The verdict of them
all is that the problem has been fully
solved.
For the past 20 years the old two-high
mills have been i'll vogue. They have al
ways been cause of trouble and expense.
With them 1t was necessary to have a re-
versible engine, for when the iron passes
through once the machine stops and the en-
gine has to be reversed before the rail can
be put through again. To roll a rail on
these machines 1t takes on averages about
20 passes. 1t can easily be seen how time
is lost. This and the engines necessary to
run the mill makes it very expensive.
Features of the New Design.
The new invention does not need to be
reversed, but when the rail passes through
the one roll it only needs to be started
through the other. The machine does not
need to stop. 1t rolls the bar on the fiat and
edge on both passes The capacity is in
creased 100 per cent by this mill. The cost
is about one-half that of the two-high
machine. This is largely on account of it
not being necessary TO use reversible
engine. Another great feature about the
three-high is that it is only necessary to
AL Oh t1or xr-l,s
on the two-high eight different screws have
to be set every time.
While the idea of the three-high mill is
not a new one, it has never been worked
out with entire success until now. Its in
ventor is well known in Pittsburg and in
fact all over Western Pennsylvania. In
1882 he came from Wales to America, and
the ship which brought him here also car
ried the first cargo of iron rails ever brought
into the United States. From the time Mr..
Reese was u years old he has been engaged
in the iron and steel business. His first
salary was 25 cents a day, and from that
position he worked his way up through all
the various departments of this great in
dustry until he got to be a builder and man
ager of iron and steel works.
A Long List of Inventions.
Ali through his career his mind kept
CouslauliF tUIuluS tohdiO luftullOus.
From time to time he would turn up with
some device which would be a great benefit
to the iron and steel business, but, like
Williard's "Middleman," he was never the
gamer. After months and maybe years of
work he would bring out some new model,
which would be quickly gathered up by the
industrial world and the benefits would be
reaped by others. A year ago ne invented
a machine TO be used in beam mill, and
that was the first thing he ever realized on.
That netted him $4,000 He has great
hopes on his last invention, which is the
crowning achievement of his life. William
p. Shinn is associated with him in putting
the machine in operation.
Mr.. Reese is now towering around the
age of1O, but his step is firm and his eye
just as bright as ever. In speaking of his
age, he said: 81 consider myself young
from the fact that my father, William
Reese, of Bolivar, is still living at the age
of 104, with the prospect of Is additional
years, and is better man than myself"
1t is altogether probable that Mr.. Reese
will not let his inventive genius grow rusty,
but the world will still be reminded of him
by the new productions of his brains and
hands.