The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-02-05

cleanses them, when they are ready
for the first process Of drawing. The
first draw is made with hydraulic ma
chine operated by Worthington pump
working against pressure Of 1900
pounds to the squa,e inch, which pro-
duces force Of $50, 900 pounds against
the piston Of the hydraulic machine.
To this piston is attached an arbor or
steel rod on which the tubes are slipped
and the immense power then forces it
through steel die which reduces the
thickness of the metal and lengthens
the tubes. They are again annealed
and picked and are ready for a second
draw made in the same way, using a
smaller arbor and die until the thick.
ness of the metal is sufficiently reduced
to make the draw on the chain bench,
beginning with the largest and running
down to the smallest size which draws
a tube 3-32 of an inch in diameter.
The operation of the chain benches is
novel and interesting. By means of
tapered steel arbors the inside diane
ter of tubes can be made to vary the
thousandth part of an inch; the end of
the tube is reduced by pointing ma
chine and the tube slipped over a
mandril; the pointed end is then showed
through die and is clutched by pair
of tongs which are hooked in an end
less chain Of square steel links working
over heavy cog wheel turned by very
powerful gearing, drawing the tube to
the desired gauge and finish.
Besides all the special machinery
used in drawing tubes there is a COM
plete machine shop attached to the
plant for making dies and keeping the
machinery in repair. All the machinery
is of the very latest and most approved
pattern, much Of it, notably the hy-
draulic and largest chain bench being
the Improvements of F. J. Richard,
the General Superintendent of the
Works. The mixing of the metals in
the casting shop requires full knowl-
edge Of metals and alloys to get tubes
free from flaws to dlaw true and
smoothly and with a perfect finish.
Seamless tubes are used by ship buil1-
ers, engine and boiler makers, in the
construction of sugar refineries, brew.
cries, distilleries, artificial ice plants,
by plumbers, pumpmakers, for brass
furniture, rolls for printing presses, and
all purposes requiring tubes which
will stand heavy pressure.
Tons oI tubes are standing around the
plant IN various stages Of completion,
ranging from heavy five inch castings
to finished brass copper and bronze
tubes 7-64 of an inch in diameter.
The building is solid and substantial,
well lighted and ventilated. The whole
plant is thoroughly equipped for the
business with an annual capacity of a
million pounds Of tubing. Night work
is provided for by electric light supplied
by the Bloomsburg Electric Light Co.
The Works are heated by exhaust
steam from the pump. Within a short
time wagon and foot bridge will be
put across the canal at Catharine street
and the d. l.. & w. r. R. Company
are making arrangements to run a
switch direct to the Works.
Four acres of land are owned by the
Company on which they dig the clay
and sand they use in making the cores
The land has a frontage on three
streets and is admirably located fol
enlarging the plant as the business may
demand. The Works were originally
started by Messrs. Richardson and
Richard of Waterbury, Conn.,, with
the assistance of some of our leading
citizens, who subscribed to loan o
$4,000. Both gentlemen are native
Pennsylvanians, the former at one time
a resident of Bloomsburg. Both are
practical men in the business and Mr.
Richard is said to be one of the most
expert tube makers in the country
On the Ist of December, 1891, the
business passed into the hands of the
Bloomsburg Brass & Copper Compa
ny, a corporation with J. l.. Richard
son and f. ]. Richard at its head
About 100000 are invested in the
plant which gives employment to thir
ty-hve men, most of whom are from
Bloomsburg, which number will be in
creased as quickly as the additional
and special machinery which is being
rapidly added, is placed in position,
and the Works sharing in the solid and
substantial growth Of Bloomsburg are
destined to become one of its leading
industries. For much Of the histori-
cal data in the above article we are in
debted to the Iron Age.