The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-07
THINNER THAN TISSUE PAPER.
sheets of Iron That Run 4,Soo to an
Inch Recently Rolled in Wales.

sheets of Iron That Run $500 to an
Inch Recently Rolled in Wales.
Fronl the Paper Makers Journal
Among the novelties introduced on the
continent lately ara visiting cards made
o,tbin sheets of iron, a revival of the ex-
biaits made at the first universal exhibit
,ion held in London in 1851. The French
and spanish journals have been lately
treating this matter of fine rolling of
sheets of iron as a novelty, but, in truth,
fhe affair resulted in a competition be-
tween American and French metallur-
risfs arising out of the exhibit of a speci-
mon of iron paper if it may be so termed,
made in 1851 by an American firm.
A lively competitor in iron rolling then en-
eued among British manufacturers as to
The thinness to which steel could be
rolled cold. Mr. elliott rolled sheets the
average thickness Of which was the L.,
sDltb part of an inch. In other words,
500 sheets piled upon each other would
collectively measure an inch in thickness,
while the thinnest tissue paper to be
purchased in the stationers' shops, or
ciuarette paper, measured the ,200th
mart of an inch. These very thin iron
Sheets are perfectly smoth and easy to
write on, although porous when held up
10 a good light 1t may not be out of
Mace. considering the great interest that
Is taken by those connected with that
great branch of industry, the iron trade,
TO give a few curious particulars as to
the extent iron can be welded and the
thin sheets that can be rolled out. Brother
Jonathan little thought what a hubbub
would be created in the old country forty
two years ago, when from Pittsburg he
sent that wonderful letter written on
sheet made from iron, which took no
less than 1000 sheets to make one
inch in thickness, the dimensions being
inches by 81 inches, or surface of A
inches and weighing SO grains The fact
had no sooner made its appearance in
print than Britain's sons began to work
and soon we heard that sheet containing
the same mum Der of surface inches, but
weighing only as grains, had been made
at the Marshfield Iron Works, Llanelly,
Carmarthenshire, Wales, being exactly
one-third less in weight.
But soon the Welsh leek had to give
way to the rose of England, for Stafford
shire was anxious to takeits wonted lead.
The Hope Iron Works succeeded in max
ing a sheet of II surface inches, weighing
but 50 grains, which, reduced to the
American and Welsh standard of A
inches, gives about 39 grains; Messrs. r.
Williams & Co, 60 inches 40 grains; re
cuced to the same standard, about 81
the belt, but Wales became very restless
and anxious for the honor of St. David, so
further attempts were made. Marsh
field came again into the field. They
succeeded in making one sheet Sx5Y
inches, or a surface of A
inches, of the astounding weight
Of 2315 grains only, which required no
less than 1888 sheets to make l inch in
thickness; another sheet SX6 inches, or
4 cd 1,,,k
brought to the standard of A inches,
gives but % grains, and requires 1850
sheets to make 1 inch in thickness The
POntardawe Tin Works next came into
the field with a sheet 14$4x7 $40, or a
surface of 1l5-l7 inches, weighing 60
grains; but being reduced to A inches is
24l4 grains, trihe heavier than the
Marshfeld, but Pontardawe claims 3,799
sheets to make l inch in thickness.
We now come to the climax The mill
manager of Messrs. w. Mailman & Co., of
the Upper Forest Tin Works, near Swan
sea, succeeded in making sheet of the
finest appearance and thinness that has
ever yet been seen by mortal eye The iron
from which the sheet was rolled was mnde
on the premises. TWAS worked in a finery
with charcoal and the usual blast; after
ward taken to the hammer, to be formed
into reugIar fiat bottom; from thencecon-
yeyed TO the balling furnace, and when
sufficiently heated taken up to the rolls.
heightened and cut by shears into proper
lengths, piled up and transferred to the
DaIIlng furnace again; when heated it
was passed through the rolls, back again
into the balling furnace, and when duly
brought to the proper pitch was taken
To the rolls and made into thorough
good bar Such is the history in connec-
ton with the forge department. 1t was
then taken to the tin mills and rolled
till it was supposed to be thinner
than twenty-five grains, afterward passed
through the cold mills to give it the nee
essary polish, and it stands on record as
the thinnest sheet of iron ever rolled
The sheet in question was 10 by 50
inches, or So inches in surface, and
weighed but 20 grains, which, being
brought to the standard offs by So inches,
or A surface inches, is but Is grains, or
super cent less than any previous effort,
and required at least 1900 to make l inch
IN thickness.