The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-08-17
THIN SHEETS OF IRON
A VERY INTERESTING COMPETITION
AMONG STEEL WORKERS.

Them Are Required to Make an Inch.
How tho Effort to surpass Each Other
Started Among Metaliurgists.
Among the novelties introduced on the
continent lately are visiting cards made
of thin sheets of iron, revivalof the ex-
hibits made at the first Universal exhibit
ton, held in London in 1851. The French
and Spanish journals have been lately
treating this matter of fine rolling of
sheets Of iron as novelty, but in truth
the affair resulted in a competition be-
tween American and English metallur-
gists arising out of the exhibit of a speci-
men of iron paper, if it may be so termed,
made in 1851 by an American firm. A
lively competition in iron rolling then
ensued 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
eighteen hundredth part of an inch. In
other words, 1880 sheets piled upon each
other would collectively measure an inch
in thickness, while the thinnest tissue
paper to be purchased in the stationers'
or cigarette paper, measured the twelve
hundredth part of an inch.
These very thin iron sheets are per-
fectly smooth and easy to write on, al
though porous when held up to good
light. 1t may not be out Of place, con-
sidering the great interest that is taken
by those connected with that great
branch of industry, the iron trade, to
give 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 hubbub
would be created in the old country az
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 an inch in thickness,
the dimensions being 8 inches by 81
inches, or q surface of "A inches, and
weighing SO grains. The fact had no
sooner made it's appearancein print than
Britain's sons began to work, and soon
we heard that sheet containing the
same number of surface inches, but
weighing only 40 grains, had been made
at the Marshfield iron works, Llanelly,
Carmarthenshire, 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 take its wonted
lead. The Hope iron works succeeded
in making a sheet Of 119 surface inches
weighing but 80 grains, which, reduced
to the American and Welsh standard of
A inches, gives about 83 grains; Messrs.
R. Williams g. Co., SO inches, 40 grains;
reduced to the same standard, about 81
grains. For a time Staffordshire wore
the belt, but Wales became very restless
and anxious for the honor Of st. David,
so further attempts were made.
Marshfield came again into the field.
They succeeded in making one sheet
8by 81 inches, or q surface of A inches,
of the astounding weight Of 23i grains
only, which required no less than 1855
sheets to make inch in thickness. An.
other sheet 8 by 9 inches, or 4S surface
inches, weighed % grains, but brought
to the standard of A inches, gives but
90 grains, and requires 1850 sheets to
make 1 inch in thickness. The Pom
tardawe tin works next came into the
field with sheet 14a by 7 GIG, or sur
face of 115-17 inches, weighing 60 grains,
but being reduced to "A inches is 24i
grains, trife heavier than the Marsh
field, but Pontardawe claims Q, 100 sheets
to make inch in thickness.
We now come to the climax. The
mill manager of Messrs. W. Hallam &
Co. of the Upper Forest tin works, near
Swansea, succeeded in making q 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 made on the premises. 1t
was worked in finery with charcoal
and the usual blast; afterward taken to
the hammer to be formed into a regular
flat bottom; from thence conveyed to
the balling furnace, and when sufficient
ly heated taken up to the rolls, length
ened and cut by shears into proper
lengths, piled up and transferred to the
balling furnace again. When heated, 1t
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 thor
oughly good bar.
Such is the history in connection with
the forge department. 1t was then
taken to the tin mills and rolled till 1t
was supposed to be thinner than 20
grains, afterward passed through the
cold mills to give it the necessary polish,
and it stands ON record as the thinnest
sheet of iron ever rolled. The sheet in
question was 10 by 81 inches, or 55
inches in surface, and weighed but 20
grains, which, being brought to the
standard of by 81 inches, or A surface
inches, is but IS grains, or 80 per cent
less than any previous effort, and re-
quired at least 1890 to make an inch in
thicknaaa -paner Hakara, Jorrna1