The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-26
LOSTART DISCOVERED
Blakeley Blacksmiths Weld
Copper and Steel.
VALUABLE TO SHIP-BUilOERS.
Reading OF similar Discovery In the
.EP.-I.,'' They Duplicate 1.-THE
Two Metals Made One.

To the great volume OF nineteenth cen-
fury science and invention Il seems PROB
able that this state is 10 have the noEor
OF contributing the recovery OF one OF ne
lost arts J. z. Masters and John l. Hub
bard two modest and hard-working black
smiths in Hall Bros shipyard al Port
Blakeley. have succeeded in welding copper
and iron or steel-a process the accomplish
lment of which has for centuries baff1ed the
most skillful mechanics OF the world Inc
Post-InteIligencer itself is not without
minor share in The honor. since the men
were first induced through news item in
its columns 10 undertake the experimental
ton which has been crowned with such
signal and unexpected success. LEARNING
OF their triumph. the Post-Intelligencer
sent representative 10 Port Blakeley yes
ter3ay 70 get the history OF a discovery
which may prove Of vast and fsr-reaching
Importance in maritime and industrial
circles.
AS in the case Of other important steps
in the advancement OF science. the circum-
stances that have led these men 10 the
solution Of this problem are very simple,
and doubtless the process itself when dis
closed by them will prove equally so.
GaIvani made his most important addition
to science by watching the convulsive
twitching OF frogs leg; Newton found
the law OF gravitation through the fall OF
an apple: Franklin harnessed the subtle
force Of electricity with the slender thread
OF a kite; and these two obscure men. at
their forge in a seaside village. have with
their crude implements and meager equip
ment done a piece Of work that all the
Carnegies and the Cramps have not been
able 10 turn out.
What Put Them TO Work.
There is really not much of a story
connected with our work" said Mr. Hub
bard yesterday afternoon, as the reporter
seated himself on dsused anvil
In one corner of the shop. las you see. We
are working here in the shop, and have
very little time for experiments Of any
kind But about month ago we saw q
statement In the Post-InteIligencer that
some Of Carnegie's men had been at work
laying sheet Of copper
sheet of steel. and that Carnegie
had offered them inducements to carry
their experiments to success. 1t at once
occurred TO us that we might tinker lit
tie at the same thing ourselves. We had
only the noon hour and a few odd minutes
now and then, nothing to work with but
the rough tools you see here in the shop,
and no fire but the little one on the forge
there. Masters really deserves more credit
than !. for he had given the matter some
attention years ago.
An Old Problem Brought Ont.
Yes. said Mr.. Masters. Il used to work
In the shops at Hobol1en. n. j. and as
FAR back as 1851 the problem was not a
new one to me. | knew nothing of the his
tory or theory of II, but we had to copper
fasten all vessels. and the welding of cop
per to another metal simply presented it.
SELF 10 me as practical difficulty to be
overcome. ] can't say that / made much
Roadway towards overcoming it," he add
ed. smiling, land had not thought lately
or working at ii, until we read the item
In the Post-lntelligencer Hubbard is my
49,.
cess comes 10 one Of US will come 10 both"
Invaluable TO Shipbuilders.
AS far as I can see" disclaimed Mr..
Hubbard. there is not much success or
fame to be had out OF it for either Of US
You see. we have thought of il almost al
together in connection with the bottom of
ships. Now. il will not do to put iron and
copper on together. If even the boltheads
or iron are left exposed, for the copper
will eat the from up Digit awav. We are
going TO experiment further as soon as
we get time. and we may be able TO protect
the iron or steel wholly. Meanwhile II is
possible that other uses may be found for
the work we have done. such as lining
copper kettles, and the like What we
have done is simply 10 secure a perfect
welding of sheet of copper and sheet
OF steel. To what practical applications
re work may be put, neither of us can
surmise. Here is a sample Of what we
nave QOUes
He thereupon produced a plain sheet OF
metal. or rather OF two metals. so per
fectly united that they seemed but parts
OF an indivisible whole. copper on one
side and steel on the other The sheet is
about IS by inches, with an average
thickness Of = Of an inch. While IL shows
a complete welding. vet a transverse Sec
ton shows plainly the line of distinction
between the two metals. clinging together
with such cohesion that no sledge hammer
or cold-chlsel has been able to separate
them.
The Process StiIi n secret
Both gentlemen arc satisfied that what
has been done thus far on a small scale
can be easily done on a larger. They are
extremely modest. and are inclined 10
shrink from all notoriety. They have not
Vet protected themselves nv patent ard
Of course guard The secret Of their method
with the greatest care. They have re-
ceived Informal overtures from Seattle
mon for exploiting the process. hut have
had no correspondence with Eastern peo-
pie
Half-Hint bottle hsv rum u cents Gem
Drug Store. Occidental block. Second