New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-09
ALUMINIUM FOR YACHTS.
CAPTAIN HUNT SHOWS IT ISN'T so VERY MUCH
MORE EXPENSIVE THAN BRONZE. AND
POINTS OFT ITS ADVANTAGES

There we're few more deeply interested spectators
of the yacht race Saturday than Captain Alfred
Z. Hunt, OF Pittsburg. who came to New-forK win
his son to see the contest Captain Hunts special
interest in the due to the fact that he IS
the president and general manager OF the Pttsburg
Reduction Company, the firm which furnished the
aluminium for the Defender. While he had never once
doubted the Yankee boats ability to win, he was
highly pleased with her valiant struggle.
When seen by a Tribune reporter at the rooms OF
the Engineers Club at No. 10 West Twenty-nnth-
ST. yesterday. Captain Hunt talked of the expert
mental use of aluminium by the builders OF the
Defender. He said that all sorts Of criticism had
been passed upon Mr.. Iselin because OF his novel
venture. and that many bad things had been said
about the future of boat that was fitted out with
aluminium The Of the yacht as racer
CAPTAIN Hunt said was proof OF the good judgment
OF the Defender syndicate and Of the yachts trust
worthiness
much has been said" continued the captain
about the extravaganza OF the syndicate as shown
by their free use Of metal much more expensive
than the customary bronze. II to me that the
owners Of the Defender should have been COM
mended rather than condemned for their wiling
ness TO bear any expense necessary TO fit out a
winning boat 1t took pluck and discernment to per-
severe in their determination TO use aluminium in
the OF the adverse criticisms Of such men as the
Cramps Thomas A. Edison and some Government
naval constructors But those who have accused
the builders of extravaganza have left one very
important thing out OF consideration. suppose
there were about $1,000 pounds of aluminium used.
| and that the metal cost co cents pound the bill
was 10000 not an enormous sum after al! when
| YOU are building a cup defender. Now If bronze.
| which costs Is cents a pound. had been used the
same number Of pounds would have cost N.JVD ana
| this difference between $50 900 and $500 has ap-
peared enormous. bu, the critics have not stopped
to consider that 80 90 pounds OF bronze would have
covered only one-third much surface az an equal
weight OF aluminium. in other words. as the bronze
would be probably three and one-half times heavier
| than equal parts OF aluminium. there would nave
| been required 5000 times three and one-half, or
| 1900 pounds Of bronze to replace the 5000 pounds
| Of aluminium. These $4,000 pounds at the exceed
| lngy low rate Of Is cents pound would have cost
! 1920, as agains, the estimated 10000 worth OF
/ aluminium that used. 80 you can see that ac-
cordng to these figures the substitution OF alumni
mum for bronze did not add more than AWo 10 me
| total expenses and few people could justly com
| plain OF that when they consider the great ad-
| vantage that aluminium has over bronze IN the
Another source of great anxiety among the De-
tenders friends was the Tear that Aluminium would
| corrode rapidly. and that the yacht would conse-
quenty fall ~ pieces before the races. It was
| thought that the aluminium had TO be a.loyed in
order essen its liability TO rust. Well. now. the
people who said these things showed by saying
! them that they not qualified to talk the
! subject The fact was that the SINAI. per cen,
| mot over . per cent. think Of hardening in
| gradients nickel and copper added give
the aluminium increased tensile strength. and not
for the purpose OF preventing c5rrosiOn. Pure
| aluminium withstands corroson from salt water
ar better than Of It's alloys with the exception
OF the aluminium bron2es, which contain only 10 "a
| l2is per cent OF aluminium me nickel metal alumi'
NUN used was required with specification in p.ates
angles and bulb beams to have from 80 600 pounds "a
1000 pounds tensile strength square inch, and was
actually furnished In the Plates with from S,Gt
| pounds 10 5000 pounds tensile strength square
inch. with the ductility requirements fulfilled
| Captain Hunt says that ne will leave New-Yor
| for Ptsburg to-day thoroughly confident that the
Defender will leave the Va.kyrie behind In thii
| weeks races - she did on Saturday.