The Columbus journal., 1898-09-28
Making Shells for warsA,rs.

Making Shells for warshirs.
From the Philadelphia Record:
Modern warfare has developed into a
science that levies upon the services Cf
experts and experienced mechanics as
largely as tie pursuits OF peace. 1t is
an expensive operation. and very few
among the millions who read the Prov
ess Of the American navy have any
conception Of the enormous cost OF
each shot that is fired. Those whose
knowledge Of arms and ammunition is
limited to the impressions received
from the display of cannon and pyra-
mfds OF spherical cannon balls in
parks. armories and national ceme-
teries cannot realize what great chang
es have taken place within the past
ten years.
The invention of the modern high
power guns has brought into use rro-
jectiles that are the finest product of
ingenuity and improved machinery.
calling forth the best efforts of skilled
artisans. Instead Of cast iron globes
that could be turned out by any fOun-
dry twenty years ago. use Is now made
Of the grades OF steel. tempered with
as much care as razor blade and
ground and polished with as much ex-
actitude as a surgical instrument.
The complete story of the manufac-
ture Of armor-piercins projectiles By
the steel works in Reading is secret
SO carefully guarded that it has always
been hard to obtain. but at present,
when the big plant is running on a
war footing. it is still more difficult.
as only employees and government in
srectors are permitted to enter the
company's immense machine shops.
Shells four. five. six. eight. ten, twelve
and thirteen inches in diameter are
being made for the navy. and eight,
ten and twelve-inch sizes for the army.
Contracts agsregating several millions
Of dollars are being filed there, and as
the company operates the largest pro-
jectile plant in the world, there are
few American vessels that do not car
ry these shells.
Here is the history Of the making of
a ten-inch shell. and as the projectiles
of all sizes are made in the same man
ner. It gives some idea OF the vast
amount Of labor required to equip a
fleet. In the casting shop molten steel
is cast into solid piece twelve and a
half inches in diameter. It is then
taken to the forge-room, where, after
being reheated, 1t is hammered down
to ten and three-Quarter inches. and
considerably elongated during the
process. Next 1t is conveyed to the
machine shop and placed upon a spe-
cially constructed lathe and turned and
pointed. The only parts of the shell
that bear against the rifled surface OF
the gun are the conical end and cop
per ring that encircles the base. This
ring is soft. SO as not to injure the
rifling. After the finishing cut has
been given to the projecti!e the dame
ter of the largest part Of the cone is
ten and five One-hundredths inches.
and that Of the body of the shell nine
and Observation-Disclosures inches.
Then the Extracting score" Is cut.
This Is V-shaped groove. in which a
tool can. be fastened down when 1t Is
desired to withdraw the shell from the
gun. The next move is the boring OF
q five-inch hole In the base OF the pro-
jectile TO a depth of fourteen inches.
Tempering follows. In this process the
shell is suspended. point downward. in
q receptacle filled with molten lead.
and is allowed to settle until the metal
rises above the cone base.
At first the temperature. Of the lead
is but 500 degrees, but it is increased
gradually to 1900 degrees. The work
of heating continues for four hours.
when the shell is withdrawn and
SPRAYED with water to give i: hard!
exterior. Next follows hath in a va.
filed with secret: ingredients. afte:
which the shell is cooled with a jet OF
water.
Once more the she'll goes back to the
machine shop. where the hole in the
base is widened half an inch and the
depth increased two inches. The hole
is then threaded and screw plug in
serted. The grinding-room is next
Here the extreme diameter Of the cone
is ground down to ten inches exactly.
TIE workmen row apply the band
score" which is a groove for the re-
ception of the soft copper band.
After a soft steel cap has been fitte;!
to the top of the p-ojectile. on the
theory that when the shell strikes the
armored side OF a ba:tle-ship the point
will be protected without any inter
ference with its penetrating power. the
work is finished as far as the steel
company is concerned. It is then
boxed up and shipped to some United
States arsenal. where 1t Is filled with
an explosive compound and made
ready for its work of destruction.