The Progress., 1898-12-31
COSTLY MONSTER MISSILES
Steel Tempered with as Much Care az q
Razor Blade.

Razor Blade.
The invention of the modern high
power guns have brought into use pro-
Jecllles That are the finest product Of
ingenuity and improved machinery,
calling forth the best efforts of skilled
artisans. Instead of cast iron globes
thdt could be turned out by any foun-
Dry twenty years ago, use is now made
il the grades of STEEL tempered with
40 mucn care as a razor blade, and
ground and polished with as much ex-
uctitude as a surgical instrument. The
complete story Of the manufacture Of
ar"or-plercing projectiles by the steel
WORKS IN Reading is a secret so care
lully guarded that it has always been
hard to obtain, but at present, when
the Dig plant is running on war foot
Ing, IL is still more difficult, as only
employees and government inspectors
are permitted to enter the company's
immense machine shops. Shells 4, S,
o. 3, 10, II and 10 inches in diameter
are being made for the navy, and 8, 8
and II inch sizes for the army. Here
IS the history of the making of 10
lnch shell, and as the projectiles Of all
sizes are made in the same manner 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 half inches
III diameter. 1t is then taken to the
lorse room, where, after being reheat-
cd, 1t is hammered down to ten and
tnree-quarter inches, and considerably |
elongated during the process. Next it
IS conveyed to the machine room and
paced upon specially constructed
iathe and turned and pointed. The
only parts of the shell that bear
against the rihed surface of the gun
are the conical end and the copper
ring that encircles the base. This ring
IS SOFT, so as not to injure the rifing.
After the finishing cut has been given
TO the projectiles the diameter of the
largest part of the cone is 1915 inches,
and that of the body of the shell is
$50 inches. Then the Extracting
score is cut. There is a V-shaped
groove, IN which tool can be fastened
"hen 1t is desired to withdraw the
smell from the gun. The next move
IS the boring of five-inch hole in the
base OF the projectile to depth Of
ourteen inches. Tempering follows.
n this process the shell is suspended,
'olnt downward, into receptacle
lied with molten lead, and is allowed
o settle until the metal rises above the
one base. At first the temperature
II the lead is but 500 degrees, but 1t is
increased gradually to 1900 degrees.
ne work of heating continues for
many hours, when the shell Is with
raWn and sprayed with water, to give
hard exterior. Next follows a
ath in a vat filled with secret ingre-
tents, after which the shell is cooled
nth a Jet Of water. Once more the
hell goes back to the machine shop,
mere the hole in the base is widened
ali an inch and the depth increased
Wo inches. The hole is then thread
and screw plug inserted. The !
rinding room is next. Here the ex-
'eme diameter Of the cone is ground
own to ten inches exactly. The work.
zen now apply the band score"
hich Is groove for the reception of
lie soft copper band. After the soft :
eep cap has been fitted to the tip
the projectile, on the theory that
hen the shell strikes the armored
de OF a battle ship the point will BE
detected without any interference
lth its penetrating power, the work
finished so far as the steel company
concerned. It is then boxed I'D and
tipped to some Uni. ed States arsenal,
lere 1t is filled with an explosive
mpound and made ready for its
'rk of destruction. - Philadelphia