The Marble times and Crystal silver lance., 1900-12-28
Uses of Aluminium.


lad this among other things to say;
Upon the use of aluminium in the
metallurgy'of steel we will not dwell,
save to briefly remark that for this
purpose alone, many hundred tons are
annually consumed. 1t is added to
molten steel in proportion of a few
ounces to a ton, in the making OF in
pots and billets. Larger tonnages are
treated in the process of making steel
castings by adding the aluminium to
the molten mass before pouring. 1t
has been found of advantage to insert
small scraps of aluminium to the cor
uers and cores of a casting mould.
Tons of aluminium are yearly used for
the making of patterns. The men at
the benches can mould more forms in
a given time and with less fatigue.
The patterns weighing but one-third
as much as brass, can be handled and
stored more readily and cheaply, while
the express charges upon return OF
patterns are greatly reduced. To-day
aluminium is cheaper than copper, con
sidered bulk for bulk. Copper is three
and one-half times heavier than alumni
mum. This should open many chan
nels of new application for aluminium.
One thing that has figured seriously to
the disadvantage of aluminium, and,
indeed, has precluded it from many
excellent field of use, is the lack of
good, cheap, easily worked and per-
manent solder. The chief cause OF the
lack of success is the solder mushing,
and making rough, dirty seam. If
we desire to manufacture a given OBJ
iect of metal, we can make it cheaper
in aluminium than in anything else ex-
cepting iron, lead or zinc, to which
might be added in composite metals,
timed and galvanized iron. The
middle of the twentieth century will see
steel and aluminium standing side by
side as the most useful of the useful
metals. Its greatest competitor will be
timed and galvanized iron. A most
excellent use for aluminium is found in
the making of steam jacketed kettles
and cauldrons for boiling syrups, fruit
juices, honey and wax, as well as for
acid work, for which the peculiar
chemical properties of the metal
specially adapt it.
In the electrical field, aluminium is
forging ahead rapidly into significant
prominence. Comparative tests are
now being made in the Chicago Fire
Alarm Service between copper wire
and aluminium.
had several miles of aluminium wire in
use now for over two years, and is
compiling the physical data necessa sary
for consideration as to its merits in
comparison with copper and iron. The
main electric conductors in use at the
reduction works at Niagara Falls are
made of large aluminium bars, many
square inches in area, and have been
giving satisfactory service for years.
Aluminium cooking utensils, household
articles and culinary shapes, for home,
institutions and hospitals; field equip
ments for the army and outfits for the
navy are in use. Some larger manu-
facturers of utensils in England and
on the continent are making complete
lines of goods. The American sloop
yacht Defender" was built of alumi-
mum plates from water line to deck
level, and the result has given salts
faction.
Aluminium powder and thin beaten
leaf is now largely used. 1t has found
an excellent use as mixture for max
ing Photographic flashlights, and in
printing and bookbinding. 1t is also
mixed as paste for ink for printing
cotton tinsel fabrics for oriental trade.
Aluminium hairpins are now being made
by the millions, as are thimbles by the
thousands of gross. For ferrules and
ornamental bands for canes and UNI
brellas, the metal has been success
fully applied. A large use has also
developed itself in the making of metal
combs, brush backs, mirror frames,
agd host of toilet articles. The
metal lends itself readily to work into
dies, and many tons are year
ly used in the making of coins, med ais,
checks, tags, med allions and insignia.
In fact, says Mr.. Steinmetz. sit is i'm
possible to enumerate the myriads OF
articles now being made of aluminium.
One might as well make up list of
everything so far manufactured out of
sheet or wire, in brass, copper or
nickel, tin sheets, steel and iron, and
such combinations thereof, as form the
m aterials out of which all known
metal devices have thus far been man