The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-16
Is Described as Superior 10
Any Other Discovery
EVOLUTION OF THE BESSEMER
Comprehension Discussion of Steel and
an Account of How the Process
operates-6oolSwalte Was
Democratic Politician.

Daily Democrat, sends the Age-1Ierald
a comprehensive letter on a new process
of making steel. which is attracting much
attention now. and which must prove of
decided interest to people OF the Birming
ham district. The full text of the letter
follows:
There is on exhibition in this city, at
prominent citizen, specimen OF Book
walter cast steel that Is q marvel to all
iron and steel men who have examined
1t. It in a disc on which at regular inter-
walls are eighteen fine. slightly curved
prongs. The casting was made In the
foundry of the Brylgon Steel Casting
company at Reading. Pa, under the su-
pervision of Selden Deemer. superinten-
dent of the plant who Is an enthusiast
over the success and the possibilities of
Bookwalter steel
When the patterns We're submitted to
Mr. Deemer. the assertion was uDquali-
fiedly made that II was not possible to
make the desired steel casting. Mr..
Deemer had been experimenting with the
new Bookwalter process. The experiments
had been so thoroughly satisfactory that
he undertook the task with the utmost
confidence. rhe result when the metal
was poured was a casting absolutely per-
feet, Notwithstanding the ramifcations
the metal had to undergo In doing its
work Bookwalter steel is ar evolution OF
the Bessemer process.
In the latter the air for the purpose
of purifying the metal Is admitted
through tuyeres at the bottom of the
converter. BY the Bookwalter process
the air is admitted through tuyeres in the
sides of The converter. 1t can De readily
understood that with the admission OF
air at the side instead of at the bottom,
where there is a constant struggle to
keep the orifices from choking up, much
less power for the blast is required. The
contact OF the cir with the molten metal
is virtually perfect. The danger OF over
oxidizement IS reduced to the minimum,
and a steel Is produced that Is free from
blow holes, and can be east easily In
minute ard fantastic forms without the
metal losing any of It's strength. In brief,
a pure, strong cast steel. something the
world has been looking for for years,
is attained by the use of this process.
History of Process.
The Bookwalter steel process, which
Is Just now engrossing the attention OF
iron and steel men the country over, has
a history. Ex-Mayor Charles w, Con-
stantine Of Springfield. who Is the chief
lieutenant of Hon. John w. Bookwalter
of this city, the sole owner Of the pro-
cess. said:
twenty-five foundries throughout the
country are now using the process. 1t Is
superior to any steel made. 1t can be
cast in any form and is superior, especial
ly for electrical machinery, owing to the
absence In the publication of injurious
chemicals. I know to a certainty that
Mr. Bookwalter refused an offer of ST.
oOo.o 600 last week for the patent. 1t came,
| understand, from President Schwab of
the new American Steel Castings COM
pany."
The Bookwalter process Is an evolution
and an Improvement of the Robierre pro-
cess which Mr.. Bookwalter purchased
III FTdHto lSIl yCdlS ei6O. A1O bAAS a
foundry in this city in which to expert
ment with the process and organized a
stock company for the purpose. 1t was
not long until the stockholders were at
war. Law suits followed. Mr.. Book
walter lost his health and went abroad.
His condition. physically. was so bad
that he abandoned all further expert
1t was allowed to remain dormant. About
eight months ago the Brylgon Steel Foun-
dry company of Reading, Pa. In pursu-
ance of experiments looking to the maxi
ing of the best cast steel, took UP the
Bookwalter process, after first having
obtained from Mr.. Boolxwalter the right
to use it. 1t Is significant that the papers
covering the process and twenty addi-
tional improvements made by Mr.. Book
walter were found with difficulty. They
had been stored away In an old trunk
After long search they were unearthed.
Once considered almost worthless, they
are now priced as representing millions.
The Brylgon company was amazed at
the results of the use of the process
superintendent Deemer, q pioneer iron
and steel man who got his training in
the Chester. Pa. iron works. the first in
the United States, has proceeded with
the use of the process until they are
daily receiving more orders than they
are able to fill. AS a result of the sue
cess attained the Brylgon Steel Casting
company In which Mr.. Bookwalter Is a
stakeholder, has Just been organized in
Pennsylvania with capital stock of $780,
900. The company In order to have better
facilities will move to Philadelphia. Plans
have already been completed for the erec-
ton on the Delaware river. adjacent to
in which 1t is planned to put 600 men to
work by January I.
Steel Making.
Patents as applied to mechanical con-
trivances are as a rule difficult TO COM
prehend on paper. even when accom-
panied by drawings and a description
written by one who Is technically IA
miliar with the subject However, IL
might not be amiss to enter somewhat
briefly into the nature of making steel
and the converter on which Mr.. Book
walter now holds a patent. Steel is SIM
ply iron with the impurities eliminated
from 1t. These impurities are silicon and
carbon, largely. and are eliminated after
the iror Is melted to about the fluidity OF
mill1 M this is accomplished by fore