The Detroit times., 1908-05-06
PAINT MAK|he IS
REV0LUT lied
BY NEW PROCESS
"MiLp PROCESS FOR MANuFAc-
TURE OF WHITE LEAD is INSTi-
TUTED BY ACME COMPANY
PLANT COSTS s25o,ooo.

A new industry that bids fair to
make Detroit the most important paint
center In the United States Is the
Mild Process" for the manufacture
OF white lead, which has just begun
operations at the Acme White Lead
and Color works at st. Aubin-ave. and
the Michigan Central railway tracks.
The fine new four-story building, of
brick. steel and concrete has been
completed and the machinery set In
motion which Will completely revolu.
tioniZe the manufacture OF white lead.
The building alone cost some $780,
900 and when the plant is fully equip
ped IL will be an investment OF a
quarter OF million of dollars. The
capacity OF the plant is 10000 tons
per annum and the money value OF
that would represent I'm the ne.ghbor-
hood OF million and half dollars. so
IL will be seen that this industry is
one OF the most important acquisitions
that Detroit has had for some time.
While there Is an immense amount OF
money involved, the machinery Is SIM
pie. The plant is automatic and the
process is continuous, the machinery
to be operated 365 days in the year.
day and night
The state OF perfection to which this
has been reduced will be noted when
II Is seen that only IL men are en-
ploycd in operating the machinery,
two shifts, six men nights and an
equal number during the day. All of
these men are practically inspectors.
the only labor being performed when
the pig lead is put into the kettle at
the beginning of the process.
Invention Of Wilson n. Rowley.
The Mild Process as 1t is known,
was invented by Wilson. II. Rowley,
formerly of st. Louis, but now OF De-
troit. but the idea was taken UP by
the Acme White lead people and they
put behind Il the mechanical engineer
ing. and chemical skill that corpora
ton of such immensely could COM
mand and assisted Mr.. Rowley to de-
velop It,
White lead is the most important of
all the paint pigments and the indus
try has always been considered as
among the most important I'm the
country, but heretofore the Acme com
pany has been obliged TO import what
10 uScu itOlH 81. LOUIS COnCeTuS. III
Is said, however, that until the last
few years progress and Improvement
I'm the methods OF manufacture OF
white lead have not kept pace with
other important industries OF modern
times.
The two processes which stand out
prominently are the "Old Dutch" pro-
cess and the Mild Process" The
former has been In use for hundreds
of years. while the latter has been
out for only about five years. The
first patents were granted In 1902 and
1903, and plant with 1000 tons an.
nual capacity was equipped and plac.
ed In operation. The produce found
immediate consumption and by 1907
the sales having outgrown the pro
ducing capacity OF the plant, IL was
found necessary to build the new fac.
tory.
Product ic Superior.
BY comparison OF the 'Old Dutch
process" formerly used, and the Mild
Process" II has been scientifically
demonstrated that the product OF the
latter is superior In quality. less ex-
pensive, more sanitary, uniform with
out impurities OF. any kind, requires
only Ave days TO produce, while the
Dutch process takes four months. and
the full chemical increase, which Is
about 25 per cent, Is obtained as every
particle OF metallic lead IL converted
and none lost IL appears strange to
the average person. but has been dem
lonstrated. that when 100 pounds OF