The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1917-01-05
Interesting Letter About Big Overland
Automobile Plant From Mr.. ]. E. Delk

cealed. The workman has only
to pat on the rough fly wheel, adjust
the first set of tools, push the lever
and let the machine do the rest.
The cast iron is peeled off as read
lily as wax. Sometimes four or five
operations are performed at once.
When one set of cutting is done,
the machine stops automatically,
and the next set of tools comes au-
tomatically into places. Twenty
operations are performed in four
teen minutes. Is pounds of metal
are removed from the wheel. One
man can watch three of these ma
chimes.
The vertical cutter of gears on
| fly wheels almost matches the tur-
ret lathe in interest.
Moving up and down, the cutter
at the same time slowly revolves,
the fly wheel turning in the oppo-
site direction. By the time a COM
plete revolution of the fly wheel
has been accomplished. all the gears
! are cut.
We all fell for the aluminium
| foundry and for the machines that
finish the aluminium parts.
The multiple spindle drill bores
81 holes in the crank case in one
operation. This is proof of the
superiority of machine processes,
for the holes must be in. the right
relation to each other.
Another machine smooths the
surfaces of the crank cases, finish
ing seven in nine minutes.
Diamonds, real diamonds, are
consumed with apparently reckless
Indifference in the wet grind room
Placed in small tools they are used
to true the emory wheels on which
are ground the bearing surfaces of
| the crank shafts.
They are bought in $4,000 lots.
We looked on while whole forests
of lumber were being turned into
bodies in the wood work depart
ment. This lumber comes in by
car loads. AS PA feet of wood is
required on a small touring car, we
could readily see why so much was
required.
You make this round and you can
understand this company's immense
consumption of material $4,000, 900
pounds of solder annually, $780,
600 pounds of tin and lead for
smoldering, 100000 pounds of
brass and copper, 100000 feet
OF steel tubing and 1875, 900 tons of
steel
But what impressed me more than
all was the department in which
materials are tested They have
to know a thing is right before it
goes into a Willys-Overland car.
That's how they safeguard the pub
lie.
Tests in the physical and
chemical laboratories are made
in two ways. COMPLETED steel
parts are subjected to terri
fic tests. AxeIs are twisted like
rolls of taffy candy. Small bits
of steel, six inches long, cut from
completed axle4 are attached at
both ends, and literally pulled a
part. The registering machine
shows 100000 pounds to the square
inch necessary to accomplish this
whereas resistance up to $4,000
pounds would be proof of ample
tensile strength. Springs are tried
for their resistance.
Steel articles are also put through
both heat and chemical tests. The
former determines the amount OF
carbon, an important factor; the
other determines the chemical com.
position of the steel.
Naturally every operation in the
plants tends finally toward the aA
sembly conveyor tracks. There are
four of them, each GAS feet long.
We followed the whole operation
We began at one end where the
frames and rear systems are put
in place. BY the time the other
end of the conyeyor is reached the
frame has grown into the finished
car
From overhead parts are lowered
by chains. Along the way men are
attaching the parts. The frame is
not in motion all the time, but car
be instantly connected with the
i links Of an endless chain and sent
on its way whenever desired.
Top quality of workmanship is
assured by having each man d.
work on which he is an expert, if
it be only to tighten bolt.
Lines of motors, already tested
/ wait on both sides of the cOnvnvor