The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-04-02

One of the biggest and newest in
dustries to locate in Richmond is the
Jenkins Vulcan Spring company, man.
ufacturers of steel springs for automo-
biles and trucks. The company is
now in active operation here, having
moved to this city from st. Louis, Mo-,
and from rs to 100 men are employed
at the plant which is running in day
and night shifts with capacity OF
from 1000 to 1900 stel springs daily.
The Richmond plant is located at
Eishth and F. streets; and covers
about two and one-half acres OF
ground with floor space of 25,ooo
square feet. 1t is the plan OF the
company to erect here in the near fu-
ture building almost double the size
of the present structure. because the
officials feel that the vast increase in
their business merits the action.
New Building to be Large.
The new building will cost about
500 900. and will cover six and one
half acres OF ground. Plans are be-
ing made to employ about 225 men
when the new plant is ready for oper-
alton. but no definite location has yet
been selected. though officials of the
\ available sites.
The Jenkins Vulcan Spring COM
pany has five factory branches
throughout the United States, located
at st. LOUIS. Reading, Pa, Minneapo-
lis. Dallas, Texas, and Sumter, S. c.,
and large stocks of springs are car
ried in each of these branches for dis
tribution to the jobbing trade in their
locality.
At the Richmond warehouse, 10000
springs, including 5SS different types,
are kept in stock all OF the time The
company sells only to the wholesale
trade throughout this country and
Canada. The authorized capital is
$500 900 OF which amount 100000
has already been issued. Quarterly
cash dividends are paid to the stock
holders.
Advertise City.
One plan announced by r. B. Jen-
kins. president of the company, that
will be OF considerable interest TO
Richmond PEOPLE, is the inauguration
OF a national advertising campaign TO
be carried on in the biggest magazines
in the United States.
How Springs Are Made.
The steel leaves which are later
made into Vulcan springs. arrive at
the factory from the steel mills in
long, narrow strips OF about two and
one-half inches in width. These strips
, OF steel are then cut by machinery in
to several different lengths. the capa-
city OF one OF the machines being
about 1000 cuttings daily.
The leaves are then punched and
trimmed. after which they are tenn
pered in automatic heating machines.
The temperature of the steel is Kept at
the proper and equal stage by pyro-
meters which exactly register the
heat. Too much heat would cause the
steel leaves to scorch. and too little
would not give them the proper tenn
per.
In either case they would be use
less From the heating machines, or
automatic bakers as they are called,
the steel leaves are drawn through oil
which is another process in the tenn
pering. The temper Ia then drawn in
order to make the springs flexible,
after which they are ready to be as
sembled and tested.
Each Spring Tested.
Each spring manufactured in this
plant IS put to a test double that 1t
will ever have to encounter in ordi
nary usage on the AUTOMOBILE. A
three-ton weight is brought to bear on
the spring and unless it thoroughly
withstands this test it is thrown away
After this the springs are painted and
taken to the warehouse where they
are ready for shipment.
In connection with the manufacture
y ing plant the company also maintains
' blacksmith and machine SHOP, com
pletely equipped for taking care OF all
repairs OF machinery, and for making
new dies for the various machlnes
used throughout the factory.