The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-11-09

plane parts, were in production that
all commercial production of the COM
pany was repressed. Ninetyfive per
cent of the plant was engaged in war
work Orders for completed fighting
planes iii which to install the Liberty
Eight motor were being received at
the signing of the armiStice.
BY order of the government, land
along the Pennsylvania railroad west
of the city was acquired for an air
plane landing field, and on the day
the armistice was effected workmen
were on the ground starting to pre-
pare the ground and build hangers
for the completed airplanes. About
500 operators were in war production
in the plant at that time; PAT were
in the service from the factory plant
and from the different warerooms of
the company scattered throughout the
country.
Held War Contract
Swayne, Robinson and company
made contract with the United
States government in the fall of 1917
and production on the same was con-
tinued uninterruptedly until the end
of the war. Material involved in this
contract was different sizes of rec
tangular brass oil containers for gun
caissons, gun battery wagons and
store limbers The amount involved
in this contract was about 100000.
A second contract was made indi-
rectIy with the United States govern
ment through the MidVale Steel and
Ordnance company of Philadelphia
for a somewhat similar product. but
made of sheet steel instead Of brass
Both of these contracts were deliv-
cred to the full extent of the contract,
almost without exception, on con-
tracted delivery dates, and without
rejection or refusal of any parts de
livered to the government.
Made Helmets
Beginning in the summer of 1917
and continuing until the latter part
of 1919, the Vaien Helmet company of
this city furnished a large number of
its products to various branches OF
the government for use in war work.
The Najen helmet is a self-cOntainCd
type of helmet used as protection
against gas, smoke and fumes. 1t diff
fered from the army gas masks by
reason of it furnishing an indepcnd
ent supply of fresh air to the Wearer
while the gas masks filtered GER
tain percentage Of impurities from
the air which is breathed.
1t is standard product Of the local
company, and when the government
needed such devices the output was
promptly turned over TO war uses.
The United States shipping board
emergency fleet corporation equipped
almost a thousand of its vessels with
this helmet, and other government Or
ders included the Great Lakes naval
training station, Fort McHcnry, Md,
United States ordnance department,
shell-filling plant, Edgewood, Md, and
the following army environments:
Camp Meade, Md; Camp Sherman,
O., Camp Devens, Ayers, Mass; Camp
Mills, N. Y, and Camp Funston, Kas.
Make Rifle Grenades
Rifle grenades were furnished in
larEe quantities by the Richmond
Malleable Castings company. From
1918, 50 per cent of its entire output
went to the government. Approx
mately 100000 rifle grcnadeS We're
shipped the government during the
contract.
Workmen of the plant pledged thoir
patriotic support and sent the pledge
to President Wilson. One of the
treasured records of the war now in
the possession of the company is the
acknowledgement received from the
president following the sending of the
pledge.
From nine to 10 months were de-
voted to filling government contracts
by the Beebee Glove company. The
company had contracts with individ
ual concerns for seven or eight
months ahead. These contracts were
temporarily cancelled and govern
ment orders given priority.
Gloves and mittens totalling 10000
dozens of one number and 10000 doz
ems of another number were shipped
during the contract. Wherever pos
sibIe the company encouraged giving
girls work in departments so rs to
release boys and men for war serv-
ice
Made Gun Shoppers
Suspension of work on touring bod
les was found necessary by the John
son Sheet Metal company in order to
help in supplying the government with
necessary equipment. Beginning in
July, 1918. the company furnished
a bout 5000 ambulance water cans,
1900 sponge cans for bread-making in
army cantonments, 900 six-quart oil
cans, and shoppers for four-inch field
guns.
The United States Refrigerator
company made tables for hospitals.
Wayne Works Contracts
The first order received by the
Wayne Works was in the summer of
1917 for ration and provision carts.
Work on this order was begun in Au-
gust. 1917 and the plant operated its
vehicle department and forge shop to
practically full capacity on this order
until the spring of 1918. Its record
as to quality of production and prompt
ness of deliveries was so satisfactory
to the government officials that with
out solicitation an additional order
as large as the original specifications
was placed.
Production of this order was imme-
diately begun and although the COM
pany had been given until Jan. l,
1919, to complete the work, the last
shipment on the second specifications
left the plant in October, 1918. The
company received high commentator
from the government for it's eff
cheney