The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-07-15
NEW VERSION Of
BEATING SWORDS.
TO PL0WSHARES.
Brass Plant Turns Battle.
field Scrap Into Radi-
ator Sheets

There's a vast difference between
the devastated fields OF Europe and
industrial Falrmont, between the
death-dealing engines OF destruc.
tlon hat belched forth missiles that
made millions OF homes desolats
and the peaceful automobile Of com
merce that fills our highways by
the million and yet close connec-
ton between the two was shown
today when a carload OF sheet brass
was shipped from the plant OF the
West Virginia Metal Products Cor
poration to the Harrison Radiator
company at Lockport, n. Y, For
the carload Of sheet metal to be
used in making automobile radia.
tors was made from brass shells
picked up on the battelfields OF Eu
rope.
Another feature of the shipment
is the fact that this is the first bulk
carload OF brass product ever ship.
ped from West Virginia to point
outside the state and the shipment
is further remarkable for the rea-
son that the whole carload of about
10000 pounds is composed Of brass
sheets OF the same width and
gaunge.
France. Germany. Italy and Rus
sia are the principal countries from
fhich the empty brass shells Of
which the Fairmont plant has re-
celyed 100000 pounds, were ship.
ped. Canada also contributed i
quantity OF eprptN u castrf9s shells
left over after The aFmistlce was
signed and the manufacture diseon-
tinued. The shells range In size
from the smallest cartridge and ma
chine gun types to 9-inch mortar
shells, used by the Russians and
all were made from the best metal
obtainable.
The carload of sheet brass ship
ped todway is the first solid car.
load shipped from the plant al.
though this is not by any means
the first shipment that has been
made. The frs brass rolled was
turned out in 1920, about a year
from the time when ground for the
buildings was broken.
The process OF changing the shell
that were originally bought by the
various waMrrlng governments to
the sheet metal OF commerce is a
most interesting one. The shells
are placed in furnaces heated by
lectricity, melted and poured into
ingot molds. From the molds the
metal Is taken in bars to the shears
where the feeder heads are cut off
and then the sheared bars are tax
en- to the rolling mill by means of
electric storage battery trucks to
the breaking down rolls. These are
like al the machinery in the plant
motor.driVen, an arrangement that
Is a vast improvement over the US.
ual rolling mill equipment.
From the breaking down rolls
the metal is sent to the annealing
furnaces which are Of the under
fired type, using gas or oil for fuel.
The air for combustion is supplied
by turbine blowers delivering $500
cubic feet of air per minute and
driven by so H. P. motors.
After leaving the annealing fur,
naces, the metal is ready DOR the
milling machines which remove the
scale. Another process Of running
down, another annealing and tn,
metal is then fit for rolling r.
four sets Of finishing rolls. The
sheets are then either slit ant
finished hard soft. as required
re-annealed, picked, washed ant
rolled again, depending on the
gauge at which the metal is to be
finished.
The carload shipped today !!
known as No. 20 gauge and the
sheets are rolled into coils that are
not only easy to handle but also
serve to protect the edges Of the
metal from being bent in handling
In addition 10 the operating enc
OF the mill, there are also many
auxiliary departments among
which are the blacksmith shop, ma,
chine shop, roll grinding shop
polishing shop, storage battery and
charging station. store rooms, boz
making ship for making shipping
boxes and general carpenter re,
pair, shop.
The chemical laboratory is alsc
one Of the most complete in 1T
appointments.
One of the most noticeable feat
ures OF the plant is the large we'll.
lighted, roomy building that form
a marked contrast to the usuaI
run of shop buildings that are II
many instances tver-crowded Will
machinery, making the worl
dangerous from the liability Of &C.
tcentinued op paes feurI