AN EXHIBITION OF GAS FURNACES.
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At the present time when mechanical productive plant is being worked at such exceptionally high pressure in this country, and when increases ot equipment are being made in all directions with the utmost haste, in order to enable manufacturers to turn out the maximum possible quantity of warlike equipment, in all its many branches, there is a peculiar appropriateness in the opening of the interesting Exhibition of Gas Furnaces in Sheffield.
Premises have been secured at 63, Nursery Street in that city, by Mr. S. N. Brayshaw, a well-known manufacturer of that class of plant, and we were fortunate, one day last week, to have a private and early view of a most instructive range of hardening and heat-treatment appliances which has been collected there for the general information of steel users.
The Exhibition itself has been organized by the Brayshaw Furnaces and Tools, Ltd., of Manchester, the two principals of which concern, of course, have a wide reputation in respect of their knowledge of all the variety of intricate problems involved in connection with the proper heat-treatment of steel and of process heating in general.
Furnaces for all purposes are shown in this Exhibition—altogether there are about 30 examples. These include two big annealing furnaces capable of taking bars of up to 16 ft. in length. Then there are many
other examples of furnaces for melting metal, and for all the various processes of hardening and tempering. These include models of the reheating type, as well as those designed for the cyanide process. • Furnaces heated by air blast and by natural draught respectively are exemplified. Of course, in view of the fact that the Exhibition is being held in a city where gas is available under such good conditions, most of the apparatus which is shown is of that class which provides for gas heating. There are, however, models of the equally important oil-fired ovens.
The blast heated examples are fitted with what is known as the Brayshaw patent burner, which is similar to that which is now used so extensively in the Royal Mint. It works quietly with a pressure of no more than from 1 lb. to 2 lb. per square inch, and reports from the Mint authorities extending over four years reveal very considerable economies. Not the least interesting of the exhibits is the collection of pyrometers and other delicate recording apparatus.
In connection with this Exhibition, which will be open we understand for at least one month, a series of lectures by well-known authorities is to be given. Particulars will be gladly furnished on application to the address we have already noted. Amongst the papers which are advertised for early delivery are those having for their subjects : "Modern Pyrometry " ; "Some Experiments Upon the Quenching of Steel," and "Some Experiments in Gas Burning."