High-grade Welding.
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Notes of Impressions During a May Visit to the Steel Barrel Co.'s Works.
We can always be sure of an interesting afternoon if we pay a visit to the works of the Steel Barrel Co., Ltd., at Uxbridge. Not only on account of the invariable courtesy which is extended to inteiested visitors by Mr. T. T. Heaton, the company's manager, and by Mr. W. Winstone, one of his immediate assistants, but also because there is invariably work of a very special nature in progress there. Modern machine shops as a rule are engaged on much the same class of work ; one can see there milling, planing, slatting, etc., etc., time after time, processes so similar, that constant witnessing of them becomes a little irksome. At Uxbridge, however, they only do special things in very special ways.
It was about a year ago when we last went down to the works, and the Steel Barrel people were then very busy with some of the big welded petrol-storage installations with which they have during the past few years made such a name. We may content ourselves here with quoting a few of the many petrol vehicle users who have had storage installations from the Uxbridge works recently : they include John Croall and Sons, Ltd. ; Westminster Motor Car Garage, Ltd. ; Clayton and Sons (Huddersfield), Ltd. ; Hoare and Co., Ltd. ; J. Tylor and Sons, Ltd. : Braun and Co., Ltd., Chester ; John Player, Edinburgh; Stretton's Derby Brewery ; V. and F. Motor Cab Co., London, N.; Sir W. P. Hartley, Aintree ; and Waring and Gillow, Ltd.
Petrol-storage plant still, of course, continues to be a most important speciality of the Steel Barrel Co.'s productions, but it is obviously in respect of the manufacture of thousands of welded steel barrels
that one finds this company's original raison, d'être. The same skill and specialized workmanship is employed in the production of these barrels as is in the assembly of the special storage plants. There are no possibilities of leaky joints, as the whole thing is a sturdy welded construction, whether it be barrel, storage, tank, or delivery system.
Some of our illustrations show what is to us and to readers of our sister journal "The Motor," of very special interest at the present time ; a large consignment of steel barrels was in hand at the time of our visit for Bolckow Vaughan and Co., Ltd., which concern is now producing benzole on a large scale. These casks are for the transport of benzole. They are sent up to the galvanizing sheds by barge, and then again loaded and sent through to Middlesbrough and elsewhere. Amongst the new plant to which our attention was drawn at Uxbridge is a huge gantry, which is to be used for calibrating measuring tanks of all sizes. Special care is taken in respect of the company's storage plants in this respect ; the illustration on this page shows the method adopted with the smaller plant.
We came away from the Uxbridge works with a renewed appreciation of the skill and care which is evident in regard to the whole of these special products. Taking everything into consideration, we are not at the moment aware of any concern which can with such certainty and regularity turn out such highly-finished welded work of all descriptions. Both the electric and the acetylene welding plants are the best, of their kind and the result of many years' experience. The men are specially trained in the handling of these tools, with the result that the welded work coming from the Steel Barrel Co.'s factory is invariably well done and highly finished. Mr. Heaton tells us that one of the most difficult jobs they have successfully carried out is the welding of the internal steel lining which is cast inside the "Easyweigh " hydraulic jacks.
Modern welding methods are amongst those processes which have almost revolutionized certain branches of mechanical design. Little more than 10 years ago, much detail work that is now constructed of pressings suitably welded in conjunction with one another would have had to be carried out by means of more or less cumbersome stampings or other processes. All modern designers should not neglect to familiarize themselves with the possibilities of modern welding plant. The Steel Barrel Co., Ltd., of Uxbridge, is undoubtedly the leading exponent. of high-class work of this kind, and, speaking from practical experience, we can testify to the readiness with which Mr. Heaton and his assistants will advisa as to the practicability of any suggestion in which acetylene or electric welding has to bear a part. Indeed, we have often wondered at the trouble that has been taken by the executive at the Uxbridge works to satisfy an inquirer as to the possibility of
certain welded work. We commend the services of this enterprising concern to all interested readers of this journal.