C L IM A X FU R N ISH E S A U T H O R IT A T IV E E N G IN E E R IN G D A T A O N M O L Y B D E N U M A P P L I C A T I O N S .
M O L Y B D I C O X I D E , B R I Q U E T T E D O R C A N N E D * F E R R O M O L Y B D E N U M « " C A L C I U M M O L Y B D A T E 'f
d e n u m C
u o f * N e w Y o r k
& L
In c re a sin g p ro g r e s s on a u to m o tive re co n v e rsio n p la n n in g b e little more conservatism in the executive branch, tow ard more consolidation of possible eventual successor to Mr. Stimson as secretary of war. W hile Mr. Keller has never expressed any political aspi
rations, he is held in high regard in mili
tary circles, especially in the ordnance de
partm ent. His stand for continued pro
gress in well-financed ordnance research and development after the war is well known.
Progress Made at Policy Level On the score of automobile plant re
conversion, increasing progress is being made at w hat might be called the policy months for construction. This approval is understood to take the form of grant
ing an AA-3 priority to such items, but this will require further clarification, since virtually all machine tools now on readjustment of military requirem ents for machine tools, for obviously the m ere pre
ference rating of 5000 machines is no guarantee they can be built, as long as tool builders’ backlogs of rated military orders remains undisturbed. W hat seems to be required is a further screening of all machine orders, perhaps something like the double screening now being made
on some lists— first at D etroit and then at W ashington — so th at military and es
sential civilian orders can be interlaced w ith respect to the actual time w hen they the rehabilitation of tools, equipm ent and other facilities necessary to the resumption of passenger car production. Telegrams have been sent to the various companies confirming approval of their construction applications in the above category.
Last week a meeting was held here with top automotive officials and John S. Chafee of the WPB Tools Division, Bertrand Fox, of the Materials Division, and Henry P. Nelson, the WPB automo
tive reconversion co-ordinator, for the purpose of preliminary discussions of procurem ent of metals and other m ate
rials required for initial production, as well as for further clarification of the machine tool problem.
In respect to automotive steel require
ments, some mill suppliers have left the w hen government authorization perm it
ted, and pricing as of date of shipment.
Basically, the steel problem simmers down to a m atter of a straightforward reduction in military tonnage require
ments before it will be possible to sched
ule automotive tonnage. Little can be ac
complished by changing CMP procedure or assigning special ratings to this ton
nage. ' If mill capacity is being absorbed by military requirements, real or fancied,
MOVE UP AT PACKARD: Engineering executive ap p o in tm en ts in line
M I R R O R S o f M O T O R D O M
protracted for months while small pockets of resistance are ferreted out and squelched.On the basis of passenger car pro
duction at an annual rate of 2,000,000 cars, automotive steel requirements for the first three months can be estimated
motive production, adjustments in war contracts will be essential. More than ever it is becoming apparent tire initial phases of passenger car assembly will be highly makeshift, with all sorts of ex
pediencies necessary just to get produc
tion rolling.
Packard stockholders heard the en
couraging news from President George T.
Christopher last week that the plant’s productivity had increased 11 per cent since disclosure of inefficiencies during the Mead Committee hearings three weeks ago. At that time it was estimated
productivity was off an average of 25 per cent, so the recent improvement goes a considerable distance toward the normal level. The Packard president also con
firmed earlier predictions looking to a 20 per cent increase in new passenger car prices when they become available. Ap
proximately 1200 Packard foremen voted last Tuesday on the question of w hether they desired to be represented by the Foremen’s Association of America, after having received three separate letters from the president of the company urging them against endorsing unionization of management employes.
The election was watched closely as an indicator of w hat may eventuate in other automotive plants. Should companies be required to recognize a foremen’s union and negotiate contracts, a complete re
shuffling of organizational charts in man
agement will develop. Perhaps this is to transfer management authority from foremen to superintendents and their assistants, increasing their number of course, and relegating foremen to the positions of group leaders. This might be the initial step toward oblivion of fore
men in the large automotive plants. Of horsepower tank engines which ordnance has returned to the Ford Lincoln plant for reconditioning reveals marked resist
ance to wear under severe operating con aviation engine designs. Moving parts have been reduced from 80 to 30. Valve clearances are set permanently at the factory. Improved lubrication has been achieved by drilling larger oil holes and increasing their number. Drive is through a crankshaft-driven worm gear operating two hourglass worms. These in turn operate vertical driveshafts with hourglass worms at their opposite ends
time automotive industry and reviews many of the hitherto unsung accomplish
ments of some of its great and near-great leaders.
He explains how mass production is characteristically an American art and traces its beginnings back to the days of composition overindulgent on this score, yet, for a readable commentary and docu
mentation of industrial America, partic
ularly automotive, the book will rate high.
TRUCKING GIANT TANKS: Twenty-five steel petroleum tanks recently w ere h au led from o n e side of Puerto Rico to th e o th e r on W hite trucks.
The tanks, w hich a re 4 0 fe e t long a n d 12 f e e t in d ia m eter, a r e em ployed in th e sto ra g e of high o c ta n e gasoline
CAJn«os
* A fu ll >«t o f th e s e a d v e r tis e m e n ts w ill b e s e n t o n re q u e st.