i U ï îS f r f S A T U R D A Y , O C T O B E R 2 7 , 1945
REOIPTRRKT) AP A NEW SPAPER
6 D . P E R C O P Ï POPT F R E H 8 B .
Temperature
f<ing type A ir or G as Flow R ecord er
— - ™
Control
The Kent Multelec is extensively used in various industries for recording, indicating and controlling temperatures, its potentiometric basis ensures a
I
fine degree of accuracy under industrial conditions.
The controlling force is large, yet imposes no restraint upon the sensitivity of the instrument.
G E O R G E K E N T LTD., L U T O N & L O N D O N
M type W a te r M e te r sizes Y to V .AUDCO LUBRICATED-PLUG VALVES used for the manufacture of Explosives, Oil, Petrol, and Petroleum Products, Poison Gas, Mepacrine, Penicillin, D.D.T., Nylon, Synthetic Rubber, Phosphorus and Incendiary Bombs, on the cross-channel Pipe Lines, on Sub
marines, Aerodrome Petrol Lines, for Bomb Testing and testing S. A, A. and many other purposes.
in all industries where fluids are piped,
A U D L E Y E N G IN E E R IN G C O M P A N Y L IM IT E D N E W P O R T S H R O P S H IR E E N G L A N D
s - w r , S & H S •' i ® ”’
B O T T O M L E Y * A N D • B A I R D
H I L L I N G T O N , G L A S G O W , S . W . 2 .
• L T D .
Oc t o b e r 2 7 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E 1
M odern m ethods dem and the p u rest ch em icals . . .
«WER SULPHATE U .
P rice List on Application
J. W. TOWERS & CO,, LTD. ww*:
w i d n e sKESTNER LEAD LINED PLANT
Lead lining of all types by skilled craftsm en.
HOMOGENEOUS LEAD COATING SHEET LEAD LINING
LEAD ALLOY CASTINGS
Plant designed for special purposes, o r m anufactured to c lie n ts’ own drawings.
K estners have been making lead lined plant for o v e r 40 years, also castings in lead and regulus up to 5 to n s w e ig h t.
mat |L I £ 9C * C H E M IC A L E N G IN E E R S
I V I IN Łl\ J
5, G R O S V E N O R G A R D E N S , L O N D O N , S. W .lshould be used in analytical and research work.
It Is also essential that th e user should definitely know th e maximum’ am ounts o f im purities which th e reagent is liable to contain. .
All , Towers Tested - Analytical Reagents arc therefo re supplied with a specification o f the maximum limits o f ' im purities; which is clearly, stated on th e label o f every bo ttle. J . . * /
A
W rlle fo r illu strated T e c h n ic a l D a t a q u o t in g o u r R e f. C A / I O
MATTHEWS
Er Y A T ES I™
S W 1 N T O N (M a n ch ester) & L O N D O N Telephones:
S w in to n 2273 (4 lin e s ) Lo n d o n , C h a n c e r y 7823 (3 lin e s )
also a t
G L A S G O W * L E E D S * B IR M IN G H A M C A R D IF F
S C I E N T I F I C
For Reliability and Service.
|T is essential th a t all lab o rato ry glassw are should possess a d e g re e of stability cap ab le of resisting attack s fro m acids, while a t th e sam e tim e being im m u n e to th e effe c ts of su d d en th erm al changes.
PYREX Brand Scientific G lassw are fully m e e ts ev ery re q u ire m e n t of dally usage In Intricate chem ical tes ts . By reaso n of Its amazingly 'ow c o -efflc le n t of expansion (.0000032), it Is u n a ffe c te d by e ith e r h e a t o r cold. This ch aracte ristic p e rm its che s tru c tu re of this re m a rk a b le Glassw are to b e m ad e of a m o re ro b u st build th an th a t o f ordinary glass, thus giving It substantial en d u rin g stre n g th , which affords p ro tec tio n against b reak ag e in e v e ry day handling.
C hem ists and scientists will find th a t PYREX Brand Scientific G lassw are m aintains Indefin
itely, th e m any vital and reliable p ro p e rtie s essential to m o d e rn scientific e q u ip m e n t.
PYREX
,((,« nu l M A SK NtAfO.
S C I E N T I F I C G L A S S W A R E
Made by
JA M E S A. JO B L IN G & C O . W e a r G l a s s W o r k s ,
SU N D E R LA N D .
LTD.
Oc t o b e r 2 7 , 1 9 4 5 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E iii
Process Industries and you will find Staveley chemicals are being used there.
Ph o tog rap h y, T e x tile s , Paints, Paper and Food
stuffs, to name'but a few i n d u s t r i e s t o w h i c h Staveley brings a range of important Acids, Alkalis and Chemicals.
4 TÄVtnS>
T H E S T A V E L E Y C O A L £ I R O N C O LTD C H E S T E R F I E L D
EQUIPM ENT PROCESSES
pigments fertilisers general
chem icals pulp & p aper petroleum
sugar
m a g n e s ia
i o r ic
v m < 5 ®. (LY®,
Mp o r d H o u s e , Wil t o n Ro a d Lo n d o n S .W .L
abrasives caustic soda cem ent
LIQ U ID -SO LID SUSPENSIONS
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
FOR TOW ERS
R eplacem ents are less freq u en tly re q u ired w h en tow ers are packed w ith
" NORI "
A C ID -R E S IS T IN G W ARE
Y ou are in v ite d to investigate the exceptional physical p ro p e rties o f this m ateria l, w h ich is now w idely u sed in th e lead in g chem ical p lan ts. L ite ra tu re giving technical d a ta o n re q u est. Please se n d y o u r en q u iries for all p lan t co m p o n en ts in acid w are.
Tel. : 268-4 Accrington A C C R I N G T O N
Oc t o b e r 2 7 , 1 9 4 5 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E
The B ritish T hom son-H ouston Co. th ro u g h o u t th ese six years of w ar has strained every nerve and sinew to provide m o re, m ore, and yet m ore, m unitions of all kinds for the u ltim ate d estruction of th e h o rro r which has th rea te n e d the e n tire world.
N ot yet can th e full sto ry be told of the m iracles which w ere achieved, the disappointm ents, th e problem s which w ere solved in connection with such things as R adar, Je t Propulsion, and m any devices for the A d m ira lty /A rm y , and A ir Force, which m u st still be kept secret.
The BTH Co. in turning from w ar to peace, will be able to pro
vide a large pro p o rtio n of the electrical eq u ip m en t used in industry, including tu rb o -altern a to rs, gen erato rs, sw itchgear, tran sfo rm ers, rectifiers, mining and rolling mill m achinery, m o to rs, control gear including electronic and am plidyne c o n tro l, Mazda lamps of all types including fluorescent lam ps, lighting fittings, and m any o th e r products.
.1D nr ' r 1
:
:J
0 JI RUGBY
THE BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON COMPANY LIMITED. RUGBY, ENCLAND. A 3551
C om prehensive Catalogue of approxim ately 6,000 Fine Chem icals, Reagents, etc.
H &W
A copy o f this List can be obtained on
request
Organic and Inorganic Chemicals Analar Laboratory Chemicals Organic Reagents
Reagent Solutions Indicators
Microscopical Stains, Reagents Mounting Media
Technical Dyes
H O P K I N & W I L L I A M S L I M I T E D
1 6 - 1 7 S T . . C R O S S S T R E E T , L O N D O N , E . C . I
HOLMES-CONNERSVILLE
P O S I T I V E A I R B L O W E R S
d e li v e r a p o s itiv e , r e lia b le a n d o il- f r e e s u p p ly o f A ir e c o n o m ic a lly a n d efficien tly .
A b s e n c e of in te rn a l c o n ta c t e n s u r e s lo n g life , lo w m a in te n a n c e a n d c o n tin u o u s o p e r a tio n o v e r lo n g p e r io d s .
M a n y o f th e s e m a c h in e s a r e in s u c c e s s fu l o p e r a tio n fo r th e h a n d lin g of G a s e s . O v e r 1,400 h a v e b e e n s u p p lie d a lr e a d y fo r s u c h p u r p o s e s .
# One o f the many Hotmes-Connersville Blowers supplied to Chemical W orks.
Capacity o f m achine illustrated, 120,000 cu, ft , per hour against a pressure o f 3 lbs. per sq. inch. Speed 400 r.p.m .
H E ft D 0 F F I C E • T U I TU B R I D G E - H U D D E R S F I E L D
toilOON OFf.ICf • 119 VICTORIA ST.S.W'i • MIOUHDS 0 FFICE - 21. B ENKETT'S HÍtl BIRHIHCHAM.2 . Telephones: ■ Huddersfield. 5280 : LONDON. V ic to ria ,.9971 : BIRMINGHAM. Midland. 6830
C IS3
Oc t o b e r 2 7 , 1 945 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E
is an importánt discovery
‘ Gammexane ’ is the name given to the gamma isomer o f Benzene Hexa- chloride (666).
It is effec tiv e a g a in st an extensive range of industrial and agricultural insect pests while being harmless to man and domestic animals under normal conditions o f use.
It is constant in composition and activity and is unaffected by warmth or moisture.
Even at very low concentrations it is persistent in action.
A powder containing ‘ Gammexane ’—
‘GAMMEXANE’ D U S T D 034—is available in limited quantities in 56 lb.
and 1 cwt. packages.
'Gammexane' is the trade mark name of the gamma isomer of benzene hexachloride.
IM PERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LTD.
Sales O ffic e s : B e lfa st, B irm in g h a m , B ra d fo rd , B risto l, D u b lin , G la sg o w , L e ic e s te r , L o n d o n , M a n c h e s te r, N e w c a s tle - o n - T y n e , S h re w s b u ry a n d Y o r k ;
T ypew riters can now only be su p p lied under licence fr o m the Board o f Trade
Imperial Typewriter Company Ltd.
Leicester
HOLLAND/SL-M
R O T A R Y COMPRESSORS
& V AC U U M PUMPS
LO W MAINTENANCE COSTS
LONG LIFE ^
I N I T I A L E F F I C I E N C I E S M A I N T A I N E D O V E R Y E A R S O F S E R V I C E
Technical Office :
L I N D O L O D G E , S T A N L E Y A V E N U E . C H E S H A M . B U C K S . T e le p h o n e : C h e sh am 406
The B. A. Holland Engineering Co., Ltd ., 15 Dartmouth Street, London, S.W.1
Telep h o n e : W h ite h a ll 2823 T e le g ra m s : P ic tu ra b le , P a ri, London
W o rks : Trading Estate, Slough, Bucks.
IN D U S T R IE S
COM PANY LIMITED
S P E C IA L IS T S IN T H E M A N U F A C T U R E OF A L L T Y P E S OF IRON C A S T IN G S FOR T H E C H E M IC A L AND
A L L IE D
W O R K S W I D N E S I I I h P C S
LONDON O FFICE 38 VICTORIA ST SW 1 A B B E Y 9631
Oc t o b e r 27. 1945 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E
X
NEW ZEALAND IMPORTING COMPANIES S E E K A G E N C IE S
The T o d d G r o u p of Com panies, established o v er SO years— combined paid-up capital
£825,000—invites correspondence from leading m anufacturers and e x p o rte rs (of all classes of goods th a t offer scope for substantial tu rn o v e r) desirous of ex porting— o r increasing th e ir ex p o rts—to New Zealand.
The G roup is experienced in th e im porting and merchandising of diversified lines including engineering and technical equipm ent and supplies. W e are also very in terested in basic m aterials and chemicals. Specialists are employed in th e various spheres. R epresentatives th ro u g h o u t N ew Zealand. Payments cash. References : The N ational Bank of N ew Zealand, Ltd., 8, M oorgate, London, E.C.3.
We invite confidential correspondence giving fu ll p a rticu la rs o f your lines and bank referen ce s.
TODD GROUP
T O D D G R O U P L O N D O N M A N A G E R , C H A IR M A N , T O D D G R O U P ,
T E R M I N U S C H A M B E R S , T O D D B U I L D I N G .
6, H O L B O R N V I A D U C T . W E L L I N G T O N , N E W Z E A L A N D .
L O N D O N , E . C . I . C o b l e s : “ T o d d B ro s ., W e llin g t o n . ”
R eplies in the first instance to Todd Group London M a n a g er, address above
ROYAL WORCESTER
o r a t o r a
D o r c e l a i n
m n n i i f q r f i i r A T oLr\rnt-i-.«r Cr-!on
W e m an u fa ctu re L ab o rato ry , Scientific a n d T ech n ical P orcelain an d h ig h tem p era
tu re In su la to rs . . . each in its ow n sphere is acknow ledged to be th e very highest sta n d ard o f tech n ical skill an d achievem ent . . . we m ain tain a R esearch L aboratory ad eq u ate to deal w ith all C eram ic a n d P hysical difficulties a n d w ill be h a p p y to assist in solving youi p ro b lem s.
TH E WORCESTER ROYAL PORCELAIN C O ., L T D .,
W O R C E S T E R .
Oc t o b e r 27, 1 945 THE C H E M I C A L A G E
H ow to m a k e a serv a n t o f you r p o w er-p ro d u cin g m ed iu m
A g o o d c a p ta in k n o w s th e id io s y n cra sie s o f his te a m ; a g o o d w o rk m a n k n o w s h is to o ls — a b a d o n e b lam e s th e m . Y o u c a n n o t e x p ec t to get th e best o u t o f y o u r s te a m u n less y o u k n o w w h a t its p ro p e rtie s a n d c a p a b ilitie s are.
Y o u m ay th in k th a t y o u k n o w all th a t is n e ce ssa ry fo r th e o p e r a tio n o f y o u r p o w e r p la n t, b u t u n less y o u u n d e r s ta n d th e S te am T a b le s th o ro u g h ly y o u c a n n o t be su re. D o y o u k n o w w h e th e r y o u r s te a m e n g in e is o p e ra tin g efficiently, w h a t its s te a m c o n s u m p tio n s h o u ld be, w h a t it a c tu a lly is ?
D o y o u k n o w a ll th e p o ss ib ilitie s o f u sin g th e e x h a u s t fo r p ro c e ss p u rp o s e s ? T hese bulletins will help y o u :
STEAM FOR PROCESS AND HEATING ( Bulletin N o. 25)
A sim ple in tro d u ctio n to the p roperties o f steam leading to a m ore critical u n d erstan d in g o f the steam tables.
COMBINED POW ER AND HEATING
* Bulletin N o. 40)
A com plete survey o f the possi
bilities o f using the exhaust steam from an engine fo r process purposes, o r fo r developing pow er from the steam before it reaches the piocess. T his bulletin is w ritten in a form suitable not only for the engineer a n d the specialist b ut also fo r the m anage
ment
STEAM FOR POWER (Bulletin N o. 33)
A n ex p lan atio n o f the power- p roducing p ro p erties o f Steam . R ead N o . 25 first and then this bulletin, which, am ong other things, explains “ en tro p y ” w ith
o u t advanced m athem atics.
THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF STEAM ENGINES (Bulletin N o. 34)
T he p ractical side o f steam engine o p e ratio n : how to get the most pow er fro m the least steam . W hat the in d ic a to r diag ram is an d what it means.
Few p e o p le ' know how in te re stin g ste a m can be until they have had to le a rn a b o u t it. T h e se b u lletin s m ak e the le a rn in g e asy . I f you h a v e n ’t all th e copies you re q u ire , th ey can be o b ta in e d fre e on dem an d fro m the M in is try ’s R e g io n a l O ffices.
IS S U E D B Y T H E M IN IS T R Y O F F U E L A N D P O W E R
snmnm
BARIUM BARIUM BARIUM BARIUM BARIUM BARIUM BARIUM BARIUM BARIUM
CAR BO N A TE HYDRATE M O N O X ID E N A PH TH EN A TE O LEA TE P ER O X ID E STEARATE SU LPH A TE SU LPH ID E
SODIUM H Y P O C H LO R IT E SODIUM SU LPH ID E SODIUM PERCARBO NATE
TITA N IU M O X ID E
SOAPS
A LK A LIN E CLEA N ER S H YD RO G EN PER O X ID E AM M ONIUM PERSULPH A TE B E N Z O Y L PER O X ID E C A LCIU M PER O X ID E M AGNESIUM PER O X ID E POTASSIUM PERSU LPH A TE U R EA P ER O X ID E
Z IN C P ER O X ID E
SO DIUM ACID PH O SPH A TE SO DIUM ACID PYR O PH O SPH A TE SO DIUM PERPYRO PH O SPH ATE SO DIUM PYR O PH O SPH A TE
LAPGRTE
B.LAPORTE Ltd. LUTON
$AUS SERVICE K CEViLO*MtHrW#>T. INVITE ENQUIRIES
Purer L i m e !
U nder p resen t conditions, d o n ’t o v er
look p u re Calcium hydrate. It’s often used to save soda, making which necessarily consum es m ore m an-pow er and fuel. W h e re possible, th erefo re, su b stitu te p u re Calcium hydrate in the national in terest. Prepared by o u r process it is a very light pow der, easily soluble, easily suspended and notably free from u n b u rn t carbonate and o v e rb u rn t oxide. Data on uses gladly supplied.
W rite to-day for special booklet A .I.,
“ Calcium H y d rate.”
C A L C I U M H Y D R A T E
.
« ovt»Telephone : G R Eenw ich
1600
Sofnol L td ., W estcom be H ill, G reenw ich , S .E . 10
T A S / S L .C .l H
Oc t o b e r 2 7 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E xiii
SPECIAL
REFRACTORY CRUCIBLES
W e can now supply very highly refractory crucibles suitable for m elting precious metals and for w o rk a t high tem p e ra tu re s , up to 1,800° C., particularly w h ere contam ination due to silica m ust be reduced to a m inim um. These FUSED ALUMINA and FUSED MAGNESIA crucibles are of th e highest pu rity and w ith o u t added siliceous bond. The largest vessel Illustrated Is 12 in. x 6 In. diam eter.
W e can also supply FUSED REFRACTORIES, silica (Vitreosll) Alumina and Magnesia In bulk for refracto ry linings.
THE THERMAL SYNDICATE, LTD.
Head Office : WALLSEND, NORTHUMBERLAND.
London Depot: 12-14, OLD PYE STR EET, WESTMINSTER, S.W.1.
NOY 10
PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY
<8 >
,REMEMBRANCE 1
S U I T A B L E F O R S T E A M , W A T E R , A IR , S P IR IT S , O IL , and C H E M I C A L S
JAMES TATE & CO.
VICTORY WORKS . EAST PARADE B R A D F O R D
JUDACTAN
ANALYTICAL REAGENTS
WITH
ACTUAL BATCH ANALYSIS
= T A T E =
SEMI-BALANCED SOLENOID OPERATED VALVES
Valor
-FO A M ER A
T h e F i r e E x t i n g u i s h e r for all Petrol and similar Inflam m able Liquid Fire
Risks.
In stall in yo u r prem ises these efficient and s tu rd y V alor F o am era N ew type F ire E x tin g u ish ers m ade to th e latest official B ritish S ta n d ard s Specification.
O th e r ty p es an d rep lacem en t facilities also available.
F urther detail* on application
T h e V a lo r C o., L td ., BROMFORD, ERDINGTON, BIRMINGHAM
F SULPHATE 0 / A L U M IN A
AL L G R A D E S S U P P L I E D
PETER SPENCE & SONS LTD.
NATIONAL BUILDINGS • *SL MARY’S PARSONAGE
M A N C H E S T E R , 3
LONDON O F F IC E : 7 7 8 /7 8 0 SA LISBU RY HOUSE E .U 2 gallon capacity
Ref. No. E620.
<§> G 19
Oc t o b e r 2 7 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E X V
T U B E S , F I T T I N G S V ALV ES A N D PÎPE F I T T E R S ’
T O O L S
READY FOR J O I N T SERVICE
From y o u r nearest W alw orth D epot you can g et them all, to g eth er, at th e same tim e, saving tim e, tro u b le and anxiety.
W alw o rth Service has one aim—
to solve your supply difficulties, so th at you can get on w ith the job w ith satisfaction to yourself and your clients.
Y o u can help us to su p p ly y o u r r e q u ire m ents fo r essen tial w o r k by s h o w in g on y o u r o r d e r s th e a p p ro p ria te G o v e r n m e n t a u t h o r ity to buy.
W A L W O R T H L I M I T E D
L O N D O N 90-96 U n io n S tr e e t
S o u th w a rk , S .E .I 'P h o n e : W a t e r lo o 7081
M A N C H E S T E R 26 B rid g e S tr e e t D eansgate, M an ch este r,3 'P h o n e : Bla ckfriars 6773
G L A S G O W 48 Y o r k S tr e e t
G lasg o w , C .l
’Ph o n e : C e n tr a l 6879
G ood timber is scarce, but for essential work
CARTY’S can still supply VATS
IN TIMBER UP TO
PRE-WAR STANDARD OF QUALITY AND SEASONING
— CARTY—
A N D S O N , L I M I T E D
H a r d e r s R d .f P e c k h a m , L O N D O N , S.E.15 Phone: New Cross 1826
AnalaR
L A B O R A T O R Y C H E M I C A L S A C C U R A C Y IN A N A L Y S IS d e m a n d s t h e u se o f p u r e , u n if o r m a n d d e p e n d a b le r e a g e n ts . T h e c o n s is te n t q u a lity o f
‘An a l aR ’ c h e m ic a ls is a s s u r e d by c o n f o r m ity t o p u b lis h e d s p e c ific a tio n s , a n d by t h e i r u se in a n a ly tic a l w o r k ‘ r e a g e n t e r r o r s ’ a r e a v o id e d . ‘ An a l aR ’ c h e m ic a ls a r e b o t tl e d u n d e r c o n d itio n s w h ic h e n s u r e f r e e d o m f r o m c o n ta m in a ti o n , a n d a r e s u p p lie d u n d e r la b e ls s h o w in g t h e m a x im u m
The Chemical Age
A W eekly J o u rn a l D evoted to In d u str ia l and E n g in e e r in g C h e m istr y
B O U V E R I E H O U S E , 154 F L E E T S T R E E T , L O N D O N , E .C .4
T e le g ra m s : A LLA N G A S F L E E T LO N D O N T e lep h o n e : C E N T R A L 3 2 12 (lo lin e s ) G LA SG O W : 1 16 H ope S tree t (C entral 3970) B IR M IN G H A M : D aim ler H ouse, P arad ise S tre e t (M idland 078+ 5) T H E C H E M IC A L A G E offices are closed on S a tu rd a y s in acco rd an ce w ith th e a d o p tio n ol th e five-day w eek by
B en n B ro th e rs L im ited
V OL. L I U f V + n h p r o n T n / f A nnual S u b sc rip tio n 2 1 s.
N o . 137 4 . W C l U U c l O verseas 26s.
A N ew Leaven A
N in d u s tr y o r a n u n d e r ta k in g le f tto its e lf n o t in f r e q u e n tl y b e c o m e s a tr o p h ie d a t le a s t to th e e x te n t o f a n i n a b i l it y to m o v e w ith th e tim e s . T h is is tr u e n o t o n ly o f in d u s t r ie s , it is tru e a ls o o f G o v e r n m e n ts a n d o f e v e r y p h a s e o f h u m a n a f f a i r s ; a n d in d e e d o f a lm o s t e v e r y i n d iv i d u a l as h e b e c o m e s o ld e r.
T h e d is p o s itio n to e x p e r im e n t, to c h a n g e , to m o v e w ith th e tim e s , le s s e n s w ith a g e in a lm o s t a n y f o im o f h u m a n o r g a n is a tio n . T h e tim e s in w h ic h w e liv e d o n o t d e a l k in d ly w ith th is s o rt o f t h in g , a n d th e r e is o n a l l s id e s a d e m a n d fo r m o d e r n is a tio n o f m e th o d s , o f e q u ip m e n t, a n d o f o u tlo o k . O n e o f th e m a in c h a n g e s w h ic h h a v e o c c u rre d in in d u s t r y d u r i n g th e la s t 30 y e a r s o r so is t h a t in d u s t r ia l p ro c e s s e s a r e no lo n g e r s t a tic a n d t h a t in c o n s e q u e n c e
th e k n o w le d g e o f o n e g e n e r a tio n m a y b e c o m p a r a tiv e ly o b so le te a n d u s e le s s to th e n e x t g e n e r a tio n .
T h e r e c a n be l i t t l e d o u b t t h a t in a lo n g - in d u s t r ia l is e d c o u n tr y su c h a s o u r s , in w h ic h i n d u s t r i a l i s a tio n s t a r te d in o r a b o u t th e y e a r 1750 a n d h a s b e e n c o n tin u in g e v e r s in c e , th e te n d e n c y to r e ta in o b s o le te m e th o d s is g r e a t e r th a n in c o u n tr ie s s u c h a s th e U .S .A . a n d G e r m a n y : w h e re th e p h e n o m e n o n is o f m o r e r e c e n t
g ro w th . A f te r 1918 it w a s fr e e ly re c o g n is e d t h a t th e s t r u c tu r e o f B r itis h in d u s tr y w a s n o t s u ite d to th e c o n d itio n s in w h ic h it h a d to o p e r a te , a n d a n in q u ir y in to i n d u s tr ia l a n d c o m m e rc ia l e ffic ie n c y w a s s e t u p . T h is in q u ir y v ie ld e d v a lu a b le r e p o r ts , b u t h a d v i r t u a ll y n o in flu e n c e o n p r i v a t e in d u s tr y . I n o th e r w o rd s , i n d u s tr y , n o t b e in g c o m p e lle d to d o s o m e th in g , d id n o th in g . T h e r e s p o n s ib le a n d c o n s tr u c tiv e fo rc e s w e re d e f e a te d b y th e r e a c tio n a r y fo rc e s a n d th e r e s u lt w a s th e b a d c o n d itio n s o f th e 1920’s.
A ll o v e r th e w o r ld w e s e e th e g r o w in g d e m a n d fo r s e lf - g o v e r n m e n t b y r a c e s w h ic h h a v e h i th e r t o b e e n s u b je c te d to g o v e r n m e n t b y o th e r n a tio n s . T h e s a m e t h i n g is h a p p e n i n g in in d u s tr y w h e re th o s e w h o s e p r o to ty p e s o f 100 y e a r s a g o w e re l it t le b e tt e r th a n s la v e s a r e n o w , a s th e r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s o f l a b o u r , d e m a n d in g _ a s h a r e in m a n a g e m e n t. T h is a f te r m a t h o f w a r is s t i r r i n g in m a n y c o u n tr ie s , n o t le a s t in A m e r ic a a n d in G r e a t B r ita in . I n A m e r ic a a f e r m e n t o f s tr ik e s is s w e e p in g t h e c o u n tr y a n d it m a y n o t b e im p o s s ib le t h a t th e y a r e d u e to th e a b s e n c e o f th e c o n d itio n s s e t o u t in o u r l e a d i n g a r ti c l e o f S e p te m b e r 8, e n tit l e d A V o ic e fr o m On O ther P a g e s
N o tes a n d C om m ents ... ... 379
T he C hina Clay In d u s tr y ... 380
S o u th I Vales and the F u tu r e o f th e C hem ical In d u s tr y — I ... 381
W a x fro m B r itis h P ea t ... 384
A m e rica n W o rk on th e A to m ic B o m b — I I ... 385
B all and P eb b le M ills ... 390
In s tr u m e n ta tio n ... ... ... 391
B ep o rts on G erm an Chem ical W o rk s ... 392
P ersonal N o tes ...394
P a rlia m en ta ry T opics ... 395
N ew C ontrol O rders ... 395
G eneral N ew s fro m W e ek to W e e k 390 F o rth co m in g E v e n ts ... 398
C om m ercial In tellig e n ce ... 398
C om pany N ew s ... - 398
C hem ical T rade In q u iries ... 399
S to c k s and S h a re s ... ... 399
B ritish C hem ical P r i c e s ... 400
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A m e r ic a . T h e r e h a s c o m e in to o u r h a n d s a n A m e r ic a n p a m p h l e t e n ti t le d B a ttle L i n e f o r A m e r ic a n I n d u s t r y w h ic h r e c a lls s p e e c h e s m a d e ju s t tw o y e a r s a g o in P h i l a d e l p h ia . T h e c h a i r m a n o f t h a t m e e tin g , M r. H . B . T a y l o r , h im s e lf a g r e a t i n d u s t r ia l is t, s a id th e s e w o rd s : “ L e t u s c la r if y th e tr u e b a tt l e l in e in A m e r ic a n in d u s tr y . T h a t b a tt l e l in e is n o t b e tw e e n m a n a g e m e n t a n d l a b o u r , w h e re so m e w o u ld d r a w it. It is b e tw e e n th e c o n s tr u c tiv e fo rc e s of m a n a g e m e n t a n d la b o u r to g e th e r on th e o n e h a n d , a g a i n s t th e f o rc e s in b o th t h a t m a k e f o r d iv is io n a n d c o n f lic t.”
A t th e s a m e m e e tin g S e n a to r T r u m a n , n o w P r e s i d e n t o f th e U n ite d S ta te s , r e f e r r i n g to th e d is p o s itio n o n th e p a r t o f s o m e l e a d e r s o f m a n a g e m e n t to b e lie v e t h a t u l ti m a t e ly la b o u r m u s t b e p u t in to its p la c e b y fo rc e , a n d o f so m e la b o u r le a d e r s w h o , p a y in g lip - s e r v ic e to c o - o p e r a tio n w ith m a n a g e m e n ts , w e re p r i v a t e l y b e n d in g e v e r y e ffo rt to in c r e a s e t h e i r p o w e r f o r a n in d u s t r ia l c o n flic t a f te r th e w a r , s a id : “ T h e r e is o n ly o n e a n s w e r to th is s o r t o f th in g . W e m u s t s t a r t n o w to d r a w th e tr u e b a ttle lin e in A m e r ic a n i n d u s t r y — b e tw e e n th e r e s p o n s ib le a n d c o n s tr u c tiv e f o rc e s in b o th m a n a g e m e n t a n d la b o u r a g a i n s t th e s m a ll b u t a c t i v e m in o r ity w h o b e lie v e in a fin is h fig h t. I f w e c a n s u c c e e d n a ti o n a ll y in b r i n g in g m u tu a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d te a m w o rk b e tw e e n t h e r i g h t - t h i n k i n g le a d e r s h ip of b o th s id e s o f th e i n d u s t r ia l p ic tu r e , th e n w e w ill n o t o n ly in c r e a s e p r o d u c tio n , w e w ill s a v e A m e r ic a n in d u s tr y f o r A m e r ic a a n d p a v e t h e w a y to th e g r e a t e s t e r a o f p e a c e a n d p l e n t y w e h a v e e v e r k n o w n .”
W h a t w a s s a id o f A m e r ic a is tr u e e q u a l l y i n ’ th is c o u n tr y . T h e f a c ts m u s t b e fa c e d s q u a r e ly . T h e y a r e t h a t th e r e is m o re in e ffic ie n c y in B r itis h i n d u s tr y th a n th e r e s h o u ld be. W e do n o t p r o f e s s to s a y h o w in e ffic ie n t w e a r e b e c a u s e w e Jm o w t h a t th e r e is a v e r y g r e a t d e a l o n t h e c r e d it s id e a ls o . T h e r e is , h o w e v e r , m u c h t h a t w e c a n d o a n d t h a t w e m u s t d o if w e a r e to b e a b le to m e e t o u r c o m p e tito r s o n e q u a l te rm s . L a b o u r , n o le s s t h a n m a n a g e m e n t a n d s h a r e h o ld e r s , d e p e n d s fo r its liv e lih o o d u p o n i n d u s t r y . I t is j u s t as i m p o r t a n t to la b o u r t h a t i n d u s t r y sh o u ld b e e ffic ie n t a s it is to m a n a g e m e n t.
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a n d m o s t la b o u r le a d e r s se e th e m a t t e r f ro m th e a n g le o f m u tu a l c o -o p e ra tio n f o r m u tu a l g o o d . T h e r e c a n b e no a b r o g a tio n o f th e d u tie s a n d r e s p o n s i
b ilitie s o f m a n a g e m e n t. M e m b e rs of th e p r e s e n t G o v e r n m e n t h a v e m a d e it c le a r t h a t in e v e r y i n d u s t r y , w h e th e r n a tio n a lis e d o r n o t, th e m a n a g e r is th e c a p t a i n o f h is s h ip a n d a s s u c h m u s t b e u n q u e s tio n a b ly o b e y e d . I f h e is n o t a g o o d , c a p ta in h e m a y h a v e to b e re m o v e d , b u t h e c a n o n ly b e r e p la c e d b y a n o th e r c a p ta in . L a b o u r , h o w e v e r , h a s m u c h t h a t is c o n s tr u c tiv e to c o n t r ib u t e to in d u s tr y . I f th e c o n s tr u c tiv e f o rc e s o f m a n a g e m e n t a n d la b o u r co- o p e r a te , a s w e b e lie v e th e y w i l l, th e f o rc e s t h a t m a k e fo r d iv is io n a n d c o n flic t w ill n o t s u c c e e d in f e r m e n tin g s tr ik e s , lo c k - o u ts , a n d o th e r tr o u b le s .
W e w e lc o m e , th e r e f o r e , th e w o r k in g p a r ti e s w h ic h S ir S ta ffo rd C r ip p s is s e t ti n g u p in v a r io u s i n d u s tr ie s . T o q u o te h is o w n w o rd s : “ T h e G o v e r n m e n t m u s t in o n e w a y o r a n o th e r g e t th e b e st a d v ic e o n th e s te p s t h a t s h o u ld be ta k e n to m a k e e a c h o n e o f B r i t a i n ’s in d u s tr ie s m o re c o m p e titiv e in th e m a r k e ts o f th e w o r ld a n d to s u p p ly th e d o m e s tic c o n s u m e r w ith th e b e s t g o o d s a t th e c h e a p e s t p r ic e c o n s is te n t w ith g o o d c o n d itio n s fo r th o s e in i n d u s t r y . ” T h e w o r k in g p a r ti e s w ill, o f c o u r s e , b e ju d g e d b y th e i r r e s u l ts , b u t it is i n te r e s t in g to n o tic e t h a t th e y a r e to m a k e re c o m m e n d a tio n s o f a n y k i n d a p a r t f ro m n a ti o n a li s a ti o n w h ic h th e y b e lie v e w ill in c r e a s e effic ie n c y a n d w ill e n a b le i n d u s t r y to m e e t th e v e r y h a r d c o m p e titio n w h ic h is b o u n d to c o m e a s so o n a s th e im m e d ia te s h o r ta g e s a ll o v e r th e w o rld a r e m a d e u p . I t is in te n d e d t h a t a ll th e m a j o r i n d u s tr ie s o f th e c o u n tr y s h a ll b e d e a l t w ith in a s i m il a r w a y . I t is h o p e d t h a t e it h e r th e G o v e r n m e n t o r th e e m p lo y e r w ill a c t o n th e r e p o r ts a n d r e c o m m e n d a tio n s o f th e s e w o r k in g p a r ti e s , b u t if n o t th e B o a r d o f T r a d e , w ill h a v e to c o n s id e r w h a t is to b e d o n e . T h e p a r ti e s a r e m a d e u p o f in d e p e n d e n t c h a i r m e n , o f f o u r e m p lo y e rs , o f f o u r T r a d e U n io n r e p r é s e n ta tiv e s , a n d o f f o u r in d e p e n d e n t m e m b e rs w h o s e s p e c ia lis e d k n o w le d g e s h o u ld b e o f v a lu e . H e r e , a t l e a s t, is a u s e f u l s ta g e in c o - o p e r a tio n b e tw e e n a ll m e n o f g o o d w ill : m a n a g e m e n t, l a b o u r , a n d e x p e r ts . W e s h a ll w a tc h t h e i r d e lib e r a tio n s w ith th e k e e n e s t in te r e s t.
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H I L E it w o u ld n o t b e a lt o g e th e r u n f a i r to s tig m a tis e M r. D a l t o n ’s firs t B u d g e t a s a m ilk - a n d - w a te r a f fa ir, in ju s t ic e to th e C h a n c e llo r it m u s t b e re m e m b e re d t h a t th is is o n ly a n in te r im B u d g e t, n o t th e f u ll- d r e s s b u s in e s s w h ic h w e look- f o r w a r d to w ith m ix e d f e e lin g s e v e r y A p ril. C o n s id e r in g th e e c o n o m ic d itlic u ltie s in w h ic h th is c o u n tr y fin d s its e lf a t th e m o m e n t, th e" C h a n c e llo r h a s b e e n d i s t in c t ly c le v e r in c o n tr i v i n g so m ild a s e r ie s o f b u d g e ta r y c h a n g e s . B y I n c o m e T a x r e lie f s f o r th e lo w e r in c o m e g r o u p s a n d b y a s l i g h t in c r e a s e in th e s u r t a x h e h a s p le a s e d h is p o litic a l s u p p o r t e r s w ith o u t to o g r e a t a n e ffe c t o n th e r e v e n u e ; a n d b y a n a p p r e c ia b le lo w e r in g o f E . P . T h e h a s r e v iv e d to a c e r t a i n e x te n t th e f l a g g i n g s p i r i ts o f th e m a n u f a c tu r e r s . E v e n t h o u g h th e r e d u c tio n o f E . P . T . to 60 p e r c e n t, c a n n o t be d e s c rib e d as a h e r o ic s te p to w a r d s th e e s s e n tia l t r a d e r e v iv a l, y e t it is a s te p , a n d to r e c e iv e a 20 p e r c e n t, r e w a r d fo r t h e c r e a tio n o f n e w b u s in e s s (w h e n a ll ta x e s h a v e b e e n p a id ) is d i s t in c t ly b e tt e r t h a n n o th in g . T h e r e m o v a l o f p u r c h a s e ta x f r o m c e r ta in g r a d e s o f a ll - i m p o r t a n t d o m e s tic a p p li a n c e s is th e m o s t e n c o u r a g i n g s te p o f a ll . T h o u g h it is n o t in its e l f f u n d a m e n ta l , w e m a y s u r e ly r e g a r d o u r s e lv e s a s a t lib e r t y to h o p e t h a t t h is is th e first m o v e in a g e n e r a l l ig h t e n i n g o f th e b u r d e n o n “ c o n s u m e r ” g o o d s .Im p e r ia l C o lleg e C en ten ary
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H I S w e e k m a r k s th e c u lm in a tio n o f th e c e n te n a r y c e le b r a tio n s o f th e I m p e r i a l C o lle g e o f S c ie n c e a n d T e c h n o lo g y , th e p r i n c i p a l c e r e m o n y b e in g a m e e tin g a t th e A lb e r t H a l l , a t w h ic h th e K in g , in h is c a p a c ity a s V i s i t o r o f th e C o lle g e , w ill b r o a d c a s t. C h e m is ts h a v e a p a r t i c u l a r i n te r e s t in t h is c e n te n a r y , a s i t is re c k o n e d f r o m th e d a te o f fo u n d a tio n o f th e R o y a l C o lle g e o f C h e m is tr y , th e o ld e s t o f th e v a r io u s c o n s titu e n t b o d ie s n o w u n ifie d in th e I m p e r i a l C o lle g e . I n c id e n ta l ly , it is p e c u lia r ly a p p r o p r i a t e t h a t th e A lb e r t H a ll s h o u ld b e th e sc e n e o f th e c r o w n in g c e r e m o n y , as it w a s l a r g e l y o w in g to th e s u p p o r t o f A lb e r t, P r i n c e C o n s o r t, th a t th e f o u n d e rs o f th e o r i g in a l C o lle g e o f C h e m is tr y w e re a b le to m a k e soa u s p ic io u s a s t a r t, a n d it w a s no d o u b t th r o u g h h is in flu e n c e t h a t Q u e e n V ic to r ia g a v e c o n s e n t to t h e a d d itio n o f th e t i t l e “ R o y a l ” to th e n a m e o f th e c o lle g e o n ly tw o m o n th s a f te r its in c e p tio n . A h is t o r ic a l p a m p h l e t is s u e d on th e o c c a s io n o f th is h u n d r e d th a n n i v e r s a r y t e l l s th e c o m p lic a te d s to r y of h o w m a n y a n d v a r io u s f o u n d a tio n s h a v e c o m e to b e in c o r p o r a te d in th e th r e e c o n s titu e n t b o d ie s — th e R o y a l C o lle g e of S c ie n c e , t h e R o y a l S c h o o l o f M in e s , a n d th e C ity a n d G u ild s C o lle g e — w h ic h m a k e u p th e I m p e r i a l C o lle g e to -d a y . V is ito r s w ill h a v e s e e n f o r th e m s e lv e s , on F r i d a y a n d S atu rd ay ", w h a t p r o g r e s s h a s b e e n m a d e s in c e th e f irs t d e p a r t m e n ts o f th e R o y a l S c h o o l o f M in e s w e re t r a n s f e r r e d to S o u th K e n s in g to n in : 18 72, in to w h a t is n o w k n o w n a s th e H u x le y B u i l d i n g ; a n d it is p e r h a p s u n f o r t u n a t e t h a t th is b u i ld i n g is n o t b e in g s h o w n , if o n ly b y w a y o f c o n tr a s t to th e m o re m o d e r n e q u ip m e n t. A n in f o r m a tiv e p a m p h l e t fo r v is ito r s g iv e s a b r i e f s k e tc h o f th e w o rk in h a n d a t th e m o m e n t, a n d a to p o g r a p h i c a l in d ic a tio n o f w h e re th e v a r io u s b u i ld i n g s (m o s t c o n f u s in g to th e u n i n it i a t e d ) lie i n r e l a tio n to o n e a n o th e r .
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O M M E N T u p o n t h e k in d o f c o o p e r a tio n in in d u s t r y w h ic h is r e f e r r e d to in o u r l e a d i n g a r ti c l e th is w eek w a s p r o v id e d a t th e a n n u a l lu n c h e o n o f th e I n s t i t u t e o f F u e l , h e ld in L o n d o n th e o t h e r d a y . M r. A r th u r H o r n e r , c o a l p r o d u c tio n o fficer o f th e N a t io n a l U n io n o f M in e w o r k e r s , d e s c rib e d h o w th e m e n w h o w o rk e d in th e m in e s w e re b e in g c o n v e r te d to th e a p p li c a t io n o f s c ie n c e to c o a l p r o d u c tio n , h a v in g c o m e to th e c o n c lu s io n t h a t co al w a s to o h a r d l y w o n to b e w a s te d . T h is is an e n c o u r a g in g in d ic a tio n o f th e a tt i tu d e o f a h i g h ly i m p o r t a n t se c tio n o f w o r k e r s to th e r a w m a t e r i a l o f th e ii w o rk , a n d w e b e lie v e it m a y b e ta k e n a s a s ig n t h a t th e p u b lic ity w h ic h h a s b e e n g iv e n to s c ie n c e in r e c e n t y e a r s — in w h ic h w e o u r s e lv e s h a v e ta k e n w h a t s h a r e w e c o u ld — h a s m a d e its im p a c t f e lt in a q u a r t e r w h e r e i t is o f th e h ig h e s t v a lu e . A s D r . E . \V . S m ith (w h o p r e s id e d a t th e lu n c h e o n ) s a id , it d o e s n o t m u c h m a t t e r w h e th e r a n in d u s -3 8 o
tr y is p u b lic ly o r p r i v a t e l y o w n e d ; w h a t is im p o r t a n t is w h o r u n s a n in d u s tr y . I f th e r e is fr e e d o m f o r th e a d m i n i s t r a to r s a n d te c h n ic ia n s to g e t o n w ith th e jo b , th is c o u n tr y , h e t h o u g h t, w o u ld c o m e o u t w e ll. T h e s e c o m m e n ts a r o s e f ro ih th e l e a d i n g s p e e c h o f th e o c c a s io n , w h ic h w a s d e liv e r e d b y th e M in is te r of F u e l a n d P o w e r , M r. S h in w e ll, w ho a s s u r e d h is h e a r e r s that) th e G o v e r n m e n t h a d n o in te n tio n o f e n tr u s ti n g th e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f th e m in i n g (o r a n y o th e r) in d u s t r y to C iv il S e r v a n ts . T h e y w o u ld h a v e , h e s a id , to d is p o s s e s s so m e o f th e o w n e rs , b u t h e w o n d e re d w h e th e r th e y w e re n o t d e lig h te d t h a t th e y w e re a b o u t to b e d is p o s s e s s e d . I f th e w o r k e r s r e a l ly w ill c o - o p e r a te , a s M r.
H o r n e r s u g g e s ts , w e b e lie v e t h a t , fro m th e p o in t o f v ie w o f te c h n ic a l efficien cy , D r . S m ith h a s h i t th e n a il o n th e h e a d — n o n e w e x p e r ie n c e fo r h im .
P u b lic ity jfo r S cien ce
A
W E L L - M E A N I N G a tt e m p t w a s m a d e la s t S a t u r d a y b y th e L o n d o n S e c tio n o f th e R o y a l I n s t i tu t e o f C h e m is tr y to d is c u s s th e P u b lic ity o f S c ie n c e w ith s p e c ia l r e fe r e n c e to C h e m is tr y . E x p e r ts on b o th s c ie n tific e x h ib itio n s a n d film s p u t t h e i r c a s e w ith g r e a t s k i l l, s u p p o r te d by a t r u m p e t- b lo w in g a c t fro m a l e a d i n g l e p r e s e n ta t iv e o f th e B .B .C . T h e s e c r e ta r y o f th e B r itis h A s s o c ia tio n a ls o s p o k e , c h o o s in g a s h is s u b je c t“ T he. P r e s s .” W h il e D r . H o w a r th h a s in c o n te s ta b ly d o n e w o rk o f g r e a t m e r it in h is o w n s p h e r e , w e r e g r e t to h a v e to r e g is te r th e o p in io n t h a t h e d o e s n o t a p p e a r to a p p r e c ia t e th e p o s itio n o f th e P r e s s in r e la ti o n to S c ie n c e , a p o in t w h ic h h e in f a c t a d m itte d w h e n s t a ti n g t h a t h is g e n e r a tio n h a d f a ile d to b r id g e t h e g u l f b e tw e e n s c ie n tis ts , a n d th e P r e s s . I t w a s d is a p p o in t i n g t h a t h e d id n o t th in k it n e c e s s a r y to d i s tin g u is h b e tw e e n la y j o u r n a l i s t s a n d m e m b e rs o f th e s c ie n tific a n d t e c h n ic a l P r e s s , a n d t h a t it d id n o t o c c u r to th e o r g a n is e r s o f th is d is c u s s io n - m e e tin g to i n v ite a w o r k in g j o u r n a l i s t , p r e f e r a b ly a w r i t e r o n s c ie n tific s u b je c ts , to a d d h is v ie w s to th o s e o f th e f o u r o th e r s p e a k e r s . S i m ila r ly , t h e - a b s e n c e o f a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f th e c h e m ic a l in d u s t r y w a s g r e a t l y to be r e g r e tte d . W e m ig h t a d d t h a t i t w a s a m is ta k e to c o n v e n e a m e e tin g o f su c h im p o r ta n c e on a S a t u r d a y a f te r n o o n . T h e o m is s io n o f th e m e e tin g f r o m th e
C a le n d a r o f E v e n t s in T h e T i m e s g iv e s a f a ir in d ic a tio n o f th e p u b lic ity - m in d e d - n e s s o f th e o r g a n is e r s .
E fficien cy of B lin d W orkers
M
a n u f a c t u r e r s o f sc ie n tific a p p a r a tu s , g l a s s b o ttle s , a n d c o s m e tic s , p la s tic m o u ld e r s , l ig h t a n d h e a v y e n g in e e r s , a n d t i n p l a t e w o r k e r s w e re a m o n g th e 11 0 firm s e m p lo y in g b lin d la b o u r , w h o g a v e e v id e n c e in a r e c e n t in v e s tig a tio n c a r r i e d o u t b y th e N a tio n a l I n s t i t u t e f o r th e B lin d a n d a s s is te d b y 500 of th e b lin d e m p lo y e e s th e m s e lv e s . T e s ts sh o w e d t h a t a b lin d w o rk e r is o fte n m o re e ffic ie n t th a n o n e w ith s ig h t. In m a c h in e o p e r a tio n s th e b lin d w o r k e r s g a v e a n a v e r a g e o u t p u t o f 10 1.8, th e a v e r a g e o f a s ig h te d w o rk e r b e in g p u t a t 100. F i g u r e s f o r “ i n s p e c tio n ” (93) a n d “ m is c e lla n e o u s ” (92.9 ) jo b s w e re le s s im p re s s iv e . M o s t o f th e w o rk e rs to p p e d th e 100 m a r k , b u t in e a c h c a te g o r y th e a v e r a g e w a s s e r io u s ly a ffe c te d b y a s m a ll m in o r ity w h o p r o v e d to b e fitte d o n ly f o r “ a s s is te d ” e m p lo y m e n t. O n e i n te r e s t in g d is c lo s u r e w a s t h a t t o ta l ly b lin d w o r k e r s g iv e a g r e a t e r o u t p u t th a n p a r t i a l l y b lin d . M r. E . W . P a g e , h e a d o f th e N .I .B . e m p lo y m e n t s e c tio n , a ttr ib u te s th is to th e fin e r c o n c e n tr a tio n a llo w e d b y to ta l b lin d n e s s .T h e China Clay T rade
I m p r o v e d M a n - P o w e r P o s it i o n
T
H E ch in a-clay in d u stry is m ak in g a slow b u t su re recovery from th e d islo ca tio n of w ar. F ro m J a n u a ry n e x t th e C o n c e n tra tio n Schem e ap p lied d u rin g th e w a r ceases to fu n ctio n , and licences w ill no lo n g er be re q u ire d to p ro d u ce ch in a clay.T h is w ill en ab le all closed p its to resu m e p ro d u c tio n as soon as lab o u r becom es av ailab le.
T h e M in istry of L a b o u r h a s p ro m ised the in d u s try m ore w o rk ers as th ey a re d em o b i
lised. T h e ch in a-clay w o rk e r h a s alw avs been noted for h is in d u stry , a n d in consequence firm s em ploying th em d u rin g th e w a r h av e b een r e lu c ta n t to re le a s e th em . M en a re , h ow ever, u rg e n tly re q u ire d in o rd e r th a t th e in d u stry m ay m eet th e d e m an d s for c h in a clay fo r th e hom e and overseas m a rk e ts . I t is b elieved th a t th e B o a rd of T ra d e an d M in istry of L a b o u r (whose officials have b a d a c o n feren ce w ith th e le a d e rs o f.th e in d u stry ), w ill give special a tte n tio n to its re q u ire m e n ts, in view o f th e im p o rta n ce o f th e e x p o rt tra d e .
Oc t o b e r 2 7 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E 3 8 1
South W ales and the Future of the Chemical Industry—I
An Integrated S ch em e B ased on C o a l-O il-P o w e r S u p plies
b y D . D . H O W A T , B . S c ., P h . D . , F . R . I . C ., A . M .I .C h e m .E .
T
H E h eritag e of th e In d u strial R evolution h a s exerted a profound influence on the course of in d u strial developm ent in th is country. P red o m in an t am ong its influences h as been th e tendency to concentrate on the heavy in d u stries—coal and steel. A nother facto r w as ‘ th e estab lish m en t of a large n um ber of com paratively sm all firms, each of which h ad arisen from th e drive and in itiativ e of one m an —him self often a w orking m an.
I n th e age in “which th ey arose qu ite a good case could be m ade econom ically for tnose concerns w hich ensured goods and services a t highly com petitive prices. R in g s and cartels were im possible in th e h ighly com
p etitiv e conditions th en obtain in g . T he price paid for th e in d u stria l p rosperity of B rita in in those days w as heavy—excessive hours of w ork, exploitation of women and children, bad housing, an d th e u tte r absence of hygienic conditions. M any of th e w orst effects of th ese evils have been removed or considerably m itig ated , b ut up to th e present d ay B ritish in d u stry suffers under d isa d v an tag es and h a ndicaps directly derived from the In d u s tria l R evolution.
A B a n e f u l H e r i t a g e
A g larin g exam ple of th is u n fo rtu n ate h e ritag e w as to be found in th e tow ns and in d u strial valleys of S outh W ales. B asically, th e whole in d u stria l economy of th is d is
tric t—w ith a population of over th ree m illion people—depended upon th e export of coal an d steel. M any p its and a large num ber of tin -p late m ills worked to capacity for m any years to su pply th e m a rk e ts overseas.
W ith the advent of in d u stria l developm ent overseas, p a rticu larly in G erm any, F ra n c e, th e U .S.A .. and J a p a n , th e m ark ets for the products of th e h eavy in d u stries of South W ales began to co n tract rapidly. Signs of th is tren d were evident even beîore th e w ar of 1914-18, b u t conditions became really critical d u rin g th e in ter-w ar years. N ot only were form er custom ers supplying th e ir own needs b ut th ey were com peting in those m a r
kets th a t were still open.
Now th e h eritag e of th e In d u s tria l R evo
lution exerted its baneful influence to the full. F ro m th e email m ines w ith inad eq u ate sh a fts, poorly designed haulage-w avs, and general lack of adequate m echanisation, coal could not be produced a t prices com petitive w ith th a t won from th e hig h ly efficient m ines of H o llan d , P o lan d , and the R u h r.
I n steel m an u factu re th e sam e m elancholy tale was repfeated. T in plate from th e sm all,
relatively old-fashioned m ills of th e W elsh valleys could n ot com pete w ith the product of the large-scale continuous strip m ills of the U .S.A . an d G erm any.
F ir s t am ong the really large-scale a tte m p ts to m odernise th e heavy in d u stries of W ales was the new R ich ard T hom as plan t a t E blnv V ale. C om prising coke-ovens, b last-fu r
naces, B essem er converters, open-hearth steel furnaces, cogging m ill, and continuous strip m ill, tb e p lan t represents a w hole
hearted a tte m p t to in stal an efficient, in teg rated steel production u n it. Opened in 1936, the p lan t h as done extrem ely useful w ork and rendered valuable service during th is w ar. M any criticism s have been ex
pressed of th e R ichard Thom as-B aldw ins m erger on th e grounds th a t a g reat deal of obsolete p lan t is involved, although an o th er new continuous strip m ill has been projected since th e m erger.
I n a d e q u a t e M o d e r n i s a t i o n A part from th e developm ent a t Ebbw V ale, advances in im provem ents and m odernisation of th e coal and steel in d u s
tries of S outh W ales have been m eagre and inadequate. I n consequence, in sp ite of its resources of coking, bitum inous and a n th ra cite coals, South W ales rem ained a “ depres
sed area " rig h t up u n til the o u tb rea k of war. On the purely chemical side there was little of in te res t in d u strially beyond the coke ovens. Cham ber sulphuric acid plan ts were in existence in places, including N ew port and Sw ansea, w hile nickel refining was carried on a t Cly'dach and zinc sm elting at S w ansea. W hile th e nickel refining p lan t is relatively m odern in design and equipm ent, th e carbonyl process w ill n ot com pare for efficiency w ith electrolytic refining as p rac tised at P o rt Colborne, O nt., C anada. Zinc sm elting is carried out in th e old-type hori
zontal re to rts, while th e late st v ertical-type large-capacity re to rts, based on th e New Je rse y Z inc Co.’s p a te n ts, h av e been in stalled at A vonm outh.
U ntil 1939, therefore, th e in d u strial posi
tion w as hig h ly u n satisfacto ry , a n d m any com petent observers were convinced th a t the only salv atio n for th e in d n stria l developm ent of South W ales lay in th e in troduction of diversified new ind u stries. W hile th e war- clouds gathered over E u ro p e and strateg ic p lan s were based upon th e assum ption th a t F ran c e would rem ain a pow erful m ilitary ally, South W ales represented an a ttra c tiv e location for new w ar-tim e in d u stries out of
c
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E reasonable range of air a tta c k . E ven before
1939 som e ten ta tiv e moves were m ade, a B ayer bauxite purification plant, being in stalled n ear N ew port, while al Sw ansea a plan t w as bu ilt for th e production of m ag
nesium by th e newly-developed carbo-ther- mic. (H an sg irg ) process.
C h e m i c a l D e v e lo p m e n ts
W ith th e o utbreak of w ar the pace of developm ent becam e m uch more rapid. In the Sw ansea d istric t an th ra cite cl 11 IT provides a relatively cheap fuel for electric power generation in steam statio n s. A dditional g en eratin g cap acity w as 'in stalled an d the pow er was used to supply the m agnesium reduction p lan t and the electrolytic p lan ts for alum inium p roduction vyhich were in stalled near-by. T hese sources of electric pow er led to one of th e m ost im p o rtan t developm ents in th e chem ical history of B rita in — the in tro d u ctio n of a calcium car
bide m an u factu rin g p lan t located on th e channel coast n ear Sw ansea. F u r th e r along th e coast the g re at P em b rey ' R .O .F . was bu ilt fo r th e m an u factu re of explosives.
In la n d , in the centre of th e M e rth y r coal
m ining area, a large new sy n th e tic plant was established for th e production of m ethanol and am m onia, w ater-gas from coke providing the carbon m onoxide and hydro
gen required for the synthesis. N ear B arry a su itab le site was found for a plant designed to recover m agnesia from sea-w ater, th e m agnesia so produced being reduced to m etal in a reduction p la n t n ear Cardiff. At th is sam e plan t three large electric a rc fu r
naces were installed for th e m anufacture of ferro-alloys, 70 per cent, ferro-silicon in p a r
ticu lar. As a fu rth e r item in e stablishing diversified in d u stries two B .O .F ’s were built for th e m an u factu re of m edium -calibre a n ti
aircraft and ta n k guns, th u s laying the foundation for precision light engineering.
Several R .O .F ’s were also b u ilt as filling factories, em ploying a t peak production 20.000 to 40,000 people.
A survey of th e developm ents outlined serves to show th a t th ere is in existence now in South W ales th e real basis for an ad eq u ate d iv ersity of in d u stry . On the chem ical side the p lan t now in stalled, if adequately u tilised, w ill m ake S outh W ales a pow erful facto r in th e fu tu re of the chem i
cal in d u stry of B rita in . F u rth e r, several of th e processes installed are new to th is country and th e ir fu tu re developm ent and expansion are essential to our in d u strial prosperity.
T ak in g first of all th e production of lig h t m etals, th is is a com pletely new in d u stry for Wale's and one of d istin c t prom ise. B au x ite ores from Irela n d , In d ia , th e Gold C oast, B rasil, and B ritish G u ian a are unloaded at th e B ayer purification p lan t n e a r N ew port on th e B ristol Channel. In th e critical day s of our extrem e need of alum inium cres
a new source was developed in the Gold Coast; A lthough the ores contained a high percentage of m oisture th ey form ed a very welcome addition to c u r scan ty supplies.
From th is purification plan t a t N ew port 40,000 to 50,000 to n s of purified a lu m in a were produced a n n u ally , yielding on reduction a bout h a lf th a t to n n ag e of alum inium m etal.
As 1J-2 tons of coal are consum ed in the production of each ton of alum ina th e p u ri
fication p la n t m u st obviously be located in close proxim ity to a coal field: T h e B ayer purification process, involving q u ite in tr i
cate chem ical processes of digestion in stro n g , cau stic solutions, followed by se ttlin g , filter
ing, and su b seq u en t precip itatio n , h as long b e en regarded as difficult to operate success
fully. T h e purified alum ina was reduced to m etal in th e p lan ts eith er in the Swansea d istric t or in th e N o rth - of S cotland.
Although th e alum ina reduction plants n ear Sw ansea were equipped w ith the m ost modern p la n t, including th e new Soderberg continuous electrode, they had to be s h u t down some tim e ago as a resu lt of th e conl shortage for electric pow er generation.
M a g n e s i a R e c o v e r y
M agnesia recovery from sea w ater h as con
stitu te d one of th e rem ark ab le new chemical developm ents of th e p ast 10 years. W ith an average m agnesium content 1 f 0.14 per con;
present as the chloride in sea-w ater, the m etal m ay be p recipitated as .h e hydroxide by in teractio n w ith calculated additions of milk of lime. W h en introduced first Into B rita in in a p lan t on tho N o rth -E a st coast, th e p recip itatin g agent em ployed in th e pro cess w as dolom ite (MgO.ĆaO) and not s tra ig h t lim e. E m ploym ent of dolom ite has a num ber of a d v an tag es including easier se d im en tatio n and filtration to g eth e r w ith the recovery of th e m agnesia from the dolo
m ite. W h en th e p lan t w as established n ear B arry tho use of s tra ig h t lim e a s th e p re
c ip itatin g ag en t w as decided upon. Tn view of th e successful operation of a n u m b er of p la n ts 011 the W est Coast of the U .S.A . no serious difficulties were an ticip ated following th e introduction of stra ig h t lime for preci
p ita tio n . P ra c tica l difficulties w ere, how ever, experienced and th e in itial costs of the process proved to be high. In ste a d of an an ticip ated production cost of £0 10s. per to n of m agnesia, th e actu al cost proved to be £24 12s. 5d., th e p lan t being la te r sh u t down on th e recom m endation of th e Select Com m ittee on N atio n al E xp en d itu re.
A lthough operation of th is p lan t has not proved-econom ically successful, th ere can be little d o u b t th a t th e process h as -been well established on a comm ercial scale in the U .S.A . In view of the g reat im portance ol m agnesia for p h arm aceu tical purposes, in the refra cto ry in d u stry , and as a source ol m agnesium m eta l, it is to be hoped thal steps will be tak e n very shortly to place the
