The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1916)

4 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD THE PROCESS OF MAKING TALKING MACHINE NEEDLES How the Very Necessary Accessory to the Modern Talking Machine Is Produced in Billions for the Consumption of Americans — The Little Details That Count in Finishing To compile any accurate figures regarding the number of talking machine needles used in the United States in the course of a year would probably require the earnest consideration of a professor in mathematics, inasmuch as every time a record is played the needle must be changed or should be changed. The ordinary family "will use twenty to twenty-five needles in the course of an evening. Multiply this by the number of talking machines of all makes in constant use and we should have some needle figures that would surprise even those engaged in selling them. In view of the general use of talking machine needles, some details regarding their manufacture, from the time the carbon steel rods threesixteenths of an inch in diameter are received at the factory to the time the finished needle is ready for use should prove interesting, and especially so to those in the trade. The operations are as follows: The rods are first heated in an annealing oven and then slowly cooled in order to soften them. In this heating and cooling process they become oxidized or coated with scales. To remove these they are tapped with hammers, after which they are "pickled" in a solution of acid and water, and again heated in another oven much cooler than the first to remove the effects of pickling. They are then taken to the wire-drawing machine, where the three-sixteenth-inch soft rod by being drawn through a die plate about one-eighth inch in diameter is reduced to No. 8 wire. Drawing compresses and hardens the metal, making it necessary to repeat the annealing process before another reduction in diameter is possible. Therefore, these operations must be repeated about five times before the requisite reduction to one-sixteenth inch or No. 16 wire is obtained. The long coil of small wire is now passed to a forming machine, in appearance like a lathe, which in spinning around the wire as fed through it. straightens and cuts it into rods about eighteen inches in length. These rods are gathered up and taken to a grinding machine, an ingenious special mechanism, which points the ends of about 150 of them at a time. They are fed to it sideways and are held in exact position, fed through and turned as they grind against the stone by means of rubber tired wheels or rollers. One set of ends being pointed, the rods are reversed and again fed to the grinder to point the opposite ends. The now double-pointed rods pass to the cutting machine. Its operator seizes a handful (about 100) pushes the ends against a plate to even them, places them in the cutting machine against a gauge plate set five-eighths inch from the shear, and touching a lever cuts off 100 rough needles at a stroke. Turning the bunch of rods end for end 100 more needles drop into the hopper. The shortened rods pass to the next grinder and thence to the next cutter, and so on until the rod is about used up. The now rough needles are spread evenly to the depth of an inch over the surface of a heavy iron plate or tray, and while on this tray are heated cherry red in a special furnace, on being removed from which they are at once thrown into large double cans containing whale oil to harden them. These cans are kept in a water tank for cooling purposes. The inner cans have strainers at the bottom, so that when removed with needles in them the oil drains back into the outer cans, which always remain in the water. The needles, perfectly shaped and hardened, but still in the rough and gummy with oil, are placed in a huge pan or trough, which slides back and forth with jerking motion (somewhat like that of an ordinary ash sifter) on the top of what may be called a "washing machine." Here they are treated to a bath of soft soap, or soda and water, as they roll about in the bottom of the pan. After a thorough shaking up in this soapy mixture they are drained, and while still damp are placed in a tumbling barrel or, in other words, a slowly revolving barrel, pivoted at an angle of about forty-five degrees. About double their bulk in dry sawdust is mixed with them, and in a short time dries them thoroughly. They are then separated from their sawdust towel by a rather ingenious contrivance, which sucks off the dust and leaves the needles. It is now necessary to prepare their surfaces for the final polish, and to do this they are scoured. A batch numbering several thousand is mixed with a pasty looking compound, and the mass is wrapped into a cylindrical canvas packet about five inches in diameter and two feet in length. Several "packets" tightly bound around with strong rope are placed in a machine called a "mangier," in which they are rolled back and forth between two slabs as one would make a roll of butter. After this careful rolling or massage treatment is continued for some time, the needles, by rubbing against each other in the scouring compound, are thoroughly cleansed and smoothly surfaced, and are taken from the packets. They are then given a rinsing in clear water and another turn in the sawdust barrel, after which they are for the last time packed into sausagelike canvas casings and rolled this time with a fine polishing compound. From this last mauling they emerge as finished product, and are sent to the stockroom to be weighed (not counted) into packets of 100 or more. There are about sixteen processes between the steel rod and the finished needle or, if we count the number of operations necessarily repeated, in the wire drawing, annealing process, pickling, hammering, etc., there are about fortytwo handlings in all, and yet in no case is a needle handled singly as such. LIVE FEATURESBRING RESULTS A. R. Meyer, Havana, 111.. Finds Ways to Make Summer Business Active Havana,, III., September 4. — One of the most interesting of the several floats of the Fourth of July Parade held in this city was that entered by A. R. Meyer, the enterprising local Victor A. R. Meyer's Victor Float dealer, who, by inaugurating special features, has succeeded in doing a surprisingly large summer business. Mr. Meyer built the float over the body of his automobile and used the advertising matter of the Victor Co., including banners, to great advantage, in the decorations. A Victrola XVI had a prominent position on the float. Mr. Meyer drove the car himself throughout the line of march. Through special advertising stunts Mr. Meyer got some excellent business as a result of the Chautauqua season and also did a large business with the campers at Quiver Lake, Havana's summer resort. LIPMAN KAISER SOME MOTORIST Lipman Kaiser, the popular representative of the S. B. Davega Co., the Victor distributor, is quite some motorist during his leisure hours. Early this month Mr. Kaiser made a journey over the roads to Lake Sacondaga, N. Y., in the Adirondacks in order to bring Mrs. Kaiser home from her vacation, and made the trip of 217 miles in a single day, returning in the same time. EASTERN VICTOR SERVICE IS WHAT SUCCESSFUL NEW ENGLAND VICTOR DEALERS USE IT HELPS THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL It helps them to attract and hold customers by placing them in a position to give prompt service to their trade, to supply the machine or record wanted, when it is wanted, to make profits. IT COSTS NO MORE THAN ORDINARY SERVICE The Eastern Talking Machine Co. 177 TREMONT STREET, BOSTON, MASS. Largest Exclusive Victor Distributors in the East