Monday, Mar. 17, 1930

Welded Steamer

Out of Charleston, S.C., and then triumphantly back in again, steamed a new and empty steel cargo ship, the Carolinian. Only the closest look by a ship-wise observer would have seen why she was different from any othe steel ship-- there were no rivet-heads studding her sleek sides. All her plates had been arc-welded, with an estimated saving of 25% in construction costs, of 20% in weight. Her designer: Richard F. Smith, 30. Builders: Charleston Dry Dock & Machine Co. (under Vice President Charles V. Boy kin).

The adoption of arc-welding by shipbuilders marks another step in the gradual displacement of the noisy and often inefficient rivet. Welding is increasingly used in steel skyscraper construction (in Manhattan a fire department permit is necessary). In the construction of many parts of automobiles, welding is replacing and bettering costly, intricate castings and forgings, which are more subject to structural failure.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.