May 1929 P U T M A N : L A R G E R O T A T I N G M A C H I N E R Y 385

is simply a matter of what he is accustomed to. If one is accustomed to looking at cast machines, they look best, but as fabricated machines become more familiar they improve in appearance. What appears radical today seems commonplace tomorrow.

This was especially true in the case of fabricated Η beam bedplates. Because of their appearance, they produced considerable unfavorable comment at first, and some customers actually refused to have them. But it is a fact that Η beam bedplates are really better bases than cast bedplates. The U section of the cast bed­plates, with its smoothly rounded corners, was not dictated by any requirement of the structure, but they were made that way so that the pattern could be pulled more easily from the sand. The idea of grouting bed­plates into the top originated with the fabricated bed­plate and when so grouted, its appearance is equally as good as that of the cast bedplate. I t is just as natural to grout a fabricated bedplate into the top, as to set a cast base above the floor line. Architects are realizing this and are designing the floors of power houses and motor rooms with recesses to receive the bedplates, so that after the grouting is done, the floor covering can be placed flush with the top of the bed­plates. And today, no one hears a word of criticism regarding the appearance of fabricated bedplates, and very little indeed, regarding the appearance of fabri­cated machines.

Round comers and sweeping curves are descriptive of cast structures and cast machines. Flat surfaces, square comers, and abmpt lines are equally descriptive of fabricated machines. It is only a matter of time when they will appear equally attractive; in fact, the straight line and the square corner have already come into prominence in the design of modernistic furniture, lighting fixtures, and decorations.

The major problem of the manufacturing department was the construction of a new fabrication shop. Fig. 11 gives a general view of the shop. The largest piece of equipment is a vertical bending roll for rolling into circles the frames of d-c. machines and the spider rims of a-c. machines. There is also a 1000-ton crimping press for putting an initial bend in the ends of the slabs to facilitate starting them in the rolls. A large furnace which will take slabs 37 ft. long is provided for heating the slabs preliminary to rolling, and also for annealing completed structures. An approach table is provided for carrying the slabs from the furnace to the crimper and the bending rolls. The furnace, approach table, crimper and bending rolls are all controlled from a single pulpit located near the rolling mill.

Other pieces of equipment include a flange press for forming the pressed steel end bells for turbine generators and a short blast room capable of receiving the largest completed fabricated structures. Here, all fabricated structures are shot ballasted before going to the assembly section. Every bit of rust and scale is removed so that when paint is applied to the surface there is no danger

of its chipping or scaling off, because it has been applied to a surface 100 per cent clean.

M O R E E F F I C I E N T H Y D R O P L A N T S One of the most interesting features in the work of

hydro-electric development has been the persistent endeavor to utilize to the fullest extent the potentially available energy of the water flow. Performances of mechanical equipment have been so consistently im­proved that for a given head and volume not only are the water-wheels designed for that ser\áce of remarkably high efficiencies but the products of different manu­facturers come exceedingly close to duplicating results.

There has, comparatively recently, been a notable increase in the movement to utilize full stream flow by a series of generating stations located along the river course. The development of the Catawba River in the Carolinas by the Duke Power Company is representa­tive of this ' 'chain'' planning, Oxford station being operated, to all intents and purposes, from the tailrace of the Rhodiss station and discharging into the pond of the Lookout Shoals station. The Chippewa Falls plant of the Northern States Power Company of Wis­consin follows a similar trend, being operated with the Wissota development, two miles upstream, in con­nection with storage reservoirs. Seasonal variations have, however, led to a further development a t Chippewa.

By providing six comparatively small units at the Chippewa Falls plant it is possible to load the various machines to the point of maximum efficiency. In order that this efficiency may be maintained under varying conditions of operation, the propeller-type machines have been provided with movable blades whose pitch may be changed to give maximum efficiency for any gate opening or maximum output for any varia­tion of head. This is a most interesting phase of hydraulic power development and should, if proved in service, be important in the future design of low-head plants. Steam stations have no monopoly of the economical features of good generating practices.— Electrical World.

L I G H T U P H O U S E N U M B E R S A B R O A D Stockholm homes are to have illuminated street

numbers this year, according to a report from the Swedish capital. Electrical experts have been asked to draw up plans for the necessary wiring, and the municipal authorities are expected to act upon them in the near future. The Stockholm Rent Payer's Association has gone on record as being highly in favor of the project.

Compulsory illumination of house numbers has been suggested in Stockholm before, but it was not until city doctors and cabmen began complaining of the difficulty of finding the right house number after dark tha t a vigorous campaign for lighted numbers was begun.—Transactions, I. E. S.