The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

TAE MARINE. REVIEW , | 33 IMPROVED REGRINDING VALVES The Lunkenheimer Co., manufacturers of the well- known high grade Lunkenheimer engineering specialties have made a number of desir- able improvements on their re- grinding valves. The changes, however, are not at all radical, as the valve has been in use © for half a century and has prov- en itself to be of the correct design, having given general satisfaction wherever used. Its manufacturers have, however, increased the weight of the valve, not because the thickness of shell, etc., were too light in their former products, but mere- ly as an additional precaution against rough handling while attaching, etc. The medium pattern valves are guaranteed to stand a work- ing pressure of 200 lbs. per square inch and the extra heavy pattern up to 350 lbs., per square inch. They have also altered the shape of the valve, which not only makes an elegant appearance but also increases the area through the valve permitting an unobstructed passage through same, the area being more than equal to that of the connecting pipe. To insure a perfect_and strong joint between the pipe and valve, the pipe threads have been made considerably longer, thereby overcoming the danger of stripping threads which so often happens owing to rough and unskilled workmanship in _attaching. All sizes of the valves now have lock-nuts on the hand wheels which facilitates the taking apart and assembling of the valve for repairs, étc. Referring to the sectional illustration, it will be noticed that the hub which carries the operating stem is secured to the body by a union connection, which, in turn, screws over the shell of the valve body. By means of this con- struction it is impossible for the hub and the body to become corroded together, as the thread which holds the union ring to the body is protected at all times from the action of the steam, the joint being made between the flange on the hub and the neck of the body. This connec- tion also acts as a tie or binder in screwing over the body and tends to make the valve rigid and strong. The disc A is held loosely to the stem F, by means of the lock- nut J and therefore will adjust itself to the seat very readily and a tight joint can be relied tpon. The stem F is fitted with a very strong, durable and long thread and the hand wheel is of ample diameter to insure the easy operation of the valve. To regrind the valve, the bonnet ring is unscrewed and the trimmings are removed from the body. A wire or nail is placed through the lock-nut and stem, a little pow- dered sand or glass and soap of oil is placed on the disc and the trimmings are again placed in the valve and reground. The bonnet has a small rim or projection on the bottom thereof which acts as a guide on the inside of the valve neck while regrinding. The seats in the valve-bodies are very small when the valves are sent out from the factory, which permits of considerable regrind- ing and is considered an important feature. The valve can be packed under pressure when open or closed and to pack while the steam is flowing through the valve, open same as wide as possible when the shoulder at the top of the stem thread will form a seat beneath the stuthng box. The material used is of the highest grade of bronze composition and the workmanship is in every LUNKENHEIMER RE- GRINDING VALVE. respect commendable. Before being sent out of the fac- tory, every valve is thoroughly tested and inspected, the stuffing boxes are packed and they are ready for imme- diate use. : The company have, in connection with their plant, a complete physical and chemical laboratory, which enables them to manufacture their products of such composition as are best adapted to withstand the chemical actions, strains, etc., to which the various products are subjected. The laboratories: also enable the company to guarantee their products in every respect. FOUR NEW OILSTEAMERS ~- © The Union Oil Company have just purchased four im- mense tank steamers, which will be operated on the Pacific coast in conjunction with the vessels that are now plying. It is the purpose of the company in the near future to con- struct several gigantic oil carriers, and the entire line will be operated 'under the name of the Union Steamship Co. The manager of the Union Oil Co., John Baker Jr., has just returned to San Francisco from New York, where he pur- chased three big steamers, and*also visited shipyards with reference to the building of other vessels. He brought back incorporation papers of the Union Steamship Co. The company is incorporated under the laws of New Jersey, and has a Capitalization of $5,000,000. The vessels acquired by the oil company are the Lansing, Washtenaw, and Roma. The Argyle, which has been plying on the Pacific coast, un- der charter to the Union Oil Co., was also purchased. This vessel was owned by the Michigan Steamship Co. The Lan- sing has a capacity of 47,000 barrels of oil, and is the largest and fastest tank steamer afloat. * The Washtenaw form- erly:ran on the Pacific coast and carries 28,000 barrels. The tanks of the Roma will hold 27,500 barrels. The acquire- ment of these vessels makes the Union Oil Co., of Cali- fornia, one of the largest operators of tank steamers in the world. Its tonnage is now far in excess of that owned by the Standard Oil Co. The plans have been already drawn for the vessels that are to be built. The largest vessel will be a 17,000-ton tank steamer, 660 ft. long. The oil to be transported by these vessels will come principally from the Santa Maria oil fields, and the market will be found in domestic and foreign ports. The three vessels purchased will arrive in San Francisco within the next half year. The Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Co., of Cleveland, Ohio has been awarded by the U. S. Government, the contract for crane service over two ship building berths at the U. S. navy yard at Mare Island, San Francisco. This is one of the most important contracts in this line that has been placed for a long time, comprising an immense steel trestle and a powerful high-speed cantilever gantry crane mounted on same and traversing over the two berths. , The Bucyrus Co., Milwaukee, Wis., is to build for the Panama Canal Commission nineteen 70-ton steam shovels at*$10,240 each or a total of $194,560.. It will erect the ma- chines, the government furnishing only the necessary unskilled labor. The Allis-Chalmers Co. submitted a net lower bid, but did not propose to pay freight charges or the cost of erecting and testing the machines. The Lidgerwood Mig. Co., New York City, was given the contract for six 60-ton unloaders at $7,949 each, the Marion Steam Shovel Co., . Marion, O., for twelve unloading plows at $900 each, and the Mann & McCann Co., Chicago, for six earth-spreaders at $23,382 for the lot. R. C. Horton, Chicago, is to build three large steel water tanks. The steamer John Duncan is at the plant of Abram Smith & Sons, Algonac, for repairs made necessary by an encounter with heavy gales on Lake Erie.