November_December_2021_AMP_Digital

FEATURE A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 3 6 2 AN INDUSTRY AT WAR 80 YEARS AGO Recently a vintage 1942 issue of Metal Progress, the forerunner to Ad- vanced Materials & Processes, found its way to my desk. Reading through each slightly moldy page, it became obvious this was an industry focused on the war effort. It had only been a few months since the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor which official- ly thrust the United States into World War II. By the time this issue was published in August 1942, nearly every part of American life: companies, associa- tions, media, manufacturers, even religious institutions, was focused on activities related to war efforts. Serving as a publication of the American Society for Metals, as ASM International was known then, Metal Prog- ress jumped in to do its part not only in disseminating technical information used to ramp up manufacturing, but also in reporting and contributing to studies from the War Production Board (WPB). Page 221 of that issue features an article drafted by founding editor of Metal Progress Ernest E. Thum, titled “Secondary Copper for Bearings, War Work & Alloy Steel,” which suggests “ways and means whereby the maximum amount of metal can be guided into its best, quickest, and most economical use, without debasement of grade.” The article lies between two others: “Status of Steel Expansion Program” and “Standard Drawing Dies (Carbide) for Small Ammunition.” It’s clear that metals were going to play a part in this war. On page 213 in the newly formed War Products Con- sultation column, a blower manufacturer asked for techni- cal help. The article, “Fixing Bearing Metal in Steel Shells” notes that because of a tin shortage, the “emergency al- GUEST DITORIAL ternate” lead-base alloy substitute the company wanted to use did not easily attach to the steel shells. The proposed solution contributed by another company and advertiser used ASTM Emergency Alternate Alloy No. 15 and listed a detailed recipe for bonding the materials. Speaking of advertising, there were ads from at least 150 companies, many in the heat treating industry, and almost all of them mentioning or inferring how their products and services are helping the war effort. Repeated themes include calls to buy war bonds, to collect and reuse scrap metal, suggestions for dealing with new restrictions on using metals, and of course making sure quality prod- ucts are leaving the factories at every step for the “boys” on the front line. More than one ad would be considered politically incorrect today, directed at enemies of the Allied forces. We’ve scanned a few favorite advertisements that reflect the tone of the entire issue. As a former book editor, I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention this gem: a listing of ASM books, including “Practical Metallurgy” by George Sachs and Kent Van Horn, and “Principles of Heat Treatment” by M.A. Grossman. For $8.50 and a note to the “Gentlemen” at ASM, both of these soon-to-be industry classics could be yours. Assuming you don’t have a time machine, a copy of Grossman’s book is currently available on eBay for about $34, and old issues of Metal Progress also show up from time to time. Alternatively, most of us are more interest- ed in recent developments in heat treating, and for that, be sure to read the proceedings from Heat Treat 21, now available in the ASM Digital Library at dl.asminternational. org/heat-treating. While it’s fun to look back, it’s amazing to think about how far this industry has come. Victoria Burt Editor, HTPro Burt Advertisement for furnaces from Holcroft & Company. “Thousands of shells that will wing their way to Victory are being heat treated in Flinn & Dreffein furnaces.”