Document 3QN2MO1rNxN4QaRpZnKxepQx0

JANUARY, 1939 Number 1 Reusing Calking Lead Saves Money for Springfield, III. r The use of a torch facilitates the removal of calking lead from joints. The lead may then be reused with perfect results, as in Springfield, III. UE to the unsurpassed durability with a 30.000 ft. line connecting the D of lead, it remains in perfect con new filter plant with the mercantile dition over years of service in jointsdistrict. A second transmission main in cast-iron pipe, a fact well brought is now being constructed connecting a out by the recent experience of the new pumping station on the lake with Springfield, 111., water department in the city distribution system. By thus laying a new7 water main. shifting the pumping load, the new From 1866 to 1936. Springfield w as plant requires additional main capac served by a pumping station on the ity while the river plant no longer Sangamon River. In 1917. however, needs the 1917 main. the city's increased size necessitated With an eye to economy, therefore, laying an additional 24 in. main. In this main was closely inspected and 1936, a lake and complete new station found to be in such good condition were constructed southeast of the city. that it might be moved from its old Firmin Desloge Hospital W e wish to acknowledge that the complete group of architects for the Firmin Desloge Hospital (LEAD, Mot., 1938) were Study & Farrar, Arthur J. Widmer <& Associates, Inc., asso ciated architects, and Mor mon A. Rothenheher W. C. SUNDER, INC. position and relaid, after cleaning, for the new system. Inspection of the joints found the lead in perfect condi tion and it was a matter merely of melting the lead out of the old line and reusing it for calking the new joints. The new line, using 15.536 ft. of 24 in. cast-iron pipe, has 1.390 lead joints, requiring in all 61,160 lb. of lead for calking. Springfield is making a saving of about $100,000 in laying the new7 water main because its water department had the foresight to use cast-iron pipe with durable lead joints for the main laid back in 1917. A substantial amount of this saving is directly attributable to the lead joints. Since this lead has been reused, it also saved an estimated $1,850 which w7ould have been necessary for new jointing material. Likewise, it was a simpler proposition to remove the old line than if other jointing materials had been employed, but this additional saving would be difficult to estimate. Thus, after 21 years of efficient ser vice, the same lead will continue to provide durable and flexible joints in Springfield's new main. This saving is possible because of the indestructi bility of lead, giving it always a high salvage value. Charles H. Spaulding is water sup erintendent of Springfield, 111. [2] LIA25499 ? Lead Solder (or Unique Swedish Custom OLDER is employed in a most un by some luckv person for whom good S usual way in an old Swedish cus- fortune is predicted as a result. An tom at ^"ew ^'ear s Lme. On New other shape obtained is a boat, w'hich Year's Eve just before midnight, pieces signifies a journey, or a boat is laden f solder are melted and poured into with a rough granular mass that means Imcket of cold water. The solder money. That person's ship will come solidifies in various odd shapes and in during the near year. It is the cus from these shapes, a person's fortune tom. as a rule, to save these fortune for the coming year is told. The crude telling solder castings from year to forms taken by the metal naturally year. require a certain amount of imagina tion to interpret and many of the forms have definite established meanings. In the photograph, a rough horse The figure of a solder horseshoe at A'eu Year's means good luck according to Swed ish custom shoe mav be seen which was poured -- WURTS BROS. Modern Styling and Decoration with Plywood and White Lead OMPLETELY modern in decora tion. The exterior was finished a C tion and stvle, the service sta gleaming white with four coats of pure tion and cafe interior shown in thwehite lead and oil with the paint accompanying photographs are excel tinted to a marine blue for horizontal lent examples of the splendid results trim and striping which emphasizes obtained by the use of pure white lead the modern streamlined effect. and oil paint and plywood. The attractive dining room is that Plvwood was used in this service of the International Cafe at the 1938 station, the first unit of a number to be Pacific International Livestock Expo built by the Federal Distributing Co., sition. The entrance, dining room for both exterior and interior construc walls, and the balcony stairway were tion. Exterior surfaces are made of paneled with Kraftwood, a new resin- Resnprest. a special water and weather sealed plywood which is scored at the proof plywood, while regular ply factory to resemble wood paneling. wood was used for the interior. Resn The walls were treated with one coat prest % in- thick was used for the of pure white lead and oil, blended rounded corners and % in. for the with a small amount of sienna, and remainder of the plywood construc finished with a coat of shellac. This produces a soft, attractive finish, yet does not hide the decorative graining of the panels. The plywood above the wall paneling was given three coats of pure white lead and oil, tinted to a soft cream color. Pure white lead and oil paint is one material that disproves a sometimes encountered theory that new products and building materials require special finishes. For decades, white lead has topped the field in economy, durabil ity and appearance, and, due to its unexcelled natural characteristics, is always a suitable painting material for any type of construction. Pure white lead and oil paint truly has been "modern'' throughout the ages. Dining ream of the International Cafe, Barrett and Logan, architects, and the Federal Distributing Com pany's service station, Claussen and Claussen, architects, built with plywood and painted with pure white lead and oil -----COMMERCIAL STUDIOS --SOWELL-Sl MO N STVDln (ft tr * [3 Lead,/Weathercap,/ for Eft protec Mote how cleanly this masonry joint has been made by us ing a lead "Weather- cap" `k,t Of, 1 I <1"<! vi, L ' ,; tn>11 urnl 0/inji ts HE recent development of eath- perature changes and alternate wetting T ercap", a new and practical and drving. from vibration, and from adaptation of lead for the protectionother stresses, has made it virtually of masonry joints is another excellent impossible to keep these joints closed contribution made by lead to the bv the use of rigid jointing material progress of the building industry. Of such as mortar. Moreover, develop the several factors that contribute to men! of the skvscraper. with its mas leaks in masonry structures, the major onrv hung, as it were, on a steel frame one has long been recognized as the work, rather than supported directly joint work between stone units on flat on the foundation, has only served to and projecting courses on the building accentuate these factors. wall, such as copings, cornices, por For some time, the practice has been ticoes and other parts. Lead eather- to rake out the outer portion of leak caps ' are reported to be a permanent ing mortar joints and refill with elas solution to the problem of waterproof tic adhesive calking materials, which ing these joints. through their stickiness and their semi Movement occurring in walls from liquid character, functioned success expansion and contraction due to tem fullv for their lifetime. However, these calking materials, composed as they are of organic com pounds. are subject to deterioration from sunlight and air. The cure that they offer has been onlv temporarv. depending entirely on the effective life of the compound which may range anywhere from six months to around eight years. Consequently, the prob lem has remained a constant mainte A view of the two types of lead "Weathercaps'y type A for flat joints and type B for joints in intersecting planes ----WURTS (IROS. I T"' ,, r,, _ 0,!' rn" r in 'M,,;; r`.T dl':" ' T jowl' '' i,,m ' AFTER nance factor in the upkeep of the building, and to this periodic cost of replacement of calking must be added the far greater cost of damage caused bv the recurrence of leakage due to our verv human unwillingness to make such replacements until after break down has actually occurred. "Weathercap'' which provides the answer to this problem is a formed strip of pure soft lead consisting of a cross member sufficiently wide to over- A striking example of masonry joint Jeteno-ncf ;vv u & LIA25501 ffeJpr0tectin of Masonry Joints Installing both types of "IT eathercap" on a typical water table, type A on the flat joints, type B along the window sill 1 AFTER lap the masonry joint, and having on its underside anchoring means bv which it is bonded to the calking com pound with which the joint is first filled. It is made in various widths and in two shapes, as shown in the accompanying cuts, to provide for coverage of stones set both parallel and at right angles to each other. The joint is first raked out and packed with an excess of the best grade of calking compound. "U eathercap''. cut to size f the tame coping when protected by lead caps and notched for the corners, is then embedded in the compound. As the lead cap is pressed into intimate con tact with the masonry, excess com pound is forced into the bonding grooves provided on the underside of the cross member. The calking compound provides an elastic adhesive seal for the joint, and "Weathercap", by shielding the com pound against sunlight and air. com pletes a treatment which, after six years of tests and three years of ex tensive field installations, gives every evidence of being permanent. The accompanying illustrations show typical joint conditions. One of the most striking is that at the top left hand of this page. This joint was re calked three times in less than ten years. The fourth time, lead caps were used and today this joint is in perfect condition. After exhaustive tests and consid eration. lead was finally chosen as the metal from which to fashion "Weath ercap''. Lead, through its malleability, offers workabilitv of the highest order. Finance Building, Harris burg, Pa., where 4,800 ft. oj "W eathercaps" have been installed. Gehron and Ross, architects The lead cap is easily cut to size on the job; its prong can be notched, permit ting it to be bent easily around corners and it can be shaped to conform to the irregularities even of rough-cut masonry. Unaffected as lead is even by corrosive gases, it is absolutelv permanent. Furthermore, it produce? no ugly staining on masonrv surfaces, but weathers rapidly to a soft neut> 1 gray patina of long recognized beam .. "Weathercap"' was invented and is made by James E. Marble, of Delawanna, N. J., and is protected bv United States and Canadian Patents. It is sold throughout the L'nited States by theMinwax Company, Inc., of New Vork Citv. WEATHERCAP--A Permanent Masonry Joint Protection Type A B Size 2 3 4 2 3 4 V,' 9/16 11/16 1 % 9/16 3/i Dimensions In Inches D To Cover Joints 5/16 Up to 3g % 7/16 5/16 to 7/16 1 to % Up to 5/16 % 7/16 3/8 t0 V2 \/<2 10 5 g [5] Lead-Alloy Bushing Improves Water Main Tappings A photograph and scale drawing oj the Barrett lead-alloy Adaptor Bushing jor taps on water mains ---- WL'RTS BROS. NEW corporation cock having a machine with straight thread taps. Be A lead-alloy adaptor bushing has cause of the tight fit between cock and been developed to obtain a better grbipushing, the latter enters the pipe wall on thin-walled mains without the use up to the shoulder at its top. Then the of a saddle. In addition to the better tapered cock screws into the slightly grip, it has several other features smaller bushing all the way. com which make it advantageous for both pacting the softer metal of the bush thick- and thin-walled mains. ing into the threads in the pipe wall In this device the brass corporation and the corporation cock. This wedg cock is made with the usual tapered ing action also forces the metal of the threads. It fits into a lead-alloy bush bushing to spread out a bit on the in ing slightlv smaller than the corpora side pipe wall and the shoulder of tion cock, with tapered threads on the the bushing fits down snugly on the inside, but with straight external outer pipe wall. threads. The corporation cock is It is easv to see what a strong tap screwed by hand into the bushing ping this makes. Furthermore, the until it fits snugly. Both are then lead alloy covering the pipe wall on screwed into the threads tapped into inside and out prevents electrolysis the main with a standard tapping between the main and the corporation cock and covers the ferrous metal of the main at the points where the pipe coating is broken. Thus it also pre vents the start of rusting at those points. Compacting of the bushing metal in the threads of the main and the corporation cock makes a permanentlv and absolutely watertight con nection. Movement can be taken up by the bushing without leakage and without placing undue strain on the pipe or corporation cock. It can be seen that these advantages applv equally to thick- and thin-walled pipe. This device is known as the Barrett "Adaptor-Bushing" and is made by The Cleveland Brass Manufacturing Co.. Cleveland. 0.. with both long and short bushings. Lead Bends and Vents in Seattle, Wash. Housing Project LEAD bends and vents have been used - for all water closet connections in SPECIFY the 304 living units of the Madison SlAlO* ^PPROV** MATERIAL Park Housing Project at Seattle, Wash. The four-inch cast-iron stacks used were, of course, also calked with pure calking lead. Located on the western shore of Lake Washington on the Lake Washington Canal, it is a SI.200.000 development, constructed as a private enterprise with the aid of an F.H.A. insured mortgage and for rental to relatively low income families. It is planned to open this project to the public in January, 1939. Flexible connections provided by lead bends prevent possible breakage of fixtures due to building vibration and settlement, or damage to the con nection itself, both of which troubles Lead water closet and vent connec tion in the Madison Park Housing Project at Seattle, Wash. may occur if rigid connections are used. Such damage not only may re sult in considerable expense, but in unsanitary conditions as well. Further more, durable lead precludes corro sion leading to expense and unsanitary leakage, and. since lead offers a smooth inner bore free from obstructions, it permits the ready passage of soil. In installation, too. lead has the ad vantage of sufficient flexibility to allow slight adjustments to be made should measurements be inexact. On a recent job at a leading university, a battery of three toilets was roughed-in with rigid bends. The marble setter made a slight error in erecting the partitions and the bends had to be torn out and replaced with lead in order that the necessary adjustments could be made. Lead bends used in the first place would have saved about S75. All these reasons have led city after [6] LIA25503 cjtv to revise their ordinances to require lead connections. By specifying lead for plumbing, architects, engineers and contractors assure themselves of highest quality installations, and, furthermore, by in sisting on the Lead Industries' Seal of Approval, they are assured of highest quality lead pipe, bends, traps and calking lead. The Madison Park Housing Project was planned by Graham and Painter, architects. Contractors are HenriksonAlstrom Construction Co., and Uni versity Plumbing and Heating Co. are the plumbing contractors. Home Owner's Foresight Results in Using Lead Service HE recent installation of a lead T service at Stamford, Conn., is in SPECIFY teresting, not only because it repre MATERIAL metals and that it does not clog or produce staining on bathroom or other fixtures, a feature of great importance sents another example of this use of to any home owner. Finally, lead lead, but doubly so because, in this from my own experience, the average showed itself to be economical not case, it was due to the foresight and home owner is not well acquainted. only in initial cost, but when I took V investigation of the owner, himself, After inquiring concerning the vari into consideration its durability, the that lead was specified. Careful studv ous materials used in my own neigh cost became negligible over its antici into the merits of various service pipe borhood and in various other parts pated life of service."' materials fully demonstrated to this of the country, I found that lead was Although it is unusual for a home owner that the selection of lead pipe the only material which had a long owner to study so carefully the mater would be not only wise, but economi record of dependable service. Indeed, ials used in building, the advantages cal. It is interesting to consider the many of the lead services I found out of lead services which this owner has owner's personal reasons for this about had been in use for 60 or more reported are the same as those found action. years. Since I could find no other ser by architects, water-works engineers "Naturally, when I first considered vice pipe materia] which could show and others throughout the country. building a home, I felt it to be of great this durability, lead seemed definitely Years of experience have proved lead importance to investigate thoroughly to be indicated for my service. How services to be durable, efficient and the various materials used in building ever, my investigation went still economical, completely satisfying construction. The question of piping further and I found that lead resists home owners and increasing good will materials arose and is one with which, corrosion better than other common for those specifving lead. Tapping the water main at Stamford, Conn., and the Seal of Approval lead service which was insisted upon by the owner --DAYTON SNYDER [7] LIA255CK Pure White Lead and Oil Provides Durable Tank Painting STRIKING example of the A adaptability of pure white lead and oil paint for metal surfaces is afforded bv the recent repainting of the large steel gas tank shown in the accompanying photograph. This tank, ow ned by the Pacific Gas and Electric Co., is situated at Oakland. Cal., and is 303 ft. in height with a capacity of 10.000.000 cu. ft. The last painting of the gas tank was in 1930. at which time the steel exterior was finished with pure white lead and oil. Two or three months ago. when this was inspected prior to repainting it. it was found that the surface, after eight years of service, was in excellent condition for repaint ing, a fine testimonial to the superior ity of white lead paint. The repaint ing was then done by spot-coating with ---- Cr.ORGr F. INGHAM Steel ans tank at Oakland. Cal., eljevihely painted with pure white lead and oil red lead and finishing the whole tank with white lead and oil, tinted gray. Both pure red lead and white lead and oil are excellent materials for painting metal surfaces. Although red lead is more universally employed as a primer than white lead, the latter has found wide application for the finish ing coats when a light color, unobtain able with red lead, is desired. A further advantage of using a lightcolored finish coat is in the high heat and light reflection that is provided, factors of great importance in many cases. The steel gas tank described above is but one example of the ex cellent durability and service of these paints. The repainting on this tank was done by the Aristo Painting Co., of San Francisco, Cal. Tacoma Hospital Demonstrates Advantages of Lead Plumbing I N 1914. the first unit of St. Joseph trouble in the plumbing system of a ings where the welfare and comfort Hospital, in Tacoma, Wash., was hospital may cause serious inconveni of the patients and the smooth func built. This was followed by a large ence and even danger. Says Hospital tioning of the organization is depen new section erected in 1927. Lead and News. publication of St. Joseph Hospi dent on perfect and uninterrupted cast iron were used in the plumbing of tal, "It is highly important that the me operation of the various mechanical the new part after 13 years' experience chanical equipment be given careful systems.'' Hospital News goes on to with a different type of plumbing consideration in all classes of build list the systems included as "mechani system in the old unit. Ac cal" and first of these is cording to recent informa plumbing. tion received from Harry Lead and cast iron, be Eagles, chief engineer of cause they are durable and the hospital, the cast-iron make a flexible installa and lead system has given tion, always mean low- absolutely no trouble, but maintenance costs. Com the maintenance cost on bined with the relative the other system amounts freedom from clogging of to approximately S100 per lead and cast-iron systems, month. they also mean freedom Low maintenance cost is from trouble, a factor of naturally vital to hospi importance in hospital tals, perhaps even more and all other plumbing than in private homes or installations. business buildings, since it Roy E. Thompson of is essential to use as large Tacoma was plumbing a proportion of available contractor for the new funds as possible for care of the sick. Another impor tant factor, however, is that -----ASSOC. PHOTO SERVICE A general lieu.' of the St. Joseph Hospital, Tacoma. Wash., whose plumbing demonstrates the superiority of lead wing of St. Joseph Hospi tal, which was designed bv Phillip A. Baillargeon. UPON REQUEST, THE LEAD INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION WILL BE GLAD TO MAIL "LEAD" REGULARLY, FREE OF CHARGE, TO THOSE INTERESTED, AND WILL COOPERATE, WITHOUT OBLIGATION, IN THE SOLUTION OF YOUR LEAD PROBLEMS PRINTED IN U.S.A. BY PUBLISHERS PRINTING CO., NEW YORK CITY