Document Qk77mK8BDeBE81LxQXkRakYoo

f 1197 9-43 tOOO COPY JOHN T. LEWIS & BROS. CO. 910 W1DENER BUILDING PHILADELPHIA. PA, January 17, 1944. Mr. J. W. Gardiner, President. Dear Mr. Gardiner: I have prepared a resume* of Metal Department activities in 1943. The following analysis and comparisons pretty much tell the story. SALES: Tons Dollars Tons Produced - Lewis Plant 1942 77205 1,710,793- 3,409 1943 77350 1,884,144. 3,746 Had we been fortunate enough to obtain a larger share of the total tonnage of Sheet Lead and Lead Pipe on which we quoted in 1943, our figures would have shown a much more substantial in crease. However, as you know, of a total of 1600 potential tons quoted on to one customer in our territory, we were only awarded 260 tons. The circumstances involved in the loss of this tonnage were entirely beyond our control. Aside from these two blue lead . products, our other tonnages held up very well, r MANUFACTUHING COSTS: We rated very low in total manufacturing costs among all branches of National Lead Comp&py, accomplished without any exor bitant tonnage in any one war-time product. Only in the Lead Pipe Department was our cost somewhat higher than usual. However, we are taking such steps as may be necessary to correct this situa tion. CORED SOLDER: Our Cored Solder operations the last couple of months, we have succeeded in increasing the total man-hour production from 38.6 pounds per hour to 47.0 pounds, brought about by changing to two eight-hour shifts instead of three. Surprisingly enough, and with five fewer operators, w were able to improve our total month ly poundage from 82,688 to pounds, resulting in more effi cient application, and better supervision during normal hours. It is much too early to think in terms of what 1944 might bring, but with our present organization all working together and a somewhat lessening of metal restrictions, we are in the hopes that we shall be able to obtain more than our share of what avail able tonnage may be forthcoming. Yours truly. ML 000040910 GAW:FG