Viewing page 270 of 287

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

DURALUMIN.

France realizes fully the value of duralumin for the manufacture of aircraft. She has encouraged the development of the industry in evry way possible and at the present time is able to secure and adequate supply of this metal. In order to take advantage of the facilities of the French Air Force Technical Section and to be near the center of aircraft development, the Society Duralumin have located one of their plants on the outskirts of Paris which devotes its entire energy to the manufacture of duralumin of aeronautical construction.
This plant was inspected. A great amount of development and experimental work has been done but every operation is now reduced to a production basis. Facilities are available for conduction every necessary test to determine whether the finished product meets specifications. The plant has a competent force of skilled workmen that would form the nucleus of a great plant should quick expansion become necessary.
The metal is prepared in the usual way and run into tubular molds. From outward appearances there is nothing unusual about the molds. They are clay-lined and vary in size with the size of stock desired. The stock is removed form the molds and the rough ends sawed off. This is done with an ordinary band-
482