Show A HUGE CASTING the progress of the huge ton engine slide and bed plate casting which was poured over two weeks ago at west allis works of the allis chalmers company is attracting tr acting universal interest from the fact that it is the largest single casting ever poured in the companas comp anys works during an engine building career of more than a quarter of a century the casting which was taken from its mould on ap april ril weighs roughly tons and has been cooling gradually for the p past ast fifteen days until it reached a condition where it could be cadely handled three thred heavy traveling cranes whose aggregate capacity of tons will be required to withstand the strain of this enormous weight will be used in conjunction to lift the casting they will pull this mass from the pit in the floor of the foundry where here the casting was poured and place it ready for the process of cleaning which will require the work of ten men in two shifts averaging hours a day for a week or ten days to complete so heavy is this single piece that instead of attempt attempting in i g anything but a straight lift with the cranes specially laid railroad tracks will be provided to bring directly to the side of the casting a special flat car built for the purpose of handling this piece this car has 16 wheels and is the largest of its kind ever built special constructed at the west milwaukee shops of the C M st P ry the same car used to transport the casting from the foundry to the machine shop no 1 where it will be subjected to machining processes necessary to finish it will afterwards carry the finished piece to its destination at the present time it is the intention to convey the casting directly to machine shop no 1 where the heaviest machine tools are located the casting will be bolted to the e floor and machine tools used in the finishing will be brought to it three cranes were used in lifting the bed plate from the mould so as to prevent any overstrain over strain on a single crane or the possible breaking of a cable from excessive weight |