WE HAVE long contended that dealers experienced in rebuilding machinery and equipment are well qualified in the re-application of machines for war production. Their actual handling of hundreds of different makes and types of tools automatically broadens their scope of operations beyond that of the average engineer or production man. The utmost in ingenuity and experience is often required to find new uses for apparently obsolete equipment. After all, no true mechanic will destroy implements of manufacture merely because they have reached the end of the road in one shop or production line.
In this issue, an outstanding case of the kind of ingenuity to which we refer is exemplified by an unusual redesign of seven used machine tools for a bomb production job. This installation not only saved thousands of dollars in the actual cost of the machinery; it also conserved urgently valuable time by exceeding previously planned production schedules.
Numerous case histories of this nature are being accepted by all of us as matter of fact. Too many of these contributory instances are passed over and remain unmentioned. With speed and economy as two important watchwords of the day, it appears to us that more recognition should be given to this kind of accomplishment which is so vital to our national welfare.
Just before press time, we received an urgent wire from a midwestern ordnance plant for a medium-sized boring mill. Within a few hours we were able to locate one of the desired make and capacity. Another call from a war plant put us in search of a 1000 h.p. electric motor. These are daily routine matters for us but offer a problem to the man whose job it is to produce the planes, ships, tanks and guns.
Much of the available surplus industrial plant equipment is advertised in Surplus Record and most of the dealers and rebuilders in the country have representative advertisements in this publication. It offers quite a complete reference. However, we want every war contractor to feel free to call upon us whenever it is necessary to conduct a search for critical equipment or materials. This is only a part of our contribution to our ALL-OUT in doing our bit in the biggest job in the annals of history.
