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The Lehigh Zinc Co.
| Name | The Lehigh Zinc Co. |
| Ortssitz | Bethlehem (Penns) |
| Art des Unternehmens | Zinkbergwerk und -fabrik |
| Anmerkungen | 1874: B. C. Webster, Präsident; Gordon Monges, Leiter der Finanzen. Ist auch in Bethlehem ansässig und hat 1874 die größte stationäre Dampfmaschine der Welt mit 3.000 PS; sie wird zur Wasserhaltung benutzt. Bis 1860 unter der Firma "The Pennsylvania and Lehigh Zinc Company", deren Gruben gelegen in Friedensville, Lehigh County, 3,5 Meilen von Bethlehem entfernt; 1847 durch Professor Wm. T. Koepper aus Bethlehem entdeckt. |
| Quellenangaben | [Wiley: American iron trade manual (1874) 124] [History of Am. manufacturers 2 (1868) 599] [http://www.bethlehempaonline.com/sbethhistory.html] |
| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| 1845 |
William Theodore Roepper entdeckt zufällig die Zinklagerstätte (Zink-Hydrosilikat) |
| 1853 |
Das Werk für die Herstellung von Zinkoxyd wird unter der Leitung von Samuel Wetherill in Öfen nach eigener Erfindung errichtet, auf einem Grundstück, das er von A. Luckenbach innerhalb eines städtischen Flurstücks von Augusta erwarb |
| 13.10.1853 |
Fertigstellung des Werks. Die Baukosten betragen $85.000 |
| 02.05.1855 |
Gründung der "The Pennsylvania and Lehigh Zinc Co." |
| 02.05.1855 |
Eintragung unter der Firma "The Pennsylvania and Lehigh Zinc Company" nach den Gesetzen mit einem Kapital von $1.000.000 |
| Sept. 1857 |
Joseph Wharton wird Nachfolger von Samuel Wetherill |
| Juli 1859 |
Joseph Wharton, Betriebsleiter der "The Pennsylvania and Lehigh Zinc Co.", nimmt Kontakt mit der belgischen Firma "De Gee, Gernant & Company" (Louis De Gee) in Ougree zur Errichtung eines Schmelzwerks auf und führt drei belgische Experten auf diesem Fachgebiet ein. Einer von diesen ist Andre Woot Detrixhe, Vater von Arthur W. Detrixhe. Das Werk für $85,000 fertiggestellt, und das erste metallische Zink wird im Juli 1859 produziert. |
| 1860 |
Eintragung der "The Pennsylvania and Lehigh Zinc Co." unter der Firma "Lehigh Zinc Co." mit einem Kapital von $1.000.000,00 |
| 16.02.1860 |
Änderung der Firma aus "The Pennsylvania and Lehigh Zinc Company" in "The Lehigh Zinc Company" |
| 1864 |
Baubeginn für ein Zinkwalzwerk unter der Leitung von Alexander Trippel, der vorher nach Europa geschickt wurde, um das Walzverfahren zu studieren |
| 1865 |
Die "Lehigh Zinc Co." walzen das erste Zinkblech in den USA |
| 1872 |
Aufstellung der durch John G. West Dampfpumpmaschine "President" zur Wasserhaltung der "Lehigh Zinc Company" in Friedensville, die 12.000 gal/min aus 300 ft. Teufe fördern soll |
| 1874 |
Eine Kurbel der Dampfpumpmaschine "President" bricht. Der Reparatur dauert einige Tage, und es besteht die Sorge, daß die Grube absäuft |
| 1877 |
Die "Lehigh Zinc Co." haben 700 Beschäftigte, verbrauchen 40.000 Kohle und haben Gebäude im Wert von $276.000. |
| 1881 |
Übernahme der "Lehigh Zinc Co." durch die "Lehigh Zinc and Iron Co.", welche die Produktion um die Herstellung von Spiegeleisen ergänzt. |
| 1884 |
Es werden zwei neue Dampfpumpen aufgestellt. Die Dampfpumpmaschine "President" bleibt in Reserve. Sie wird im Mai wieder in Betrieb gesetzt |
| 1890 |
Die Ueberroth-Mine ist nicht mehr in Betrieb, und die Dampfpumpmaschine "President" wird genutzt, um Wasser in den anderen noch aktiven Gruben zu heben |
| 1891 |
Die Dampfpumpmaschine "President" wird endgültig außer Betrieb genommen |
| 1893 |
Alle Bergbau-Aktivitäten in Friedensville werden eingestellt |
| 1900 |
Die Dampfpumpmaschine "President" wird als Schrott nach Philadelphia für $10.000 verkauft |
| 1901 |
Die 16 Dampfkessel werden von Friedensville nach South Bethlehem durch die "New Jersey Zinc Company" umgesetzt, mit der Absicht, sie auf anderen dortigen Zinkgruben einzusetzen |
| 1940er |
In Friedensville wird durch die "New Jersey Zinc Company" eine neue Zinkgrube in Betrieb genommen. Diese ist bis 1983 in Betrieb |
| Produkt |
ab |
Bem. |
bis |
Bem. |
Kommentar |
| Zink |
1853 |
Beginn mit Zinkoxyd |
1874 |
[Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] |
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| Zinkblech |
1865 |
Beginn (erstmals in den USA) |
1874 |
[Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] |
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| Zeit |
Objekt |
Anz. |
Betriebsteil |
Hersteller |
Kennwert |
Wert |
[...] |
Beschreibung |
Verwendung |
| ab 1863 |
Dampfmaschine |
1 |
Friedenville |
unbekannt |
Leistung |
100 |
PS |
Corliss-Maschine, zum Antrieb von einigen Kreiselpumpen. Für eine Teufe von 65 ft. und 1.500 gal/min Wasser |
Wasserhaltung |
| um 1860 |
Dampfpumpmaschine |
1 |
Friedenville |
Burdon Iron Works |
Leistung |
30 |
PS |
|
Wasserhaltung |
Zeit = 1: Zeitpunkt unbekannt
| ZEIT | 1873 |
| THEMA | Beschreibung der Dampfpumpmaschine "President" |
| TEXT | A recent number of the Mining Journal gives an interesting account of the starting of the Lehigh Zinc Company's mammoth engine, in America. After describing the progress of fine ore mining generally, the following brief description of the great pumping engine is added:
The engine was three years building, and was designed by Mr. John West, engineer of the President Lehigh Zinc Company, who personally superintended its erection in all its parts, down to the minutest particular. The engine was built by Merries: & Sons, Philadelphia, and the pumps and boilers by I. P. Morris & Co., Philadelphia. The object for which the engine was built was to concentrate the greatest amount of power on one particular spot in the mines in the most economical manner. These new pumps drain the whole property of the Company, and are erected on the particular spot on which they stand on account of the presence of a firm rock to plant upon. Following is a description of the mammoth engine, as we gathered it from a conversation with Mr.West, which will be found to contain technical facts which Mr. Webster did not give in his remarks.
The engine has a pumping capacity of 15,000 gallons per minute, and may be run to 17,000 in case of emergency, raising water from a depth of 300 feet The engine alone weighs 650 tons, and including the pumps and boilers the total weight of the machinery is 1,000 tons. Size of cylinder, 110 inches in diameter; length of stroke, 10 feet. The heaviest pieces of iron in the engine are the sections of beams, and weigh 24 tons. There are two pieces of wrought-iron weighing 16 tons each. The fly-wheels weigh 75 tons each; crank pins 1 ton each. The piston rod is 14 inches in diameter. The cross head weighs 8 tons. The connecting rods have 9-inch necks, and are 15 inches in the middle, 41 feet 2 1/2 inches long, and weigh 11 tons each.
There are two air pumps, 50 inches in diameter each. This is, so far as known, the most powerful stationary engine in the world. Next to it in point of size and capacity is the engine at the Cincinnati Waterworks, cylinder 109 inches in diameter. Next is the engine at the Brooklyn Works, cylinder 90 inches; and next the engines used to drain the Meer at Haarlem, in Holland, There are three of these cylinders, 84 inches steam, with 12 feet Sims’compound, 600 horse-power each. Next are the large Cornish engines used in the Cornish mines in England, and in the London Waterworks. The work of the "President" will be to drive four plunger pumps, each 30 inches in diameter by 10-feet stroke; four lifting pumps, each 31 1/2 inches in diameter by 10-feet stroke - the plunger pumps being uppermost and stationary. The lifting pumps will be used in the bottom of the shaft, and are movable, so as to go down as the shaft is sunk;and the lifting pumps, on account of veins of ore running through the shaft, are and will continue to be suspended, or the weight of the pumps would force them down into the ore to an indefinite depth. To handle these lifting pumps, hoisting or lowering them at pleasure, a steam capstan, capable of lifting 50 tons vertically, is used. By a series of strong gearing, a drum and a steel wire rope, with this capstan, if anything goes wrong with the pumps they can be taken hold of by the top and pulled out of water, repaired, and put back in a very short time. Everything that past experience could dictate is here applied, or at least, as Mr. West said, so it is thought, so far as known. Mr. John West, who has brought this massive engine to its present state of perfect working, has been employed by the Lehigh Zinc Company for about five years, and designed and superintended the construction of all the machinery in and about these mines. This engine is certainly a triumph of skill, pluck, and per severance, of which the Company, who backed up the President, Mr. Webster, who backed up and sustained Mr. West, the engineer, who conceived and carried out the only feasible plan for relief from the difficulties under which the Company labored - too much water - may all feel very proud. The erector of this mammoth engine, under Mr. West's supervision, is Simeon Noell, a Cornishman, who has had 21 years' experience in this kind of work in Cornwall, England. The engineers who will run the "President" hereafter are William Harry, a Cornishman, age 35 years, with 17 years' experience; and John Beddington, also a Comishman, age 37 years, 21 years' experience as engineer. Both saw the engine go up from its foundation, and know every piece of it, and will keep a watchful and intelligent eye on the mammoth engine. |
| QUELLE | [Australian advertiser, 13.05.1873] |
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| ZEIT | um 1876 |
| THEMA | Beschreibung |
| TEXT | About the year 1830, the attention and curiosity of the farmers of the vicinity, was excited by the discovery of a strange mineral deposit upon the lands of Jacob Ueberroth, in Saucon Valley. The character of this deposit was unknown and unsuspected, but thinking it possible that it might prove to be as valuable as the ordinary iron-ore, the proprietor tool a wagon load of the strange substance to the "Mary Ann Furnace" in Berks county, to be smelted, The attempt was a failure, and the subject was for the time dropped. No further attention was paid to it until the year 1845, when, by chance, the deposit, came to the notice of Mr. William Theodore Roepper, who, after examination, pronounced it to be "calamine", the hydro-silicate of zinc. This discovery led to a development, of the apparently inexhaustible mines which have now fed the Zinc Works at South Bethlehem, for almost a quarter of a century. Under the superintendence of Mr. Samuel Wetherill, works for the production of zinc-oxide, in furnaces, and by a process of his own invention, were erected, in 1853, on land which he had purchased of A. Luckenbach within the limits of the town plot of Augusta. These works were completed at a cost of $85,000, and on the thirteenth of October, 1853, the first zinc-white ever made in America was produced in these works, by the combined processes of Wetherill, and of Richard Jones, Esq. At the commencement, the works were run by all unincorporated association, which, however, was, on the second of May, 1855, incorporated by Act of Legislature, as "The Pennsylvania and Lehigh Zinc Company", with a capital 1,000,000; the object of which organization, as set forth in the Act of incorporation, was the purpose of mining zinc-ore in the counties of Lehigh and Northampton of manufacturing; zinc paint, metallic and other articles, from said ore, and of vending the same." The originators of the company were residents of New York and Thomas Andrews, of that city was the first president. Mr. Wetherill continued in the superintendence of the works from the commencement of operation until September 1857, when he was succeeded in that office by Joseph Whareton. During the administration of Mr. Wetherill (a little less than four years), 4,728 tons of zinc-white had been produced, and many experiments had been made looking towards the production of metallic zinc, but these had been only partially successful. On the sixteenth of February, 1860, the corporate, title of the company was changed, by Act of Legislature, to the present one, "The Lehigh Zinc Company". In the previous year, Mr. Wharton bad contracted with the company for the erection of works for the manufacture of metallic zinc, and the construction of these was intrusted to Louis De Gee of the firm of
"De Gee, Gernant & Company" of Ougree, Belgium, who had been induced to come to the United States for this express purpose. These works were completed, and the first metallic zinc was produced in them in July, 1859. Three experts in this department of the business were at that time imported from the spelter and oxide works in Belgium. Their names were Andre Woot Detrixhe, Francois Lemall, Jean Henrard. Importations of Belgian experts and workmen have since then been made by the company, at various times. In 1864 and 1865, the company erected a mill for the rolling of sheet
zinc, This was constructed under the superintendence of Alexander Trippel, who had previously been sent to Europe to acquaint himself with the methods of this production. The first sheet zinc was rolled in April, 1865. This was the first introduction of that art into this country; and all these several works have continued in unremitted activity to this day, their capacity being: for oxide of zinc, 3,000 tons per year; for metallic zinc, 3,600 tons per year; for sheet zinc, 3,000 casks per year, respectively about one-half the annual consumption of the country, and of known superior qualities, owing to the usual purity of our ores. The mines have been worked to meet the demands of the several manufacturies, amounting in some single years to 19,000 tons of ore, including rich blende, which has been
developed in the, progress of mining. The mines of the company are situated at Friedenville, in the Saucon valley, three and a half miles from South Bethlehem. In the working of these mines, at a very early day, and at shallow depth, water was encountered, and overcome by a small pump worked by a single horse-power; followed by a donkey pump, which is now in use for dressed ores. Next came a Burdon engine of thirty horse-power, followed, in 1863, by a Corliss
engine of one hundred horse-power, working a series of centrifugal pumps which found their limit at a depth of sixty-five feet, with 1,500 gallons of water per minute. At this time the company decided to make more lasting provision for controlling the water by establishing power to raise 4,000 gallons per minute from a depth of one hundred and fifty feet, if so much should come, and, to this end, they erected and started, in 1865, an engine of thirty-two inch cylinder and nine feet stroke, working two twenty-two inch lifting pumps, to which a third twenty-two inch lift was soon added, and the shaft carried down to one hundred and twenty-two feet in 1866, when it encountered, and with seventeen strokes per minute, raised 5,600 gallons; and there found the limit of its capacity, But the engineer, Mr. John West, had already matured it plan of engine, pumps, and shaft for raising 12,000 gallons per minute from three hundred feet depth; and, in December, 1868, the company contracted with Messrs. Merrick, of Philadelphia, for this new engine, and a year later with Messrs. I. P. Morris & Co., for the pumps, boilers and mountings. The timber for shaft and pump rods was contracted for, in Georgia. This monster engine and pumping apparatus was put in motion at Friedensville on the nineteenth of January, 1872. From the address of the president of the company, made on that occasion, the following extract is made, as giving some idea of the enormous power of the machinery: "This is the engine which is destined to become famous as is the house that Jack built; this is the engine whose cylinder is one
hundred and ten inches, and whose piston rod is ten inches, in diameter, with a ten-foot stroke; this is the engine that can work 'comfortably', as we are told, at twelve strokes per minute, and yet is not the least 'fussy'; the engine, each of whose walking beams weighs 48,000 pounds; twenty-six of whose pieces weigh each upwards of seven tons, and whose entire weight, including girders, is 1,313,300 pounds; the engine that can lift 52,800,000 pounds, or 26,400 tons, one foot high in one minute of time, with the majestic ease and consciousness of power with which an elephant lifts a straw; the engine that can raise 12,000 gallons of water per minute, from a depth of three hundred feet; which works, day and night, without rest; and whose influence is a mighty one towards transforming the subterranean haunts of Kobalt and gnome, where, from times Silurian, these spirits have sported undisturbed in the ice-cold sea, that noiselessly washes the shores of their crystal kingdom." The magnitude of the operations of the Lehigh Zinc Company, and their influence and effect on the prosperity of South Bethlehem, may be understood from the fact that the monthly pay-rolls of the company have carried over seven hundred names, representing perhaps four times that number of individuals living in and about the borough, find the vicinity of the names, all sustained by the products of this industry; while more than 40,000 tons of anthracite coal are annually consumed by the company in the processes of reduction and manufacture. The cost of the works was as follows: Oxide Works, 125,000, Spelter Works, 100,000,
Rolling Mill, 51,000. They occupy ten acres of ground on the eastern side of New street, and extending northwardly from Second street to the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The present president, Mr. Benjamin C. Webster, has conducted the affairs
of the company since September, 1863. |
| QUELLE | http://www.lehighvalleyhistory.com/the-borough-of-south-bethlehem/ |
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