PLAN No. 1123. SPRINGS
Automobile springs are manufactured from high-grade steel. The steel must be heat treated and tempered so as to withstand thousands of vibrations which may tend to crystalize the steel and cause it to break. If the spring is tempered too hard it will break, and if it is not hard enough it will sag. Heat treatment of spring steel is a science in itself.
Red-hot steel is run through a mill which rolls it to the proper thickness and width. It is heat treated and forged to the proper shape and tempered in a bath, (oil-water, etc.), as may be best suited to that particular steel.
The compounding of the steels used in making springs requires careful attention. Here experts who have made a study of steels and alloys are employed, and the men engaged in this work must generally have had college training.
Rolling mills and forge machines are handled by men who have been trained to operate them. A handicapped man could handle some of the machines, some of which require two good hands while others require but one hand. Some can be operated by men with one leg.
Springs are assembled after being matched and formed, and are then ready for shipment. In assembling springs they must be scaled and oiled. The oil is to prevent rust while the scaling is done to remove the shell-like crust that may form in tempering. The spring bolt bushings are also installed in this department. A man having one good leg and two hands could assemble springs. Spring work as a whole requires a great number of men, some of whom must be highly trained in their special work, while others need no special training. The work is inside, wages are good, and factories run practically the year round. Spring factories are usually located near large automobile centers. While some automobile manufacturers make their own springs, the majority purchase from spring factories.