XV
HOW TO ORDER TRANSMISSION ROPE[11]
It is probable that more different and erroneous terms are used by purchasing agents and engineers when writing orders for transmission rope than are used to describe any other article needed about a mill. A knowledge of how to order clearly just the kind of rope wanted would prevent delays and expense to many plants. Manufacturers of transmission rope constantly receive orders so peculiar in their wording that they dare not venture an immediate shipment, but must first resort to the mails, telegraph or telephone to find out what is really desired, and, of course, these mistakes, following the law of "the general cussedness of things," usually occur after a breakdown at the very time when every minute's delay means a considerable sum of money lost.
[11] Contributed to Power by F. S. Greene.
There are in this country two manufacturers of cordage who make a specialty of transmission rope, and the names under which their rope is sold are fairly well known to all users of rope drives. In addition to these two concerns, there are, perhaps, three or four other cordage mills which make this grade of rope to some extent. From this comparatively small source many different brands have sprung which, rechristened, find their way to the market under a variety of names, both poetic and classic. These many names lead to frequent delays in ordering. The man who does the splicing at the mill has, at one time or another, heard of a rope glorying in the possession of some fancy title. It is more than probable that some salesman has told him most wonderful stories of what this particular rope can do; consequently when the time comes for a new rope, the splicer goes to the office and asks that so many feet of such and such a rope be ordered. The purchasing agent makes out the order, using this name, and sends it to the manufacturer, who in all probability has never heard of the rope and knows for a fact that it is not the brand under which any of his fellow manufacturers are selling rope. Before the order can be filled, two or more letters or telegrams must be sent and received.
It frequently occurs that manufacturers receive orders specifying brands which never had existence at all, so far as their knowledge goes. One firm recently found in the same mail requests for "Fern," "Juno," and "Elephant" transmission rope, though no such brands have ever been on the market.
Another familiar mistake is the ordering of a certain color yarn in the rope, as if this decoration possessed some peculiar virtue. These colored yarns are simply a question of dye, and the rope in all probability would be better and stronger were they left out.
Then again, we find peculiar wording as to the lubrication of a rope. Some people insist that the rope shall be "tallow inlaid"; others call for an "absolutely dry" rope or for a "water-laid" rope. All transmission rope, to be of any service whatsoever, must be lubricated and such a thing as a "dry" transmission rope or a "water-laid" one, whatever that term might mean, would be of but small service to the user. Each manufacturer has his own method or formula for lubricating, and if this be a plumbago or graphite-laid rope, and he is asked for an old-fashioned tallow-laid rope, he cannot fill orders directly from stock.
It is unnecessary to name the number of strands, unless you wish a three- or six-strand rope, for a four-strand transmission rope is always sent, unless otherwise specified. It is also unnecessary to say anything about the core, as the rope is always supplied with one, and generally it is lubricated. Frequently five-strand rope is ordered. This is very confusing, as there is such a thing as a five-strand rope, but it is very rarely made. Ordering a five-strand rope is usually brought about through the error of considering the core as a fifth strand.