Sketches in Crude-oil: Some accidents and incidents of the petroleum development in all parts of the globeMcLaurin, John J. (John James)
History
Sketches in Crude-oil: Some accidents and incidents of the petroleum development in all parts of the globe
McLaurin, John J. (John James)
Petroleum -- History; Petroleum industry and trade -- North America -- History
The results have been astounding. Destruction of steam-joints by fatty
acids from valve-lubricants is now an unknown thing. Not only this, but
as a lubricant the Perfection Valve-Oil has proved itself so much
superior that, where valve-seats required facing on an average once in
sixty days, they do not now require facing on an average once in two
years. The steam-pressure carried upon the boilers at that time rarely
exceeded one-hundred-and-twenty pounds. With the increase of pressure
and the corresponding increase of temperature it was found next to
impossible to properly lubricate the valves and cylinders to prevent
cutting. The superintendent-of-machinery of a leading American railway
sent for Mr. Sibley at one time, told him that he proposed to build
passenger-locomotives carrying one-hundred-and-eighty pounds pressure
and asked if he would undertake to lubricate the valves and cylinders
under that pressure. The reply was: “Go ahead. We will guarantee perfect
lubrication to a pressure very much higher than that.” And to-day the
higher type of passenger-locomotives carry one-hundred-and-eighty pounds
pressure regularly.
When it was clearly demonstrated that the Perfection Valve-Oil was a
success, oil-men who had pronounced it impossible and had been backed in
their opinion by noted chemists commenced to make oils similar to it in
appearance. While many of them may have much confidence in their own
product, the highest testimonial ever paid to Perfection Valve-Oil is
that no competitor claims he has its superior. Some urge their product
with the assurance that it is the equal of Perfection Valve-Oil, thus
unconsciously paying the highest tribute possible to the latter.
The works also make Perfection Signal-Oil for use in railway-lamps and
lanterns. Since 1869 this oil has been before the public. It is in daily
use in more than three-fourths of the railway-lanterns of the United
States and it is the proud boast of Mr. Sibley that, during that time,
there has never occurred an accident which has cost either a human limb
or life or the destruction of one penny’s worth of property, through the
failure of this oil to perform its work perfectly. Making but the two
products, Valve and Signal-Oils, catering to no other than
railroad-trade, studying carefully the demands of the service, keeping
in touch with the latest developments of locomotive-engineering and
thoroughly acquainted with the properties of all petroleum in
Pennsylvania, the company may well believe that, granted the possession
of equal natural abilities with competitors, under the circumstances it
is entitled to lead all others in the production of these two grades of
oils for railroad-use.
[Illustration:
CHARLES MILLER.
JOSEPH C. SIBLEY.
]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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