SAFETY EXPERIMENTS

The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “A series of explosion tests have been made by the Ford Motor Co. with the object of arriving at the safety factor under certain working conditions.” “The test on 24 inch grinder wheel with cast steel guard -- working speed -- 6,000 surface feet per minute. Bursting speed 20,000 surface feet per minute.” View of grinder exploding. “Result -- guard blown up.” View of grinder after explosion. “The test on 24” grinder wheel with redesigned steel plate guard. Working speed -- 6,000 surface ft. per minute. Bursting speed 20,000 surface ft. per minute.” “Result -- guard remained in place.” View of wheel with guard intact. “The electric field relay will stop motor. This resulted from experience of test.” “This relay has been added to all such grinder equipment.” Close-up of relay. “When open field on ground occurs, relay opens circuit at main breaker on starter, cutting power off motor.” “Test on acetylene containers.” “Full container with valve open and electric spark.” “Result -- gas ignited.” Open field with container exploding. “Full tank of acetylene surrounded by fire.” “Result -- safety plug released gas.” “Backfire caused this acetylene fire.” Two men by acetylene tanks. “Instructing operator how to act in case of backfire. The long key would prevent fire.” “Test to see if perforated guard will retain tank on explosion.” View of perforated guard. “Result -- guard insufficient.” View of blown-up guard - man puts two sticks of dynamite in tube. “Result -- tube retained broken tank.” Explosion - tube remained intact. “Result -- seal insufficient.” Large tank exploded. “Comparison of lead and water seal on 6” pipe.” “This leads up to the heavy fence wire guard which is fool proof.” View of fence-guard around tank. “Test on 3/8” steel tube.” Tank inserted into steel tube - dynamite added, wire. “Result -- steel tube remained intact.” Tank shot into but tube remained intact. “Tank sides weakened.” Tank inserted into tube - charged - diagram of set-up showing pipe, base, and explosive formation - large anchored pipe with ‘Top 1/8” load, blank bottom, 33” water seal’ written on side. “Result -- 1/8” load seal too heavy.” “Explosion pressure will be against the lead blank at the top and the water at the bottom. The water blew out.” View of empty water seal -- ‘1/8’ lead blank - 6” pipe with 33” water seal - pipe explodes. “Safety chain on all oven doors necessary.” View of chained oven. “Result -- door retained.” [1926]