From a corporate standpoint, the Vulcan Expanding Mandrel (right) was one of its more forgettable products. But the application of mandrel-driven shell piles is an important one in deep foundations, as it represents, from a design standpoint, an interesting combination of driven and drilled piles. Pile Shells and Mandrels Driven piles can be divided into … Continue reading Vulcan Expanding Mandrel, and Mandrel Driven Shell Piles
Energy conservation is an important consideration today in a world where the competition for energy sources is intensified by rising demand. But making best use of fuel isn't new, and both the Vulcanaire Supertherm and the Airmizer hammers were Vulcan's contribution to energy savings. Both of these products were the original idea of Moses Hornstein, … Continue reading Vulcanaire Supertherm, and the Airmizer Hammers
Note: the field service manual for the 106 can be found in the vulcanhammer.info Guide Volume 1. Creating excitement in a "need-driven" type of equipment like pile driving equipment isn't easy, especially one with as long of a history as Vulcan's. Vulcan tried to do just that with the 106 hammer, a hammer which both technically … Continue reading Vulcan 106: the “Switch-Hitter”
We looked at the hammers that began the change in Vulcan's product direction during the late 1920's and early 1930's, and we also document the "last hammers" of the 1990's. Here we look at hammers which were proposed during the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's that were never built. One other set of designs that never … Continue reading Proposed Hammers During the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s
As we noted elsewhere, Vulcan was an innovator from the beginning of the air/steam line in the 1880's until the end of the Illinois corporation and beyond. Unfortunately, from the mid-1990's on, Vulcan was unable to take its ideas and put them into reality. An example of this is the Sea Water Hammer. But there … Continue reading Vulcan’s “Last Hammers”
Very few companies can claim even a century-long existence. Not counting the Cari years, Vulcan Iron Works endured for 144 years from its founding by Henry Warrington until 1996. The portion of vulcanhammer.info focuses on the first hundred years "and then some:" the years the company was located in Chicago, 1852-1960. During this time, the … Continue reading Vulcan Iron Works: The First Century
The rest of the 1950's was an era of prosperity and transition for Vulcan. In 1955 Henry Warrington became President; Chester retired to Palm Beach two years later and died in 1961. Building the Interstate highway system was a boon to Vulcan, but it, along with the growing size range of the product line, … Continue reading After the Centennial Celebration
Note: a field service manual for these hammers is available in the vulcanhammer.info Guide, link above. Although the California series hammers were successful and a definite expansion of Vulcan's product line, they suffered from two major weaknesses: They had a sliding valve that was very difficult to manufacture. They were only suited for driving piles, … Continue reading DGH Series Hammers
The centennial celebration was one of the finest gala events -- and certainly the best documented -- that Vulcan ever put on. Following are some facts about the celebration: The banquet took place on 31 January 1952. It was scheduled to coincide with the end of the AED (Associated Equipment Distributors) meeting in Chicago. The … Continue reading Vulcan’s Centennial Celebration
George was the only one of the three Warrington brothers to marry; Chester was his only child. In 1933, with James Warrington's death, Chester inherited a company with which he had had little to do until that time. He attempted to direct it from Washington. The failure of Cord-Auburn-Duesenberg, coupled with a looming war and … Continue reading Vulcan At War
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