Historical Photo of the Month - November 2006

Arc Melting Furnace
Photograph Number P-621A

"COOL CREW. Though it may look as though the two operators above are about to take off on a solar journey, in reality they are in position to melt titanium ore. Jack Taylor, left, is adjusting melting conditions from the panel, while Art Rinder, right, prepares to feed the electrode." In March 1956, this photo appeared in an article in Lab-Oratory, the employee newspaper. It described the new cold-hearth electric arc melting furnace operated by the Materials Section.

In the 1950s, JPL worked for the Army on missile research and development. The Materials Section was responsible for metallurgical studies -- developing metals that could withstand the high temperatures and aerodynamic stress experienced by missiles in flight (and later, by spacecraft). In this photo, the furnace is being used to melt titanium sponge, in order to produce a solid ingot of pure titanium. The titanium would be combined with other metals, producing an alloy that would be strong, light, and immune to excessive heat.

The furnace and its operators also appeared briefly in a 1957 film about JPL, which was recently digitized*. For more detailed information about the history of JPL, contact the JPL Archives for assistance. [Archival sources: March 1956 Lab-Oratory article, 1957 JPL film.]

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