Cracks For Gene & Mike

I said 'significant other', and you are talking about 'grandmas'......hmmmmm.......Hmmmmmmm......HMMMMMM........

Dave, are you talking about cookies or Gene's relationship with these "grandmas"?

That I do not know, I think that temperature was determined by hue (or color shade) of the steel. Duration kept at that hue and method of cooling would be a matter of previous experience and lessons learned in my opinion, so I doubt that there is a definitive answer. The particular oven, the grade of materials, etc would all be factors that the experienced 'baker' would take into consideration.

Now, as far as Gene's situation in concerned, I have some fairly good ideas, but this is a family oriented forum, so I will have to hold my tongue.

Who you callin' a lightweight?

I'm of the opinion that the ovens were probably not allowed to cool.

Exactly. It is known, though, that the Mint was aware of their improper annealing; it is mentioned in correspondence as a possible cause (along with defective steel) of dies lasting for only 30-40k coins when they were accustomed to 100k per die for Trade dollars. They had already increased the amount of heat applied by comparison to Trade dollars. That's why, at the same time they were switching away from the 8TF reverse, a new foreman was brought in for the Hardening Department. Dies were cracking and sinking, causing the relief to be too high, as much the reason for switching from the higher-relief 8TF hub as was the extra feather.

So, the 7TF hubs had lower relief in addition to the design changes. Between this lower relief and modifications to the annealing process, production per die nearly doubled, which contraindicates the quality of the steel as a causative factor.

Don't forget the bigger picture - the amount of production required. Philadelphia ceased production of minor coinage during this time to concentrate on dollars, and it was still the largest production rate they'd ever attempted.

Another interesting undercurrent - Barber and Morgan did not get along at all well, and were known to occasionally work at cross-purposes to each other. George Morgan was titularly "Assistant Engraver" under William Barber and then his son Charles, yet reported directly to Dr. Henry Linderman, Director of the Mint. That had to get under Barber's skin.

I believe we agree, zeewool, but for semantics.