The world's largest bubble-bath is applied to a steel sphere 225 feet in diameter to make sure that it does not leak. This huge hollow ball was constructed by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company and is part of the facilities of the Knolls Atomic power plant for the U.S. Navy submarines, which GE is building for the AEC. The 3800 tons of steel plates of which the sphere is made were joined by more than five miles of welding, all of which were examined by X-rays. As a final check the welds were tested by brushing a soap solution over them while the sphere contained air under pressure. Any leaks would be shown by the formation of soap bubbles, but none were found.

General Electric Company1953-07