The possibility of testing the flash carbonization principle on oil shale has been considered with interest since establishment of the Oil Shale Demonstration plant in late 1944. However, because of the shortages of manpower and equipment, no definite move to effect such work was begun until early 1946. At this time officials of the Tennessee Valley Authority were approached by the Bureau of Mines in an effort to arrange the testing of the flash carbonization process on oil shale. The Tennessee Valley Authority advised that a small pilot unit capable of holding approximately 1-1/2 tons of raw oil shale was located at their Wilson Dam, Alabama, phosphate plant. The pilot plant had been constructed for use in coal carbonization studies to produce coke for use in phosphate production experiments.