Fire-Brigade Matters.
Page 12
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Singapore Municipal Council has agreed to spend £675 on a motor tender, and has included that sum in its 1912 Budget.
At Manchester To-day.
To-day (Thursday), beginning at about 11.30 in the forenoon, under the direction of Chief Officer Baylis, the Watch Committee of the Manchester City Council will formally inspect its new Dennis and Morris fire-engines at the headquarters of the brigade. Some interesting demonstration tests are likely to be made.
Barrow's Christening.
Barrow-in-Furness Corporation, on the 17th inst., took delivery of a 65 h.p. Merryweather fire-engine. The official tests were under the direction of Superintendent Biezard, the chief of the borough brigade, whilst the chairman of the Watch Committee, Councillor T. F. Butler, J.P., was largely responsible for their organization. The tests consisted of throwing jets to the top of the Town Hall tower, and lifting water from the Devonshire Dock.
Dennis Sets for Burmah Oil Co.
We illustrate the first pumping set, on account of an order for three sets of the kind, which Dennis Bros., Ltd., of Guildford, has sold to the Burrnah Oil Co. Each set consists of an 80 h.p. sixcylinder petrol engine, and a Gwynne three-stage turbine pump of 500 gallons capacity. The application of these sets will be to force water through the fire mains which are laid throughout the Burmah Oil Co.'s works, and each will feed water at a pressure of approximately 140 lb. per sq. in. to any of the hydrants ; each plant is designed to give six I-in. working jets. Duplicate ignition is fitted to each engine, and an extra-large radiator ; in addition, there is a
by-pass from the pump to supply a stream of cold water for additional cooling. This auxiliary pipe first of all passes through the oil tank, with a view to helping to keep it cool.
Overton (Hants.) Chooses Steam.
To cope with stack, furze, and other conflagrations occurring in the district, the Overton (Hants.) Parish Council is to unite with the other local authorities within a radius of seven miles for the purpose of purchasing a. steam fireengine, the type of which has yet to be determined.
Smart Save By the Portsmouth Brigade.
What might have proved a serious conflagration occui:red beneath some oil pipes, which connect with the Anglo-American Oil Co.'s tanks at Rudmore, Portsmouth, last week. By the prompt arrival of. the brigade, under Inspector Ogburn, with a motor steamer and a petrol tender and escape, the extent of the damage done was limited.
Notes from Canada.
An endeavour is to be made to induce the Duke of Connaught to inspect the Ottawa Fire Brigade, which has one of the smartest turn-outs in the whole country. This brigade has long realized the advantages of the motor fireengine, and it has a car which is the admiration of the city. In fact, this engine had a lot to do with the decision of the Montreal City Council to purchase a motor fireengine. The Ottawa men are well equipped, arid public interest is keen when a call occurs—probably for a fire on the outskirts.
Following out their recent purchase of motor fire apparatus, the Montreal City Council has decided to purchase another motor hosewagon, a.nd a motor truck and ladder. Chief Tremblay means to have the whole brigade equipped with motors. He realizes the advantages in such a big district that he has to cover. Owing to the large amount of wood used in building construction in Montreal, high speed is absolutely necessary.
Birkenhead's Le ylari d. Illustrations on the next page
will help to convey some idea of the interest which was taken, in the neighbourhood of Birkenhead Town Hall, on Saturday, the 18th inst., on the occasion of the takingover of the new Leyland 85 b.h.p., six cylinder fire engine with Mather arid Platt pump. The vehicle is also fitted to carry a 60-ft. escape ladder, of the slidingcarriage pattern, with plumbing gear, and extending in three stages. On R.A.C. rating, the en gine is 72 and the pump is designed to deliver 500 gallons per minute at a pressure of 140 lb. to the sq. in., with an 8-ft. lift. The official test, at full load, over a. period of five hours, gave a result 10 per cent. in excess of this specification.
The tests at Birkenhead were seven in number, and the following summary shows the variations in the jets and in the pressures: Test. Jets. lb. per Test. Jets. lb. per sq. in.
i.—Six in.
... 115 2.-Four (two in. and two in.) ... 140
3.Three in. ... 160
.1.Two 1 in. 155 5. Two (one 1 in. and one in.) 165 6.—One 11, in. 170 7.—One ••• 155 During the tests, the engine was supplied with water from the hydrant, and each jet was coupled on through one or two 100 ft. lengths of 21 in. unlined canvas hose. The sixth test represents about 600 gallons per minute, and the seventh about 700 gallons per minute ; both these jets reached practically to the ton of the clock tower—a height of 175 ft. Following the above tests with the jets, a deep-lift test was made, when the pump was found to lift 25 ft. in 20 see. At another test, 21 ft. was lifted in 15 sec. The engine also made a hill-climbing test up the steepest hill in the distriet, which has a gradient of 1 in 71, when a speed of some 15 miles an hour was maintained with an overload up to 17 men on the engine. The maximum speed attained on the level was 48 mites an hour. Had there been a suitable clear road, a speed much in excess of this could have been attained.