THE "DRAGON"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 80, 12 June 1945, Page 5

THE "DRAGON"

NEW TYPE OF FLAME THROWER PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION GIVEN A new type of heavy-duty ilame thrower weighing only forty-one pounds complete and fully and burning the cheapest fuel oil on the market was demonstrated by Mr It. E. Smith of Auckland on Friday at the rear of the Borough Council Chambers. The demonstration Avas a practical one and. the known as the Dragon j appeared to be very effective. The Dragon which was designed especially for New Zealand conditions perhaps demonstrates better than any other the great advance made in scientific flame throwing over the past few years. It is economical in operation burning the heavier grade of fuel oil ? which ? besides giving the fiercest ilame, is also the cheapest on the market. No license, is required for this oil. The Dragon is hydraulic, and instead of compressing a tank oi' it compresses the actual using a very easily operated hand pump to build up the which reaches ISOlbs to< the square inch. It must be howev.er, that this is compressed ancl not compressed air which can often be dangerous.

The neAV type of thrower lights instantly and is ready for use in under a minute. It throws an intense volume of flame and a trigger control means that, the operator can direct a blast just where and lioav he Avants it. Although the main object of the machine is to combat second growth it can also be used for many other purjjoses such as cleaning drains etc. By the attachment of a different type of jet, it can be converted into a sprayer and used on trees plants fowlhouses or any-i thing else Avhich may need spraying. -The thrower is very light in maintenance and operation;.,. Maintenance itself is negligible Avhilst for operafuel consumption depends on the size of the jet used. Three different sizes are supplied; the. largest burns a full tank (3 gallons) in approximately three-quarters of an hour; the second size in an hour; and the third size in an hour and a half. It must be pointed out that these times mean continuous burning Avith the trigger held down the Avhole time. Naturally in practical use ? it Avould not be operated like this ? and therefore, fuel Avould last much longer. Modern methods overseas in recent war years have proA r ed definitely that for large scale weed destruction an intense volume of Avhite flame if at considerable distances is the best. Its suffocating effect on green growth is tremendous and experts are of the opinion that this is the only possible type of flame to be of practical and real use to the farmer in his struggle against noxious groAvths. P.B.A.