FIRE ALARMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 713, 12 January 1910, Page 6

FIRE ALARMS.

. THE "KEICHEIi "AUTOMATIC."' . One-of .the most ingenious hud- thoroughly ; effective' of. firo; ; alarm; devices' is the "Roichel Automatic," a • trial' bxhi- ; bition- of'. which;' was !, given, at the offices Messrs. S. Brown, Ltd.,/:Johnston 'Street, , yesterday . afternoon,' 'under ' the auspices.. of t the syndicate, controlling the invention. The.de,vice was subjected /to. :a ', thoroughly, severe test; and is apparently a most - reliable firo alarin'.;' Its •working principle is. tho-. setting-up of an. electric current, generated ,by tho direct . application .of lieat~to certain metals;' 'So. sensitive'are tho '.thermostats Vto'V sudden rise of fern;perature, v .that.'even tlio act of breathing upon 'them is sufficient to' set. off '.the alarm;, yet, notwithstanding this, gradual or' seasonable' rises:of. temperature i liave no effect on the,sensitive metals. At the trial yesterday, the . temperature of the ,• room •' was■ • gradually.. and' evenly raised nine : degrees,. - without any indication being .shown.; .yet . tho; ampler... actof lighting a newspaper—and,.so,..causing,,a sudden , rias, in tho temiierature, sufficed to set-tho.alarm beU'ringing.'' It is also, possible to ' provide :foiy. a' fixed tempera,.ture limit. : : The ■ installation : .is simple, ;and cap.ahlo. of being easily tested. Reports' i-by; ;• tho ■ Govoriunent|. Engineer-in'-Chief (Mr. R. W- Holmes),! the Government Inspector ;of-Fire'Brigades (Mr. .T. 'Hiigo), and Mr. W. H; Ware, Electrical Inspector to the Underwriters' As'sociation,; on;. the - invention, speak; very liighly'df itsqualities and resources. . The .Underwriters' / Association :has, agreed 'to a 10, per.. cent, rebate on i insurance pre-. miiims. for : establishments equipped .with the: "Eeichel Automatic," which is now to be - brought under the' notice of the public. I