THE "A.B.C." FIRE-ALARM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 868, 14 July 1910, Page 7

THE " A.8.C." FIRE-ALARM.

SUCCESSFUL TEST AT VEITCH AND ALLAN'S. A representative gathering of insurance men, architects, builders, and press re.prcsentatives, passed in yesterday through the shuttered doors of Veitch and Allan's warehouse in Cuba Street,, and through tho hushed shop (it was Wednesday afternoon), to witness tho tost of a new patent fire alarm, which will be known to tho world as the "A B CV—the suruarao initials of its three 'inventors, Messrs. Alox. Allen, of the Pctono Railway Workshops, Thomas Bowling, an operative at the same place, and Mr._ J). Carnegie, an engineer of tho steamer Star of New Zealand. The "A B C" is u pneumo-electricd device, which certainly acted readily enough in yesterday's tests. Tho new iire-nlarm, which can he fitted to any building, lurge or small, consists of a reticulation of one-eighth inch copper tubes along the ceilings, lo which aro attached round copper halls at intervals, the interior of the ball opening into the tube. Tho tubes-there are four on each flat of Veitch and Allan's— aro conducted into U-shaped thermometer glasses, partly charged with mercury. Tho tubo is led directly into the top' of one, whilst an electric wire is inserted into tho other, and by means of ,\ battery only awaits the completion of tho circuit—caused by contnet with (he rising mercury lo ring Ihe alarm in Ihe street, and the Fire Brigade Station, with which tho building is connected. The "A I) C" does not wait for tho rising temperature to act directly on tho mercury. That is effected by the rising temperature, which would lie caused by an outbreak of fire heating the nil - in (ho copper balls. This acts on the air in the tubes, which in turn forces (he mercury into contact with tho electric wire. \'\t yesterday's test a largo tray was tilled 'with waste, soused with benzine, and sot on firo beneath one of the copper balls or bulbs. .Though the atmosphere was decidedly eool, the ceiling high, and tho flames kept low, the alarm went in 50 seconds, and, at the same lime, the alarm shutter fell in (ho Fire Brigade Station. A second test was made on the second floor, when the alarm sounded in 11 seconds. Mr. Alex. Allen, one of the inventors, stated that the copper tubes had been tested to stand an air pressure of 101b. to the square inch, and being that: strong could not very well gel out of order. The new alarm, which can be adjusted tn go off at any given temperature, appeared to please the insurance experts present, particularly when informed tint tho service was tested weekly, and a. record of the lesls are kept. The service is said (o be simple, economical, and effective.