ELECTRIC FIRE ALARMS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8298, 29 November 1906, Page 6

ELECTRIC FIRE ALARMS.

PROPOSED INSTALLATION IN MAsTEKTON. THKEE SYSTEMS EXPLAINED. Mr J. Dawson, fire alarm expert to the Wellington Oi*y Fire Brigade, visited Masterton yesterday in connection with the proposal of the Muatertou Borough Council to instal a service of fire alarms in the Boiough. At the Druids Hall, yesterday afternoon, in the presence of Captain Joukins of the Fire Brigade, the Borough Engineer, and several Councillors, Mr Dawson gave>, demonstration of the working of "three systems of fire alarms and considerable interest • was mani fested by those pre?ent in the working of the meohaiiism. The first system provides for a fire alarm box fitted on to telegraph pole, and with a glass panol attached tj it. By breaking the pauel and prepsiug an inside button, a bell rings at, the fire stntiou, and the number of the box whence the ling came is shown on an indioatnr similar to an ordinary telephone exchange annunciator. The drawback to this system, explained Mr Dawson, was the multiplicity of wire?, aa a wire to connect with the fire station , is required for each box. The second system was the street Are alarm box used in Wellington and Auckland, and also in Victoria and South Australia. On a person wißhlug to give au alarm of fire by breaking the glass in the street, the bell at the station is rung, and the number of the box where tha alarm was given id shown on a dial, which registers up to 15 boxes. Where more boxes are required the system is divided ofE into oiicuitß, each' cirouit containing a number of buxes. If the latter plan is adopted ,the number of the n\vouifc as, well as the number of the box where *ne call came from is shown in plain figures on the dial at the station. The third system represents the very highest-class uf fire alarm apparatus. It consists of an indicator, which is fixed in the Are station to register calls from the street boxes. In this case the number of the box calling ia shown in large, plain figures on an indicator, and a twelve-Inch gong h rung nt the station for several minutes. This indicator will receive and register up to 999 boxes. The box in the street, from which an alarm is given by turning a handle, is of a very high order, being water and dust proof. When the alarm is given at a box the number of the box ia registered at the station four times in succession. Mr Dawson went on to say that if the brigade had any trouble with false "alarms a bell could be attached to each street box, and when the alarm was given this bell would ring and draw the attention of people in the neighbourhood to the person giving the alarm. The last two systems were worked on what is known as the closed line circuit, aud any number of boxes can be installed in the streets, and only one wire is required. All the boxes are also joined by the one wire with the indicator and battery at the station. If by any obanoe that wire became broken or out of order, attention is at once called to tbo faol; by the bell ringing at the station, and as no number ia registered on the indicator those in attendance know at once that there is no fire alarm. Mr Dawson recommends the third system as being the nearest to perfection in the matter of fire alarms.