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pulleys (Fig. 4). From each suspender the chain rises t,o a pulley, around which it passes, thence travelling to a second overhead pulley, from which it descends, to be tethered to a metal pin projecting from a fixed stand on the floor of the building. Each pin has a metal plate bearing a number corresponding to the number of its suspender. The length of chain must be sufficient to extend from the pin around the two overhead pulleys down to the suspender when it is lowered to allow the man to get at his clothes. When the bundle of clothes is raised, which is effected by pulling in the chain at the pin, there is some length of loose chain to dispose of, and there must also be some means of fastening the chain when the suspenders have been raised. This is in some cases done by attaching to the chain at the right point, say, 8 ft. from its end, or at whatever height the suspender is to be raised, a ring (Fig. 4), which is put on to the pin, and this holds the chain with its suspender in the desired position. The loose chain is allowed to hang in folds from the pin, which is fixed at a height of 4 ft. or 5 ft. from the floor, while sometimes a lower row of pins is provided, and the loose chain looped round the two (Fig. 5).
Fig. 4.—Pulleys for raising and lowering the Suspenders.
Fig. 5. —Method of looping up the Loose Chain of the Pulley.
The newest and neatest arrangement consists of a metal box, about 10 in. high, 4 in. wide, and 2 in. in outside dimensions (Fig. 6). The loose chain is lowered into this box, and is held by a circular stud fixed to the chain at the required point, the stud being passed under a catch on the top of the box, which holds it safely. The pins may be made with eye-holes at their outer ends, so as to carry a padlock (Fig. 4). and the boxes just described are provided with a similar arrangement. Thus, by inserting a padlock, after pulling in and fastening his chain, a man may prevent others from interfering with his clothes. In most establishments very few padlocks were in use, and none in some of them, showing that they were not necessary, and that men may be trusted, as one would expect, not to meddle with each other's clothes. Ihe position of the suspenders is determined by the position of the pin-stands ami of the overhead pulleys; where the stands are set again the sides of the building, with their backs, so to speak, to the wall, the pins and suspenders must be all on one side. It seems better to place them so that each stand has its set of suspenders extending from it on either side. Each adjacent chain is carried 16 in., or whatever is the distance between the overhead joists carrying the pulleys, further or shorter than its neighbour, so that the bundles of clothes are spaced evenly (Fig. 4). The amount of vacant space around each bundle depends upon the distances between the pulleys and the relative height to which they are raised. In Westphalia a fair allowance of superficial space is considered to be 1 square metre (10f sq. ft.) for every four suspenders—that is, a square measuring half a metre, or, say, 20 in., to each suspender—and it should also be observed that the suspenders are not all hanging at the same level. In addition, there are vacant spaces around each set of suspenders, according to the position of the pin-stands, so that there is plenty of room for currents of air to play about the clothes and to dry them. It is the rule that every man must take away his clothes at the
17—C. 2.
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