Fire Prevention and Fire Extinction Part 15

At the eighteenth and last trial this engine threw a good vertical jet.

Messrs. Shand and Mason's small engine did not raise the steam to 100 lbs. in less than 30 minutes, owing, of course, partly to the mismanagement already mentioned, and partly to the nature of the boiler and fire-box, which, according to the makers' account, are not adapted for raising steam in the shortest possible time. After the engine got to work the steam-pressure was well sustained, and the engine continued working the entire day without accident, concluding in the evening by throwing a good vertical jet.

During the time occupied by the trials the direction of the wind was W.N.W. to W. by N., pressure 2-1/2 to 4-1/2 lbs. on the square foot.

The barometer stood at 29.97 inches.

_Summary._

On the whole the Committee find as follows:--

Messrs. Merryweather and Son have produced, at a price of 700_l._, a steam fire-engine, weighing, according to the makers' account, 65 cwt., with jets and lamps, but without water, coal, suction-pipes, hose, or other gear, and capable, if no accidents occur, of throwing in an available stream the following average quant.i.ties of water per minute:--

Distance. Angle. Quant.i.ty.

61 feet. 10 230 gallons.

85 " 21 124 "

Messrs. Shand and Mason have produced an engine, at a cost of 650_l._, weighing, according to their statement, 55 cwt., with jets and lamps, but without water, coals, suction-pipes, hose, or other gear, and capable of throwing in an available stream the following average quant.i.ties of water per minute:--

Distance. Angle. Quant.i.ty.

61 feet. 10 250 gallons.

63 " 18 165 "

82 " 14 172 "

85 " 21 137 "

102 " 11 94 "

104 " 17 19 "

Messrs. Shand and Mason have also produced, at a price of 370_l._, an engine which, under the same conditions, weighs 35 cwt., and is capable of throwing in an available stream the following average quant.i.ties per minute:--

Distance. Angle. Quant.i.ty.

61 feet. 10 142 gallons.

63 " 18 133 "

82 " 14 56 "

85 " 21 27 "

The best performance during the five trials from which this last average was taken being forty-six gallons, and the lowest five gallons per minute.

At greater distances, in consequence of the wind, this engine could not deliver a stream, but continued working without accident throughout the day, and concluded in the evening by throwing a good vertical jet.

SUTHERLAND, CHAIRMAN.

E. M. SHAW, HON. SEC.

Shand and Mason's tenth land steam fire-engine was supplied to the London Brigade in June, 1862, and their twelfth, in February, 1863, upon orders given on the 4th January, 1862. But as the Committee of the London Fire Brigade were now negotiating with Government to take the duty of extinguis.h.i.+ng fires off their hands, no orders for steam-engines were given out by them after the above date.

STEAM FIRE-ENGINE COMPEt.i.tION,

CRYSTAL PALACE, LONDON, 1863.

Towards the close of 1862, several engineers and other gentlemen interested in the improvement of steam fire-engines, offered prizes to be awarded at compet.i.tive trials to take place in London. The following is the Committee's published account of these trials which were held in the grounds of the Crystal Palace Company on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd July, 1863.

The Committee consisted of the following gentlemen, viz.:--

_Chairman._

HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF SUTHERLAND.

_Members._

THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF CAITHNESS.

LORD RICHARD GROSVENOR, M.P.

J. G. APPOLD, ESQ.

J. T. BATEMAN, ESQ.

W. M'BROWNE, ESQ.

T. R. CRAMPTON, ESQ.

W. M. CROSSLAND, ESQ.

W. FAIRBAIRN, ESQ.

T. HAWKSLEY, ESQ.

J. E. McCONNELL, ESQ.

HENRY MAUDSLAY, ESQ.

J. MATHEWS, ESQ.

J. NASMYTH, ESQ.

J. PENN, ESQ.

WILLIAM SMITH, ESQ.

_Hon. Sec._

CAPTAIN E. M. SHAW.

The engines were divided into two cla.s.ses, the large cla.s.s consisting of those weighing over 30 cwts., and not exceeding 60 cwts. and the small cla.s.s of those not exceeding 30 cwts.

The prizes offered were 250_l._ for the best engine, and 100_l._ for the second best, in each cla.s.s.

The chief points to which the Committee directed their attention, in addition to the consideration of cost and weight, were those relating to the general efficiency of the machines as fire-engines, combining among other points of excellence--

Rapidity in raising and generating steam.

Facility of drawing water.

Volume thrown.