FIRE BRIGADE APPLIANCES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 2746, 18 February 1896, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADE APPLIANCES.

CAPTAIN KEMSLEY AS AN • INVENTOK. Tosteiday afternoon. Councillor L. L. Harris (chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee of the City Council), Mr W. Ferguson (engineer to the Harbour Board), Mr li. M. Simpson (chairman of the Fire Underwriters’ Association), a Nsw Zealand Times representative and a number of other persons interested assembled on Taranaki street extension to witness a test of some fire appliances which Captain Kemsley, of the Municipal Fire Brigade, wished to bring under their notice. The first appliance shown was a spraying apparatus patented by tho American Ball Nozzle Company of New York. It often happens that when engaged in extinguishing a fire it is necessary or advisable to eject a large spray of water instead of an ordinary jet, and this invention is intended to provide a means for that purpose. It is screwed on to tho end of the branch, and the turning of a handle causes the water to he turned off from the ordinary passage into another passage partially Hooked by a ball, which is prevented >by a metal bridge from being shot away by the pressure of the’water. The result is the stream makes its exit in the form of a wide-spreading spray, the extent’of which can bo regulated by the turning of the handle. The apparatus, however, is decidedly Keavy and cumbersome, nor can it be worked, any too easily, and after having shown it in operation Captain Kemsley produced an invention of his own which is designed to effect the same purpose, and to affect it iu a more efficient aud satisfactory manner. It consists of a shitting cone, screwed on to the branch and worked by moans of a lover at the side. When the lever is pressed in cine direction the cone leaves the mouth of the branch free for tho ■ exit of the water in a solid column, but when moved in the opposite direction tho point of the cone is pressed on to tho column of water, and the spray is produced. Both the American and Captain Kemsley’s invention were thoroughly tested, and the opinion was generally expressed that the locally-made article was far superior to tho other. In the first place its weight is far less—a matter of no small importance to the branchman when a pressure of 15Qlb to the square inch is being exerted by the water j then it is far simpler in construction and is more easily worked j its cost is nothing like that of the ' American production, and it can be made in the Colony without any trouble, In addition to these advantages, the cone canoes less friction than the ball, and the Consequence is that the spray can by this means be thrown about Iqtt further than by the American patent, and the spray itself is of a more solid and wide-spreading nature. The invention is undoubtedly a good ono, and reflects great credit on Captain Kemsley. The spectators were also shown a new kind of coupling, also the invention of Captain Kemsley, the object of which is to ensure greater speed in working, besides which it is so constructed that the pressure of the water floes not loosen the coupling, even though the junction is only half completed. The coupling was put to a severe test, and stood it in the most satisfactory manner,

A very interesting quarter of an honr was also spent in inspecting the now telephone appliances recently imported by Captain Kemsley. His miniature‘'exchange" is connected with tho various branch stations—Brandon street, Ifewtown, &c.— while the telephone itself is a perfect revelation to those who have not already seen it, so easy is it to hear through it, and to be heard by the person to whom one is talking.