AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 7190, 25 June 1902, Page 3

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

A Satisfactory Test.

Thoro was a largo assoniblago of prominent citizens and representatives of local bodies at tho W.F.C.A.'s Mastorton promises, yesterday afternoon, to witness a trial of Grinnoll's Automatic Sprinkler and Firo Alarm, lately installed in this firm's Mastorton establishment. Tho trial took placo at tho roar of tho premises, whoro a small building was oroctod for tho occasion, with a sprinkler attaeliod. A heap of shavings, thoroughly saturatod with korosono, was placed on tho ground nndernoath tho sprinkler. On i tho shavings being ignited, the flamos immediately burst out in every direction. Almost instantaneously, tho heat fused the solder joint in tho sprinkler (which fuses at 155dcg. Fah.) An elastic valve was thus released, and tho water was profusely sprayed all over tho fire, by impinging upon a doflector, and in a very short time completely extinguished the

flames, although they had secured a vory strong hold on account of the inflammable nature of the materials employed. Tho water escapes with tremendous pressure, and from the trial yesterday it was clearly shown that there is not the least possibility of a fire spreading to any extent beforo it is arrested by tho fused sprinkler. The water is scattered in every direction when tho solder joint is fused, including on the ceiling above, thus every risk is guarded against. Not tho least important featuro of this really wonderful installation is an automatic alarm, which, when thero is an escape of water by any one of the sprinklers, is instantaneously given. The valvo is connected with a water motor, with revolving hammers, which striko a gong fixed outside the protected building, and sounds a loud alarm, which continues so long as tho escape goes on, whether from a leaking pipe, a broken joint, or the operation of tho sprinkler through fire. Those present at the trial yesterday afternoon were, one and all, greatly impressed with the patent, and recognised its undoubted efficacy in cases of fire occurring in tho interior of a largo establishment during the night, or when no ono happens to be in tho immediato vicinity at tho time.